The 28 best things to do with kids in Southend-on-Sea

Our kids love this place, we go every year for the day. Great price for entry and half price after 5pm. Open till late, plenty to do in the area. Carers can get a wristband for half price, up to two Carers but you need to buy tickets on the day at the park itself. Other tickets can be brought online or on the day.

Great rides for £35 per day per head or half price after 5pm. Or £4 per ride if you want fewer rides. I had 6 and 11 year old and both enjoyed.

As a family we have been coming for a long time. The wrist bands are really worth while buying ahead of time as long as you go on at least 5 rides it’s worth it. We did wait for one ride as it broke down and my daughter couldn’t get out one as the harness got stuck for everyone. The rides are fun. The only down side for us was we got a pancake at the end of the evening and there were three staff just mucking about and not really serving. They were laughing at each other and shouting. Other members of the public were not happy as we waited nearly 20 mins. I don’t mind people having fun but they were meant to be working and it was more like a social gathering for them.

We visited on the first day of our week holiday. We went for the annual pass as the children will want to visit again and the pass also gets discounts for food, shop etc. We are now on day 3 and going again! Well worth the money! The queues are very quick, we could wait nearby and see them in the queue for the majority of the rides. I wanted to go on a couple of rides so bought some ride tickets separately (no need for a day or annual pass for me 🤣)

VISIT DATE: SAT 20/09/2025 VISIT TIME: 13:30 - 20:00 Adventure Island is a fantastic place to visit if you have children and are in the Southend area. We’re based in Hornchurch, about an hour away by car, or you can also travel quite easily via C2C from Upminster, so my ex and I have visited a number of times with our daughter, starting when she was 3 (she’s now 6). The park promotes itself as free entry, but no one is going to come just to walk through it, so the reality is that you’ll need to get a day pass to take advantage of the rides. At time of writing, it’s £35 for the day, but you can save £10 by purchasing online in advance. If you’re planning to go more than once, then it makes sense to upgrade to an annual pass. These are currently on sale at £50 and do not start until the first time you go. If your child is under 120cm tall, you won’t need your own pass, as they need someone taller (and at least 14 years old) to ride with them. As you’d expect, during the summer, or on character event days, the park is very busy, so there are queues for rides, but going off season reduces this dramatically. We were really blessed with a quiet day, so barely any queuing time, all rides open, with the exception of one, which was closed due to a mechanical issue and the park and rides were open till 8pm. It was also a warm day - being inside the park means that you are sheltered from the wind coming off the Thames Estuary, so even when it’s breezy, you don’t really feel it. There are a variety of rides, with plenty of slower ones for younger children, or those who don’t like faster stuff. Oh these, we really like Adventureville and Spooksville (which is the “scary” version, in darkness and with models of monsters and clowns, as well as appropriate sound effects), and you’ve also got stuff like little trains and boats and the best Crooked House ever, which has been an attraction on the site since 1949, surviving the great flood of 1953 and various ownership changes and developments over the years. I loved this attraction as a child and my daughter loves it too! There are also a number of rollercoasters, with more gentle ones, then building up to Rage, which has a vertical drop and loops. My daughter is looking forward to being tall enough to do that, but she’ll be going on with her Dad when that time comes, not me! There is also a water slide and an indoor area, Adventure Inside, which features a few more rides, including a traditional carousel (my personal favourite) and a decent sized soft play. Staff at the park are generally young, so they have lots of enthusiasm (if we lived nearer, I’d probably encourage my daughter to apply when she’s older, as I think it’s probably a pretty fun working environment, as well as quite hard work) and they are also friendly and helpful when you need anything. As well as the rides that are included in with your entry, there are also plenty of stalls encouraging you to spend more, like “Hook-a-Duck”, which my daughter loves. This is where having an annual pass is beneficial, as you get 20% discount on purchases, including from the food and drink stalls, of which there are also many! Personally, we recommend avoiding the restaurants inside the park as they’re not that great and there are loads of really nice local places a few minutes walk away which deserve supporting. You can also spend money on a Funtopia gamecard, to use on the many games machines in the arcade areas. You can pay to play with a debit / credit card, but the Funtopia card gives you extra credit and allows you to collect points which can be exchanged for prizes. Annual pass also gives you extra credit! Plenty of toilets in the park, including accessible and baby change. All in reasonable condition throughout the day. Overall, we really enjoy visiting and will continue to do so; it’s a great day out on its own, but when you add the other nearby attractions to the mix (Sealife Adventure, Southend Pier, spending time on the beach and in the water when it’s warm enough), this is a fabulous place to visit.

Adventure Island is the perfect place for a fun family day out! My son had an amazing time—there are so many rides tailored just for them, from mini roller coasters to gentle carousels and splash zones. The park is super colorful, lively, and full of energy, which keeps little ones excited all day long. We loved how easy it was to get around, and the staff were fantastic with children—really friendly and patient. With no entry fee and the option to buy wristbands or ride tokens, it’s great value too. The atmosphere is lively and family-friendly, with plenty of food stalls and places to grab snacks. A must-visit if you're in Southend!"

Discounted tickets after 5pm. Got to be quick if you want to do all the rides. Rage was the best. 2cm too short for two. Height checks in que. Ferris wheel took ages. Some ride staff were brilliant. Got wet on the green water slide. Toilets at either end. Plenty of places for food and drink. A good enough park to say you've done.

VISIT DATE: SAT 20/09/2025 VISIT TIME: 16:55 - 17:35 My daughter, her father and I have visited this attraction a number of times over the last four years. It is just the right size to go round in under an hour, with a good range of fish to look at and plenty of information panels to learn about them. They also have monkeys, meerkats, tortoises, a butterfly house (it’s amazing having these giant butterflies flying so close to you) and a display of animatronic dinosaurs. There is a café and gift shop, as well as some small rides which you pay extra to use. The site is fully accessible, with step-free access and accessible toilets, with baby change facilities. Full price entry is £18 (£16 in advance, online), but an annual pass is only £20, so worth getting if you’ll come more than once. Children under 90cm tall get free entry. There is a carpark immediately next to the site, but is very expensive. Car parks are run by the local authority. If you’re able to walk, try parking a bit further away to save money. You can find details on the local authority website.

