Browse the site
Southend's seafront service is back daily for the summer holidays. Running every 30 minutes, you can catch it at every bus stop in between Leigh Station and Shoeburyness. For visitors to Southend, you can get off the train at either Leigh or Chalkwell train station and find the bus stop directly outside.
The cost of the bus is £5.50 adults return, £3.50 5-15 year olds and free for under 5's. A single fare is £3.50 adults and £2.50 5-15 year olds. There is also an option for an all day ticket for £10 for an adult and £7 for 5-15 year olds. A group ticket is £28 for 4 people (2 adults max). You can then jump on and off as many times as you like throughout the day.
Here are some of our recommendations of where you can stop along the way.
The Ship Pub. Stop here for: Walks into Old Leigh
The Peterboat - Known for it's large beer garden facing the sea
The Hatch - A cute cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. Serving refreshments and ice-creams.
Bell Wharf Beach - A small beach next door to Old Leigh, with nearby toilets, cafe's, pubs and ice-cream kiosks.
Trail Cafe - A new outdoorsy cafe with lots of wholesome food and drinks!
Leigh Heritage Centre and Museum - A small museum that exhibits objects, documents, photographs and any other item whatsoever connected with the history of the town of Leigh-on-Sea.
Marine Parade. Stop here for:
Scenic views over the Estuary at Beltons Hill nature Reserve.
The Grove - Boasting panoramic views on their outdoor terrace. A family-friendly bistro restaurant serving food all day.
Leigh-On-Sea Post office. Stop off here for:
Leigh Library Gardens - Cute gardens with a small park including a small climbing frame, two sings, roundabout and see-saw. There is a larger tunnel slide down the hill if you walk further into the gardens.
Gemma's of Leigh - Cafe with lots of buggy space. Very child-friendly with a good sized garden area.
Dash Cafe - Perfect for coffee and drinks on the go
Mini and me play cafe - A new play cafe for under 5's but also provides activities for older children.
Leigh-On-Sea Broadway:
Wilma's Bakery is a great place to stop to grab hot & cold drinks, ice-creams, cakes and brownies!
The Estuary - Located on the Broadway, a great place for the whole family to have breakfast, lunch or dinner! Serving a variety of food for all ages.
Create 98 - A lovely coffee/light bites spot where you can browse the craft menu too!
Lemon Witch - Lemon Witch has a bus stop just outside so is a good starting point if you're already on the broadway. They serve crepes, pancakes, shakes and ice-creams and also run lots of fun activities over the holidays including biscuit decorating and slime-making.
Crave - Selling award winning deserts to eat in or on the go. From brownies, waffles, donuts and ice-cream!
You can also walk from here to Leigh Road to visit the likes of Phabulous cafe, Toppers & Toast, Palomas or Squeeze Cafe.
Chalkwell Station - Stop off here for:
Chalkwell Beach - A fully accessible beach, with toilets, plenty of cafes and kiosks as well as a crabbing pool. Please check tide times here!
Saltwalter Beach Cafe - A friendly cafe/restaurant selling food, drinks and ice-cream. With seating indoors and out.
Chalkwell Shelter - More direct access to the beach
Westcliff Palmeria Arches - Stop here for:
The Estuary - Seafood and grill
Padrinos - A traditional, family-friendly italian restaurant if you fancy a bigger meal.
Southend Pier Lift
Jump off and head towards Southend High street. Here you can visit:
Southend Cliff Lift - The Cliff Lift, is a funicular railway, constructed in 1912. Donations welcome.
Indie Rock - A fun indoor climbing wall, featuring a small soft play area on selected days. A lovely cafe serving small refreshments with a play area for the little ones!
Caddies - A unique 9-hole crazy golf course, shuffleboard, a giant ball pit and battle bumper cars. Finish off with quirky cocktails and mocktails.
King Pins - An interactive bowling alley located near the seafront. Featuring shuffleboard, arcade games and AR darts. Also serving food and drinks.
Adventure Island - Obviously a popular destination whether you're local or a visitor. Great fun for all ages with various sized rides and indoor soft play.
Southend Pier - The world's longest pleasure pier and a great place for a walk or jump on the pier train. At the end you can find food, drinks and Ice-cream at Tea with the tide and the Off-Shore restaurant.
Sealife Adventure
Get off here for Sealife Adventure or visit Ye Olde Chippy for some 'proper' fish and chips. There's a small soft play in here too!
Grumpy's diner is great stop for lunch too!
Arnold Palmer crazy golf course is just behind Sealife and right on the seafront and has some really fun obstacles on their course.
This is also very close to the Splash Fountains which are on every day throughout the summer, located right next to Jubilee beach park.
Eastern Esplanade Coach car park: Stop here for:
Southchurch Park - A lovely park where you can feed the ducks, have lunch in the cafe or pop into the playground.
Billy Hundreds - Fish and tapa restaurant directly on the beach
Thorpe Bay: Stop here for:
Uncle Toms cabin: Stop here for:
Uncle Toms cabin - Perfect for a bite to eat. Also selling snacks, drinks and ice-creams with indoor and outdoor seating.
Shoebury Common park - A fairly new park with lots of equipment/swings/ roundabouts and sea-themed climbing frames.
Shoebury Common Beach - A nice stretch of beach which tends to be quieter than Chalkwell or Southend
Shoeburyness, Campfield Road: Stop here for:
Shoeburyness, East Beach Stop here for:
Have you been on the Open Top Bus? Where else would you recommend? Let us know here
