Once considered one of the UK's worst seaside destinations, has made quite the comeback. Despite ranking in 41st place out of 50 in Which? magazine's 2024 survey of UK seaside , the pier located in has just been named the best in Britain by The Telegraph. Not only is the pier the longest pleasure pier in the world, but it has now been crowned the best in Britain.

Southend Pier earned 540 points for its impressive features, including its record-breaking length and wide range of attractions. Visitors can enjoy a classic fairground, a Ferris wheel, the Royal Pavilion theatre, and the popular Tea With The Tide café.

The pier is also backed by its Blue Flag beach, Grade II-listed status, and the nearby Palace Hotel, a historic landmark from 1901.

It was also praised for having its own pier railway, a unique feature which makes it stand out and which was reopened in 1986 by Princess Anne following extensive repairs and upgrades.

Originally constructed from iron in 1830, it was rebuilt in wood in 1889 to meet growing demand.

In 2024, Southend Pier saw exciting developments aimed at enhancing the visitor experience. These included a new selfie signpost, a new Gift Shop featuring local art, and the Wacky Walk of Mirrors, which was added to the pier, offering fun photo opportunities for families and tourists.

Previously dubbed by a TripAdvisor user as the 'worst seaside town', Southend-on-Sea has recently become a favourite among celebrities.

Fool Me Once actress, Michelle Keegan, celebrated her first Mother's Day at the Roslin Beach Hotel in Thorpe Bay overlooking the calm waters of the Estuary.

Other famous visitors to the hotel include football legend Rio Ferdinand, Gary Barlow, Tyson Fury, Denise Van Outen, and Towie star Frankie Essex.