| check-in time: 2:00 pmcheck-out time: 11:00 am. a 6-minute walk from southend pier, this upmarket boutique hotel overlooking southend cliff gardens is 4 minutes on foot from a beach on the thames estuary and 7 minutes' walk from southend central train station. room service is available 24/7. there's an upscale restaurant, a bar and a terrace. suites add floor-to-ceiling windows; upgraded suites offer balconies with estuary views. continental breakfast and afternoon tea are available. refined rooms feature free wi-fi, smart tvs, minifridges, and tea and coffeemaking facilities
Heathrow Airport 1 hr 37
Sealife Adventure (12 min)
Sea life aquarium with sharks in walk-through tunnel tank, plus rays, turtles and insect displays. Bell Wharf Beach (14 min) RHS Garden Hyde Hall (34 min)
Site run by horticulture charity, including bird hide and Dry Garden with bold architectural plants. Thames Estuary (1 hr 6)
1 of the country's largest, this landmark estuary features shipping routes & various lighthouses. The Kursaal (12 min)
Known for its Edwardian architecture, this landmark complex features a bowling alley & casino. Hadleigh Castle (23 min)
Ruined 1200s castle, refortified by Edward III in the Hundred Years War, affording marsh views. Two Tree Island (15 min)
Grassy island nature reserve with walking paths & designated birdwatching areas. Prittlewell Priory (11 min) Old Leigh Studios Gallery (12 min) Southend Pier and Railway (6 min)
Seasonal museum on the pier with 19th- & early-20th-century train cars, slot machines & costumes. Chalkwell Beach (9 min)
Pebble & sand beach with a large granite obelisk from the 1800s & a promenade with snack kiosks. Adventure Island (7 min)
Free-admission fun park with more than 40 rides and attractions from rollercoasters to ghost trains. The Historic Dockyard Chatham (1 hr 5)
Historic Royal Navy warships and shipbuilding heritage in an 18th-century dockyard museum. Southend Central Museum & Planetarium (12 min)
Exhibitions of local natural history and archaeological treasures including a haul of Saxon gold. Westcliff Beach (15 min)
Modest, classic beach for swimming & walks at low tide, with a nearby casino & ice cream parlor. | 
