Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Caucasus - Geghard Monastery, Armenia
Armenia • 15 days, 14 nights
Caucasus Road Trip: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia
from
Taktsang Lhakhang, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.
Bhutan • 11 days, 10 nights
Festivals & Temples of Bhutan
from
View all trips
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
All the United Kingdom England Southend-on-Sea

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Southend On Sea

4 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Southend-on-Sea, England

Updated August 26, 2024

Email
Attractions
Map
Leaderboards
Hotel Deals

Unusual Attractions in Southend-on-Sea

Cranfield’s Curiosity Cabinet.

Southend-on-Sea, England

Cranfield's Curiosity Cabinet

A magnificent menagerie of oddities, including taxidermy cryptids.
Southend Pier Railway.

Southend-on-Sea, England

Southend Pier Railway

This charming, narrow-gauge railway in the Thames Estuary is sometimes referred to as the "Train to Nowhere."
Tomb of Mary Ellis at St. Clement’s Church.

Southend-on-Sea, England

The Cutlass Stone

A story of cutlasses carelessly carving a celibate centenarian's cemetery stone.
The Souvenir, now the Graveyard of Lost Species

Southend-on-Sea, England

Graveyard of Lost Species

A boat slowly sinking into the Essex mud flats bearing the names of the disappeared that haunt the Thames Estuary.
Are we missing something unusual?
Add it!

Essex, England

Dutch Cottage

This octagonal cottage is the smallest and the oldest council house in the United Kingdom.
5 miles from Southend-on-Sea
The causeway from Wakering Stairs.

Essex, England

The Broomway

A perilous medieval road leading right into the sea.
5 miles from Southend-on-Sea
SS Richard Montgomery’s eerie masts at low tide

England

Wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery

No one is sure what to do with this WWII shipwreck that sits at the bottom of the Thames, still loaded with tons of explosives.
6 miles from Southend-on-Sea
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Southend-on-Sea, England

Southend On Sea Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. nicholasabateman
    2
  2. AdOYo
    1
  3. Nick Nomi
    1
Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to Southend-on-Sea.

Places Edited

  1. Martin
    1
  2. nicholasabateman
    1
  3. collinsconnor10
    1
  4. thomaswatson1995
    1
  5. MorganGD
    1
Join the Ranks!
Improve the Atlas with edits and photos.

Places Visited

  1. Explorer2
    4
  2. Explorer 1
    4
  3. Greeneggsandham
    4
  4. nicholasabateman
    3
  5. IndefiniteDetour
    3
Join the Ranks!
Visit a place in Southend-on-Sea.

Recent Southend-on-Sea Activity

  • Nearly Lee

    wants to go to Cranfield's Curiosity Cabinet

  • Nearly Lee

    wants to go to Graveyard of Lost Species

  • VacaObscura

    wants to go to Southend Pier Railway

  • conardcod

    has been to Southend Pier Railway

  • mylittlemonsterhigh395

    wants to go to Cranfield's Curiosity Cabinet

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.

Learn More

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.