THERE’S a small town along the Essex coastline that’s one of the driest places in the country.
Shoeburyness has a lower annual rainfall average than the rest of the UK – not to mention it has two Blue Flag beaches and is just one hour away from London.
Thirteen minutes from Southend-on-Sea is the lesser-known coastal spot of Shoeburyness.
The town is home to around 22,000 people and is one of the driest places in the country.
Its position on the southeast coast means it gets less rainfall than other spots around the UK.
Shoeburyness records an average of between 526.78mm and 527mm of rain per year.
In comparison, the average annual rainfall for the entire UK is 1,163mm – Shoeburyness receives less than half of that.
So, it’s no wonder that lots of people flock to the town to visit its two Blue Flag beaches; Shoebury Common and Shoebury East Beach.
Shoebury Common is a sand and shingle beach that’s popular with families during the summer.
But it’s not just bucket and spade friendly, or for paddling, though. It’s also a popular place to launch boats and jet-skis, and is good for kitesurfing too.
Up on the promenade are colourful beach huts, as well as Uncle Tom’s Cabin where visitors can grab an ice cream, soft drink or cup of tea.
Shoebury East Beach is further along the coast, and is set to undergo a £600,000 makeover this spring.
The new inclusive playground at Shoebury’s East Beach in Southend will have themed zones inspired by the sea.
There will be a sandpit, climbing areas and a submarine structure in the middle of the playground.
The playground will be open to all age groups and abilities and include wheelchair-accessible swings, roundabouts and sensory features.
The area surrounding East Beach had a new addition last summer with the Beach House Cafe opening next door to the East Beach Cafe and marking the completion of a £2million regeneration project.
One visitor to the Beach House said: “Love it here! Come for brunch every weekend, drive up from London. Lovely beach setting, food is fresh, tasty & lush!”
Last year, The Telegraph also named Shoeburyness as one of the top 20 destinations in Britain for the best secret and remote beaches.
The Telegraph stated: “Just three miles from the mayhem that is Southend in summer, Shoeburyness has two Blue Flag beaches that are far less well known.
“Its East Beach is the nicest and is popular with local paddleboarders and kitesurfers, thanks to its long strand of sand.”
The town was once even accessible on the London Underground – although it was never officially part of the network.
The District line ran seasonal, direct services to Shoeburyness via Southend between 1910 and 1939 – and was known as the ‘Southend Service’.
Those who want to visit Shoeburyness can still do so very easily from London by getting on a direct train from London Fenchurch Street.
The journey takes just one hour and one-way tickets are as little as £11.30.
If you head further into the town of Shoeburyness, you’ll find a Wetherspoon called Parson’s Barn.
There’s also a popular restaurant called The Angel Inn which earned itself a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award last year.
Here you can dig into sizzling fajitas from £15, burgers, mains like steak with chips and salmon with broccoli and paprika cous cous.
Speaking of which, on Tuesdays, The Angel Inn does Pie and Pint Night where you can get any pie and any drink from its menu from £17.
Shoebury Park is another popular spot, it stretches across 20 acres and is filled with green areas and ponds.
It also has a tennis court, basketball court, cricket pitch, bowling green, BMX trail track, skateboarding facilities, fishing lake, and a children’s playground.
For more on Southend – here’s how the coastal city has become cool with celeb visitors…
Southend-on-Sea has become an unlikely hot spot for some of the UK’s best-known TV personalities.
The Essex town has seen a surge in popularity, thanks to its colourful beach huts, award-winning hotels and stunning coastline.
Dubbed the British Miami by fans because of its long golden beaches, the town often welcomes celebrity visitors.
Fool Me Once actress Michelle Keegan spent her first Mother’s Day as a mum, at the Roslin Beach Hotel on Thorpe Bay.
On Sunday 30 March, Michelle was spotted there with her husband, Mark Wright and their new baby, Palma, as well as other family members including Jess Wright.
They aren’t the only ones; the Roslin Beach Hotel has also opened its doors to Gary Barlow, Tyson Fury, Denise van Outen, and TOWIE stars including Frankie Essex, who have all visited.
It was reported earlier last year that the hotel would undergo a £10million makeover. Currently, the Roslin Beach Hotel has 37 bedrooms, but with the extension, it will have an extra seven rooms.
They also want to add a spa, a new wedding venue, and add outdoor restaurant facilities.
For more on Essex, this is Britain’s smallest town that was named one of the coolest spots in the country with cosy pubs and coastal walks.
And here you can swap the Cotswolds for a less-crowded but equally quaint weekend in Essex’s most perfect market town.