Southend-on-Sea, commonly referred to as Southend, is a town and seaside resort in Essex, England, with a population of over 160,000. The town is situated on the Thames Estuary at the mouth of the River Thames, and is home to the world's longest pleasure pier.
Southend-on-Sea originally developed as a seaside resort in the 19th century, and was used as a filming location for several films and television programmes in the 20th century. The town has a number of tourist attractions, including Adventure Island, the Sea Life Adventure Aquarium, and the Pier Hill Cliffs. The town is also home to a number of museums, including the Southend-on-Sea Museum, the Beecroft Art Gallery, and the South Essex Transport Museum.