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Southend Pier, Southend-on-Sea

Companionship careSouthend-on-Sea

Days out in Southend-on-Sea for an older parent

Six places in Southend-on-Sea that make a good day out for an older parent, from Southend Pier to Gunners Park and Shoebury East Beach. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated October 2026

Southend Pier. Photo: Southend_Pier_Autumn_2007.jpg: Damian Dukarski The original uploader was Dammmmi, CC BY-SA 3.0

Six days out across four towns

The best places to take an older parent in Southend-on-Sea

Four of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for one describes a step-free route, and two confirm an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

Southend Pier, Southend-on-Sea

Photo: Southend_Pier_Autumn_2007.jpg: Damian Dukarski The original uploader was Dammmmi, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Coast · Southend-on-Sea

Southend Pier

Southend Pier is the longest pleasure pier in the world, stretching 1.34 miles into the Thames Estuary, with a railway running to the pier head. At the far end there is a café and wide views over the estuary and shipping lanes.

All three entrances onto the pier are step free, and the pier train means a parent can reach the end without walking the whole way.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Southend-on-Sea

Prittlewell Priory and Priory Park, Prittlewell

Photo: Roger W Haworth, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Prittlewell

Prittlewell Priory and Priory Park

Prittlewell Priory is the remains of a 12th century Cluniac priory in Priory Park, now a museum with the refectory, medieval rooms and displays on the monks and later owners. The park around it has gardens, a lake and a visitor centre.

The visitor centre is all on one level with a disabled toilet, and the upper floor of the priory is reached by a self-operated lift.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Prittlewell

Southchurch Hall, Southchurch

Photo: David Kemp, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Southchurch

Southchurch Hall

Southchurch Hall is a moated timber-framed medieval manor house set in a small park, run by Southend Museums, with a great hall, kitchen and solar furnished as they might have been. It is surrounded by gardens and the moat.

The ground floor main hall, kitchen and solar rooms are reached through the rear entrance, and a carer can phone ahead to check opening times.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Southchurch

Beecroft Art Gallery, Southend-on-Sea

Photo: SouthendMuseumsService, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Gallery · Southend-on-Sea

Beecroft Art Gallery

The Beecroft Art Gallery holds Southend's art collection, with paintings from the 17th century to today, and hosts changing exhibitions including the annual Essex Open. It is in the old central library building near the railway station.

The front entrance is level, all floors are reached by lifts and there is an accessible toilet on the ground floor.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Southend-on-Sea

Southend Cliff Lift and Cliff Gardens, Southend-on-Sea

Photo: Marathon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Day out · Southend-on-Sea

Southend Cliff Lift and Cliff Gardens

The Southend Cliff Lift is a small funicular railway built in 1912 that carries passengers up and down the cliffs between the seafront and the town. The Cliff Gardens alongside have planted slopes and paths with views over the estuary.

The lift saves the climb between the seafront and the clifftop, so a parent can enjoy both levels without tackling the slope.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Southend-on-Sea

Gunners Park and Shoebury East Beach, Shoeburyness

Photo: Dudley Miles, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Coast · Shoeburyness

Gunners Park and Shoebury East Beach

Gunners Park is an Essex Wildlife Trust nature reserve on the former military ranges at Shoeburyness, next to the sands of East Beach. It has grassland, ponds, coastal paths and remains of the old garrison.

The reserve has a free car park and is described as accessible to all, so a carer can plan a short coastal walk with sea views.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free car park

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Shoeburyness

Regular groups and events in Southend-on-Sea

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in Southend-on-Sea.

  • Music · Leigh-on-SeaFree folk music weekend in LeighLeigh Folk Festival is a free folk and roots festival held each summer in Leigh Library Gardens and nearby venues, running since the early 1990s. A carer could bring a folding chair, pick one or two afternoon sets rather than a full day, and keep the walking between venues short.Details
  • Dancing · Leigh-on-SeaDance displays and a ceilidh at Leigh Folk FestivalThe festival programme includes folk and international dance sides, Sunday dance displays and a ceilidh anyone can join. A carer can find a shaded spot with a view of the display area, or partner an older person for a few steps at the ceilidh before sitting out.Details
  • Sports · Southend-on-SeaLawn bowls and petanque at ChalkwellBowls has been played at this club and its thatched clubhouse since 1923, and petanque was added for the centenary. A carer could come along for a roll-up session and handle transport, woods and refreshments.Details
  • Volunteering · Southend-on-SeaCouncil volunteering routes, including Southend MuseumsThe city council lists local volunteering options, including roles with Southend Museums and the Southend Volunteer Hub. A carer can help work through the listings, make the first contact and go with an older person to an introductory session.Details
  • Knitting · Southend-on-SeaKnit and Natter with Southend on Sea u3aA monthly u3a group meeting on the first Friday at 2pm for knitting, crochet or simply company, open to u3a members. A carer could sort out the membership, bring the yarn bag and stay for the chat.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Southend-on-Sea

At a glance

The six places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
Southend PierSouthend-on-Seahalf a dayPaid entryYesAskAsk
Prittlewell Priory and Priory ParkPrittlewellan hour or twoFreeAskYesAsk
Southchurch HallSouthchurchan hour or twoFreePartlyAskAsk
Beecroft Art GallerySouthend-on-Seaan hour or twoFreeAskYesAsk
Southend Cliff Lift and Cliff GardensSouthend-on-Seaan hour or twoPaid entryAskAskAsk
Gunners Park and Shoebury East BeachShoeburynessan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk

Where the places are in Southend-on-Sea

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

123456
  1. 1Southend Pier, Southend-on-Sea
  2. 2Prittlewell Priory and Priory Park, Prittlewell
  3. 3Southchurch Hall, Southchurch
  4. 4Beecroft Art Gallery, Southend-on-Sea
  5. 5Southend Cliff Lift and Cliff Gardens, Southend-on-Sea
  6. 6Gunners Park and Shoebury East Beach, Shoeburyness

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Southend-on-Sea

Carers in Southend-on-Sea charge £19 to £21 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £20, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £80 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in Southend-on-Sea has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Southend-on-Sea

Southend Pier in Southend-on-Sea, Prittlewell Priory and Priory Park in Prittlewell, Southchurch Hall in Southchurch, Beecroft Art Gallery in Southend-on-Sea, Southend Cliff Lift and Cliff Gardens in Southend-on-Sea and Gunners Park and Shoebury East Beach in Shoeburyness. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

The access information for Southend Pier describes a step-free route. Prittlewell Priory and Priory Park and Beecroft Art Gallery have an accessible toilet. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Prittlewell Priory and Priory Park, Southchurch Hall, Beecroft Art Gallery and Gunners Park and Shoebury East Beach. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 27 of the carers with a rate near Southend-on-Sea drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £20 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Southend-on-Sea shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of Southend-on-Sea

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around Southend-on-Sea

Days out in the areas around Southend-on-Sea

Find a carer who could take them out in Southend-on-Sea

See carers near Southend-on-Sea who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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