IS THIS THE WORST SEASIDE TOWN FOR VAN LIFE?
Southend on Sea was recently voted one of the UK’s worst seaside towns, but I wanted to find out if it truly deserved the title. So, I traveled down in my little converted campervan to investigate.
The first thing I noticed was how expensive the parking is. It can cost up to £20 for 13 hours. While you are by the sea, so a much higher premium for the luxury of being near the seafront and all its attractions is expected, I call this a tax on lazy people.
Exploring the Town Center
After an hour of walking around the seafront and exploring the high street, it did not take long to notice the sheer amount of fast food and betting shops littered all down the strip. This is a sad fact that rundown areas with lower incomes often suffer from, being three times more likely to have these sorts of shops, only affecting the locals who live there.
I started to feel a sense of danger. Nothing happened to me, but there was an uneasy feeling that something could kick off at any moment. Not to mention the amount of beer cans in everyone’s hand, keeping in mind it was only 9 a.m. I saw more beers than I did coffee! But each to their own!
Southend Pleasure Pier
To shake off that feeling, I thought I would go for a wholesome walk along the pier. This is Southend’s claim to fame, having the longest pleasure pier in the world, stretching out a massive 1.3 miles. I assume this title could be easily beaten with today’s technology, but then again, I doubt anyone sees the appeal for a pleasure pier these days, so perhaps it’s a title Southend will keep, for now.
To my surprise, you had to pay a fee of £3.10 to step foot on the pier. My understanding was the fare was only for the train and it was free to walk. But for such a small amount, I did not think to question it. The walk along the pier was pleasant and quite an experience to be that far out to sea with 360 views all around, which I must admit I did quite like.
Discovering the Surrounding Coast
Getting quite tired of the tourist attraction, I decided to explore the surrounding areas of Southend. First was East to Shoeburyness beach. This was a far cry from what Southend high street was like. This area of Southend seemed more like the seaside town you would expect to see: colorful beach huts, seagulls squawking in the air, and a beach you could possibly spend the day on if it was hot.
Happy with my discovery, I decided to head west down to Leigh on Sea, an area which I know personally dislikes being associated with Southend and refuses to be acknowledged as such. Unfortunately for them, they do land in the Southend catchment area. But I can see why they would want to not be seen as the same place. This is like stepping into a new world. Old cobbled streets, fishermen’s boats on the docks, and the nicest seaside pubs I have seen, which was a delight to stop in for a pint after a long day of walking.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Southend is many things and should not only be painted with the tar and feathered brush just for its main high street. I would recommend Southend for a day trip to van lifers, but for a long term stay, I would say there are many better places you could visit.
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