Basildon

Basildon is a town in Essex, England. While not usually high on any list of places-to-go for people other than Depeche Mode fans (seeing that all members of the band grew up here), Basildon does have a few things to keep you occupied if you end up there.

Get in

By train

1 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.

See

• 1 St Martin's church, St. Martins Square, SS14 1DX, ☏ +44 1268 522455. (updated Jan 2018)
  • 2 The Glass Bell Tower. Opened 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. 
• 3 Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea Mount, Pitsea, SS16 4UH, ☏ +44 1268 208090. 10AM-4:45PM. 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.  
• 4 Tilbury Fort, Tilbury, RM18 7NR (13 miles south of Basildon), ☏ +44 1375 858489. adults £4.60, children £2.80, concessions £4.10.  

Do

• 1 Festival Leisure Park, Festival Way, SS14 3WB, ☏ +44 1268 330599. 8AM-midnight.  
• 2 Towngate Theatre, St. Martins Square, SS14 1DL, ☏ +44 1268 465465. (updated Jan 2018)
• 3 Basildon United F.C., Gardiner's Close (near the Festival Leisure Park). The local football team.  

Buy

• 1 Eastgate Shopping Centre, Southernhay, SS14 1EB, ☏ +44 1268 533631. M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM, Su 10AM-4PM. (updated Jan 2018)

Drink

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

• Bonds. Official warm-up bar of the nightclubs at the Festival Leisure park. 
• Lava and Ignite. Two mainstream nightclubs that are joined upstairs, Lava is for over-25s which means your fake ID should be more convincing than usual. 
• Jumping Jaks. A 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 Cafe. Run-of-the-mill Chicagos featuring a large screen. 
• 1 The Bell Inn, High Rd, Horndon-on-the-Hill, Stanford-le-Hope SS17 8LD (Exit A13 to B1007), ☏ +44 1375 642483. Tu-Su noon-10PM. Welcoming 15th-century country inn, the food is excellent. Also has rooms, B&B double £80. (updated Jul 2020)

Sleep

• 1 Holiday Inn Basildon, Festival Leisure Park, Waterfront Walk, ☏ +44 871 942 9003. (updated May 2016)

Stay safe

Basildon has a high crime rate compared to the rest of the UK so it is strongly suggested to take caution when visiting. 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.

Areas can be safe if you stick to yourself and take precautions.

Connect

As of Feb 2023, Basildon and its approach roads have 4G from Vodafone, and 5G from EE, O2 and Three.

Go next

Routes through Basildon

London ← Tilbury ←

W  E

→ Leigh-on-Sea → Southend-on-Sea