Surprise Visit To Southend Pier

The Mr planned a surprise trip to Southend Pier last week which I had absolutely no clue about until we got to Southend. The Mr took us up to the viewing platform and pointed out the pier letting us know that’s where we were going!

Southend Pier

I’ve visited Southend a fair few times over the years, I took the girls last summer for a day on the beach and fun in the arcades. I’ve wanted to go on the Pier since I was a child. As it was my first time I was as excited as the girls. I caught some lovely shots for #MySundayPhoto too!

Southend Pier Railway

Sir John Bejeman

Southend Pier has it’s own railway so you can either walk the length of the pier or take the train, the Mr had also planned for us to take the train. We love trains and the girls are still so impressed you can take a train to the end of the pier.

Enjoying Southend Pier Railway

Although a little nervous to begin with Eva really enjoyed the train journey and looking out all around us, it’s definitely different looking back at land whilst being on a train! Izzy was a little unsure too but still enjoyed it. She loved watching out the doors whilst holding her daddy’s hand.

Looking out the train

The railway is 1.25 miles long, the Pier itself is 1.34 miles although there is a sign at 1.33 miles marking the end of the pier which of course the girls had to get a picture next to!

End of the Pier

End of Southend Pier

RNLI

At the end of the pier there are a few huts selling treats and drinks. One hut has a load of old posters from over the years. There is also a small lifeboat museum at the end of the pier which the girls enjoyed looking around.

Southend Pier lifeboats

Eva stood and read about the uniform & equipment the lifeguards need to wear. It was quite informative for such a tiny little place. It was interesting looking at the lifeboats and reading the information leaflets about them.

RNLI kit

The RNLI do an absolutely amazing job, their lifeboat crews and lifeguards saved 558 lives in 2016! They can only do this with support, whilst this isn’t a sponsored or affiliated post in anyway, if you would like to donate to their page to help support them then please do, you can find their page here.

Treats on the Pier

Before heading back to the Pier Railway to go back to land we stopped for a drink. The Mr had a beer on the Pier whilst the girls had ice cream! He had a pint of Wallasea Wench, brewed in Great Wakering in Essex.

The Mr is enjoying a #beeronthepier

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We headed back to the Railway but missed our train by a minute or so. We stopped at one of the small huts for a stick of rock each. A seaside tradition! I picked up this yummy cream egg flavoured one!

Cream Egg rock from Southend Pier

Heading back to land

The Southend Pier railway really is beautiful, I could watch the trains for hours! I managed to get a few lovely shots of the railway. I’m no professional but I do love taking photo’s like one below, as the train was pulling in to take us back to land.

Approaching train

Arcades

We headed to the arcades afterwards. After all you can’t go to the seaside without spending £1/2 on the 2p machines! Both girls managed to win themselves prizes to take home, Emoji key rings for Eva & Paw patrol erasers for Izzy made a lovely end to the day.

Arcades

It was a fantastic surprise day out and we all loved our visit to the world’s longest pier. The railway was absolutely brilliant too and I can’t wait to go back again!

Have you ever visited Southend and the Pier before? Did you know it is the longest pier in the world?

My Sunday Photo – Southend Pier

This weeks photo’s for My Sunday Photo – Southend Pier were taken last week on a surprise visit to the longest pier in the world! 😱 These are some of my absolute favourite photo’s. It’s amazing to think all 3 have been there for so many years. The pier has an amazing railway too. I love visiting Southend in the summer, there is always something different to see or do.

Southend pier bell
Southend Pier Graffiti
My Sunday Photo - Southend Pier Railway

Have you ever visited Southend Pier before? What do you think of My Sunday Photo – Southend Pier?

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A Day Out In Southend

Southend-On-Sea has been a favourite place for me since my childhood. I only went a few times as it can be quite an expensive day out but it always seemed so magical with all the rides, arcades & the beaches. It’s changed a lot over the year’s & there’s so much to do along the seafront, which can be pricey, but as we found it doesn’t have to be.

Normally the travel costs are a big issue for us but C2C are letting children travel for £1 when you buy an adult ticket. The return journey only cost £11.30 for the 3 of us.

I’d read on facebook about the lagoon beach & decided to head there first as the tide was going to be out for most of the day. I was impressed to find the deck chairs were free! We even managed to find some to sit on even though it was quite busy.

Eva was so excited & couldn’t wait to get in the water so she ran off instantly and went in about waist deep before thinking she was drowning and coming out again. She did go back in a few times to her knees though.

Southend

Izzy on the other hand wasn’t impressed with the water at all and spent almost half an hour on a deck chair. Digging up small bits of sand into her bucket trying to avoid actually touching it.

Eventually I managed to get Izzy to sit in the sand and play properly whilst Eva was turned into a mermaid. They both had loads of fun especially with Izzy tearing apart one fin every time slim began the other haha!

Izzy eventually decided to brave a wander and ended up playing on the play frame with 2 other girls, another Isobella (Bella) and an Ava which was quite amusing when their mum told me!

We stayed at the lagoon beach for well over an hour and a half and on a slightly cooler day I imagine you could sit down there for hours. I would definitely recommend visiting the Lagoon if your ever in Southend.

We went on the hunt for some toilets after Eva attempted to shower herself off using the free shower when we left. I forgot about the adventure island toilets after a long walk we ended up having to buy a drink in a pub so Slim got himself a pint. I had a Coke and we got the girls an fruit shoot icy.

We actually had a much cheaper day out than I expected too. Admittedly we did put a few pounds into the 2p change machines for the girls though which they really enjoyed! 

Eva won a minion pencil and an owl keyring, she was so proud of herself for winning but was sad Izzy hadn’t won anything so when we got home she decided to give Izzy the pencil who gave her a lovely big kiss and cuddle & said thank you!

The girls were pretty exhausted already after another hour or so in the arcades. Especially as it was such a hot day, so we decided to take a slow walk to find a stall where we could buy some sticks of rock to take home. The girls spotted a slush puppy stand. And decided they wanted one instead of rock or sweets and decided to get a Twister Straw cup each to drink so they could take home the cups afterwards, Eva got excited as she had the last pink cup & Izzy of course went for a red one!

I asked the girls what they wanted to do next & as they were tired they wanted to head home.

We took a slow walk back to the station watching the buskers perform. Then stopping to treat the girls to McDonald’s before getting our train home.

Although we only spent around 4 hours in Southend & spent very little money, it was a lovely day out and the girls really enjoyed themselves. Both of them kept thanking me & Eva said it was the best day ever! It was a lot less stressful than I expected it to be too so it’s given me quite a boost.

There’s so much to do in Southend and I am hoping C2C run the same scheme next summer. I found out too late this years. I know Eva really wants to go back to Adventure Island for the rides & the sea life centre as its been a few years since she last went & Izzy has yet to go.

Have you visited any Essex beaches this Summer? What did you think of them?