Southend-on-sea

Sunday morning, January, mid winter, its freezing cold. I'm 1 mile out to sea, not in a boat, but still on "land". We are on Southend pier, the longest pier in the world, at 1.3 miles long.


It takes about 20 mins to walk to the end. There's an RNLI lifeboat station, a café and a large sun deck. Why-O Why? I have to ask...did they build it so long? Because fresh air is good for ones health, it was seen as a way of getting all those filthy Londoners out to the sea side.

very windy

Built in 1830, originally with oak piles, its survived a lot; fires, boat crashes, 2 World Wars, braving the elements and all mother nature can throw at it, and the relentless bounding of the tide. It also has 7 million visitors a year traipsing up and down it.



It certainly blows the cob webs away. Its exhilarating standing 1.3 miles out to sea with the wind in your hair and the spray in your face. We took the train back.

"the Pier is Southend, Southend is the Pier"

finally, out of the wind

Pleasure Island, a narrow amusement park, sits at the base of the pier. I find Brighton pier can be a bit seedy at times, but Pleasure Island has wholesome family fun in bucket n spades loads. We shun the rollercoaster's in favour of the smaller "mini" Thomas Tank Engine type rides, that stay safely on the ground.














The Sealife Adventure Aquarium is the real reason we are here.
Sharks, rays, Lion Fish, Moral eels, they are all here, hours of excitement. New for us, a big tank of Terrapins, about 20 of them swimming and splashing about.

in the zone, cant wait to take him fishing

We have a run on the beach. Its to cold to paddle, but nice to feel the sand under your feet. There's 6 blue flag beaches stretching 7 miles.
Southend on Sea is a brilliant day out, its only 40 miles from London connected by 1 very straight dual carriageway, 2 railway lines, and an airport.



With the beach, the pier and the aquarium we had a great time. Its also very good value for money. The train on the pier is £3.00, the Aquarium £6.25, (half the price of London Aquarium)
mini rides in the adventure playground are .50p and accompanying adult free.
I forgot my digi camera so bought a disposable one, £5.99, Boots processing of film £4.99, copy to CD .99p = £11.97, by the far the most expensive item of the day.
But the photos have that grainy "old holiday snaps" look about them.
Good memories of a great day out = priceless, not a drop of rain all day= miracle

Donation to RLNI= 1 sandwhich crust