The kids absolutely loved the zebra sharks and the talk was interesting. Look out for the giant lobster! There is more than just sea life with dinosaurs and butterflies to enjoy. The season ticket for the year is only a little more and worth doing for locals. Easily accessible by car or train (a short walk really from the station and cheaper than the car park) The cafe I would probably miss on a further visit. The staff were lovely, but it was very pricey (even on a discount) and the food ordered was not very substantial. For example no salad came with jacket potatoes, sandwiches were plain with no sides or crisps etc and expensive for what they were. Hot chocolate was lovely though! There are lots of local foody places and you can return all day with a wristband entry.

Lovely place, with great choice off fishes, sea life and animals. We truly enjoyed walking around as a family and seeing all that sea life had to offer. The souvenir shop and the cafe are a nice little bonus at the end of the tour. I would totally recommend this place and make sure you buy your annual tickets for £2 extra rather than the day pass.

Enjoyable day out. Annual membership is only £2 more per person than single entry so worth considering. Cafe area has been expanded and uni sex toilets are now upstairs. There is a baby changing facility on the ground floor though.

A super day out for the kids, lots to see and do, I love that you can go round again, see things again and take your time. Lots of rides dotted around, very informative and interactive for the children. Couldn't fault it, will return.

Great day out for all the family im a 35 year old man, i went on my own so my motorbike was having some work done down the road at belle vue motors, i bought an annual pass which was only £20! Whereas the website says £16 entry on the day for an adult, so for an extra £4 you get unlimited visits, 20% off of purchases and also 20% off of a friends admission aswell, NO BRAINER! It did only take me an hour to see everything so i went round a 2nd time after taking all my pics 1st go round, then enjoying everything more the 2nd time round all in all it was a good day out

Great place so much to see. We brought the annual pass for £2 pp extra. Staff are super friendly only downside was the cafe didn't have any fish.

An interesting local museum with an eclectic mix of exhibits.

Well worth a visit, especially as it is free to enter. The museum concentrates on Southend's history throughout the ages showing you archaeological finds from the local area. It's exhibits are set up in a way that you are walking through each period of human history from neolithic stone age, Iron age Bronze age, Romon etc. They travel up the time line through to modern day and have a spectacular collection of period radios all manufactured in Southend. We went to see the planetarium which you do have to pay for but is also well worth the price of admission. There are toilet facilities and an area for you to eat your own packed lunch as there isn't a café and the tea/coffee machine was switched off. There is a car park not 2 minutes away with plenty of parking. We went on a Sunday and had the museum basically to our selves.

Southend Museum is a real local gem. It’s free to visit, well laid out, and full of fascinating exhibits about the area’s history. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and the planetarium show was great too. A brilliant way to spend a morning.

Basic unimpressed got charged £9 to see the london ship wreck total waste of money

Great little museum. Very interesting re the saxon prince found in Southend. Didn't visit the planetarium but a friend said it was brilliant and her grandsons enjoyed it.

I was curious about the planetarium, thinking it would be like the one on Baker Street (Madam Tussauds of old). This was on a tiny scale with a capacity of about ten people at the most. Seats were rigid and craning upwards to watch the show made it very uncomfortable. The atmosphere got a bit stale towards the end. I'm glad I went once to satisfy my curiosity.

Tried to book the planetarium over the phone 3 or 4 attempts with no answer so though I'd drive down as there is no option to book online. Got there and asked have you booked? explained the situation. Told there is a show today but it's just started so you can't go in. Decided to have a quick look around, looked at the front of the museum (5mins) and went to walk though to a room at the back to be advised its £4.00 to come in this room as its a separate exhibition! Gave up and went to priory park. All in all a disappointing experience from the booking system by phone that no one answers to the actual museum.

World's longest Pier, 1.3 miles. It was so beautiful walking in the pier overlooking the sea. The ticket was only 1.50 walk both ways. Couldn't reach till the end of it but it was worth it. I can bet the end of the pier would be amazing. There are resting areas too midway for you to relax and enjoy the beauty of the sea.

The longest pier in the world. Currently running trips across to ports on the Kent side of the Thames estuary. We had breakfast in The Last Post, a brisk walk to the pier entrance. Then, hopped on the pier train to the end of the structure. Leisurely pint outside the cafe in the glorious sunshine before boarding the boat for the hour-long journey to Queenborough port for an explore and lunch. A scorcher of a day. Make sure you book the ferry crossing early

Very nice pier. It's over a mile long(!) We walked up and got the train back and it was £20 for a family of four. There are shops and cafes at the end but are very expensive. Great views from the pier itself.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5) Southend Pier was a good experience overall not amazing, but still enjoyable. The walk along the pier was peaceful and offered some lovely views. I took the train back, which felt like stepping into the past it has a charming 1940s-style look that gives it a unique character. What stood out most was the contrast in atmosphere. The pier has a calm, laid-back vibe, but once you head back toward the Adventure Island side, it suddenly feels like a completely different world ,busier, louder, and more energetic. It’s an interesting mix of tranquillity and fun. Worth a visit if you’re in the area!

Beautiful views and a relaxing place to unwind. The pier is really long, so taking the train one way is a good idea if you don’t feel like walking both ways. A bit pricey for what it is, but still a unique experience.

Really nice pier. It's amazing that you got the option to walk or use the railway. It's great fun for adults and children. Offer shops , restaurants.

We had a great time here, we got the train out, had fish & chips, had coffee and walked back... a great way to spend a few hours, the lifeboat station on the end is also great, and the young couple that run it, are a blast. Much appreciated for looking after us.

