The bustling coastal town of Southend-on-Sea has a population of over 180,000 and was awarded city status in 2022. The city lies on the north side of the Thames Estuary, 40 miles east of central London. It's a unique place, in that it offers the elements of a British seaside destination, alongside a fantastic offer of retail, dining, services, leisure, entertainment experiences, and office space.

BUSINESSES
There are a ​range of businesses in Southend city centre providing a mixture of retail, leisure, culture, restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes - both independent and national.






VISITORS
Southend-on-Sea is close to London with Southend Victoria and Southend Central train stations within the city and getting you into the capital in under an hour. As one of the closest seaside resorts to London, it is a landmark destination in the South East of England receiving almost 7 million visitors a year - a high proportion of those spending significant periods within the BID area.
 
With excellent links to Europe via London Southend Airport, there are an increasing number of international visitors, alongside day trippers and those visiting from home counties like Kent.

So, what is Southend City BID? Found out more.