City or town
Things to see in Southend-on-Sea (United Kingdom): 58 places and when to go
Southend-on-Sea is a city in United Kingdom with around 618,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 58 places in and around it, mainly History (20), Nature (13), Wildlife (12). The best known are Leeds Castle, Hadleigh Castle and Adventure Island. The best time to come is April to September; also possible: February to March, October and December. In June there are 16 h 23 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 37. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.
In a nutshell
- Where
- United Kingdom · 51.55, 0.72
- Population
- About 618,000
- Places
- 58 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- What people come for
- History (20) · Nature (13) · Wildlife (12) · Temples (9) · Museums and art (8) · Hiking (7)
- Best time
- April to September.
- Also possible
- February to March, October and December.
- Nearest airport
- STN London, Essex, 50 km as the crow flies
What to see in Southend-on-Sea
The places in and around Southend-on-Sea, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.
- Leeds CastleCastle in Kent, England, UK34 km
- Hadleigh CastleGrade I listed castle in Castle Point, Essex, England, UK7.7 km
- Adventure IslandAmusement park1.9 km
- Mereworth CastleGrade I listed English country house in Mereworth, Tonbridge and Malling, Kent, England, UK40 km
- Chapel of St Peter-on-the-WallGrade I listed chapel in Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex, England, UK26 km
- Queenborough CastleConcentric castle in Queenborough, Swale, England, UK15 km
- Grain FortFort at the mouth of the Medway, Kent, UK10 km
- SS Richard MontgomeryWWII American liberty ship10 km
- Beecroft Art GalleryArt gallery in Southend-on-Sea2.2 km
- Garrison Point FortFort in Sheerness, Kent, England, UK12 km
- North Downs WayLong distance footpath in England42 km
- OthonaRoman fort26 km
- Church of St James the Less, HadleighGrade I listed church in Castle Point, Essex, England, UK7.6 km
- Chigborough LakesEssex Wildlife Trust Nature reserve22 km
- Rayleigh CastleNorman earthworks in Rayleigh, Essex, England, UK9.1 km
- Rochford HallGrade I listed building in Rochford, United Kingdom3.8 km
- Slough FortFort in Allhallows, Kent, England, UK9.8 km
- St Giles' and All Saints' Church, OrsettChurch in Orsett, Thurrock, Essex, England, UK25 km
- St Laurence and All Saints Church, EastwoodChurch in Southend-on-Sea, UK3.1 km
- St Mary's Church, LenhamChurch in Lenham, Kent, England, UK35 km
- St Mary's Church, Burnham on CrouchChurch in Burnham-on-Crouch, Maldon, Essex, England, UK12 km
- St Giles' Church, WormshillChurch in Wormshill, Kent, England, UK30 km
- Burnham-on-Crouch & District MuseumMuseum in Essex, England, United Kingdom11 km
- Canvey WickNature reserve in Essex, United Kingdom13 km
And the other 34, by what you come to do:
- History: Shoeburyness Boom, Creeksea Place, Easton Lodge, Faversham Stone Chapel, Memorial to the Home of Aviation, Rayleigh Windmill, Stoneacre, Kent, Maunsell Forts, The Abbey Gatehouse
- Museums and art: The Dog Collar Museum, Mangapps Railway Museum, Prittlewell Priory, Southchurch Hall, Southend Central Museum
- Architecture: Gunfleet Lighthouse
- Nature: Magnolia Fields, Pound Wood, Tile Wood, Barling Magna Wildlife Reserve, Capel Fleet Nature Reserve, Doggetts Wildlife Area, Old Spot Lane Nature Area, Roadside Nature Reserve, RSPB Bowers Marsh, RSPB Vange Marsh
- Temples: Saint Mary the Virgin, Foulness Island
- Hiking: King Charles III England Coast Path: Burnham-on-Crouch to Maldon, King Charles III England Coast Path: Maldon to Salcott, King Charles III England Coast Path: Southend-on-Sea to Wallasea Island, King Charles III England Coast Path: Tilbury to Southend-on-Sea, King Charles III England Coast Path: Whitstable to Iwade, Otford to Canterbury Cathedral
- Food and drink: Westwell Wines, Wibblers Brewery
When to go to Southend-on-Sea
The best time to visit Southend-on-Sea is April to September; also possible: February to March, October and December. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.
- JanBetter not8:05
- FebPossible9:42
- MarPossible11:32
- AprBest time13:36
- MayBest time15:23
- JunBest time16:23
- JulBest time15:58
- AugBest time14:24
- SepBest time12:22
- OctPossible10:22
- NovBetter not8:33
- DecPossible7:37
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In June there are 16 h 23 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 37. In April, 58 of the 58 places are at their best.
When to go to United Kingdom in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Getting to Southend-on-Sea
The nearest main airport is London Stansted Airport (STN, London, Essex), 50 km as the crow flies. How to get around United Kingdom (train, car, bus) is in its country guide, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
Other towns nearby
- Rochester80 places23 km
- Chelmsford27 places26 km
- Weald Road Old MacDonald's Farm40 places34 km
- Colchester38 places38 km
- Canterbury45 places40 km
- Lullingstone Lane28 places42 km
And all of United Kingdom, in its country guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Southend-on-Sea?
The best known: Leeds Castle, Hadleigh Castle, Adventure Island, Mereworth Castle, Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall. In all, 58 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.
When is the best time to visit Southend-on-Sea?
April to September; also possible: February to March, October and December. In June there are 16 h 23 of daylight, and in December, 7 h 37.
How do you get to Southend-on-Sea?
The nearest main airport is London Stansted Airport (STN), 50 km away. From there, directions opens the route on the map.
How do I add it to my trip?
Create a trip with Southend-on-Sea as the destination and these 58 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.
Keep reading
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- History4915 places for history in United Kingdom, from Stonehenge to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: April to September. Each with its own season by altitude and dayligh
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, cities from Natural Earth and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.