Brilliant show from Janette and Alijaz. Such an all round show supported by an excellent band. We had the pre dining show. The meal was lovely and our waitress Allison was so friendly and attentive.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What an absolutely fantastic night at the Cliffs Pavilion! Luther Live was outstanding from start to finish. The singer not only captured Luther’s incredible voice but also his warmth and stage presence – it felt like a real celebration of his music. Every song had the audience singing along, and there were plenty of goosebump moments on the big ballads. The atmosphere was electric, the sound quality spot on, and the whole evening was filled with energy, joy, and nostalgia. If you’re a fan of Luther or just love great live music, this show is an absolute must-see. A perfect night of entertainment in a brilliant venue!

We have been to various different shows over the years and never had a bad experience. There are a variety of different performances to choose from with many family friendly options. There is plenty of parking available in the nearby car parks or down on the sea front (be advised of the many steps you need to climb from there). The theatre itself is spacious with different price options to choose from and there is a good amount of leg room. We opted for a side box for Jimmy Carr and decided the view was better elsewhere (still had a fantastic time). The staff are all friendly and happy to help. All in all one of our favourite venues.

Absolutely wonderful location with the best of views overseeing English Channel. We came to Southend-on-Sea for a concert and as expected THE THE was simply amazing, thank you Matt Johnson, and keep doing what you’re doing best! 🙏🏼

Just got home from seeing, The Tina Turner Musical! It was absolutely incredible. The cast were outstanding. The set incredible. The whole production was a triumph. I can not recommend this show highly enough. I have previously seen TINA in London, and this was just as good, and, maybe even a little bit better. We really are lucky to have such a great theatre in Essex!

Not the best venue for acoustics or being able to see as the stalls are flat. However, the staff were very helpful and friendly.

Nice theatre with good sound quality and comfortable seats. Good views. Only knocked down a star because everything is quite hard to find - no obvious signs for toilets etc. The flow of the place feels a bit off and queues for toilets are very long in intervals. I was directed to an accessible toilet despite not being disabled which could be problematic for disabled people who need them. It was also quite hard to find available staff to ask where things were. Would definitely come back but think better signage and toilets would make for a better experience.

Don't expect a massive castle like Arundel but do expect beautiful scenery over marshes. Oh to be invisible and travel back in time. There's no entry fee. Also don't expect cafes or toilets. The nearest cafe doesn't have visitor loos and you can't take your dog in. It's lovely though and provides employment for people with learning disabilities. There's a great country park very near which apparently has a loo in the hub. It was too hot for our dog but we'll definitely return to see the park. A final plus. There's a car park near the cafe but there's a free car park in Castle Lane.

My partner proposed here 😻😻😻 I can see the place from the train when I go to work. Such beautiful landscape and walking trail 😻😻😻😻 you can even see the biggest buildings of London from here 😅

Castle ruins, nearby extremely limited parking, good for a walk and a nice view. There's signage through the site explaining what parts of the castle can be seen.

We enjoyed exploring the ruins. The long leisurely walk was a good distraction from the dog ban on the beach.

Nice and peaceful trail, lovely views. No toilet stop, though, and make sure you Take water.

Stunning ruins I absolutely adore this place I will surely be back next year for a picnic.

What an amazing view across the Essex marshes from here. Bring a picnic and enjoy the surroundings!

A little gem tucked away in Prittlewell. Fantastic, knowledgeable volunteers in a wonderfully restored building. Garden is lovely too.

Fairly small building Didn't take long to walk around The best thing is the cave style rooms, very small dated from 1200 Beautiful gardens surrounding the priory Interesting historical facts throughout , with some interactive sections Visitor centre directly opposite the priory Free parking and disabled parking nearby

Really nice surrounding gardens and the grounds are gorgeous and suitable for the whole family. Lovely formal areas along side a large pond.

Very good. A volunteer explained the broad history when I entered, well worth a short visit, allow time to walk around the outside and the walled garden.

Nice for a stroll. Great autumn colour. The Priory building is very well presented and improvements have been made for all to enjoy.

Great visit thanks to a tour from Verna. Lots to see and a surprising history of Southend. Richie Rich! Who knew?

Great place to visit, relax and take in some green space and history.

Kids will definitely enjoy the time in here. You need to buy tickets from the entrance to go inside the farm. There is lots of different lambs, goats and animals. There are volunteers to help you and there is a refreshment shop to buy food items like snacks and also there is cute dolls of animals.This place is near Hadleigh castle. Give it a try 😊

Had a lovely day at Hadleigh farm today. Was very interesting to hear & learn about all the different sheep, goats & other farm yard animals. The donkey was so cute. The young lady who spoke about the animals was great. She spoke with passion & knowledge & it was obvious this was more than a job. Next time I’ll be down with my grandchildren. Highly recommend.

Really cute little farm! Plenty to do for little ones for a couple of hours! Nice little play area too. Little gift shop. Friendly and helpful staff. Recommended.

Lovely little farm for a afternoon visit Grandchild enjoyed it Reasonable prices and some sweet animals

A cute way to spend a couple of hours, be sure to get some food for the animals on your way in!

very good little farm for the children. reasonably priced, plenty of animals that you can feed, definitely recommend 👍

Its always a favourite for the kids. They love the animals and love feeding them. It is a good place to spend a couple of hours. And the Hadleigh Castle ruins are only a five minute walk, so when you are done in the farm, it's worth walking around there. There is planty parking spaces and not the expensive either. So all in all, a really nice day out

Great free exhibition 'scene by the shore' about music in Southend. Has old photo's, posters etc. But also local artists making new works on response to the music scene.

A fairly large, local, free to enter art gallery containing a mixture of different exhibitions- at my time of visiting (July 2018) I saw a gallery dedicated to old paintings, photographs, fashion and a brand new modern paintings exhibit being set up so you're sure to find something to interest you. The staff who run the gallery are really friendly and polite, making for a great visit. If you wish to support the gallery I'd strongly recommend making a purchase at the gift shop which is filled with a wide variety of different products.

Splendid soaring 50s modernist cavern with a few modest galleries lost inside. Impressive above all is the optimistic architecture of the complex of the five centre and surroundings I fear mostly lost on contemporary residents.

