East Beach in Shoeburyness is one of those places that makes you wonder why everyone automatically heads for the busiest part of Southend. It’s a fantastic stretch of coastline with loads of open space, lovely views and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. Perfect for a long walk along the seafront, sitting and watching the world go by, or simply enjoying the sea air while convincing yourself that walking along a beach somehow counts as considerably more exercise than normal walking. There’s plenty of green space behind the beach too, making it feel much less crowded and commercial than your typical seaside destination. Add in some great cafés nearby and you’ve got everything required for a successful day out: beach, walking, coffee and eventually something involving chips. There’s also loads of fascinating military history around Shoeburyness, so a simple seaside stroll can unexpectedly turn into a history lesson. One minute you’re looking for somewhere to get a coffee, the next you’re discussing coastal defences and the Cold War. We absolutely loved East Beach. Spacious, peaceful, interesting and a brilliant place to spend a few hours away from the crowds. Just don’t tell everyone about it. We’d quite like it to stay that way.

Nice beach. Great tide pool for low tide times. The kids loved it and super easy with the cafe, public toilet and parking near by. Also looks nice for picnics on the grass.

We had a lovely day at East Beach in Shoeburyness. It's a very peaceful beach and a great place for families to relax or enjoy a picnic. The beach stretches for a long distance, so there's plenty of space to go for a walk, and the large grass areas with lots of benches make it easy to sit and enjoy the views. Parking is excellent, with plenty of spaces and very reasonable prices. There are also shower facilities, which are really useful after spending time on the beach. The water was clean when we visited, although there was some seaweed in a few places. The sandy area is quite limited, especially at high tide, but it's still enjoyable. The public toilets were open and working well, which was appreciated, although they could be a little cleaner. Overall, it's a quiet, well-maintained beach that's perfect for a relaxing family day out, and we'll definitely be visiting again.

Great place for a seaside visit. Plenty of car parking spaces, not overly crowded, restaurant & takeaway available plus clean toilets. Windsurf rental & water nice & clear for swimmers.

For a beach so close to London, and absolutely unlike Southend beach, this little spot is perfect for families. - Ample parking right on the beach front - Plenty of grassy area for picnics and kids to play, with little natural sand pits dotted around - Access to decent toilets - Not too far from Southend (10/15mins drive) if you wanted to go there after for food/funfair/pier, etc - Just a calmer, less busy vibe ✨