Christmas Shopping and Markets
Southend offers a great shopping experience. Hundreds of shops are filled with everything you could possibly want for your friends, family and loved-ones at Christmas.
Town Centre
Late night shopping every Thursday from 3rd December with free parking in selected car parks from 4pm.
| Opening Times - Christmas Week |
|
| Monday 21st December |
9am-7pm |
| Tuesday 22nd December |
9am-7pm |
| Wednesday 23rd December |
9am-7pm |
| Christmas Eve |
9am-5.30pm |
| Christmas Day |
Closed |
| Boxing Day |
10am-5.30pm |
| Sunday 27th December |
11am-5pm |
| Bank Holiday Monday 28th December |
10am-5pm |
| Tuesday 29th December |
9am-5.30pm |
| Wednesday 30th December |
9am-5.30pm |
| New Year's Eve |
9am-5.30pm |
| New Year's Day |
10am-5pm |
The Royals
- Open Monday to Saturday 9am-6pm
- Open on Sundays from 11am-5pm
- The centre will be closed on Christmas Day and open 10am-5pm on Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
The Victoria Shopping Centre
- Open Monday to Saturday 9am-5.30pm
- Open on Sunday 10am-4pm
- The centre will be closed on Christmas Day with selected shops open on Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
Please check individual stores and shopping centre websites for details.

Christmas Markets
Christmas Market - Everyday from Saturday 14th November to Wednesday 23rd December
The Market will be in town every day up until Wednesday 23rd December starting from Saturday 14th November, selling a fantastic variety of authentic products such as German sausages, gluhwein, gingerbread, traditional gifts and much, much more!
The Christmas Market provides the perfect opportunity to get somebody a unique and special gift.
Open daily until 8pm.
Christmas Farmers & Crafts Market - Every Saturday until 19th December plus Wednesday 23rd December, open from 8.30am until late.
The ever popular Farmers & Craft Market will be on the High Street this festive season from Saturday 14th November bringing a taste of the countryside to you.
Seasonal delights such as rustic breads, organic Christmas cakes, succulent sausages, free range eggs, delicious honeys, jams and chutneys and much more are on offer as well as special Christmas treats.
There will also be a Christmas Craft Market featuring a unique range of gift ideas! The stalls will be selling personalised gifts, wooden crafts, jewellery and much, much more so make sure you don't miss the opportunity to take home a present for your loved ones that you can't buy anywhere else on the High Street!
Free Parking at Christmas
Free Parking will take place on the following dates:
- After 4pm on Thursday 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st December
- All day Sunday 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th December
At the following Council run car parks:
- Alexandra Street
- Clarence Road
- Elmer Approach
- Farringdon Multi Storey
- Essex Street Multi Storey
- Essex Street Bays
- Warrior Square
- Elm Road Leigh
- North Street Leigh
- Ceylon Road Westcliff
- Thorpe Bay Broadway
On the following Sundays, parking will be free in the Town Centre Car Parks listed below:
6th December, 13th December, 20th December and 27th December.
Alexandra Street, Clarence Road, Elmer Approach, Farringdon Multi-Store, Essex Street Bays, Warrior Square.
Still stuck for a unique gift for that special person? Why not treat them to a watersports lesson at Southend Marine Activities Centre? If they've always fancied driving a powerboat or jet-ski or having a go at windsurfing or kayaking, a voucher for a Try-A-Sport session would be perfect! Visit our Southend Marine Activites Centre section or contact 01702 215011 for further information.
Reviewed 10 December 2009