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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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?