Sport and leisure

Being a coastal town, windsurfing, sailing and kite surfing are popular local pastimes, with speedboat racing and a sailing regatta also taking place every year.

If hiking along the estuary is your thing then you’ll enjoy picturesque Hadleigh Country Park and walks beyond. For mountain bike fans the track created for the 2012 Olympics offers a challenging off-road course for both cyclists and runners.

Southend is also home to football and rugby teams with Southend United Football Club playing league matches at the Roots Hall stadium near Priory Park and rugby taking place at Temple Farm.