This traditional seaside city does not have the very best status, however for a time out with the youngsters it is cheaper than different vacationer hotspots
It isn’t probably the most glamorous of seashores however households flock right here on sunny days (Picture: Natalie King)
As a mum of two, I’m at all times searching for cheap days out, and seaside cities are normally a fairly good possibility. Whereas a visit to the amusements may be expensive, not less than the seaside is free, and youngsters are normally completely satisfied constructing sandcastles and paddling within the sea, which supplies a welcome respite from tapping my contactless card onto varied machines.
Current analysis from Aqua analysed a variety of cities to search out the UK’s most reasonably priced cities for a time out, and within the primary slot was a seaside city that was a giant a part of my childhood: Southend-on-Sea. Regardless of being within the usually costlier south east, Southend scored extremely because of its low cost public transport, cheap meals, and enormous variety of free points of interest on supply.
Sadly, Southend doesn’t have the very best status. Final yr,it was ranked fourth on an inventory of the UK’s worst seaside cities, with close by Clacton-on-Sea coming in third, based on knowledge compiled by Which?. Southend scored significantly poorly for its seaside, in addition to for general worth for cash, so regardless of being low cost, the query is, is it price a go to?
Personally, I’m a staunch defender of Southend. Maybe it’s the childhood nostalgia, or just because it’s the closest seaside city and feels homely and acquainted, both means, I really feel strongly that its poor rating was undeserved.
Final summer season, we took a visit to the Essex city to profit from the sunny climate. However in fact, as with all seaside city on a financial institution vacation, half the nation had the identical concept and as anticipated, it was packed.
Parking could be a main expense when visiting locations like this. We had a disabled member of the family with us, so utilizing a blue badge meant parking was free; in any other case, it could price round £3 an hour on the seafront. You may as well park on the close by Royals Purchasing Centre for about half the value and it tends to be loads simpler to discover a spot.
We began the day on the Sealife Journey, proper on the promenade, with tickets priced at £18 for all guests over 90cm. Since my youngsters are actually means above this threshold, it got here to £64 for the 4 of us. Nonetheless, we received a wristband so you could possibly go away and re-enter all day, and if you happen to’re a giant fan of aquariums, annual passes have been £22 for the yr.
For a smaller aquarium, or zooquarium because it calls itself, it’s not dangerous. It had a wide range of displays from animatronic dinosaurs to monkey enclosures along with the same old aquarium points of interest. Sadly, the one creature we’d come to see, the axolotls, have been not on show. On the plus facet, there was a lined picnic space the place we had our lunch, which at all times helps lower your expenses on a day journey.
Subsequent, we headed to the seaside, and sadly, this space actually lets Southend down. The pebbly sands have been filled with folks, as anticipated, however as we received nearer to the water, I used to be delay taking a dip as a result of brown color of the water. It’s simply not the type of place you need to swim in. In a while, I did some analysis and discovered that pure sediment provides the water its unappealing color, nonetheless, it’s at all times price checking the water high quality earlier than you swim wherever.
Sealife Journey featured animatronic dinosaurs along with its aquariums (Picture: Matthew King)
Whereas the color of the water can’t be helped, points resembling overflowing bins and litter can. I recognize it was a busy day, nevertheless it was unlucky to see garbage strewn on the ground in some areas. One space was dubbed “so gross” by my teenager.
Southend has a number of free points of interest, resembling native museums and historic websites. The council’s web site additionally lists free occasions occurring regionally, resembling reside music performances. One spot that’s nonetheless moderately priced is Southend Pier. It was upgraded in 2005 and now features a Pier Museum the place you possibly can take pleasure in a nostalgic look again at this iconic spot.
If it’s worthwhile to get your steps in, then a strolling ticket for the pier is simply £1.60, and the 1.3-mile-long pier is an incredible place to take pleasure in views of the coast and take images. You may as well go for a pier entry ticket with a return on the practice costing £7.70 for adults and £4.10 for kids, or £19.50 for a household ticket. Ice cream is pricey, however you’re paying for the view when you take pleasure in it.
The pier remains to be a reasonable exercise (Picture: Matthew King)
Lastly, we made a fast cease at Journey Island, a theme park that oldsters might be relieved to listen to is free to enter. Day wristbands price £20 if booked on-line, permitting for limitless rides, or you possibly can decide to pay for particular person tickets at £4 every. It’s helpful for fogeys with youngsters who get bored simply as you are not paying for a full theme park day.
Was it the most affordable day journey I’ve been on? No. We saved a bit of cash by packing a picnic, however a spherical of £3+ ice lotions and an try to win a Labubu from a 2p machine quickly pushed up the price of the journey. Nonetheless, if you happen to can resist the attract of the amusement arcades and easily need to benefit from the promenade and pier, it’s nonetheless good worth for cash and positively has that nostalgia issue.
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