Basildon

By train

Basildon station is on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway (LTSR) line starting at London Fenchurch St station and terminating at Pig's Bay near Shoeburyness.

• St Martin's church

  phone: +44 1268 522455
  address: St. Martins Square, SS14 1DX

• The Glass Bell TowerOpened by Her Majesty the Queen in 1999, the 30-m-high glass bell tower is the first of its kind in the world and also contains the first bell ever to be cast by a woman in the year 1441.

Wat Tyler Country Park

phone: +44 1268 208090

address: Pitsea Mount, Pitsea, SS16 4UH

is a country park named in honour of the leader of the peasants' revolt of 1381. The park which includes a visitor centre, has several old cottages, a marina, a sculpture trail and playground facilities for children.

Tilbury Fort

phone: +44 1375 858489

address: Tilbury, RM18 7NR

• Festival Leisure Park

  phone: +44 1268 330599
  address: Festival Way, SS14 3WB

• Towngate Theatre

  phone: +44 1268 465465
  address: St. Martins Square, SS14 1DL

• Basildon United F.C.

  address: Gardiner's Close
  The local football team.

• Eastgate Shopping Centre

  phone: +44 1268 533631
  address: Southernhay, SS14 1EB

• Moon on the Square

  phone: +44 1268 520360
  address: Fodderwick, SS14 1DQ
  Wetherspoon's pub.

The main drinking area in Basildon is the Festival Leisure Park which is located about two miles from the town centre.

• BondsOfficial warm-up bar of the nightclubs at the Festival Leisure park.

• Lava and IgniteTwo mainstream nightclubs that are joined upstairs, Lava is for over-25s which means your fake ID should be more convincing than usual.

• Jumping JaksA popular alternative to Lava and Ignite, plays a wide mix of music and has a very party-like atmosphere, assuming that your parties involve trashy karaoke tracks and unconscious teenagers.

• Chicago Rock CafeRun-of-the-mill Chicagos featuring a large screen.

• Holiday Inn Basildon

  phone: +44 871 942 9003
  address: Festival Leisure Park, Waterfront Walk

Some areas of the town can be a little rough at night but are generally safe & only the normal precautions are needed to be taken. Avoid the various suburbs out of town at all costs, especially the Laindon Link Estate which was known informally as Alcatraz for years due to its poor design.