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Welcome! From bumps to teens we have it covered.
This is your one-stop site for everything you need to know about living in Southend with children.

Mums guide to Southend planner
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FEATURE

Kickstart your summer holiday organisation with our downloadable planner sheet!

We've started adding lots of events to our What's On page for the summer holidays and with so much to chose from already you might find our downloadable summer holiday planner useful.  

Thanks to our very talented colleague Jane at Mum's guide to Romford who put this together and kindly made a Southend version for us to share with you.  We know that many of you found it really useful last year because we've already had requests for it! 

⬇️ Click here to download

πŸ–¨οΈ Print 

πŸ“ and check out our 'What's On page' and 'Things to do' to start filling it in.  

We will of course keep adding more events and activities to the website as we hear about them, so do keep checking back.

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Feature

A great day out for every summer is fruit picking and it's fun for the whole family. We don't have many farms that you can pick your own near Southend unfortunately, but we've pulled together the closest. Always check before travelling what and if/what fruit is available, depending on how much has been picked the day before. Most PYO farms require you to book before visiting.

Click here to find out more about these PYO farms

πŸ“ Hilltop Farm - Benfleet, SS7 1PH (Approximately 15 - 20 minutes from Southend)

πŸ“ Lathcoats Farm - Great Baddow, Chelmsford. CM2 8LX (approximately 30 minutes from Southend)

πŸ“Little Mountains Farm (approximately 45-50 minutes from Southend)

πŸ“ Cammas Hall Farm - Hatfield Broad Oak. CM22 7JT (approximately 50 minutes from Southend)

πŸ“ Foxes Farm Produce - Colchester. CO6 3PR (approximately 1 hour from Southend)

πŸ“ McLauchlans of Boxted - Boxted Berries - CO4 5RB (approximately 1 hour from Southend)

Is fruit picking on your list this summer? If you go somewhere new, tell us about it here

Monthly Picks

The Summer Reading Challenge is free and runs from Thursday 24 July to Saturday 30 August. You can join in at any of Southend's 6 libraries.

🌳This year's theme is Story Garden - Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors. It will help children use their imagination by reading stories and learning how nature and storytelling go together in a fun and magical way.

How it works
Join the challenge at any of our libraries from 12 July (or at any time during the challenge).
Borrow books you like and read them at home.
Come back to the library and tell us about the books you read. You will get a collector's card and a sticker for each one.
Keep collecting rewards as you read more books.
The rewards are as follows:

Read 3 books - you will get a bookmark
Read 6 books - you will get: A medal
A certificate
A chance to win prizes like tickets from:

Caddies
Adventure Island
Southend Theatres (Pantomime)
Southend United Football Club

Children under 4 can join the mini challenge. It is a simpler challenge where you read or share 6 books with a grown.

Find out more here 

WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK


28th May 2025-05-28 2025-09-02 https://schema.org/EventScheduled - 2nd September
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeWild Forest, Kelvedon Hatch, Brentwood


11th July 2025-07-11 2025-09-03 https://schema.org/EventScheduled - 3rd September
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeSouthend-On/Sea, Southend centre, Shoeburyness and Leigh


12th July 2025-07-12 2025-07-12 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeSt Mary the Virgin, Church Hall North Shoebury, Shoeburyness


12th July 2025-07-12 2025-07-12 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeWaterside Farm Leisure Centre, Canvey Island

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COMING UP IN TOWN


12th July 2025-07-12 2025-07-12 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeSt Mary the Virgin, Church Hall North Shoebury, Shoeburyness


21st July 2025-07-21 2025-07-21 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeThe Phabulous Cafe, Leigh-On-Sea


23rd July 2025-07-23 2025-07-23 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeThe Phabulous Cafe, Leigh-On-Sea


24th July 2025-07-24 2025-07-24 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeTrust Links Shoeburyness, Southend-On-Sea


24th July 2025-07-24 2025-07-24 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeThe Hive, Southend-On-Sea


25th July 2025-07-25 2025-07-25 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeLeigh Community centre, Leigh on sea


25th July 2025-07-25 2025-07-25 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeSt James Church, Leigh-On-Sea


