It was once known as being one of the UK’s worst seaside towns – but now it’s been compared to a beach in California
Matt Lee Senior Multimedia Journalist
14:00, 03 Jan 2026
Southend Adventure Island(Image: Laura Fidler/Reach PLC)
Essex is often known for having built-up towns and cities, being the birthplace of radio, and for being home to The Only Way Is Essex. However, the county also boasts a vast coastline with numerous areas that prove popular among tourists.
Southend-on-Sea is one of those locations that thousands visit each year, with crowds flocking from all over during the summer months. Nowadays, it’s a coastal area that many people love, offering a variety of family-friendly activities to enjoy.
But it’s not always been that way for the new city. The Express recently reported the Essex resort was ranked 41st out of 50 in a Which? magazine survey of the UK’s best seaside destinations last year.
The poll, based on beaches, attractions, scenery, and value for money, saw Southend fall towards the bottom of the list. Many visitors have also been left disappointed in the past.
The destination town has received numerous negative reviews on TripAdvisor. Tony V posted: “Never seen a beach like this in my whole life. There was no water, you have to walk maybe 3,4km through dirt, shells, dead crabs and oysters, and maybe reach some water. There’s also no sand, rocks. Absolutely horrible experience, we will never return.”
The Express says another person wrote on TripAdvisor: “This is by far the worst seaside town I’ve ever been in. Smells and not much to do there. Very overrated.”
Views from the end of Southend Pier(Image: EssexLive)
But whilst some are quick to criticise the seaside town, many have been more positive – and one has even left an incredibly glowing review of Southend’s Jubilee Beach. Ian Bell left a review on Google that said: “Very clean pebbly beach, in fact the whole place was clean. Toilets were open and fine. Wasn’t too busy.”
Domi Dee added: “Nice long beach. Love the seashells and quiet vibe.” Nicola Palmer continued: “Lovely beach, so many great amenities, but ruined by visitors leaving their rubbish even though ample bins are available. Very frustrating.”
Akber Ali also said: “Jubilee Beach is a clean, family-friendly spot with a mix of sandy and rocky areas. It offers great views and nearby amenities, perfect for relaxing or enjoying outdoor activities, though it can get crowded on sunny days.”
The user LGabor even went so far as to compare Southend’s Jubilee Beach to Venice Beach in California, USA. They posted on Google: “It’s in the UK, but if you are there, you feel like you’re in the USA. It is similar to Venice Beach in America and has a very nice pier with a train on it!”
And the seaside town seems to be on the rise with festivals like City Jam, Lazydays Festival, South East Dance Festival, and the Halloween Parade drawing in crowds. Southend Pier is one of the main attractions for many people, stretching 1.33 miles into the Thames Estuary as the longest pleasure pier in the world.
Southend is easily accessible from London with multiple railway stations being served by c2c and Greater Anglia routes. It’s roughly an hour-long journey from London to Southend.