Undertake the journey for
Although Southend-on-Sea, a typical British holiday destination, may not immediately come to mind as an artistic hub, it is gradually gaining recognition as a street-art destination. The city hosted its first street art festival, Southend City Jam, last September, which saw over 100 local and international artists create murals in the city center and along the seafront. Many of these works of art are now permanent fixtures. The festival will be held again this year on September 1-3, and a map of the artwork can be found on southendcityjam.co.uk. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a quick glimpse, there are three excellent examples on the railway bridge over High Street. The LuminoCity light festival, which debuted last year, also returned last month.
The contemporary Focal Point Gallery is located at The Forum and also organizes Big Screen Southend in Elmer Square, where video art is screened on a daily basis. NetPark, situated in nearby Chalkwell Park, Westcliff-on-Sea, is touted as the world’s first digital art park, featuring 15 works of art that can be accessed via smartphone and headphones. The park includes music and spoken-word poetry. Additionally, Southend’s Central Museum houses a permanent exhibit showcasing archaeological artifacts from the Prittlewell Princely Burial, England’s earliest known Anglo-Saxon princely burial dating back to AD 580-605.
Stay
The Roslin Beach Hotel in Thorpe Bay offers 62 rooms (doubles start at £99 for room-only), with several of them offering stunning views of the sea. Additionally, the hotel features a spa, bar, and restaurant.
Getting there
Southend Victoria provides train services to London Liverpool Street, while Southend Central is on the line from London Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness.
