Southend-on-Sea, Essex

Martin Parr's spiritual home, practically. A British seaside town with the longest pleasure pier in the world, amusement arcades, fish and chips, sunburned families, stag parties, and the Thames Estuary as a backdrop.

Best time: bank holidays and summer weekends. The worse the weather forecast, the better the pictures.

Look for: the seafront. The amusements. People eating in the face of wind and drizzle. Walk the pier. The end gives you views back to the town with the estuary behind you.