THERE’S a small town along the Essex coastline that’s one of the driest places in the country.
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.
Shoeburyness in Essex is one of the driest places in the countryCredit: Alamy
The seaside town has green spaces too – like Shoebury ParkCredit: Tripadvisor
Thirteen minutes from 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 .
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 .
The new inclusive playground at Shoebury’s East Beach in will have themed zones inspired by the sea.
There will be a sandpit, climbing areas and a submarine structure in the middle of the
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 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 . 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 – 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’.
The seaside town has two Blue Flag beachesCredit: Alamy
Further inland is a Wetherspoon pub Parson’s BarnCredit: J D Wetherspoon
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 called Parson’s Barn.
There’s also a popular restaurant called The Angel Inn which earned itself a 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 court, court, pitch, bowling green, BMX trail track, skateboarding facilities, fishing lake, and a children’s playground.
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has become an unlikely hot spot for some of the UK’s best-known TV personalities.
The town has seen a surge in popularity, thanks to its colourful beach huts, award-winning and stunning coastline.
Dubbed the British by fans because of its long golden beaches, the town often welcomes visitors.
actress spent her first Mother’s Day as a mum, at the .
On Sunday 30 March, with her husband, and their , as well as other family members including .
They aren’t the only ones; the Roslin Beach Hotel has also opened its doors to , , , and TOWIE stars including , 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 .
And here you can .
Shoeburyness is one of the driest spots in the UK – and has two Blue Flag beachesCredit: Alamy
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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