Priory Park
Priory Park
4.5
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4.5
166 reviews
Excellent
101
Very good
47
Average
11
Poor
3
Terrible
4
Kerry C
10 contributions
Feb 2021 • Family
I’ve always loved Priory Park. It’s so pretty and has plenty of seating scattered all around for casual catch ups
The cafe and toilets are a good bonus to the park - well I though so. I have only ever been in the cafe twice and the woman is sooo rude. I asked today if she had any cookies for my three year old and my response was - ‘well can you see any’ pointing her finger to two muffins. £10 for a large tea, 2 small hot chocolate, a muffin and Belgian bun - a bit steep but bought as sooo cold
Next we went to feed the squirrels by a fantastic overgrown tree, whereby dog owners let their dogs off the lead to fly over to the tree my daughter was at almost knocking her over. Luckily she isn’t afraid of dogs even though they were both greatly oversized compared to her. There was no responsibility there on the owners behalf and I had an unsettled scared 3 year old where we had to leave the area. Owners should really think of it from a child’s point of view and how intimidating and scary it can be when a dog surges over to them, especially if they are not use to dogs.
We next went to the area of the lake where the duck are. OMG!! All the ducks were in hiding due to 5 separate groups fishing with their remote controlled bait things in the water whilst they were fishing. We stood there for a bit to only encounter countless rats. The area is running alive with them and they were even running all over the benches. I’ve never experienced this before ever (maybe the sighting of 1 or 2) but they were everywhere and in groups of around 8 in each group. This led to my little girl crying and scared again begging to go home.
We decided to play hide and seek on the grass behind the tree trunks to end a horrible experience before we went home and then had to play dodge the piles of dog poo on the grass. Yes it’s very muddy but that’s no excuse for lazy inconsiderate pet owners.
From now on I think we will venture further to other parks and avoid at all costs
Day rating 1/10 that 1 was for the fresh hair in these horrible times
The cafe and toilets are a good bonus to the park - well I though so. I have only ever been in the cafe twice and the woman is sooo rude. I asked today if she had any cookies for my three year old and my response was - ‘well can you see any’ pointing her finger to two muffins. £10 for a large tea, 2 small hot chocolate, a muffin and Belgian bun - a bit steep but bought as sooo cold
Next we went to feed the squirrels by a fantastic overgrown tree, whereby dog owners let their dogs off the lead to fly over to the tree my daughter was at almost knocking her over. Luckily she isn’t afraid of dogs even though they were both greatly oversized compared to her. There was no responsibility there on the owners behalf and I had an unsettled scared 3 year old where we had to leave the area. Owners should really think of it from a child’s point of view and how intimidating and scary it can be when a dog surges over to them, especially if they are not use to dogs.
We next went to the area of the lake where the duck are. OMG!! All the ducks were in hiding due to 5 separate groups fishing with their remote controlled bait things in the water whilst they were fishing. We stood there for a bit to only encounter countless rats. The area is running alive with them and they were even running all over the benches. I’ve never experienced this before ever (maybe the sighting of 1 or 2) but they were everywhere and in groups of around 8 in each group. This led to my little girl crying and scared again begging to go home.
We decided to play hide and seek on the grass behind the tree trunks to end a horrible experience before we went home and then had to play dodge the piles of dog poo on the grass. Yes it’s very muddy but that’s no excuse for lazy inconsiderate pet owners.
From now on I think we will venture further to other parks and avoid at all costs
Day rating 1/10 that 1 was for the fresh hair in these horrible times
Written 17 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PaulT73
London634 contributions
Nov 2020
Beautiful Setting but Southend Borough Council do need to sort some issues. Whilst we had a nice walk on a blustery day we were disappointed that we we felt intimidated to enter the beautiful Walled Garden due to a couple of groups of less desirable people who had set up camp in there and were openly using drugs and drinking high strength alcohol and very much visibly under the influence of both.
We were also surprised at the amount of rats that we were running around near the areas of water.
