Day trips

The 10 Best Day Trips from Southend-on-Sea

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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There are 10 good day trips from Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom, led by London, Reading, Brighton. The closest is Bexley, about 45 min by car, and 3 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Day trips from Southend-on-Sea at a glance

DestinationDistanceDrive timeBest as
London58 km W1 hr 5 minFull-day trip
Reading117 km W1 hr 50 minFull-day trip
Brighton99 km SW1 hr 35 minFull-day trip
Milton Keynes116 km NW1 hr 50 minFull-day trip
Northampton135 km NW2 hr 5 minFull-day trip
Bexley41 km W45 minHalf-day trip
Luton87 km NW1 hr 20 minFull-day trip
Barking44 km W50 minHalf-day trip
Ipswich65 km NE1 hr 15 minFull-day trip
Ilford44 km W50 minHalf-day trip

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Southend-on-Sea

  1. 1

    London, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 5 min by car58 km west of Southend-on-Sea2 hr 10 min round trip

    Known for Cyberdog.

    Also nearby: Brent, Islington, City of Westminster, Archway, Croydon.

  2. 2

    Reading, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 50 min by car117 km west of Southend-on-Sea3 hr 40 min round trip
  3. 3

    Brighton, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 35 min by car99 km south-west of Southend-on-Sea3 hr 10 min round trip
  4. 4

    Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 50 min by car116 km north-west of Southend-on-Sea3 hr 40 min round trip
  5. 5

    Northampton, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 5 min by car135 km north-west of Southend-on-Sea4 hr 10 min round trip
  6. 6

    Bexley, United Kingdom

    Half-day trip
    About 45 min by car41 km west of Southend-on-Sea1 hr 30 min round trip
  7. 7

    Luton, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 20 min by car87 km north-west of Southend-on-Sea2 hr 40 min round trip
  8. 8

    Barking, United Kingdom

    Half-day trip
    About 50 min by car44 km west of Southend-on-Sea1 hr 40 min round trip
  9. 9

    Ipswich, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 15 min by car65 km north-east of Southend-on-Sea2 hr 30 min round trip
  10. 10

    Ilford, United Kingdom

    Half-day trip
    About 50 min by car44 km west of Southend-on-Sea1 hr 40 min round trip

A sample day trip: Southend-on-Sea to London

A realistic pace for London, 58 km from Southend-on-Sea. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

  1. 08:30Leave Southend-on-Sea
  2. 09:35Arrive in London (1 hr 5 min drive)
  3. 09:50Cyberdog
  4. 11:50Lunch
  5. 13:05Explore the old town, markets and cafes of London
  6. 15:35Head back to Southend-on-Sea
  7. 16:40Home in Southend-on-Sea

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Southend-on-Sea?
The best day trips from Southend-on-Sea are London, Reading, Brighton, Milton Keynes, Northampton. The closest is Bexley, about 45 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Southend-on-Sea?
Bexley is the closest, 41 km west of Southend-on-Sea, roughly 45 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Southend-on-Sea?
3 places are within about an hour's drive of Southend-on-Sea: Bexley (45 min), Barking (50 min), Ilford (50 min).
What is the biggest city near Southend-on-Sea for a day out?
London is the largest city in day-trip range, 58 km west of Southend-on-Sea and about 1 hr 5 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
How far is too far for a day trip from Southend-on-Sea?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Northampton at 135 km, around 2 hr 5 min by car.

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