The ‘scenic’ £7.70 sea train that’s just under one hour from London

| Senior Lifestyle Reporter Published September 1, 2026 4:51pm Updated September 1, 2026 4:51pm You can enjoy a scenic train ride out to sea (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto) While the weather might start cooling down, summer doesn’t officially end for a few weeks. So there’s still plenty of time to go out and make the most of it, and what better way than with a trip to the seaside? Just under an hour from London by train is Southend-on-Sea, a city located on the Thames Estuary, where the River Thames meets the North Sea. It’s also where you’ll find the longest pleasure pier in the world, which stretches 1.33 miles out to sea. And the best part? There’s a railway on top, so you can take a scenic ride out over the water. The train runs every 30 minutes from the shore (Picture: Getty Images Europe) A single-track electric railway has been running on the pier since 1890, but at that time the pier was much shorter. In 1898, the pier was extended, making it the longest in the world at 7080ft. Today, trains continue to run along the pier every half an hour, with journeys taking around 10 minutes each way, from one end to the other. The trains travel at eight to 10mph, but when travelling through the points the speed drops to 5mph. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Tickets start from £4.10 for a child (aged three to 16), and rise to £7.70 for an adult. This price includes entry to the pier (usually £3.10 for an adult), plus a return train journey. Online, the pier railway has garnered a lot of love on social media, being hailed as a ‘fun little day trip idea’, ‘worth the visit’, ‘amazing’, and ‘fab’. In response to a video shared on Instagram by @ldnfoodcrush, people were quick to proclaim the view from the train ‘beautiful’, ‘stunning’, ‘cool’, and ‘scenic’. Others confessed they’d had no idea it even existed and said they’d be adding it straight to their to-visit list. Over on TikTok, when people saw clips of the train travelling over the sea, they were stunned that it was in the UK. A user named @renokumura_ said: ‘Thought only Japan had trains like this.’ While @xiiaojn commented: ‘This is UK?? I’m coming.’ As well as the current trains, you can see some of the older ones in the Pier Museum. It covers 200 years of history, and inside you’ll find the original 1890 ‘toastrack’ tram and two other trains, which you’re able to climb aboard. There is also a train driver simulator experience and a working signal box simulator. The museum is free to enter. For those keen to visit, you can travel from London Fenchurch Street to Southend Central in an hour, or from London Liverpool Street to Prittlewell in 52 minutes. From Prittlewell, it’s a 28-minute walk to the Pier. Our Top Shopping Picks The viral LED face mask with over 350 lights that's currently discounted by £100 A friend said I looked 'snatched' – I credit this new Charlotte Tilbury powder Shop MySweetSmile's biggest Bank Holiday offers before they end Back-to-school shopping just got a lot cheaper thanks to Primark The back-to-school essential parents forget every year – and it could cost them Tickets from Fenchurch Street start from £12.40 for a single. Unique train rides in the UK... Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: This used to be a ‘breathtaking’ Greek beach — now it’s ‘hell on earth’ Arrow MORE: The charming Hampshire seaside town with stunning views, historic pubs and wild horses Arrow MORE: The 5 best September destinations in Spain, Greece and Portugal The Getaway Expert Your exclusive seven-day guide to travelling with confidence from Metro's resident travel expert, Alice Murphy.