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Southend-on-Sea in General |
| Date: |
06.07.08 (142 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: The sea, the friendly faces, the variety of fun to be had
Disadvantages: The Saturday night roughings up down the front, council building on every bit of land
I come from Southend-on-Sea, in Essex, and I'll be honest with you, over the years this place has actually improved!I lived here until I was 14, when my dad got the crazy notion in his head that we could become country bumpkins overnight- we packed up our lives and retreated to the beautiful and ideallic village of Polstead in Suffolk. I then enjoyed 3 years frollicking in hay fields and travelling to high school on a busted bus driven by an old guy with cataracts...I joke thee not! God did he take a corner badly, and the 'automatic' doors were broken and would swing open at random times!!! Hahaha, those were good times. Now, Im grateful for that crazy sebatical in the country, but when I returned to Southend (my Dad missed the sea, and the reality of the country life was less than perfect) I realised that this old place was home. I also missed the sea, its in my blood I think.
~Where is Southend?~
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Anyway, back to Southend-on-Sea. Southend is a fairly large town on the South East Essex coast. It is about 38 miles from London, and can be easily reached via the c2c , Fenchurch line, or the One service from Liverpool Street Station. Coach journeys are available too from Victoria Station. The nearest notable towns to Southend include Basildon, Chelmsford (the home of Essex cricket), and Colchester to the north.
~The Seafront~
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*A Taste of the Old Days*
Our seafront is beautiful, especially along the cliffside, where impressive gardens are laid out, and views across the Essex/Kent estuary can be glimpsed on clear days. For many years, an old Victorian bandstand has taken pride of place along the cliff promenade, and if you take a little stroll along the Royal Terrace (a row of Georgean town houses named after Princess Caroline, one of Queen Victoria's daughters, who convalesed in here) you are almost transported to a time long since past. When I used to push my newborn daughter along this terrace, and look down the steep cliffs to the beach, I could almost imagine women with parasols parading their babies in their little prams....gents tipping their top hats. Its and incredibly tranquil spot at times, and quintisentially 'English'- especially if you manage to walk this stretch when brass bands or small instrumental ensembles are playing at the bandstand. During the Summer months, many people draw up their deckchairs, reminise with the music, and enjoy a nice cuppa or a Rossi icecream. Wonderful.
*Boy Racers and White Escorts?*
Most people who think they know Southend will suggest that its the haunt of Essex lads, with their souped up Escorts, and foul mouthed Essex girls 'out on the pull'. Yes, of course there is some of that, but Southend is actually one of the less sleazy or common seafronts on the East coast. Essex police are very firm with so-called 'boy racers' here, and speed humps straddle the entire length of the beachfront. The 'esplanade' or golden mile is the area to avoid if you're not up for the nightlife, but hey some of us love it, so theres something to suit everyone here. Heres what the main seafront area has to offer:
-The Kursal: A bowling alley for kids and families alike.
-Southend Sealife Centre: Under Fours get in free. Its a great little aquarium, and I have taken my little girl here a number of times. The sealife variety is fairly good too; Amelia particularly loves the seahorses.
-The Arcades: Ok, well these are the seafront staple, and once in a while it can be fun to treat the kids to a little ride or some games.
-Lots of Little Kiosks: These serve chips, drinks, Rossi icecream (Southend's icecream), aswell as all those irritating toys and trinkets that kids just gravitate towards! Im talking about plastic windmills, candyfloss, bucket and spades, and lollypop 'dummies'.
-Adventure Island: Southend's now quite impressive themepark is positioned quite close to our famous 'longest pier in the world' (although the end of it burnt down again a few years ago, so who knows our status now!). There are many good rides to sample, rollercoasters, and little trains for kiddies to enjoy. I believe it is quite pricey, so google their site before going and set up a budget!!!
-The Pier: The entrance to the pier has been redesigned, and a nice glass frontage added. An architect has made the entrance look modern and managed to ensure its not fussy or gaudy. There is a 'lookout tower' adjacent to the entrance, which enables people to get a clear look across the estuary, and a lift sevice runs from the top of the cliffs, and high street, down to the pier and beachfront. The pier train takes passengers out onto the sea and back, so thats a nice enjoyable little trip to be had.
~Other Places to Enjoy in Southend~
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*The Cliffs Pavillion*
The Cliffs Pavillion is our main theatre, and it takes pride of position on the top of our cliffs in Westcliff-on-Sea. It is an architechtual delight that looks out onto the Essex estuary. The resturant inside has an amazing sea view, and if you are seeing an evening performance here be sure to book a meal before you go! The twinkly lights of Kent will light up your meal, and get you in the mood for a romantic night out with your partner!
*The Palace Theatre*
Another, smaller theatre, in inland Westcliff-on-Sea. Edwardian in age, it has a real character about it. My daughter saw 'Brum' here, and it was very professionally done. Its a more intimate affair, and has a traditional approach to the theatre- a lot of Agatha Christie is shown here!
*Old Leigh*
Old Leigh is a beautiful part of our town, and retains much of its fishing and cocklesheds heritage. Many artist live here, and have small galleries/workshops as they gain much inspiration from the area and its past. Walk on cobbled streets and eat at the Boatyard resturant or sample the delights of the teashops. There is also a traditional fish and chip shop called the Mayflower.
*Prittlewell Priory and Priory Park*
Home of the remains of a Clunastic monastry founded in 1110AD. The burial chamber of a Saxon king was discovered here in 2004, and 'Camp Bling' was established by a community of people determind to keep this historical area preserved. Southend Borough Council had threatened to widen a road around the park and so jeopadise the remains, and this beautiful park. Plans, it is believed, are now being revised in the light of huge public outcry. Priory park is truly beautiful, and boasts a teashop, large grounds, a walled garden, and a childrens playground. It is also a local wedding venue.
*Southend High Street*
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Dont come to Southend for the shopping experience. Its not great. We have all your essentials, Boots, Lush, Marks and Spencer, Woolworths, Wilkinsons, and WHSmith. We cant rival Basildon and Lakeside for sheer volume and variety of shops, but we do ok. The high street is closed to traffic, and retains some of its Victorian/Edwardian heritage. Its a pleasant experience.
*Essex University at Southend*
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We are now officially overrun with students! Essex university has opened a campus here in the heart of Southend. Its quite nice actually to see some new people around, and I welcome that!
~Conclusion~
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Im very happy here. We have the seafront, many parks, some galleries and theatres, and a reasonable shopping centre. I just love the sea, and it makes me happy to think my daughter has that privaledge!
Summary: Southend is a great place to live and fun to visit too
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