Ever changing exhibitions with a local flavour, like this one about youth tribes gathering in southend over the years. Has some permanent parts too, like the Jazz archive. Do go in for a wander.

I was genuinely surprised at how diverse the exhibits were, all the while being very informative and touching upon different themes and ideas that are at once both historical and contemporary. It’s different than others that I’ve been to, which is why it’s something that I would always fondly remember.

An absolutely wonderful place to visit. I visit several times a week for films, lectures and exhibitions

This is a great place to visit, it is so nice to visit, I used to come here for the library and it just brings back memories with the walls the way they are. I used to think as a child it felt blocky but I can now see the appeal. It has plenty to see and a jazz museum in the basement which used to be the children's books section.

Like this place! Lagoon and Children's Playground make this part of the beach family-friendly so it is easy to stay there for the whole day in summer. Water is warmer than in a sea. Basic facilities are available nearby. Highly recommended particularly, because of the close distance to London (around 1 hour by train)

Worst beach I have ever been to (and I have been to quite a few bad beaches). Nappies were buried in the sand and dog waste too. The lagoon was very mucky and there were shards of glass left in the sand. I don’t know who would let their child play on this beach as it is very dangerous. I would not suggest coming here because you will probably feel sick when you see it. Do not come here if you value your health. Note: This review was written a year ago. I only wanted to fix a spelling mistake.

You can smell the piss from 30 metres away from the lagoon. The water is filty, the sand is full of rubbish, broken glass, cigarette butts and some planks with rusty nails. You can expect some of the same under the water, with lots of seaweed and other things that would not be there if the water would be cleaned regularly. There are much nicer places to go to, right next to the lagoon

A great place to go for all ages. We enjoy our time here in summer and in winter.

Could be lovely.

For the life of me I dunno why anyone is letting their kids wading or swimming in this filth. Walked around between the lagoon and access road. The smell of sewerage was sickening. Over hearing locals talk about drunks puking and using it as a toilet also added to its charm. Avoid this place if you value your health.

The only sandy place is Southend On Sea. It's a small Lagoon especially for kids and it's about 1 m deep

A very nice pleasure park by the sea. Some thing for all ages to enjoy. A day pass is worth buying at £30 which lets you get on to all the rides. There is a indoor bit too should the weather get bad

A decent indoor arcade with a few small rides suitable for children/toddlers. It links one part of Adventure island to the other The arcade requires a top up card to play but these are given free of charge when you go to the counter and ask. They’ll top it up with the value of your choosing. A good variety of claw machine games, shooters, racing games, air hockey etc. Has a soft play area upstairs for those younger children as well.

I have been taking my boy here for a few years now. The yearly pass is ridiculously good value for money. The soft play is great with lots to keep them occupied. There’s plenty of seats for parents and also a smaller soft play for tiny kids. The cafe is quite expensive for what it is and offers nothing healthy to eat. The coffee is pretty bog-standard. Overall really great place for the kids.

Took kids for the first time in the soft play area. I got there late afternoon and to my surprise after 3pm is £3 each for kids, adults free. My kids loved it. So cheap even without the discounted rate I thought I was going to be paying about £20 at least.

The lift does NOT work and hasn't done for ages which is really annoying and I couldn't get down stairs with the pram. The soft play is nice though. Nice big area for little children

Been going for a few years but it's full of feral teens some who are abusive and best avoided if your kids are well mannered and well behaved. I didn't renew my annual pass and won't go again.

Great fun for all the family. I was particularly impressed by the amazing customer service of an employee called Archie. However, I am not giving the full 5 stars only because it was a little expensive for my liking. Overall a really fun day out with kind and enthusiastic workers. Highly recommend.

Had a fun evening with family playing both courses. A great view, good atmosphere and friendly staff. I would recommend it especially in the evening when all the funfair lights are on, although the conflicting music was a bit raucous at times! Looked (and felt) like we were away somewhere hot and tropical!

Great fun, only thing is music can be loud in inca zone, recommend ear defenders for sound sensitive Visitors. Worth doing both courses for the price and gives ya wallet a break from amusements. There is a fast food kiosk directly next door and a chippy 50 paces the opposite direction so a good spot and seating all around entrance for non players. Use an annual pass from adventure island or sealife adventure to get 20% off. Can use that 20% at any adventure affiliated business as well

The golf was a bit pricey for two courses of the game it felt quite similar to be honest lovely staff I ain't to sure if I would like to go their again it didn't felt fun as we hoped 😕

Very bad customer service ever seen, we bought 3 both rounds £30 BUT wasn’t able to play my 5 years old son! Then they were not refunded at the time not played!!! To me looks like scammer!!!

My mum always makes sure that whenever she comes to Southend often for heart break and birthdays she always visits this crazy golf course. Mum's favourite is Aztec because of the views. She is very impressed with how well everything was growing, it is maintained well given how dry the summer has been. The person who served us was cheerful and efficient. All the holes offer a challenge.

This has to be the worst mini golf by far. The course is rotting away. It's well over priced @ £12 for 2x 9hole courses. The only challenging thing is.. nothing. Needs closing and refurbishment ASAP. Considering how good the park is, this let's it down

It’s a good course but it’s not maintained, every hole has a hill around it so pointless taking your kids as they won’t be able to get it in, all the holes are full of debris would be good value if they cleaned it up a bit

Really long pier. Rail travelling take few minut csn walking also.Worth a visit. Nice view. Town is also interesting and clean. Is many attractions,nice restaurants.

Worth the money! It was lovely to experience the train up to the end of the pier. Lovely views from there. Plenty of seats to sit down, a restaurant that serves food and drink. There was a DJ playing by the bar area, which sounded good. The only thing negative is that it wasn't very well organised when waiting for the train and the staff were abit grumpy. Coming back our door wouldn't open but no one was there waiting for the train to arrive back so a few of the passengers had to false it open.

