Southend Pier Short Walk

Gentle stroll out into the Thames Estuary along the world's longest pleasure pier

Where	Start and Finish: Southend station
Length	3.5 miles (5.6 km) from the station. 2.6 miles (4.3 km) if you park next to it.
Time	1 hour 30 minutes.
Travel	Southend has 2 stations, a few minutes walk apart. Trains to Southend Central go from Fenchurch Street (2 per hour, 50 mins) and to Southend Victoria from Liverpool Street (1 hour 5 mins, 4 per hour). Make sure it's not a stopping train! £14.70 super off peak return at weekends. C2C (trains from Fenchurch Street) have serveral obfuscated discounts. Buy online from the C2C website 3 days in advance to get a 40% discount (makes a difference Mon-Fri when super-off-peak tickets aren't available), railcards get a further 1/3 off. A Senior Rover (day pass) is £10 (£7 London Freedom Pass holders). Either 65+, or 60+ with a Senior Railcard By car: Pay and Display on-street parking along the seafront road, about £1.50/hour. Free after 6pm. Free on inland roads a miles or so either side of the 'pier' area.
Walk Notes	This is a lovely stroll along Southend Pier, the world's longest pleasure pier (1.34 miles / 2.16 km long, in each direction!) [Wikipedia] out into the Thames Estuary. It may be a bracing walk in winter! As an alternative to walking, there's a pier railway. 2 trains (diesel) per hour. At the end of the pier is a glass fronted cafe (think coffee and panini rather than egg and chips) or you could take a picnic, and a lifeboat station with a sun terrace. It a nice spot with a breeze and for looking out over the estuary and shipping lanes. The Cafe may be closed off season. Cost. Walk: £2 (£1 Nov-Mar). Train £5.35 return. Opening Times: Closes: Aug-Sep: 9pm, Oct & Apr: 6pm, Nov-Mar: 6pm (Closed Xmas Day and Mon-Tue except school holidays). Last admission 1 hour before. NB: Google maps has different opening times from the pier's page on the council website. Train times: out xx:00 and xx:30, back xx:15, xx:45 The small cafe building at the end of the pier used for Jammie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast is only a film set, it isn't actually a cafe in real life, just a kiosk for selling ice cream in high season.
Nearby	If driving, do stop off at Hadleigh Castle (SS7 2AP, English Heritage, free), a ruined castle with a lovely views over the river. Leigh on Sea and Canvey Island seafront is worth a visit too. By train, Leigh is a station on the Fenchurch Street - Southend line.

C2C	C2C, who runs trains on the London Fenchurch Street - Benfleet - Leigh-on-Sea - Southend-on-Sea - Shoeburyness line, have serveral obfuscated discounts. Tickets on weekends are 20% cheaper ("super-off-peak"). Railcards give an extra 1/3 off. Buy online from the C2C website (ony) 3 days in advance to get a 40% discount (makes a difference Mon-Fri when super-off-peak tickets aren't available). Railcards give an extra 1/3 off. Use on any train, but no refunds due to an admin charge if you don't go. A Senior Rover (day pass) is £10 (£7 London Freedom Pass holders) for 65+
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Help	🚧 🌤 🌧 UK SE Start walking Using GPS data Large print National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234
Version	Apr-20 Andrew
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