Family-friendly holiday rentals in Southend-on-Sea

We have spent half term at Lisa’s place, the house is very spacious, located in quiet residential area, about 10 minutes walk from the train station and 25-30 from the town centre which was exactly what we wanted. Lovely large property for our group of 9, we love the gym and hot tub plus a basket of goodies on arrival was an unexpected touch. We had a great stay and was so lucky with the weather too, did lots of small trips with kids so train station nearly was very handy. Would definitely recommend it.

My family and I had the most wonderful stay at the River View barn. The barn was lovely and so peaceful with a beautiful view. We had such a great time and would recommend this to everyone.

Very clean, bedding and towels smelled great. Hot tub was very relaxing, nice farmland surroundings and would recommend shoes/boots that can withstand the mud!

Great late May bank holiday with daughter, son in law and two grandchildren. We had such a good time. Very comfy, great sea view, short walk to swimming pool and nice to have the football pitch just nearby. Hot tub much appreciated.

Wow! This house was amazing for our group of 18. We fit so comfortably - there were even a couple of rooms we didn't need! The grounds are beautiful and spacious, and the common areas were absolutely perfect for our large gatherings (which is where we spent most of our time!). The hot tub was a massive hit, and we have to mention the Raj Indian Ocean restaurant just five minutes away – the food was incredible. This was truly one of the best weekends ever, and the house and its fantastic spaces were key to that!

I was here for work and the area was fantastic. Great place to walk my dog in the morning and evenings. Fantastic facilities like gym and coffee shop. Would happily stay again even if not for work.

Perfect for a party of 6 to 8 people, great social spaces and helpful host. We had a fabulous time and will definitely return again. Thank you Emily

Booked very last minute for a weekend away. A very comfortable, well equipped stay. Homely and inviting.

Our group of six—two adults, one young adult, and three teenagers—had a very comfortable stay at Lesley’s lovely home. It, indeed, felt very much like a home and not just a rental property. There was ample space for all of us, and it was great to have three toilets and two showers. The location is superb—a short walk to coffee, restaurants, and the riverfront, which we enjoyed strolling along in the evening. A great place for a larger group to stay in Wivenhoe!

We had a fantastic stay at Sophie’s home. Communication was excellent from the start, and was really flexible and accommodating. The home is exactly as shown online, if not even better! It was warm, cosy, and full of lovely personal touches that made it feel really special. The stairs are quite steep, but we just took them slowly nothing unmanageable for adults. It was the perfect base for a relaxing break, with easy routes nearby for 5–10k runs and just a 10-minute walk to the seafront. There are plenty of great places to eat, drink, and shop just make sure to book restaurants in advance! Parking is on the street, and while it’s first-come, we managed to get spots right outside the house. The area feels very safe and welcoming to leave cars not near by. I honestly can’t wait to come back four days wasn’t nearly enough to explore everything!

Thank you Sophie, the house felt like a home. The books, the toys, the rooms, the garden an added bonus for the little people. “but why can’t we stay longer” asked grandchild. Appreciated the earlier check in, and thank you for your flexibility and understanding with our car problems.

We loved staying here. Such a comfortable, nicely decorated space in an amazing location for both the shops and the sea. Maya was such a friendly, helpful host and was super generous, saying we could help ourselves to any food in the freezer, cupboards and so on. Would definitely want to stay again.

Thank you for such a wonderful stay. The cottage was beautiful inside and out, and a perfect location to walk and explore the surrounding area and enjoy all that Whitstable has to offer. Charlotte offered great recommendations for places to eat and drink. We loved our stay at Seabird Cottage, thank you.

Alison dough cottage was lovely and spacious, great for dogs. High end fixtures and fittings. lovely welcome hamper. whitstable right on your doorstep, with parking places in street around the back. pubs restaurants and takeaways a stones throw away.

Fantastic stay with my family. We have outgrown a caravan holiday and this was absolutely perfect for us. Private but with neighbours. Very relaxing. Wonderful to have a fully functional kitchen with all you need to cook breakfast, lunch or dinner! Hidden treasure!

We have a beautiful stay in lovely weather, an absolute dream for a toddler - so many toys, brilliantly set up with cot, high chair, steps for toilet, bath Mat - it was brilliant. Thank you very much!

Accommodation: The caravan itself was spotless and well-equipped with all the modern amenities one could need. The kitchen was fully stocked with utensils and appliances, making it easy to prepare meals. The living area was cosy and comfortable, perfect for relaxing after a day of exploring. The beds were incredibly comfortable, ensuring a good night’s sleep. Bonus did not need to take bed linen as the beds were made up Facilities: The park’s facilities were top-notch. The communal areas were clean and well-maintained, and the on-site shop had everything we needed. The kids loved the playground and the swimming pool, which were both safe and fun.

Great break close to entertainment and shop Recommended it give it 10 out of 10

Jenny, I hope you like my review, we enjoyed our short holiday in your caravan. I think you will need to fix some of the furniture, like the wardrobe door in the double room. Otherwise everything was fine, thanks. Peter

Lovely place with great facilities and Wendy was so nice and welcoming.

Van is in one of the best spots for views and privacy. Very comfortable with everything you need close by. Another fab stay.

Ideal location and convenient accommodation with all necessary amenities for a practical and comfortable stay. I would certainly recommend this accommodation to others.

We were very impressed on arrival. Lovely peaceful grounds, pool bigger than we’d expected and great games area. Good place to stay with our extended family, good central location, really enjoyed nearby Canterbury. We were lucky with the weather. We visited Howletts zoo & 2 different sea-sides. The house is quite warm, it’s great fans are provided in all bedrooms. Improvements- Need better extraction for the kitchen- & update the book on what to do if the smoke alarm goes off! The agency were quick to help but with poor phone signal this was tricky to arrange. Bigger beds/ new mattresses Downstairs loo had no toilet lid Other reviews mentioned cobwebs & the place seeming a bit ‘tired’, I’d agree with some of that but it didn’t stop us having a wonderful time & a few cobwebs don’t bother me, everything else was clean and we’d love to return .

This was our second visit to the Lighthouse and it still is an amazing place, from the panoramic sea views to a lovely warm inviting home. A dip in the pool before breakfast, sitting with a coffee watching the seascape, as far as Essex and beyond, sunsets and so much more. I will make the same comment as I did last, this goes for the whole of our party across 3 generations and the dogs, the only bad thing about the Lighthouse is having to leave. Hopefully this will not be our last visit.