Very nice pier. It's over a mile long(!) We walked up and got the train back and it was £20 for a family of four. There are shops and cafes at the end but are very expensive. Great views from the pier itself.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5) Southend Pier was a good experience overall not amazing, but still enjoyable. The walk along the pier was peaceful and offered some lovely views. I took the train back, which felt like stepping into the past it has a charming 1940s-style look that gives it a unique character. What stood out most was the contrast in atmosphere. The pier has a calm, laid-back vibe, but once you head back toward the Adventure Island side, it suddenly feels like a completely different world ,busier, louder, and more energetic. It’s an interesting mix of tranquillity and fun. Worth a visit if you’re in the area!

The longest pier in the world. Currently running trips across to ports on the Kent side of the Thames estuary. We had breakfast in The Last Post, a brisk walk to the pier entrance. Then, hopped on the pier train to the end of the structure. Leisurely pint outside the cafe in the glorious sunshine before boarding the boat for the hour-long journey to Queenborough port for an explore and lunch. A scorcher of a day. Make sure you book the ferry crossing early

Really nice pier. It's amazing that you got the option to walk or use the railway. It's great fun for adults and children. Offer shops , restaurants.

Beautiful views and a relaxing place to unwind. The pier is really long, so taking the train one way is a good idea if you don’t feel like walking both ways. A bit pricey for what it is, but still a unique experience.

Generous space, clean and decent atmosphere, parking lot for everyone, kind and responsive staff. The only minus: not too many food options on the menu and not even a non alcoholic beer available.

Have been here a few times and my son loves it. Really great soft play section for the bigger children, a baby and toddler section which I think is good. We’ve been here since my son was a baby so he’s got to explore all sections. We also like the sensory room and the arcade section which I believe is new (although these are quite expensive( cleanliness is good. Food options are really good but it is expensive.

We love coming to Monkey Bizness at Rochford. We've got the annual pass and have had our sons birthday party here too! We had it as a private hire and wouldn't hesitate to do that again. Its got something for all ages and is very reasonably priced.

A well run kids soft play with a climbing wall. Our daughter always has great fun here and the food and drinks prices are not bad. The soft play area is huge but you can always keep an eye on the kids from wherever you sit. They love the big slide.

Went on a Saturday and although it was busy, it never felt overcrowded. The team managed everything really well, and the kids had loads of fun. Will definitely be making this a regular trip.

What a cool fun place. Kids totally loved it. Lots of fun things to do. Go Kart, Obstacle play area, basket ball hoop, aor hockey and many other activity places for kids of all the ages.

We booked a party room and it was amazing from start to finish. The kids were entertained, the food was great, and the staff took care of everything so we could just enjoy the day. Thank you Monkey Bizness!

Nice place for you to relax, walk, or visit the museum. You can watch the bowling or enjoy the tennis courts. The gardens are quite well maintained, but the bins seem to be always over full. Still, there's plenty of open space for you to enjoy as well as places to eat for reasonable prices. The parking is free, so that's an added bonus. It's definitely worth a visit if only to watch the wildlife.

A lovely, relaxing place in the heart of Southend. The Priory is a museum, but wasn't open on our visit. The cafe only accepts cash, so we didn't eat or drink there. A good play area for children.

Such a great park! It truly has something for everyone: sports facilities, a playground, a pond, ornamental gardens, general woodland, Korean food, and even a Saxon Hall! It’s just a short stroll from our office. We visited today because it was so hot. The team has been exceptionally busy, so we decided to brainstorm, play table tennis, and enjoy some ice cream. It was great to get outside. We highly recommend it to everyone. One of the best parks in the area, if not the UK. Enjoy!

Amazing park! Went to see Fleetwood Unchained at the Sausage & Cider Festival. Brilliant day out and excellent venue

I Have visited priory park on several occasions for different events and dog walking and it's always been great. It's a beautiful park and there is always something going on. The toilets are clean and the café is lovely with a great selection of food and drink. (Cash only or pay via bank transfer) Today for the first time I took my son fishing and it didn't disappoint, we met Sam a bailiff who was really polite and 2 other fisherman who where so helpful and kind it blew me away. the 2 chaps called wes and ross where both really passionate fisherman and couldnt do more to help us as novice fisherman ourselves. They even helped my son land a 20lbs carp. We will definitely be returning

Truly stunning park.. FREE.. great for all ages. The gardens, grounds and old buildings are very well kept. There is parking free. Not so much so try to go on days not so busy. There is also a small cafe for drinks and food, or take your own and have a picnic. in the grounds there is a kids play area and also very nice duck ponds.

Gorgeous piece of history in Southend. Was great to visit the museum after many years, though was sad that many of the pieces have been removed. Still well worth the visit though. The visitor centre has modern toilets which was good to see. The old toilets are still there, but not the best option! The garden was beautiful and peaceful as always.

This is a very open park with a skateboard park, tennis courts, the Chalkwell park rooms has a cafe for refreshments, plus you have the Metal works art studio, it’s a well maintained park with a rose garden to. A number of different advents are held in the park through out the year. The reason it’s been given a 3star is there is nothing outstanding about it but it has a small carpark and lots of space for children and families to enjoy.

Not like the photos any longer. The once beautiful flower beds are mostly weeds, sadly just another neglected part of Southend

Great park with two play areas for different age groups, and a cafe and tennis courts. Makes getting the kids out of the house for a few hours easy as you can move from one spot to the next without them getting bored.

Small park but nice place for a stroll for a half an hour or so. Nicely labeled rose garden would be brilliant once they start to bloom. There was one rose called National Trust! Kids' play area was busy. Saw some heather growing nicely.

This park is lovely. It has so much for to offer, kids play ground, beautiful rose gardens, bike/scooter ramps and so on and on. Green fields round and round. Plenty parking spaces. Always a favourite for the kids scooting or riding their bikes. And all it takes is a bit of sunshine and this park would be packed. Brilliant. 5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

We went to the fair as most rides were £1.50 .My grandchildren had the time of their life .The side stalls are very expensive £4 a go .Bought 3 waters that cost £6 At the end of the day you expect that.They went on the Waltzer the guy was amazing jumping on twirling them round he was like Spider Man took me back to my youth .I took cash as its alot easier than trying to pay by card but you can do both on most rides etc My youngest granddaughter who is 7 said it was the best day ever so worth every penny

Love this park. It has beautiful well kept gardens and different sporting facilities and play parks too. Great for a nice bit of fresh air, sit down for a coffee or picnic.

