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Adventure Island

Free-entry seaside amusement park on Southend seafront. Pay-per-ride or unlimited wristbands available. Perfect for a budget-friendly family day out by the sea.

Data last verified on 19 January 2025. Always confirm critical restrictions with the park on the day of your visit.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex
Sunken Garden, Western Esplanade

Quick Stats

Total Rides:
28
No Restrictions:
8
Adult Price:
£0
Child Price:
£0
Parking:
£8
Updated:
19 January 2025
Opening Hours
10:00 - 18:00 (seasonal variations)

Park Photos

Licensed imagery to help preview the experience

Adventure Island imagery is being refreshed
Adventure Island imagery is being refreshed

Rides by Height Requirement

8
No Restriction
Perfect for all ages
12
Under 110cm
Great for young children
8
110-140cm
Adventure starts here
0
140cm+
Thrill rides

All Rides & Attractions

Filter Rides

Ride Name
Type
Height Requirement
Intensity
Duration
Adventure Express
Train ride around the park.
Family
No restriction
Gentle3:00
Apollo
Spinning rocket ship ride.
Family
100cm alone
Medium1:30
Axis
Giant pendulum ride swinging to extreme heights. Must be 10+ years old.
Thrill
130cm alone
Max 190cm
Extreme2:00
Carousel
Traditional carousel horses and carriages.
Family
No restriction
Gentle2:00
City Wheel
Ferris wheel with views over Southend and the Thames estuary.
Family
No restriction
Gentle4:00
Crazy Mouse
Wild mouse style coaster with tight turns.
Coaster
110cm alone
Medium1:30
Crooked House
Walk-through fun house with tilted rooms and optical illusions.
Dark Ride
No restriction
Low3:00
Dodgems
Classic bumper cars - under 130cm can ride with accompanying adult.
Family
130cm alone
Low3:00
Flying Jumbos
Elephant themed flying ride for young children.
Family
No restriction
Gentle1:30
Frog Hopper
Mini bouncing tower for young children.
Family
90cm alone
Low1:00
Green Scream
Family coaster with multiple drops - great first big coaster.
Coaster
100cm alone
Medium1:30
Mega Bounce
Bouncing drop tower ride for families.
Family
100cm alone
Medium1:00
Mini Paratower
Gentle parachute drop ride for children.
Family
90cm alone
Gentle1:30
Pirate Ship
Swinging ship ride - smaller children can ride with adult.
Family
110cm alone
Medium2:00
Rage
Signature Euro-Fighter coaster with beyond-vertical 97-degree drop.
Coaster
120cm alone
High1:15
Ramba Zamba
Spinning flat ride with tilting motion.
Thrill
120cm alone
High2:00
Rocky Mountain Rapids
Log flume with splashy drops.
Water
100cm alone
Medium3:00
Roller Ghoster
Small family coaster with ghost theming.
Coaster
100cm alone
Low1:00
Safari Jeeps
Drive jeeps around a track.
Family
No restriction
Gentle1:30
Samba Balloon
Spinning balloon ride for families.
Family
90cm alone
Gentle1:30
Screature
Extreme spinning ride with multiple axes of rotation. Must be 10+ years old.
Thrill
130cm alone
Max 190cm
Extreme2:00
Sky Drop
Drop tower with views over the seafront before the plunge.
Drop Tower
120cm alone
High0:45
Sky Swinger
High chair swing ride with seafront views.
Family
120cm alone
Medium2:00
Tea Cups
Classic spinning tea cup ride.
Family
No restriction
Gentle1:30
Techno Jump
Bouncing arm ride with spinning cars.
Family
110cm alone
Medium1:30
Tidal Wave Slides
Water slides dropping into splash pool.
Water Slide
120cm alone
Medium0:30
Twister
Spinning ride with multiple movements.
Family
110cm alone
Medium1:30
Vertigo
38-metre drop tower - the park's tallest ride. New for 2024.
Drop Tower
120cm alone
High1:00

Location

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Address

Sunken Garden, Western Esplanade
Southend-on-Sea
SS1 1EE
United Kingdom
Lat: 51.535
Lng: 0.7114

Complete Park Guide

Complete Park Guide

Adventure Island Height Guide

Adventure Island is a free-entry seaside amusement park on Southend's famous seafront. Unlike traditional theme parks, you pay per ride or buy unlimited ride wristbands, making it perfect for budget-conscious families.

