Adventure Island

Adventure Island is a themed amusement park beside Southend Pier in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. The park occupies land on both sides of the pier and has grown from small seaside gardens opened in 1918. Originally called Sunken Gardens, it added a few children’s rides in the 1920s. In 1976 the Miller family bought the western side and developed a proper theme park. In 1995 the eastern side was added, doubling the site’s size. The park now runs along both sides of the pier and includes Adventure Inside, a five-storey soft-play centre with rides and a café. The park is known for its roller coasters and family attractions. Green Scream opened in 1999 and once led the line-up. Rage, opened in 2007, cost about £3 million and rises 23 metres with a 97-degree drop and a vertical loop. The Mighty Mini Mega and Kiddi Koasta coasters cater for different ages. Adventure Inside replaced the old Pirate Boat in 2015 and offers indoor play and arcade games. The park also hosts seasonal events such as Superhero Weekend and Christmas Wonderland. Visitors find a mix of thrills and gentler rides divided by height limits. The east and west sides of the pier each have their own attractions. Adventure Inside sits between them with soft play and Funtopia Arcade. Two Adventure Golf courses sit outside, and nearby Sealife Adventure offers extra entertainment. The pier train runs the full length of the pier to the Lifeboat Museum, linking the park to the seaside promenade.