Good beach to visit, like the fact you can walk all the way to Southend beach. Lovely walk on the promenade, a few 🍦 ice-cream and chips and fish shops. The 🌊 was out so was able to walk on the sea bed, cant comment on the toilet. Did not use it! 😁 Car parking was fine, paid over the phone.

A nice clean pebble beach. Toilets are clean. Ir is a nice walk and you can easily spend the day sunbathing. The water goes inside as the sun sets and there's a nice pool. A great place for the kids.

I'm sorry West Sussex beaches - but this ESSEX Beach has caught my attention for it's pristine clean and environmentally inviting look 😄

Chalkwell Beach is one of my favourite spots in Southend-on-Sea. I often come here on weekends to relax, sunbathe, and walk along the shore. The beach is clean and spacious, with a lovely view across the Thames Estuary. At low tide, there’s plenty of room to stroll, and at high tide, the water is inviting for a refreshing dip. What I really love is the calm and peaceful atmosphere – it’s the perfect place to clear your mind and let go of stress. Just sitting by the sea, listening to the waves, always makes me feel refreshed. The promenade is great for a leisurely walk, and there are cafés nearby if you fancy a tea, coffee, or ice cream. Whether you’re with family, friends, or just looking for a quiet moment by yourself, Chalkwell Beach is a wonderful choice. It’s a place that always makes my weekends brighter and helps me recharge.

“What I know for sure is that every sunrise is like a new page, a chance to get right and embrace each day in all its glory. Every day is a miracle.”👏 Oprah Winfrey

This beach is quite clean, there are toilets, food and drink services

Beautiful pebble beach with a lovely walking path. There are cafés which serve hot and cold drinks, ice cream and chips. There is parking but depending on the season, it is quite likely to be full so you'll need to check the side streets too.

Great park for mountain biking and a nice cafe. Wonderful views. Parking expensive.

The MTB trails are looking very tired and unkept. They need some love. Many features are closed or unusable. Trails are too narrow and very overgrown. The dual slalom is almost just a single track now. One of the wooden down hill features has fallen apart. The leap of faith is now closed completely. Many of the trail direction signs are completely missing. The place is a shadow of it's former self and needs some love. Parking is expensive, but I would happily pay that price if the trails were in better condition

This is a great place for the family. A beautiful scenic place with lots of things to do. They have some great paths for walks, a couple of play areas for young kids, and lots of cycle paths along with places for more experienced bikers. There is a lovely cafe and beautiful views. It's a short walk to Hadleigh Castle. They have a bicycle hire shop so no need to bring your own bikes.

I use the lake Saturday mornings with Hadleigh Plungers, which is always run well, and part of the Actio swim app. Only downside is I find parking expensive.

The place is incredible, specially for families with kids. Pets are allowed here. So many things all together. You got to see farms various collection of animals with some rare goats. Also you got a historical place to visit. Nice country side walk. You can even see the sea and the river, the view is super nice. Great place to read books laying on grass. However, I highly suggest to bring your own food as the restaurant doesn’t have lots to offer. The quality of food and the service is not very nice. Take your time for a long walk, enjoy the panoramic view, am sure you won’t regret to be there. Another added value is the place is nearly an hour drive from London(depends). I am overwhelmed by the place 😁😁. Enjoy 😉!!

This was a lovely surprise! We expected a basic walk to the castle and found the loveliest of places with so much going on. The children's play area is great with lots of quirky little climbing areas and balance beams for bigger and smaller kids. The walking and bike tracks are well maintained and offer gorgeous views. We went on a sunny, blustery day and it felt quite wild and open. We were walking but the mountain bike trails look fun with options for different abilities, and there is a bike shop with a fixing place too. There are information boards posted along the routes with info about local wildlife and ideas to get active like the animals. The cafe is such an asset. We were expecting the usual overpriced average options and instead they have reasonably priced, carefully prepared fresh food. Halloumi and avocado salad boxes, maze boxes, pasties (incl. Vegan), pastries, cakes and great kids lunch bags (sandwich, babybel, crisps, fruit, juice) for £4. Good tea and alternative milks. The loos needed a clean and were a bit smelly with toilet roll on the floor but there were lots of them with no queuing. There was a baby changing area. All in all a really nice easy few hours spent being outside and active as a family.

Great place to take your children and dogs the walks and views are amazing .. has history of the 2nd world war..bike tracks. Playgrounds. Make sure you take note of parking fees. Pay when your leaving. Enjoy the walk .. has a pond for fishing , near the Glamping . Make sure you book if you want to go to the farm..

Very interesting place to visit, also have resident artists on monthly basis on 2nd floor

A lovely mill dates back to the early 1800s. Fully restored and open to the public some weekend, you will need to check the website. Carpark on site, park for free on Sunday.

One of the smaller museums you can visit on several floors that challenges your stair climbing skills 😂. Lots of interesting history pieces and knowledgeable volunteers. One of whom took us through a PowerPoint history of the Windmill.

Very interesting site,daughter renewed her wedding vows here. Nice surroundings small green area with benchs to the side great for photos etc.

An amazing historic building with heaps of history, plus a resident artist every month

Just the most perfect romantic place for pur wedding. The team are lovely too - thank you ensuring our day was as wonderful as the weather ❤️

Good activity to do for kids and adults. Friendly staff. I look forward to visiting again.

