- Recommended
Tilbury Fort Museum
Museum within Tilbury Fort covering the site's defences, garrison life and Thames history. A practical starting point for a fort visit.
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Southend-on-Sea to Tilbury among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of £11 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 1h 1m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of £11, while a train costs an average of £11.
Distance: 26 km
Most popular Train | Driving |
|---|---|
£11 Average Price Cheapest | £7 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
1h 1m Average total duration Fastest 31m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 39m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular train company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
Other travel options to Tilbury take longer:
Coach takes on average 1h 13m.
You'll arrive about 8m sooner (31m by train vs 39m by car). Tickets start at around £11 compared to roughly £7 in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Direct services run with c2c.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
Compare coach and train prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Trains from Southend-on-Sea to Tilbury run on average 10 times per day, taking around 31m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £10 if you book in advance.
There are 8 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:02, the last at 23:51. The fastest train covers the 26 km distance in 31m.
Distance 26 km |
Average train duration 31m |
Cheapest ticket price £10 |
Trains per day 10 |
Direct trains 8 |
Fastest train 31m |
First train 0:02 |
Last train 23:51 |
Cheapest Month Aug |
Cheapest Day Fri |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Tue |
Best time to book 7 days |
Discover the best of Tilbury — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Tilbury trip today.
Museum within Tilbury Fort covering the site's defences, garrison life and Thames history. A practical starting point for a fort visit.
Museum in Grays Museum with changing displays on archaeology, local life and art. A compact, informative stop close to Tilbury.
Maritime museum in nearby Chatham showcasing dockyard history, warship collections and historic vessels, ideal for a Thames heritage day trip.
Thames-side green space with wide river views, historic interpretation and open walking routes near Tilbury Fort and Coalhouse Fort.
Popular riverside park east of Tilbury with sea wall walks, military heritage and estuary views. A favourite local area for fresh-air walks.
Nature reserve with easy trails, birdwatching and broad marshland scenery. It offers a quieter side of the Thames landscape near Tilbury.
Jellied eels are a classic Thames-side dish of chopped eels set in savoury stock jelly, long linked with working river communities in Essex and East London.
Pie, mash and liquor is a traditional Thames Estuary meal: minced beef pie with mashed potato and parsley sauce, widely eaten across nearby Essex and East London.
Whitebait are small fish, usually dusted and fried, popular in estuary pubs and seaside towns around Essex for their fresh local coastal character.
Well-known seafood venue in nearby Westcliff-on-Sea, popular for oysters, fish and shellfish from the Essex coast.
Casual Indian restaurant in Tilbury known for classic curries, tandoori dishes and a straightforward local atmosphere.
Traditional pub near Tilbury serving British favourites and drinks in a relaxed, historic riverside setting.
Moderate for the UK. Dining and local transport are manageable, but accommodation nearby can be costly, especially with easy access to London.
Service may be included in restaurants; otherwise tip 10-12.5% for good service. Taxi fares are often rounded up. Tipping in cafés is optional.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Southend-on-Sea to Tilbury by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Tilbury, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Southend-on-Sea to Tilbury trains use the Chalkwell to Tilbury Town station pair. Use this guide to compare Southend-on-Sea and Tilbury train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Chalkwell is 3 km from Southend-on-Sea city centre. Public transport options include:
Chalkwell has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, Accessibility, WC, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Chalkwell.
Wi-Fi is available at Chalkwell.
Ticket office support is available at Chalkwell. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from ticket office, Helpline Contact: 03457 44 44 22, Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Chalkwell: Parking, WC.
Available at Chalkwell: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Chalkwell: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: No, Step free access note: Step free access is not available to either platform at this station, Accessible public telephones: No, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: No, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: No, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
Tilbury Town has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Accessibility, WC, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Information Desk.
Wi-Fi is available at Tilbury Town.
Ticket office support is available at Tilbury Town. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from ticket office, Helpline Contact: 03457 44 44 22, Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Tilbury Town: Parking, WC.
Available at Tilbury Town: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Tilbury Town: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: Lifts are available from street level to both platforms, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: No, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
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