MY RETURN TRIP TO SOUTHEND'S SUNSHINE TOWN

Wonderful weather for today's trip to research main attractions at Southend. So many changes since last I visited. As the train was not in use on the famous pier (built 1829), I walked its length - around 1.33 m - took 20 minutes. Met interesting people along the way, including these lovely Essex ladies - helpful Angela on the Pier Desk and delightful Jasmine who also made the long trek on foot.  Helpful staff gave me lots of historical background, particularly about the Royal National Lifeboat Institution history and their need for funding.  

Lovers of old Southend will surely remember the famous Palace Hotel just above the Royal Parade. The facade of the famous Palace Hotel is still there, thankfully, but now very upmarket within and work still continues. It is now the Park Inn Palace and is very swish - great place for lunch and the views out to sea are pretty spectacular. Hoping to hold some writer meetings there in the future. www.parkinn.co.uk/hotel-southendonsea