SBC really need to sort these issues out in order to maintain what is a really lovely that place that should be valued and used by all without feeling of intimidation.
Cafe was rubbish too - really unfriendly staff.
We were also surprised at the amount of rats that we were running around near the areas of water.
SBC really need to sort these issues out in order to maintain what is a really lovely that place that should be valued and used by all without feeling of intimidation.
Cafe was rubbish too - really unfriendly staff.
Written 6 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vacationer402551
1 contribution
Dec 2023 • Friends
Had a lovely time this afternoon at the VicTOURian - Christmas Cracker at The Priory. Verna (the guide) was absolutely brilliant and made it a real fun time telling us how the Victorians celebrarted Chrismas! Mulled wine (non-alcohlic) and mince pie was included as was a present!! We played a couple of games which was also fun!! The next one is for Valentines in February....looking forward to it already!
Jackie
Jackie
Written 14 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Squirrel
Benfleet, UK11 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
Great park, good play park, plenty of open space, little maze and museum. What more can you ask for a free park.
Gets a bit littered but that's the visitors fault as much as those who look after it.
Picnic is great here. Been with group of 29 friends in the summer and can spend all day chilling, playing ball games as loads of space and plenty of parking. Enjoy.
Gets a bit littered but that's the visitors fault as much as those who look after it.
Picnic is great here. Been with group of 29 friends in the summer and can spend all day chilling, playing ball games as loads of space and plenty of parking. Enjoy.
Written 25 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
clairb3ar
Essex48 contributions
May 2018 • Family
I love priory park, the planting and grounds keeping is amazing all year round. Plenty of space to play and some of the most beautiful trees I’ve ever seen in my life. And at this time of year the music in the park is a great pull. The huge problem and one that means I don’t really want to take family is the toilets. I don’t think I’ve ever, even in at festivals, had to use such skanky dirty smelly toilets. Although they are bad at any time of the year, today NONE of the four were flushing, there was leakage all over the floor and no running water to wash hands. Totally unacceptable for anywhere that wants to attract visitors and totally opposed to the quality of the rest of the park. Surely surely something can be done!
Written 7 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Blueboar1906
Southend-on-Sea, UK26 contributions
Oct 2013 • Family
The museum refurbishment has made it a much more pleasant visit with some nice interactives, the new cafe next to it is nice and modern as well even though to coffee comes out of pods.
The walled garden is a lovely place to sit and read in summer. The kids playground is OK but given how busy it is, is overdue an upgrade. There is loads of space for frisbee, footie, kiting you name it so a great place for a group picnic. Festivals and bandstand programme make it a regular destination on our summer trips around the area.
The hidden gem is the cafe next to the bandstand that as well as offering the standard egg/chips fare has authentic Korean food! Bibimbap for a fiver is a bargain, Kimchi fried rice is lovely surprise for the bored palette as well.
The walled garden is a lovely place to sit and read in summer. The kids playground is OK but given how busy it is, is overdue an upgrade. There is loads of space for frisbee, footie, kiting you name it so a great place for a group picnic. Festivals and bandstand programme make it a regular destination on our summer trips around the area.
The hidden gem is the cafe next to the bandstand that as well as offering the standard egg/chips fare has authentic Korean food! Bibimbap for a fiver is a bargain, Kimchi fried rice is lovely surprise for the bored palette as well.
Written 22 November 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
social-butterfles
Leigh-on Sea, UK669 contributions
Aug 2013 • Family
during the school holidays they run inflatable days for children of mixed ages which are great for wearing them out, giving them plenty of freedom and fresh air.
Every THURSDAY at Priory Park, Victoria Ave, Southend
AGE 3 and above are £6 per child under 3 £3.
SESSION TIMES - MORNING 11AM - 1.30PM
AFTERNOON 2PM - 4.30PM
really well thought out and lots of staff on hand. lots of different castles, slides and novelty's, they even have the traditional candy floss and popcorn as well as other food & beverages. this is just one of the attractions at this park as there are the Priory which has been renovated & is great for all ages, plus the traditional playground, a lake for fishing and ponds to feed the ducks and swans and lots of "green" space for playing games etc, a maze and a beautiful flower/kitchen garden plus a café. entry to the park is free you just pay for the inflatables.