Sections
12

Organized insights

Reading Time
~3 min

Plan ahead quickly

Highlights
3

Need-to-know tips

Guide Section

Park Highlights

Walk in without paying - great for browsing or if some family members don't want to ride.

Free Entry

Walk in without paying - great for browsing or if some family members don't want to ride.

Seafront Location

Beautiful seaside setting with beach access and Southend Pier nearby.

Flexible Options

Pay per ride for short visits, or buy wristbands for full day riding.

Height Strategy

Height Breakdown

Gentle rides for all:

No Height Restriction (8 Rides)

Gentle rides for all:

  • Sky Drop (with adult)
  • Pirate Ship (with adult)
  • Dodgems (with adult)
  • Various children's rides

90-110cm (9 Rides)

Building confidence:

  • Mini rides and children's attractions
  • Green Scream junior coaster
  • Family-friendly spinning rides

110-130cm (7 Rides)

Growing thrills:

  • Rage (120cm) - signature coaster
  • Ramba Zamba (120cm)
  • Sky Drop (120cm) - 38m drop tower
  • Various thrill rides

Thrill Rides (130cm+)

Intense experiences:

  • Axis (130cm, max 190cm) - giant pendulum
  • Screature (130cm, max 190cm) - extreme spinner
  • Note: Must be 10+ years old for these rides

Planning Tips

Best For

  • Toddlers (under 90cm): Good selection of gentle rides
  • Young Children (90-110cm): Great variety of kiddie rides
  • Older Children (110-130cm): Access to main attractions including Rage
  • Teenagers (130cm+): Axis and Screature offer good thrills

Guide Section

Unique Selling Points

Free Entry Model

  • No gate fee - just walk in
  • Pay per ride using tokens
  • Unlimited wristbands available
  • Accompanying adults ride free with under-120cm children

Seaside Experience

  • Right on the beach
  • Near Southend Pier (world's longest pleasure pier)
  • Arcades and restaurants on the seafront

Guide Section

Pricing System

Pay Per Ride

  • Buy tokens at kiosks
  • Each ride costs different number of tokens
  • Good for short visits or selective riding

Unlimited Wristbands

  • Day wristbands for unlimited rides
  • Better value for all-day visits
  • Book online for discounts

Adult Accompany Rule

  • Adults ride FREE when accompanying children under 120cm
  • Great value for parents with young children

Planning Tips

Top Tips for Visitors

  1. Book wristbands online - Up to 30% cheaper than gate price
  2. Arrive early summer weekends - Gets very busy
  3. Combine with pier - Walk down the world's longest pleasure pier
  4. Check weather - Outdoor rides close in bad weather
  5. Beach gear - Combine with beach visit

Planning Tips

Best Times to Visit

Quietest: Weekdays outside school holidays Busiest: Summer weekends, school holidays Evening: Often open late in summer with reduced crowds

Guide Section

Facilities

  • Seafront cafes - Multiple food options along the strip
  • Arcades - Classic seaside amusements
  • Beach access - Sandy beach right there
  • Pier - Southend Pier attractions

On the Ground

Getting There

By Train: Southend Central Station (5 min walk) By Car: Multiple seafront car parks (£6-10) C2C Line: Direct trains from London Fenchurch Street (50 mins)

Guide Section

Age Recommendations

  • Under 5 years: Good gentle ride selection
  • 5-8 years (100-120cm): Great variety
  • 8-12 years (120-130cm): Rage and main attractions
  • 12+ years (130cm+): Full access including Axis/Screature (10+ age rule)

Planning Tips

Money-Saving Tips

  • Free entry - only pay for rides
  • Book wristbands online for discounts
  • Adults free when accompanying under-120cm children
  • Bring picnic - eat on the beach
  • Off-peak wristbands cheaper