The Southend-on-Sea, Essex Playground Guide
Southend-on-Sea has to be one of the most kid friendly towns in Essex! There is so much to do in sunny Southend. There are lots of brilliant attractions including Adventure Island, Sealife Adventure, Adventure Inside and Southend Museum and Planetarium.
There are also lots of great FREE things to do in Southend-on-Sea. There are over 7 miles of beaches to explore and of course many fantastic playgrounds. This Southend Playground Guide features playgrounds across Southend - you will find the best playgrounds in Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea, Shoebury and surrounding areas.
If you are specifically looking for playgrounds close to the beach in Southend, check out the Southend-on-Sea Beach Playground Guide below. The Beach Playground Guide lists 7 beachside playgrounds in Southend. You can find out all the important information including parking in Southend, playground equipment and amenities.
This Southend Playground Guide features the following playgrounds (click to scroll to the playground):
The Forum Playground 📍The Forum
Elmer Avenue
Southend-on-Sea
SS1 1NS
The Forum Playground was newly built in July 2023. The playground is located in central Southend City centre, outside of The Forum (Southend Central Library and University of Essex) and Focal Point Gallery. The City Centre location also means it is close to plenty of restaurants, takeaways, grocery stores and shops.
The playground has a beach/ship theme. There is a large ship with various climbs, poles and a slide. There is also a beach hut/house with can be climbed. There is plenty of balancing equipment including boxes and bridges. There is also a nest swing. The playground in enclosed. Unfortunately there is no accessible play equipment.
📍Shoebury Common Playground
Shoeburyness
SS3 9HQ
This playground is located across from Shoebury Beach in the Thorpe Bay area of Southend. Unlike the bustling City Beach, the beach at Thorpe Bay has no attractions, making it a calmer and quieter Southend Beach alternative.
The playground is great! It has a nautical theme, there are boats, ship climbing frames and sea creature climb on equipment. There are a variety of swings, interesting sensory equipment and games. The playground is enclosed and there are plenty of picnic benches inside the playground.
📍Victoria Avenue
Southend-on-Sea
SS2 6NB
Priory Park is a great family favourite park. As well as a great playground there are also walled gardens, a bandstand (where there are often musical performances in the summer) a cafe, visitor centre and Prittlewell Priory. Southend Museums often run season events at Prittewell Priory.
The great thing about the playground at Priory Park is that the large, fenced off playground is suitable for children of all ages. There are large wooden climbing frames with slides, metal climbing structures, toddler climbing frames, sit on springy equipment, a merry-go-round, spinning play equipment, seesaw and lots of swings. The play area is spacious. There are benches inside the play area. This playground could do with a revamp but it still has lots of good quality equipment.
📍 Belfairs Nature Discovery Centre
Eastwood Road North
Leigh-on-Sea
SS9 4LR
Belfairs Woods are part of an Essex Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve. There are plenty of woods to explore! Children will love den building and splashing in the stream within the woods.
There is a large, linked wooden climbing frame structure set within the woods. The playground at Belfairs is located along the path between both car parks, close to the visitor centre. The climbing frame has a variety of climbs and ends with a slide. It is most appropriate for child preschool age and older due to the height of the climbing frame. There is also some balancing equipment and a swing.
If you are looking for a woodland playground, check out our Guide to The Best Woodland Playgrounds in Essex
📍Southchurch Park
Northumberland Crescent
Thorpe Bay
Southend-on-Sea
SS1 2XB
Southchurch Park is located only a stones throw away from Thorpe Bay Beach. The Park has several pitches and courts, a model boating lake, cafe and gardens.
The large playground has equipment for toddlers and big kids too. There are many different climbing frames, swings, a roundabout, climb on equipment and lots of spinning equipment.
📍Leigh Library Gardens
Leigh-on-Sea
SS9 2DA
As the name suggests, these gardens and playground surround Leigh-on-Sea library. A sweet spot, just the highstreet with lovely views across the estuary. A perfect stop for littles when browsing the high streets many independent shops and restaurants. You can also cut through the park and down some pretty steep steps to Old Leigh. You can find more independent shops, great pubs and a little beach in Old Leigh.
The small, metal, playground is fenced off. There are swings, a merry-go-round, climbing frame and balance apparatus. Most suitable for small children. A small playground (which definitely needs a repaint and revamp) but a great location.
Heading away from the playground and towards the path down towards the estuary you can find this really cool slide and climbing ropes. A great opportunity for bigger kids to play too. There are also lots of excellent trees for climbing.
📍 Chalkwell Park
Westcliff-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea
SS0 8NA
Chalkwell park has two great play areas, catering to all ages. There are also beautiful gardens, lots of open space and the park is close to Chalkwell beach.
There are two separate play areas at Chalkwell Park. The play area closest to London Road is suitable for school to junior aged children. There are swings, spinning equipment and a large slide accessed via a rocky path.
The toddler play area has toddler climbing frames, baby swings, a larger metal bus climbing frame and connected climbing equipment.
📍 Bonchurch Recreation Ground
Bonchurch Avenue
Leigh-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea SS9 3AS
Bonchurch Recreation Ground has great facilities for the local community. There is a playground, tennis courts, playground and lots of open space for picnics, dog walking or just to let off steam!
Bonchurch Park is an enclosed playground, but there is so much space to play inside the fences. The equipment is well spaced out. There is a metal climbing frame, swings (including baby swings), spinning, balancing and climbing low equipment and a larger more challenging climbing frame. There are also climbing rocks with nets. There are benches and picnic tables inside the play area.
📍 Blenheim Park
Blenheim Park Close
Leigh-On-Sea
Southend-On-Sea
SS9 4AR
Blenheim Park is great for families. There is plenty of open space on the playing fields and a good playground.
Blenheim Park has a great playground. The majority of the playground equipment is aimed at toddlers and small children. There are metal climbing frames, balancing and crawling equipment, slides and a sit on tractor. The playground is enclosed.
📍 Shoebury Park
Elm Road
Shoeburyness
Southend-on-Sea
SS3 9SF
Shoebury Park is a brilliant Southend park with so many facilities - a playground, big skate ramp, playing fields, gardens and basketball courts. Shoebury Park is a great spot to feed the ducks. Plus free parking!
The playground has equipment suitable for children a variety of ages and is in excellent condition. The enclosed playground has a ship/pirate theme. Equipment includes climbing frames, balancing equipment, spinning equipment, slides, baby swings, ride on equipment, climbing walls, a zipwire and merry-go-round. There are picnic benches and benches inside the playground.
Don't forget to check the Park Directory for more park inspiration - A-Z of over 100 Parks in Essex. Over 100 parks and playgrounds are listed
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