A Quick Escape: A Day (or Two) in Southend-on-Sea
Are you craving a quick escape from the hustle of London? Even just for a day? I’ve got the perfect tip for you.
Hop on a train from London Liverpool Street Station and in about 50 minutes, you’ll find yourself in Southend-on-Sea, a seaside town in North Essex. While it may not boast grand architecture, it radiates a certain charm — a nostalgic 1980s atmosphere that makes it feel like stepping into a time capsule.
One of the must-see spots is Southend Pier — the longest pleasure pier in the world. You can either walk the full length for just £3.10 per person, or take the old-fashioned pier train for £7.70, which brings you to the far end where you can enjoy a hot chocolate during the chillier months, or sip on iced tea in the summer sun.
With the train being so fast, it’s totally doable as a day trip — and if you do, I highly recommend stopping for lunch at The Seafood Shack. Their generous seafood platters are satisfying and fresh — you’ll definitely leave with a full belly.
After lunch, consider walking from Southend to Leigh-on-Sea (about 17 minutes on foot). From there, continue to Hadleigh Castle, a beautiful historic ruin with breathtaking sea views. The castle dates back to 1215, built during the reign of Henry III by Hubert de Burgh. It was later expanded by Edward III to serve as both a defensive stronghold and a royal retreat.
If you're up for more than just a day trip, Southend makes a great weekend getaway. We stayed for two nights, enjoying the quiet of the countryside just outside the town centre. It was the perfect place to unwind.
The day after we arrived, we took a bus to Shoebury East Beach, where we soaked up the spring sunshine over homemade sandwiches. From there, we hopped on a tourist open-top bus back to Hadleigh Castle — watching the sea from the top deck was truly magical.
After a long day of exploring, we returned to our flat for a well-deserved rest.
But the surprises didn’t stop there!
On our last day, after checking out of our accommodation, we found a cosy spot in the town centre to grab a coffee and do a bit of work. Just a heads-up — prices in some cafes are similar to what you'd expect in London.
Before catching our off-peak train at 4 PM, we treated ourselves to lunch at the most highly-rated spot in Leigh-on-Sea: Osborne Bros. We skipped the takeaway window and waited for a table (yes, there’s a queue, but it’s worth it!). We ordered fried squid and whitebait to start, followed by a scallops and bacon bun and a lobster roll. As an Italian, I can honestly say — I’ve rarely eaten seafood this good. It’s an absolute must-visit.
Where we stayed (Higly reccomended no adv) Flat-on-sea