26th July 2025-07-26 2025-07-26 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeGaron Park, Southend


28th July 2025-07-28 2025-07-28 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeHoly Trinity Church, Church Hall and Garden, Southchurch


28th July 2025-07-28 2025-07-28 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeLeigh Community centre, Leigh on sea


28th July 2025-07-28 2025-07-28 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeHoly Trinity Southchurch, Southend-On-Sea


28th July 2025-07-28 2025-07-28 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeThe Phabulous Cafe, Leigh-On-Sea


30th July 2025-07-30 2025-07-30 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeThe Phabulous Cafe, Leigh-On-Sea


30th July 2025-07-30 2025-07-30 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeSt James Church, Leigh-On-Sea


2nd August 2025-08-02 2025-08-02 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeThe Meadowlark Pub, Shoeburyness


2nd August 2025-08-02 2025-08-03 https://schema.org/EventScheduled - 3rd August
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModePrittlewell Priory, Southend on Sea


4th August 2025-08-04 2025-08-04 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeSt James Church, Leigh-On-Sea


4th August 2025-08-04 2025-08-04 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeThe Phabulous Cafe, Leigh-On-Sea


5th August 2025-08-05 2025-08-05 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeLeigh Community centre, Leigh on sea


6th August 2025-08-06 2025-08-06 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeThe Phabulous Cafe, Leigh-On-Sea


7th August 2025-08-07 2025-08-07 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeLeigh Community centre, Leigh on sea


11th August 2025-08-11 2025-08-11 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeHoly Trinity Church, Church Hall and Garden, Southchurch


11th August 2025-08-11 2025-08-11 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeHoly Trinity Southchurch, Southend-On-Sea


11th August 2025-08-11 2025-08-11 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeThe Phabulous Cafe, Leigh-On-Sea


13th August 2025-08-13 2025-08-13 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeThe Phabulous Cafe, Leigh-On-Sea


14th August 2025-08-14 2025-08-14 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeSt Michaels and All Angels, Leigh-On-Sea


18th August 2025-08-18 2025-08-18 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeThe Phabulous Cafe, Leigh-On-Sea


19th August 2025-08-19 2025-08-19 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeGrumpy's Diner, Southend


19th August 2025-08-19 2025-08-19 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeLeigh Community centre, Leigh on sea


20th August 2025-08-20 2025-08-20 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeWellbeing Garon Park, Southend


20th August 2025-08-20 2025-08-20 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeThe Phabulous Cafe, Leigh-On-Sea


21st August 2025-08-21 2025-08-21 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeLeigh Community centre, Leigh on sea


25th August 2025-08-25 2025-08-25 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeThe Phabulous Cafe, Leigh-On-Sea


26th August 2025-08-26 2025-08-26 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeSt Mary the Virgin, Church Hall North Shoebury, Shoeburyness


27th August 2025-08-27 2025-08-27 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeThe Phabulous Cafe, Leigh-On-Sea


28th August 2025-08-28 2025-08-28 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeLeigh Community centre, Leigh on sea


6th September 2025-09-06 2025-09-06 https://schema.org/EventScheduled
https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModePriory Park, Southend-on-sea

More events >

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USER RECOMMENDATIONS

Here's the latest recommendations from our visitors and followers. Click on the business name to find out more. If you'd like to add a recommendation for a business or organisation search for their listing here on the site and click on the Leave a recommendation button.

Sketchy Kids Art Club

"What a fantastic party we had for my 11 year old daughter. She actually went to another Sketchy Art party a few months earlier, and when I collected her she came out beaming and said "Mum, this is definitely what I would like for my birthday!'. Sure enough - we did and it was perfect. Her friends all loved it - being creative and expressing their individuality through their artworks/bags - whilst listening to their favourite music. Brilliant set up and the time whizzed by. Thanks so much Farida and Co at Sketchy Art x"

Recommend a business >

RECENTLY ADDED

Why not browse through some of the listings we have recently added to the site...

Children's activity clubs & classes

The Together Project - Songs & Smiles
Thorpe Bay Lawn Tennis Club

Things to do

The Daisy Patch

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