Address: Pier Hill, Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom
Phone: +441702447030
Rating: 4.6
based on 485 reviews.
Southend Pier Experience
Pros:
"It's a very traditional and smart pier experience, much more fun and better presented than I was expecting."
"The train stops at about 4/5 along the length of the pier, and you are immediately into the attractions, cafes and restaurants."
"The maintenance work on the pier is done to a very good standard. Love the new higher level, above the RNLI gift shop at the end of the pier."
"The railway to and from the pier runs every half hour, and is a short 5 minute ride."
"Southend Pier is an iconic and charming destination that offers a delightful experience for visitors of all ages."
"I was invited to visit Southend Pier as part of the National Pier Of The Year celebrations and was amazed by the size of the pier."
"Wonderful pier for relaxing walk, if you don't like that then train journey is available from one end to other."
"An amazing Pier! ... Longest Victorian Pier in the world, over a mile long ! ... So glad the Pier is still here to be enjoyed by generations to come."
Cons:
"Although the adventure island was not open due to winter season. They only opens weekend and during holiday."
"I thought that there could have been more entertainment or other stalls though."
"Very busy during the summer and expect to pay £12 for all day parking."
"Good pier, nice walk, nice new train, but as this is Southends main attraction why not a) make it free of charge, and b) open it later than 7pm in the height of summer."
"Just one thing to note: if you are with kids then please note about some safety issues near Bob the builder and Thomas train. See picture. The safety net should be installed."
"The longest pier in the world! Not a thing of beauty, it was built for practicality."
"It can be crowded on weekends."
"It was great to visit Southend. The weather was a disappointment, our clothes are still drying out."
Pricing and Accessibility
Pros:
"Entry fee to walk: £2.50 per adult. Train: £6 for a return journey."
"You can buy tickets in the sales office, not required in advance."
"A great place for a sea walk. It is better to choose a combined option, take a walk in one direction, and take a train ride in the other."
"Nice day out for the hole family with plenty to see and do."
"At 2km long this is a great way to spend some quiet time away from the hustle and bustle of Southend."
"The ticket process was very easy and straight forward. They have child fares, adult fares and concession fares."
"The trains are quarter to and quarter past the hour going and on the hour and half past coming back."
"There's actually more at the end of the pier than you'll think, a giant sand pit, mini golf, boat trips."
Cons:
"Just one thing to note: if you are with kids then please note about some safety issues near Bob the builder and Thomas train."
"One of the longest piers in the world, this was built in the 1800s. It's a nice long walk on the pier till the edge."
"The train is lovely but expensive and it's a shame that once at the end of the pier there is nothing to do or see."
"The pier opens at 10 15am, the information for this is on the website or to the side of the door, where it is often missed."
"The train is not open yet but you could walk the pier for just £2/ adult and £1/ child."
"The train ride along the pier was not particularly comfortable on the hard plastic seats."
"Personally i think its a con that you have to pay to walk down this pier just to find food and drink places at the end."
"The pier is over 2.1km/1.3miles long- it's good to experience the train in one direction and then walk the other."
Cafes and Restaurants
Pros:
"We got some snacks and drinks at the modern place at the very end. It had great views and big glass walls."
"A good day out, RNLI gift shop and launch bay, small restaurants, bar, ice cream, coffee, fish and chips."
"Lovely pier with a train that will take you to nearly the end. There is a cafe and lifeboat station at the end."
"At the end of the pier there are many cafes, you can buy a cap of coffee or tea and enjoy the sound of the sea and nature."
"Southend Pier, the longest pier in the world, measuring 1.3 miles. It was a fun experience to take a leisurely walk along it."
"There are toilets at the end of the pier but apparently people don't know to flush 😒 and leave toilet paper soaked in wee on the seats 🤢🤮🤬)."
"Enjoyed ice creams when we got to the end and had a look round the lovely RNLI shop too."
"The beauty of this place on a lovely summers day, makes every picture a canvas to remember!"
Cons:
"I thought that there could have been more entertainment or other stalls though."
"It's a shame to have to mark this only 2 stars, but the experience was tarnished by the queues."
"Unfortunately the sat we went, the weather wasn't that good, we arrived by boat, we walked the whole length of the pier."
"The new pier trains were out of service, so had to use the old one, as the wife was in her wheelchair along with others it was a bit awkward."
"Sadly the café at the end of the pier with indoor seating is closed for refurbishment. (June 2021) The smaller café is open for takeaway drinks."
"Southend Pier was an amazing place back in its day but has suffered several tragedies in the form of bad fires to a large boat hitting."
"It was a bit of an anti climax unfortunately. We were excited to go on the train but when we got to the end, the only facility with indoor seating."
"Unfortunately the sat we went, the weather wasn't that good, we arrived by boat, we walked the whole length of the pier."