From Southend-on-sea, Sheerness looks so close but yet it would take an hour and a half to drive between these two UK seaside towns through the infamous Dartford Crossing.
Located in the Isle of Sheppey, the Kent town has a road distance of 64 miles with Southend-on-sea despite the two being only eight miles apart.
For those attempting the journey, they would need to drive through major roads including the A13, A282, A2, M2 and the A249.
In order to avoid traffic, one would have to get to Queenborough to get the ferry to Southend, with a day return costing £22.
Southend-on-sea is well known for being home to the longest pleasure pier in the world and is a popular destination for tourists with its iconic seafront theme park, Adventure Island.
It has a variety of activities and events including its annual Luminocity festival taking place every February and taking locals and visitors on a magical experience with massive light installations being placed around the city.
It is also well-liked for its pubs, bars and clubs.
Southend is also packed with historic parks and green spaces, including the Southend City Heritage Trail which takes in the historic Clifftown Conservation Area, parts of the city centre and sites close to the seafront.
On the other hand, Sheerness is one of the most deprived towns in England.
It is a port town which is home to around 12,000 people and just an hour’s drive from central London.
Statistically, it is the second most dangerous small town in Kent, and among the top 10 most dangerous out of all of the country’s 331 towns, villages, and cities.
Last year alone, Sheerness recorded an overall rate of 181 crimes per 1,000 people — an average total of 2,353 crimes for the town’s 13,000 people. And so it is often voted as one of the UK’s worst such seaside towns.
