Southend-on-Sea

Southend-on-Sea is a popular resort town situated on the Thames Estuary, offering amusement parks, museums, shopping, scenic views and even live animal experiences. If you are travelling on a family holiday, you will find lots of exciting and fun things to do to thrill the kids, like visiting the popular Adventure Island theme park. It's filled with thrill rides, games, live entertainment and other attractions for grown-ups and kids of every age. At the Sealife Adventure aquarium, you’ll get close to marine life like clownfish, sea anemones and turtles. Or you can head to the Marsh Farm Animal Adventure Park, where you can enjoy a petting zoo, tractor rides, mini-golf and more family-friendly fun.

History enthusiasts will want to check out the ruined towers of Hadleigh Castle, which dates to the 13th century. Next, head to the Southend Central Museum and Planetarium to explore its natural history and archaeology exhibits. The Southend Pier and Railway has period train cars to explore. If you are an art lover, the Focal Point Gallery showcases various media from some of the most important contemporary artists.