Seaside town once derided as UK’s worst now ‘on the rise’ with world’s longest pier

Essex, famous for being the birthplace of radio and the setting for the popular reality show “The Only Way Is Essex,” also boasts an extensive coastline that draws in a multitude of tourists.

Among these destinations, stands out, attracting thousands of visitors each year, particularly during the summer season. 

With it’s Blue Flag beaches and charming amusements, the resort is cherished for its family-friendly activities and scenic beauty.

However, Southend-on-Sea’s reputation as a British town hasn’t always been so favourable.

In fact, it was revealed that the resort ranked only 41st out of 50 in a Which? magazine survey of the UK’s best seaside destinations last year. 

This ranking was based on several factors, including the quality of beaches, attractions, scenery, and value for money, with Southend-on-Sea falling towards the bottom of the list, reports . 

The town had also been subject to a slurry of negative reviews on TripAdvisor. One visitor, Tony V, expressed his disappointment: “Never seen a beach like this whole my life.

“There were no water, you have to walk maybe 3,4km through dirt, shelves, died crabs and oysters and maybe reach some water. There’s also no sand, rocks. Absolutely horrible experience, we will never return.”

Another reviewer said: “This is by far the worst seaside town I’ve ever been in. Smells and not much to do there. Very overrated.”

But despite these criticisms, Southend-on-Sea continues to evolve and improve, aiming to enhance the experience for its visitors and secure a more favorable reputation among the UK’s seaside destinations.

Critics have had their say, but Southend’s Jubilee Beach has received a wave of positive remarks recently.

Praise poured in from visitors like Ian Bell, who wrote a Google review that said: “Very clean pebbly beach, in fact the whole place was clean. Toilets were open and fine. Wasn’t too busy.”

Domi Dee said: “Nice long beach. Love the seashells and quiet vibe.”

Another visitror, Nicola Palmer, said: “Lovely beach, so many great amenities but ruined by visitors leaving their rubbish even though ample bins available. Very frustrating.”

Akber Ali added: “Jubilee Beach is a clean, family-friendly spot with a mix of sandy and rocky areas. It offers great views and nearby amenities, perfect for relaxing or enjoying outdoor activities, though it can get crowded on sunny days.”

In a surprising comparison, LGabor likened Jubilee Beach to California’s iconic Venice Beach: “It’s in the UK but if you are there you feel like you went to the USA. It is similar to Venice Beach from America and has a very nice pier with a train on it!”

Southend is making waves beyond its sandy seafront with events like City Jam, Lazydays Festival, South East Dance Festival and the Halloween Parade, which attract large numbers of visitors throughout the year. 

At the heart of the town’s attractions stands Southend Pier, stretching 1.33 miles into the Thames Estuary and holding the title of the world’s longest pleasure pier.

The town is also home to Adventure Island which claims to be the “UK’s number 1 free admission theme park”.

Southend is just over an hour from London with several railway stations serviced by c2c and Greater Anglia routes.