Heading to the Essex seaside this summer? Southend-on-Sea is a proper old-school family day out — beaches, the world’s longest pleasure pier, and rides galore. And this July there’s a very special show rolling into town. Here’s our pick of the best family things to do in and around Southend over the summer holidays.
🌟 Top of the list: Fun Kids Science Quest – Live! at the Palace Theatre
If you’ve got a curious kid in the family, put this one in the diary. Fun Kids Science Quest – Live! brings the hugely popular podcast to the stage, with Fun Kids presenter Dan Simpson serving up the weirdest and coolest stuff in science — and making it far more fun than it’s ever been in any classroom.
Expect hilarious experiments, exciting guests, games and a one-hour journey into how the world works. It’s a Bronze winner for Best Family Podcast and a finalist for Best Educational Podcast at the British Podcast Awards.
- 📍 Where: Dixon Studio, Palace Theatre, London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea
- 📅 When: Sunday 12 July 2026, 2:30pm
- 🎟️ Tickets: from £16.50
- 👧 Age guide: 5+ (audience participation, live demonstrations and flashing lights)
👉 Book your tickets for the Palace Theatre here
Touring the rest of the UK too? See all the Fun Kids Science Quest Live dates and venues.
10 more brilliant family days out in and around Southend this summer
Make a proper week of it. Here are ten more ideas for keeping the kids entertained, from the seafront classics to a few hidden gems.
1. Adventure Island
Southend’s free-admission seafront fun park, right by the pier, with over 40 rides and attractions — from gentle carousels and a log flume for little ones to white-knuckle coasters for braver thrill-seekers. Pay per ride or grab a wristband for the day. Top tip: ride prices often drop later in the afternoon.
📍 Western Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea
2. Southend Pier
At over a mile long, this is the longest pleasure pier in the world — and walking the whole thing (then hopping on the little pier train back) is a Southend rite of passage. There’s a museum and café at the shore end and brilliant estuary views all the way out.
📍 Western Esplanade — pier train runs along its length
3. Southend Planetarium
A lovely science tie-in to the live show. Tucked inside the Central Museum, the planetarium runs star shows that whisk families off into the night sky and the solar system. It opens daily during the school holidays — check ahead and book the show times.
📍 Central Museum, Victoria Avenue, Southend
4. Sea-Life Adventure
Get nose-to-glass with clownfish, rays, sharks and turtles at this seafront aquarium near the pier. It’s compact, indoor and easy to combine with a morning on the beach — ideal if the weather turns.
📍 Eastern Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea
5. The beach & Three Shells Lagoon
Buckets, spades and ice creams at the ready. Jubilee Beach and Three Shells Beach have a shallow, sheltered lagoon that’s perfect for smaller children to paddle in, plus a playground right alongside. A reliable, free way to spend a sunny day.
📍 Eastern Esplanade — free
6. Never Never Land & the Cliffs Gardens
Up on Southend’s clifftop, the Cliffs Gardens give lovely views over the estuary, with the family-favourite Never Never Land fantasy park (open seasonally) tucked into the hillside. Ride the historic cliff lift down to the seafront to finish.
📍 Western Esplanade / Clifftown Parade
7. Old Leigh & Leigh-on-Sea
A short hop along the coast, the cockle sheds and narrow lanes of Old Leigh are postcard-pretty. Grab fish and chips or fresh seafood, watch the boats, and let the kids explore the little beach at low tide.
📍 Old Leigh, Leigh-on-Sea (a few minutes by train)
8. Priory Park
A leafy, free park with playgrounds, open lawns for a picnic, a café and the historic Prittlewell Priory at its heart. A calmer, greener change of pace from the buzz of the seafront.
📍 Victoria Avenue, Southend
9. Hadleigh Park & Castle
The 2012 Olympic mountain-biking venue has family cycle trails, walking routes and big skies, with the dramatic ruins of Hadleigh Castle (and those famous Constable-painting views) right nearby. Great for burning off energy outdoors.
📍 Chapel Lane, Benfleet (about 15 minutes by car)
10. Marsh Farm Animal Adventure Park
A proper farm day out a short drive from town — meet and feed the animals, ride the tractor, splash in the water play area and let the little ones loose in the indoor and outdoor play zones.
📍 South Woodham Ferrers (about 25 minutes by car)
Also worth a look
Rainy-day backup? Kids Kingdom and other seafront soft-play spots will keep little legs busy, while the Beecroft Art Gallery and the wider Southend Museums sites are free and welcoming.
Make it a science-filled summer
Whatever you get up to, start the holidays with a bang at Fun Kids Science Quest – Live! — Sunday 12 July at the Palace Theatre. Grab your tickets before they sell out!
Fun Kids is the UK’s children’s radio station — listen on DAB Digital Radio, online, on your smart speaker and via the free Fun Kids app.
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