Southend Pier Museum

About the museum

Southend Pier was badly damaged by fire in 1976 and the council considered closing and dismantling it. A protest group led by Ron and Peggy Dowie campaigned to save it, and in 1982 Peggy Dowie founded the Friends of Southend Pier Museum Foundation to preserve the pier’s history. In 1984 the council approved a museum in the disused workshops below the pier station, and volunteers spent three years preparing the buildings.

The museum was opened by the Mayor of Southend on 8 July 1989, at the same time as the Pier Museum Trust was formed. The Foundation and the Trust merged in 2009. The collection, mostly salvaged items restored by volunteers, is owned by the Southend Pier Museum Foundation Trust Limited.

The museum tells the story of the pier from its Victorian beginnings through the arrival of the railway, the Second World War, when the Royal Navy took over the pier as HMS Leigh, and later fires and ship collisions. Visitors can look at restored pier train carriages, play old penny slot machines and watch films about the pier. It is independent, self-funding and run by volunteers.

Highlights

• Restored pier railway carriages, including Car 22 of the 1949 train
• Driver’s cab of the 1986 pier train, with a Drivers Experience
• Old penny slot machines and mutoscopes to try
• Signal box levers that visitors can operate
• Timeline, scale models and continuous films on the history of the pier

Permanent exhibitions

• Pier trains – Three restored pier railway carriages, including Car 22 of the 1949 train and the cab of the 1986 train, which visitors can enter.
• History of the pier – A timeline, scale models, wartime and disaster displays and continuous films covering the pier’s history.
• Penny slot machines and mutoscopes – Restored seaside slot machines from the 1950s and earlier, played with old pennies provided on site, plus restored mutoscopes.

Founded

1989

Operated by

Southend Pier Museum Foundation Trust Limited

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free; donations are welcome. School visits cost £40 per group in 2026.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum does not publish accessibility details. Disabled parking bays are available in the council car parks along the seafront and in the town centre.

Kids & families

• Hands-on stations

Hands-on items include the signal box levers, the penny slot machines, the train cab and a seated video about the pier trains.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the old pier workshops under the station at the shore end. Go into the pier reception, walk towards the trains and turn right before the platforms; the entrance is signposted. Drop-off is at the west entrance of the pier, next to Adventure Island.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Gift shop with books, posters and souvenirs.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit