Southend pier in the moonlight

Relax and unwind on a perfect break

Southend-On-Sea

Essex, England South East



Review added: 21/10/2006 12:09
By: velvet202 (£0.00 earned from reviews) Earn £££'s

"In Southend-on-Sea, they say that grapes preceded mankind. At the end of the summer months, the vineyards are gearing up for the vendemmia, the grape harvest – a time for real celebration as well as hard work – and probably the best time of the year to visit this beautiful English rose of a town in the South East of England. The weather is perfect, calm and usually warm for English standards; the rolling hills are turning russet and gold and the sea is irresistibly inviting.
This part of England has been a holiday favourite with wine connoisseurs for a hundred years and its length is dotted with tiny B&Bs and side entrances to privately owned restaurants, of which each and every single one boasts to make their own wine. We stayed at the Essex Country Hotel, a delightful place with a shady garden. It's the perfect spot for a mellow autumn weekend break. There's the magnificent walking trails for gentle strolls through miles and miles of vineyards, while in the oldest part of the town, restaurants such as The Vineyard Restaurant serve some of the best food in the region.
It's also a great base from which to hire a car (if you're not traveling by one already) and go exploring: there are Thames barge races near the pier, Southend's Air Shows and world famous Red Arrows shows, as well as miles of untouched nature and relaxing sereneness, to name but a few.

One of the reasons why we actually came here was to spend a couple days at the seaside. Of course it was also the amusement arcade along the beach that we (actually, my husband) had in mind. I must say I hadn't realized that there is so much else to see nearby, including visiting the Westcliff Casino, the world oldest theme park Kursaal and strolling down one of the world's longest piers while listening to the sound of seabirds (which is more romantic than visiting the amusement arcade). For older visitors, visitors with children or these, who don't fancy a walk, the pier railway will happily take you on a ride.
Part of any sightseeing tour should also be visiting Southend's Priory Museum, which was found in the early 12th century. Probably not as big as other museums, it still offers an astonishing collection of various displays on the regional wildlife and culture. However, the roofs of the buildings and the planetarium are the actual main attractions. Entry to the museums is free of charge, but there is a small fee to pay to enter the planetarium. The Sea-life Centre aquarium with its hundreds of fish is also worth a look and a must-see for visitors with children.
Clarence Road, Southend's church, is beautiful too. The walls are surrounded by parkland and are planted with trees so you can walk in the shade. Don't miss this beautiful building with its wonderful medieval carvings and sculptures on your visit.

Both my husband and I love wine, so we asked at the hotel if there were any places we could buy local wines. We thought they'd recommend a shop – instead, they sent us directly to a winemaker near Southend. The welcoming wineries that pepper the region are a wonderful option for days out nearby.

All in all, Southend is great for a weekend break to relax and unwind. Although the entertainment arcade can be quite noisy during the day and at night, the town and the beach have a quiet and soothing atmosphere."

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