Not the best place for babies. I went with my baby 7 months, They have a space for under 5s, so all the kids of different ages in the same space! They don’t have many toys for babies and they are old and some are dirty! Wouldn’t recommend for under 2s! I think older kids will love it though! I may come back when my baby is older maybe

Not fantastic in the under 5 area. I took my 1 year old here for the first time and was advised to use the under 5 area which I thought was great. Problems after problems, adults walking sound on play equipment with shoes on walking over baby areas. Some kids not in socks which is beyond unhygienic in a area meant for young children Food and drink being consumed by adults and children in the play areas Over 5 year olds in the under 5 area keeping areas blocked from little ones The plastic houses absolutely filthy The ball bit filthy Adults leaving bottle of drinks in the baby area Slide in the baby area held up and secured with gaffa tape Not enough tables for guests to sit down if wanted to buy food/drink No over 12’s allowed on equipment but you have adults running around and causing a danger to smaller kids There is no staff monitoring the play areas and ensuring safety and rules being adhered to Never felt so disgusted and been to plenty of soft plays in Essex/Kent and this was unfortunately the worst.

This place is great, has its own parking, cafeteria and a huge place for playing. There are various sections to play, this somewhat divides the crowd. There is a toddler area for smaller kids with role play mini house, food truck, kitchen, ball pit and 4 slides. We enjoyed ourselves very much. It is advised for parents that want to tag along with kids, that they wear comfy clothes, preferably something that slides well on the slides. And brilliantly, there is a small football ground somewhere in the second level, well fenced so the ball can’t escape and children can’t fall. On the dark side: They were busy at the time we went, windows, doors were open and there were ventilation in place but still the air was a bit dense with all the running, sweating and possibly dust from the carpet.

Okay place. However, in the under 5’s area, toys are very dirty, sticky and outdated. With how much they charge for kids and adults they could at least put some batteries in some of the toys. Not sure what to think of it, it’s okay to go once in a while but the place needs a proper clean, toys need cleaning and they need to work for the kids to actually play with them. Ah, and the space smells very very funny.

Absolutely fantastic venue for kids parties. James went above and beyond to make our little one's birthday extra special, really appreciate it. Would highly recommend!

I visited here with my baby, it was filthy. These were balls of dust and hair in the under 5s area. The state of the toys were disturbing with a build up of dirt and muck on all of them. The sensory floor is held up with ductape and where it has come off there is mould. I wouldn’t recommend here if you have a baby had to scrub him down after. Very disappointing and the under 5s area was filled with older children running about.

I am writing to express my concern following our visit to your venue on July 1st, 2025, for a birthday celebration. While the event itself was joyful and the staff were courteous, the conditions inside the facility were unfortunately very uncomfortable due to extreme heat. With outside temperatures exceeding +30°C, the indoor environment became unbearably warm and stifling, making it difficult to breathe. It appeared that the cooling or air conditioning system was either not functioning or had been turned off. This created an unsafe atmosphere for both children and adults. Many of us were left wondering whether this was an intentional decision to encourage more purchases of cold refreshments, which, if true, would be highly concerning. One star for this.

Quieter beach along the Essex coach. It is a pebble beach with grass on the verge. Ample paid parking available. Car park isn’t 24 hours so locked at night. Would be a good place to enjoy a family day out. This is the best place to catch sunrise depending on perfect weather conditions.

It was a grey November day with the tide out, which means a long walk to the water, but a nice place to get fresh air . Lots of parking places too. We didn't try the new cafe,as we had eaten, but will review another time.

Lovely, peaceful beach with a grassy picnic area and tidal pool. Can also do an enjoyable walk to nearby Gunnesbury Park.

Lovely beach which faces the North Sea rather than the Thames Estuary. Lots of parking available in the local area (both free street parking and paid car park). Loads of green space as well as a reasonably sandy beach. This area is much quieter than Southend but there is a cafe here.

Fantastic place for a family gathering. Well kept area and grounds. Plenty of space for my 45+ family members to gathering and remember our brother Michael R.I.P.

One of my favorite beaches because there is a lot of open space, you can play ball games, fly kites, and we don't step on each other.

Quiet clean beach, with 2 nice cafes selling all the usual stuff like ice creams etc. Plenty of parking. Little playground on a grassy area with plenty of benches and picnic tables. 2 sets of public toilets at both ends of the car park, very clean and regularly maintained. There is a small sandy area before walking down to a shingly beach which is good for small children and sand castle building. Felt very safe and family friendly. You could see people doing water sports in the distance. Only reason it’s not 5 stars is that I didn’t see any showers to rinse of the sand. CHECK THE TIDE TIMES, so you enjoy some swimming and chilling. BRING WATER SHOES your feet will thank you

Beach is quiet and very nice to see . With slow tides and all . But lots of sea weeds are on the shore and also dead crabs , which makes the beach little uncomfortable with bad smell. All other things are very good , parking is on road and very nice .

The whole marine drive from Leigh on sea to Southend via westcliff is a much do ,, peaceful and cozy cafes, warm people with dog ..charming sands and weaves and

The tide was completely out, a lot of clay, actual beach area is quite narrow with pebbles and sand, when the tide eventually came in it didn't stop, eventually everyone had to get off the beach as it ended up completely submerged, that's nature for you. Lots of food and drink around, places to buy bucket and spade, that kinda thing, water was calm, not the clearest but this ain't the Maldives. 🤷🏿‍♂️

Lovely sandy beach. It does get busy really quick. However, there is a long stretch of the beach but ur not far from the main. Couple of eating drinking places around. Green ground as well as sandy patch for some beach fun. It helps that there are planty cafes that serve some delicious food. Nice ice cream parlours that serve the famous Rossis of Southend ice cream.

Beautiful place with or without the sea 😊. The water in the sea is a bit green, but you don't have that feeling of dirty water. It's just impossible to see truth. When low tide goes on, it's very good experience just take a walk "inside" the see but with almost dry feet.

not my fave, right next to the road and since close to southend always packed, but there are some places to grab ice cream, fish n chips along the road and cafes, but the beach itself isnt that nice to sit around on as its quite rocky and has alot of seaweed washed up (saw a bunch of dead crabs laying around too) and theres some nasty smell from the water, the tide is also way too close, you have to cross the road for toilets too.. wouldnt really recomment

Amazing beach with nice restaurants and theme park

One of my favourite parks and the cafe is good as well and dog friendly, it is also a short walk to the seafront. Unfortunately the playground needs updating, the play equipment needs attention, I understand residents have been onto the council about this, so hopefully be sorted soon but a beautiful park.

