Southend-on-Sea

Southend-on-Sea is a unitary authority on the northern shore of the Thames Estuary in Essex. The district includes the town centre and surrounding neighbourhoods such as Westcliff-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea, Prittlewell, Thorpe Bay and Shoeburyness. Transport links include Southend Victoria and Southend Central stations on lines to London, and a long seafront that has shaped the district’s economy and leisure provision. Southend Pier runs out into the estuary for 2.16 km and carries a narrow-gauge pier railway to the pier head, an element visible from the promenade and a focus for boat trips and coastal views.

The seafront area contains the Adventure Island amusement park, arcades and stretches of beach backed by promenades and gardens. Inland, Prittlewell Priory and the local museum reflect medieval and Victorian history, and the university campus adds a concentration of teaching and research facilities. Local services include Southend University Hospital and lifeboat operations at the estuary mouth. Activities range from shore fishing and birdwatching around the estuary to seasonal events on the seafront, all set within the borough’s coastal footprint.