Kursaal, Southend

Name: Kursaal
Address: Eastern Esplanade, Southend, SS1 2WW, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 1702 465080

#2 among attractions in Southend

Game and entertainment center, Sport venue, Architecture, Sport

Gallery (3)

Map

Map

Gallery

Facts and practical information

The Kursaal is a landmark of Southend-on-Sea, a seaside resort town in the United Kingdom. Once boasting one of the world's first purpose-built amusement parks, the Kursaal was opened in 1901 as a glittering hub of entertainment and leisure. Its name, derived from the German for "Cure Hall," reflects its original intention to serve as a place of health and recreation.

The grand entrance, known as the Kursaal Dome, is an architectural marvel of its time and serves as a testament to the building's former glory. In its heyday, the Kursaal attracted visitors with its ballroom, arcade machines, live music, and a plethora of rides, including a scenic railway and water chute.

As times changed, so did the fortunes of the Kursaal. The amusement park saw a decline and eventually closed in the late 20th century. However, the Kursaal building itself has been repurposed and still stands as a prominent feature on the Southend skyline. Today, it houses a bowling alley, casino, and various other leisure and entertainment facilities, offering a contemporary twist on its leisurely heritage.

Opened: 1901 (123 years ago)Coordinates: 51°31'59"N, 0°43'29"E

Address

Eastern EsplanadeSouthend SS1 2WW United Kingdom

Contact

+44 1702 465080

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Southend

Day trips

Kursaal – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Adventure Island, Roots Hall, The Railway Hotel, Southend Pier.

0.4 miW
Rides and attractions for kids of all ages
Adventure Island, Southend
10 min walk • Adventure Island is a theme park in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. The site of the theme park flanks the north end of Southend Pier and has been a theme park since 1976 when the land now forming the west side of the park was purchased by the Miller family.
1.5 miNW
Arenas and stadiums, Sport venue, Sport
Roots Hall, Southend
38 min walk • Roots Hall is a football stadium located in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. The stadium is the home ground of the Vanarama National League Southend United.
0.7 miW
Nightlife
The Railway Hotel, Southend
17 min walk • The Railway Hotel is a pub in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. It is known for its live music and its vegan food. The pub launched a meat-free menu in 2012, later making a solely vegan menu.
0.9 miS
Museum
Southend Pier, Southend
24 min walk • Southend Pier is a major landmark in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, United Kingdom. Extending 2.16 kilometres into the Thames Estuary, it is the longest pleasure pier in the world. The bill to build the new pier, to replace a previous timber jetty, received Royal Assent in May 1829 with construction starting in July 1829.
0.5 miW
51°31'58"N • 0°42'47"E
Three Shells Beach and Lagoon, Southend
13 min walk • Beach, Restaurant, Cafe
~1830 ftW
Amusement ride, Amusement, Amusement park
Rage Roller Coaster, Southend
9 min walk • Rage is a steel roller coaster situated at Adventure Island in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. Rage is a Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter model roller coaster.
0.5 miE
Park, Playground, Lake
Southchurch Park, Southend
13 min walk • Southchurch Park is a recreational park in the parish of Southchurch, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. The park is 12 hectares in area and contains sports pitches, including a cricket ground, formal gardens, a boating lake and a café.
~1740 ftNE
Museum, Historical place, History museum
Southchurch Hall, Southend
9 min walk • Southchurch Hall is Grade I Listed Medieval moated house located in Southchurch, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. The Hall was home to farming families until the 1920s.
1.2 miW
Museum
Beecroft Art Gallery, Southend
30 min walk • Beecroft Art Gallery is a gallery in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. Prior to 2014, the gallery was formerly located in and Edwardian building on Station Road at Westcliff-on-Sea which was donated to the people of Southend-on-Sea in 1952 by Walter Beecroft to house his eclectic collection of art works.
1.2 miW
Concerts and shows, Theater, Music venue
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
31 min walk • Cliffs Pavilion is a theatre at Station Road in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England, a suburb of Southend-on-Sea. It seats 1,630 and offers an assortment of variety acts. Work began on the original Cliffs Pavilion during the 1930s. It was intended to be a 500-seat theatre incorporating the art deco style of the times.
0.9 miNW
Museum, Specialty museum
Southend Central Museum, Southend
23 min walk • The Central Museum is a museum in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. The museum houses collections of local and natural history and contains a planetarium constructed by astronomer Harry Ford in 1984.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which popular attractions are close to Kursaal?

Nearby attractions include Southchurch Hall, Southend (9 min walk), Southchurch Park, Southend (13 min walk), Three Shells Beach and Lagoon, Southend (13 min walk), New Empire Theatre, Southend (14 min walk).

How to get to Kursaal by public transport?

The nearest stations to Kursaal:

Bus

Kursaal • Lines: 9 (2 min walk)
Southchurch Avenue • Lines: 9 (2 min walk)

Train

Shore (10 min walk)
Southend East (13 min walk)