Great Park nice for dog walkers. Good for a picnic. Has a cafe. Tennis court. Petanque court. Cricket played weekends. Play football. Has Basketball court. Big lake with wild life and radio controled boating lake. Music in the park in summer check cafe for details.

I love this park. Was my GSD Harriet’s favourite place and was the last place I ever took her before she passed. Will always hold a special place in my head sitting with her looking at the swans and the ducks I just find it so peaceful at night when the lights round the pond are on

This is a really lovely park, to have a walk around the pond, see the swans with their babies. Gorgeous cafe, very friendly, always busy, clean! The children’s park area, is unfortunately going down hill! It needs a complete upgrade! The equipment is either partially removed or is aging! The soft floor areas are disintegrating! It needs a complete replacement to bring it back up to the amazing play area it used to be!

Great park, field, play area, cafe, gardens, rose beds, table tennis. Great for Dog walking, enjoyable views, large pond/lake for viewing ducks and swans and seagulls. Free available parking in 2 local car parks. Also within walking distance of the Sea Front.

a lovely park with a special focus on ducks and other related pound birds. I particularly appreciated the diversity (i.e. age, social, pets) in attendance... definately the most inclusive park I ever visited

Lovely lovely park. Well kept and looked after by everyone. Took kids there to feed the ducks and we were greeted by this majestic birds. Don't see swans very often and not so close, but today they were eating bread out of kids hand. Beautiful.

The town itself was really cute and friendly. The beach is a mix of sand, rocks and cigarette butts. I took 4 cigarette out of my kids pile of sand. The tide was out (though it was only a few hours from high tide) and there was no sea. Went to explore the mud/sand tidal pools looking for creatures but mostly just found worms - I think they're called lugworms.

Tiny beach. Kids loved it. Sand castles built and wiped out by high tide. Great fun. Toilets really close which helped with small kids plus not far to walk to stuff our faces with seafood near the crooked billet.

Cute little fisherman village with good transportation links, high quality restaurants options, walkable seaside including access to Bell Wharf beach and impressive tide activity. You can see the water 2 miles in the horizon and few hours later you have 5.5 meters of deep water just in front of you.

Amazing day out with the kids, although small but it wasn't cramped. There was more to the place, loads of restaurants and café. Toilet was clean, and security was visible. Parking closer to the beach might be tricky so I'll suggest park at the station or other car park close-by. Beach was clean, muddy underneath but good. Beach can be better!

Very nice little beach but the car park only holds about 12 cars so don't bother in summer! Narrow street to get to the beach and pub so not suitable for giant Land Rovers and 4x4s. People also wander aimlessly in the road.

Very lovely village, like old seaman village. Lots of bars and restaurants around. Unfortunately we didn’t see sea because of tide. But has little sea pool for kids on beach and my child’s really enjoyed there. Just please be aware of parking, because doesn’t have many parking area and don’t forget to pay parking charge, 1 pound per hour. I can absolutely recommend there

Nice beach to spent time with kids

It's nice, long and a bit windy! The cool thing about this beach is all the lights around and about. Typical seaside vibes with your nearby park, adventure island. Although the beach is kind of small (it's quite 'shallow') it's position and situation against the rest of the landscape really works in its favour so it forms part of a much greater whole.

It’s not the best of beaches. There’s a small sand/stone beach then about a mile of mud of the Thames estuary. Okay to see in your beach hut but not a lot else going on. If you have young kids you may be better heading further west towards Southend

A nice beach, with various other kids entertainment facilities!

Beautiful beach, very convenient car park, with toilets, cafe, playground next to it.

A fantastic destination if you want to spent time next to the 🌊 sea. The beach is not sandy but.the shells and the stones makes.it all more.exciting for adults and for.children to explore. There is the icecream from the uncle toms caring that is a must for every visitor. There are numerous colourfully beach huts and is peacefully quiet in the late afternoons. There is a spacious carpark that charges very little however you have to be careful about the closing time. Dogs are not allowed on the beach from may to September.

This is a lovely little beach that my boyfriend and I come to often. It has a little coffee and snack bar during peak season, benches to sit on and a toilet if you are able bodied and can walk to it. Otherwise you can drive to it. We decided to go at night on a whim and it was scary! So stick to daylight hours.

Ideal atmosphere for spending a restful time. The sea is outstanding (keeping a note of the tide times would be handy). Close to the car park. Surrounded by lovely views spreading to the very end of the front and facing Sheerness Port.

A fabulous shop. The item we promised our son for his bday was discontinued so we searched high and low, found it on Argosy website. Phoned the shop to check it was the right version and kind worker did just that. Travelled from an hour to get to the shop, will definitely come again - it had everything you'd want!

Fabulous toy store. Family owned and 78 years in business. Friendly folks that make shopping fun!

What a gorgeous toy shop. A step back in time when kids were kids. They have everything. We were in Southend for a week and went back 3 times. Excellent staff, prices and range

First visit and it is very surprisingly large. The store has a compact frontage but as soon as you step up, through the front door, there is a great selection of toys. There is alot of choice downstairs and even more upstairs. The brand new boxed lego and the pre-owned lego is all on display on the first floor, as well as scooters and funko pops. Great store, nice team of welcoming people and very well stocked.

This tin was advertised as having 3 Surging Sparks packs & 3 Stellar Crown packs. Great customer service & very polite, helpful staff.

Amazing shop. Don't take the kids though, you'll buy everything. All joking aside, fantastic store, amazing staff and very reasonable prices from a shop that feels so personal. Will be spending a lot of money here.

I wish I could rate it ten stars but I love the little shop.i am a Lego collector and this shop is the perfect place to buy Lego and other stuff