The UK's 'worst' seaside city was once a stop on the London Underground
Southend-on-Sea in Essex was once part of the London Underground network, with trains running directly from the UK capital to the beach.
A seaside city that was once connected to the London Underground is set to become one of the UK's most expensive places to live. Southend-on-Sea in Essex, home to one of the country's top free theme parks, was once a final stop on the Tube network.
The city is now at the end of a c2c rail route in south Essex - and despite often being described as one of the "worst" seaside resorts in Britain - house prices are skyrocketing.
The fierce competition among various railway companies that constructed and operated different Tube lines beneath London led to constant innovation, with passengers eager to explore new locations in and around the capital.
After investing heavily in building stops in west London, District Railway struck a deal with the owners of the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway to run trains from the west of the city to the east, and then onwards to Southend.
District Railway executives were confident that Londoners would seize the opportunity to spend a day at Southend's amusement park, which was attracting large crowds at the time, making the resort a major destination for people all over the country, reports the Mirror.
READ MORE: The underrated UK seaside town with a beautiful beach and hardly any tourists [LATEST]
For nearly three decades, holidaymakers could enjoy a non-stop journey from Ealing Broadway to the seaside town of Southend, now a city, via what is currently known as the District Line. However, the restrictions on leisure activities during WWII led to a decline in demand for this service, which never recovered.
If this service were still operational today, it would make reaching Southend's iconic Adventure Island much easier. Despite not being the most famous amusement park in the country, Adventure Island certainly delivers an exciting experience.
In 2020, it was ranked third in Tripadvisor's Travellers' Choice Awards for the best English theme park, based on public votes. Although it has slipped slightly in the rankings, it still outperforms the more well-known Chessington.
One of the highlights of Adventure Island is its free entry policy. Visitors only pay for the rides they choose to go on, making it an affordable day out for large groups and families.
And if that's not enough to tempt you to visit Southend, the impressive 1.33-mile-long pleasure pier - the longest in the world - should seal the deal.
According to a recent report by Coulters Property, Southend's popularity, which once made it the country's most easterly tube stop, may be reignited. The property experts predict that average house prices will surge from £355,000 today to a staggering £2million in 2047, placing it among the top ten locations in the UK with the most significant house price increase.
