| Southend-on-Sea is Essex's largest town and its | | | | with a sandwich and a cup of coffee, to the |
| close proximity to London makes it a popular | | | | finest restaurant establishment, where you can |
| tourist destination year after year. Better still, it is | | | | enjoy a range of courses. There are also plenty |
| located in the south east of the country in an | | | | of takeaways enabling you to grab a bite to eat |
| area widely regarded as the driest part of Britain. | | | | and enjoy it as you stroll down the beach. Here |
| The town is chock-full of interesting attractions | | | | are just a few of the choices: |
| which are aimed at all the family, whether you're | | | | The Waterfront Café. Choose from a wide |
| looking for local history, the arts and culture, or | | | | selection of favourite English food - fish and chips, |
| family-oriented activities to keep you occupied. | | | | roast dinners, or steak. Fish is freshly prepared on |
| Some of Southend-on-Sea's most popular | | | | the premises and is cooked to order. Many other |
| attractions are: | | | | choices of meal are available, including scampi and |
| Southend Pier. Measuring in at 1.33 miles, Southend | | | | lasagne. |
| Pier is the longest pleasure pier in the entire world! | | | | The Golden Lion. Plenty of traditional English fare is |
| Built in 1830, it has recently been refurbished and | | | | on offer in this friendly pub, which also caters for |
| hosts an RNLI lifeboat station and an exclusive | | | | special diets. |
| Pier train. Nowhere will you experience better | | | | Camelia Restaurant. Offers French, Italian and |
| sights of the beautiful coastline of the Thames | | | | English meals with a range of different specials |
| Estuary. | | | | every day. Fresh fish is a speciality; the |
| Central Museum and Planetarium. If you've never | | | | restaurant also offers pleasant sea views to take |
| visited a planetarium then now's your chance; | | | | in whilst you eat. |
| there are live presentations throughout the day. | | | | Mr Ping. This Chinese restaurant offers two |
| Meanwhile, the museum reveals plenty of secrets | | | | options, eat-in or takeaway. In 2003, it was a |
| about Southend's eventful history. | | | | 'Restaurant of the Year' finalist. |
| Jubilee Beach. This sand and shingle beach | | | | The Grapevine of Tuscany. An Italian restaurant |
| stretches from the Pier to Thorpe Bay; there are | | | | serving up a la carte menus, pizzas and pasta. |
| also regular pleasure boat trips available. | | | | You'll get a choice of eating in or a take-away; |
| Southend Cliffs. If you appreciate the beauty of | | | | fresh homemade pasta is The Grapevine's |
| nature, you'll love these ornamental gardens, | | | | speciality. |
| which also offer amazing views of the south east | | | | As Southend-on-Sea is such a popular tourist |
| coast. | | | | destination, there are lots of hotels and |
| Prittlewell Priory. An excellent museum with the | | | | guesthouses located in and around the town, with |
| focus on educational activities, housed in the | | | | many of the finest quality. The good news for |
| remains of a 12th century priory. | | | | the visitor is that all the hotels are vying with |
| When you arrive in Southend-on-Sea you'll | | | | each other to offer the most competitive rates, |
| discover a myriad of activities and things to do, | | | | which means you can guarantee quality and value |
| just waiting to be discovered. The town is packed | | | | in equal measure. Alternative accommodation |
| with a mixture of shops, making it one of the | | | | ranges from campsites and caravan parks to |
| most popular shopping areas in the entire | | | | self-catering cottages, traditional inns and plenty |
| southeast, and there are plenty of coffee shops | | | | more besides. |
| and restaurants where you can rest your legs | | | | Essex County Hotel |
| and take a break. Just a few of the things to do | | | | The Gleneagles Hotel |
| include: | | | | The Westcliff Hotel |
| Shopping at The Royals Shopping Centre. | | | | Ilfracombe House Hotel |
| Overhead, you'll see a beautiful glass dome, which | | | | Camelia Hotel |
| protects from the elements whilst letting the sun | | | | Tower Hotel |
| in. Down below, you'll find shops ranging from | | | | Southend-on-Sea has plenty of entertainment |
| Debenhams to Ottakars, Evans, Sarah Beth and | | | | going on, meaning you'll never get bored. The |
| more. | | | | town is packed with pubs and nightclubs, enabling |
| Visiting Adventure Island. This exciting theme park | | | | you to while away the long twilight hours. For the |
| is host to more than forty rides and attractions | | | | family, the Odeon Cinema is a massive multiplex |
| that will appeal to the kids, as well as the inner | | | | that shows all the latest Hollywood blockbusters. |
| child in all of us. Not only that, but the low rates | | | | Meanwhile, if your tastes are of a theatrical |
| make it one of the best value theme parks in the | | | | nature, then you'll no doubt enjoy the Palace |
| country. | | | | Theatre, which consists of a modernised |
| Checking out Kursaal on the Eastern Esplanade. | | | | Edwardian building hosting professional shows and |
| Here you'll find an astonishing thirty lanes of | | | | entertainment. Alternatively, if you enjoy big |
| ten-pin bowling, many themed restaurants and | | | | spectacle, then the Cliffs Pavilion will be for you; |
| bars and a unique Mardi Gras play area. Better still, | | | | this massive theatre has a huge programme of |
| admission is free! | | | | concerts, ballet, performance artists, musicals and |
| Taking a trip to the Sealife Centre. Lovers of | | | | more. |
| nature will be in their element when visiting this | | | | Visitors flock to Southend-on-Sea all year round |
| marine centre, which offers an authentic voyage | | | | and it's easy to see why. With hundreds of things |
| beneath the ocean, where you can glimpse | | | | to do, ranging from numerous attractions, |
| colourful and spectacular marine life in a huge | | | | family-focused fun and more, it's impossible to |
| aquarium. | | | | find yourself at a loose end. Alternatively, the |
| Take part in the Carnival! If your visit coincides | | | | town itself is close to places like Leigh-on-Sea, |
| with the month of August, you'll find the annual | | | | which offer quieter fare, so if you want to get |
| Carnival in full swing. Events include special | | | | away from the hustle and bustle, you can explore |
| processions, fancy dress competitions, fairs, arts | | | | the surrounding villages and countryside. No |
| festivals, fireworks and more. | | | | matter what your tastes, age or needs, |
| As you'd expect, Southend-on-Sea boasts a wide | | | | Southend-on-Sea is sure to provide exactly what |
| variety of places to eat. The scale ranges from | | | | you're looking for as a tourist destination. |
| the simplest café, where you can sit down | | | | |