Southend is one of the UK’s most popular tourist destinations, mostly with day-trippers from within the UK. The seaside town developed from a tiny fishing village to become a large town with the coming of the railway in the mid-eighteenth century, when Londoners began shuttling down the estuary c... more

Culture

For classic, cheesy seaside fun, Southend has it all. There are beaches, attractions on the pier, a seafront strip of casinos and amusement arcades, and the Kursaal, a restored early twentieth century amusement centre with bowling alley, bar and addictive fluffy-grab machines. A visit to Adv... more

Equality

As a UK destination, discrimination against LGBT people is illegal in all areas of life. Southend is a tolerant community, and the large gay and lesbian population is widely accepted, aside from the very occasional late-night heckling when heading home after a night out. more