| there's also a traditional lounge with a fireplace. down-to-earth rooms with en suite bathrooms have flat-screen tvs and free wifi, plus tea and coffeemaking facilities. check-in time: 12:00 pmcheck-out time: 11:00 am. cooked english breakfast is included. an 11-minute walk from southend central railway station, this straightforward victorian guesthouse is a minutes' walk from southend cliff gardens
Heathrow Airport 1 hr 35
RHS Garden Hyde Hall (32 min)
Site run by horticulture charity, including bird hide and Dry Garden with bold architectural plants. The Historic Dockyard Chatham (1 hr 3)
Historic Royal Navy warships and shipbuilding heritage in an 18th-century dockyard museum. Thames Estuary (1 hr 7)
1 of the country's largest, this landmark estuary features shipping routes & various lighthouses. Bell Wharf Beach (11 min) Hadleigh Castle (20 min)
Ruined 1200s castle, refortified by Edward III in the Hundred Years War, affording marsh views. Westcliff Beach (7 min)
Modest, classic beach for swimming & walks at low tide, with a nearby casino & ice cream parlor. Adventure Island (18 min)
Free-admission fun park with more than 40 rides and attractions from rollercoasters to ghost trains. Old Leigh Studios Gallery (9 min) Sealife Adventure (8 min)
Sea life aquarium with sharks in walk-through tunnel tank, plus rays, turtles and insect displays. Southend Pier and Railway (16 min)
Seasonal museum on the pier with 19th- & early-20th-century train cars, slot machines & costumes. The Kursaal (7 min)
Known for its Edwardian architecture, this landmark complex features a bowling alley & casino. Southend Central Museum & Planetarium (14 min)
Exhibitions of local natural history and archaeological treasures including a haul of Saxon gold. Chalkwell Beach (6 min)
Pebble & sand beach with a large granite obelisk from the 1800s & a promenade with snack kiosks. Two Tree Island (12 min)
Grassy island nature reserve with walking paths & designated birdwatching areas. Prittlewell Priory (10 min) | 
