Southend’s proximity to London, beautiful seafront and distinct character have made the city a hotspot for TV and movie filming over the decades.
From blockbusters to weeknight soaps, Southend has starred in a diverse range of on-screen stories.
We’ve rounded up some Southend filming locations for film and TV fans to visit this weekend:
Christmas shoppers got a shock in December 2022 as Southend’s Civic Centre was transformed into war-torn 90s Kosovo for filming of Netflix’s The Crown.
The series dramatized Prime Minister, Tony Blair’s involvement in the Kosovo War as well as other 90s royal-related events, including the death of Princess Diana and the PM’s much-praised handling of the situation.
As part of the filming, the city centre welcomed burnt out cars, piles of rubble and Tony Blair actor, Bertie Carve.
Southend Pier (EastEnders)
It turns out there’s more in common between Southenders and EastEnders than you may think. Britain’s favourite soap has visited the seaside city on many occasions.
From Shirley and Heather holidaying in Southend to see George Michael to Roxy’s wedding to Alfie Moon, there’s plenty of chances to catch a glimpse of the city in the show.
When the cast and crew arrived at the pier in 2011, eagle eyed fans even spotted fan favourites, Dean and Fatboy.
Southend Airport (Goldfinger)
Ask any Bond aficionado their favourite film from the franchise and there’s a good chance you’ll get one answer – Goldfinger.
The iconic 007 caper was released in 1964 and marked Sean Connery’s third outing as the film’s titular secret agent.
But what many don’t know, is that the scenes featuring Goldfinger’s car being loaded onto an aircraft were actually filmed in at Southend Airport. Other filming locations included Florida, Kentucky and Switzerland.
Perhaps the most recent project to film in Southend was Sky Atlantic's Sweetpea, which aired earlier on this week.
The show follows Rhiannon, played by Yellow Jacket's, Ella Purnell, as she grapples with a developing taste for murder.
The show filmed at Adventure Island and Southend's Pier Hill for two days last year.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here