Every THURSDAY at Priory Park, Victoria Ave, Southend
AGE 3 and above are £6 per child under 3 £3.
SESSION TIMES - MORNING 11AM - 1.30PM
AFTERNOON 2PM - 4.30PM
really well thought out and lots of staff on hand. lots of different castles, slides and novelty's, they even have the traditional candy floss and popcorn as well as other food & beverages. this is just one of the attractions at this park as there are the Priory which has been renovated & is great for all ages, plus the traditional playground, a lake for fishing and ponds to feed the ducks and swans and lots of "green" space for playing games etc, a maze and a beautiful flower/kitchen garden plus a café. entry to the park is free you just pay for the inflatables.
Written 12 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sue W
Blairgowrie, Scotland, United Kingdom103 contributions
Jul 2019 • Solo
Visiting Southend from Scotland, to celebrate an early 70th birthday, I just had to see Priory Park again. My earliest memories were running around the box hedge maze and visiting the walled garden (as well as the fig tree), before setting off to meet my father when he left Ekco’s on a Friday evening. Later my school had its sport’s day there.
I must admit I cried as I walked round the maze. What used to be just below my shoulders, now hardly reached my knees. In the garden I walked on the flagstones that the little three-year-old ran across to stare into the pools to see the fish. Sitting on the seat, in the warmth of the afternoon sun, I remembered the curly-haired child who was so happy there. For a moment I saw her again.
Thank you, Priory Park, for firstly creating and then reviving such happy memories.
I must admit I cried as I walked round the maze. What used to be just below my shoulders, now hardly reached my knees. In the garden I walked on the flagstones that the little three-year-old ran across to stare into the pools to see the fish. Sitting on the seat, in the warmth of the afternoon sun, I remembered the curly-haired child who was so happy there. For a moment I saw her again.
Thank you, Priory Park, for firstly creating and then reviving such happy memories.
Written 19 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mercilessblue
Leigh-on Sea, UK9 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
Lovely park and lots on interesting things to see. Don't bother with the cafe the food is disgusting, kids were even leaving chips as they were fowl and the chicken was like leather
Written 5 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DSKKSR
Essex, UK3 contributions
Apr 2017 • Family
The park is beautiful and well kept. Lovely play area and amazing gardens and walks.
Just don't go there hungry and expect to eat at the café. One unhelpful young man serving, one miserable waitress, filthy cutlery and over priced, inedible food served after an incredibly long wait. The children's sausage and chips were cold and over cooked at the same time. My cheese burger smelled like dog food and tasted worse. Even the ice creams were revolting. They had clearly been left to defrost and then re frozen.
Having young children I have been to pretty much every park in the area and eaten at all the cafes and this was by far the absolute worst.
Take a picnic and enjoy the park!
Just don't go there hungry and expect to eat at the café. One unhelpful young man serving, one miserable waitress, filthy cutlery and over priced, inedible food served after an incredibly long wait. The children's sausage and chips were cold and over cooked at the same time. My cheese burger smelled like dog food and tasted worse. Even the ice creams were revolting. They had clearly been left to defrost and then re frozen.
Having young children I have been to pretty much every park in the area and eaten at all the cafes and this was by far the absolute worst.
Take a picnic and enjoy the park!
Written 6 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is there disabled parking that is near the Priory and walled garden?
Written 26 May 2019
Yes there are a few disabled spaces near the Priory, bandstand and gardens but the car park is not huge and it will all fill up quickly on a nice day so best to get there early.
Written 15 June 2019
Is it a day ticket lake to be able to fish anyone have any info on the fishing pls
Written 13 October 2015
Hi,
Is there a car park?
Thanks
Katie
Written 10 August 2015
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