| Certainly, Southend's biggest attraction has to be | | | | every weekend in September, featuring sailing and |
| Southend Pier, the longest pleasure pier in the world. | | | | host of water-based activities as well as live bands, |
| But there is so much more to Southend than just its | | | | bars and market stalls. Admission is free. |
| pier. The following is a run-down of the town's biggest | | | | Getting tired of all that water? Perhaps it's time for a |
| attractions. | | | | little aeronautical action. If you're visiting in May, time |
| Located on the Southend seafront, the Southend Pier | | | | your visit during the second May Bank Holiday |
| has been thrilling patrons from all over the UK and the | | | | weekend when the Southend Air show takes to the |
| world for over a century. On the far end of the pier is | | | | air on Sunday and Monday. This annual event is the |
| constant deep water, but on the so-called dry end of | | | | largest free air show in Europe and boasts of a wide |
| the pier is where the fun really starts. | | | | array of different aeroplanes as well as acrobatics |
| The dry end boasts of the Kursaal Amusement Park, | | | | displays, sea rescues and fireworks. You won't even |
| which has been a great tourist attraction for quite | | | | have to worry about going hungry as dozens of stalls |
| some time now, especially during the 1950s and 1960s | | | | and eateries are open at the seafront at this time. The |
| when it enjoyed its heyday. Visitors tend to spend the | | | | weekend's main event is the aerial exhibition of the |
| entire day at the amusement park, soaking up | | | | Red Arrows, the RAF's elite aerobatic team, which |
| everything it has to offer. The amusement arcades | | | | never fails to wow everyone in the audience, both |
| offer everything from video games to bingo as well as | | | | young and old alike. |
| pool tables and fruit machines. | | | | For nature lovers, the Westcliff Gardens on the |
| Summer is the best time to visit as the seafront is | | | | Western Esplanade showcase rows upon rows of |
| teeming with activity. The Kursaal and nearby arcades | | | | award-winning gardens. Open all year round, Westcliff |
| are open from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Sundays to | | | | Gardens is a perennial winner at the Chelsea Flower |
| Thursdays, and from 10 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Fridays and | | | | Show. It's an excellent place for a stroll or for a |
| Saturdays. When the tourists get tired of fun and | | | | leisurely lunch surrounded by cliff gardens. Admission is |
| games, they can lounge on the beach and reflect while | | | | free. |
| they watch the tide come and go. | | | | For the more cultured set, Southend boasts of the |
| In October 2005, a fire severely damaged the pier | | | | Beecroft Art Gallery, The Cliffs Pavilion and The |
| head, which has since then undergone a major | | | | Palace Theatre. The Beercroft Art Gallery, located on |
| revamp. Parts of the pier are still off-limits, but that | | | | Station Road in Westcliff, has a large collection of |
| doesn't stop tourists from all over from visiting | | | | artworks by local and international artists. The |
| Southend Pier in droves. | | | | occasional exhibitions that the gallery hosts are quite |
| Another special attraction at the pier are the | | | | impressive. |
| fascinating Thames Barges, which make an | | | | Located on Station Road, The Cliffs Pavilion is a |
| appearance at the end of the pier every summer. | | | | prestigious theatre that always has something good in |
| From September to November 5 (Guy Fawkes Night), | | | | store. It's a regular venue for nationally famous music, |
| Saturdays are fireworks night at the pier, and the | | | | comedy and theatre acts. Meanwhile, The Palace |
| dazzling displays of fire and light never seem to grow | | | | Theatre on London Road is a sister venue of Cliffs |
| old. During fireworks night, festivities begin as early as | | | | and features plays and musicals with a distinctly |
| 7 p.m. when fireworks are lit at the foot of the pier for | | | | alternative flavour. |
| everyone to admire. The entire show is free of | | | | For a taste of history, there's the "Old Town," also |
| charge. | | | | known as Old Leigh, near the Leigh-on-Sea bus station. |
| The Sea Life Centre on the Eastern Esplanade is | | | | It's a good place to stroll near the Chalkwell Railway |
| another popular attraction and features tropical fish as | | | | Station for an excellent view of the sea. Lovers enjoy |
| well as all kinds of marine life that can be found at the | | | | this romantic walk, all the way to the sandy beach |
| Thames Estuary. Right across Kursaal Amusement | | | | beside the Bell Wharf. While you're there, drop by the |
| Park, Sea Life Centre is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., | | | | nearby Lynn Tait Gallery and the bird sanctuary on |
| Mondays to Sundays. | | | | Two-Tree Island. |
| If all those marine displays move you to get closer to | | | | For more history, there's also the Hadleigh Castle in |
| the water, there's a Waverley Boat Excursion at the | | | | Hadleigh, one of the most popular historic attractions |
| Southend Pier Head. The Waverley boat runs and up | | | | around. While the site currently consists only of ruins, |
| and down river, from the pier to the Thames and back. | | | | with no shop or guide around, the atmosphere oozes a |
| Boat trips are available all year round, day and night. If | | | | strong sense of the past. Oh, if the walls could only |
| you still want more, there's also the Old Leigh Regatta | | | | speak. |