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As a mum of two, I'm always looking for inexpensive days out, and seaside towns are usually a pretty good option. While a trip to the amusements can be pricey, at least the beach is free, and kids are usually happy building sandcastles and paddling in the sea, which gives a welcome respite from tapping my contactless card onto various machines.

Recent research from Aquaanalysed a number of cities to find the UK's most affordable cities for a day out, and in the number one slot was a seaside town that was a big part of my childhood: Southend-on-Sea. Despite being in the typically more expensive south east, Southend scored highly thanks to its cheap public transport, inexpensive food, and large number of free attractions on offer.

Unfortunately, Southend doesn't have the best reputation. Last year,it was ranked fourth on a list of the UK's worst seaside towns, with nearby Clacton-on-Sea coming in third, according to data compiled by Which?. Southend scored particularly poorly for its beach, as well as for overall value for money, so despite being cheap, the question is, is it worth a visit?

Personally, I'm a staunch defender of Southend. Perhaps it's the childhood nostalgia, or simply because it's the nearest seaside town and feels homely and familiar, either way, I feel strongly that its poor ranking was undeserved.

Last summer, we took a trip to the Essex town to make the most of the sunny weather. But of course, as with any seaside town on a bank holiday, half the country had the same idea and as expected, it was packed.

Parking can be a major expense when visiting places like this. We had a disabled family member with us, so using a blue badge meant parking was free; otherwise, it can cost around £3 an hour on the seafront. You can also park at the nearby Royals Shopping Centre for about half the price and it tends to be a lot easier to find a spot.

We started the day at the Sealife Adventure, right on the promenade, with tickets priced at £18 for all visitors over 90cm. Since my kids are now way above this threshold, it came to £64 for the four of us. However, we got a wristband so you could leave and re-enter all day, and if you're a big fan of aquariums, annual passes were £22 for the year.

For a smaller aquarium, or zooquarium as it calls itself, it's not bad. It had a variety of exhibits from animatronic dinosaurs to monkey enclosures in addition to the usual aquarium attractions. Unfortunately, the one creature we'd come to see, the axolotls, were no longer on display. On the plus side, there was a covered picnic area where we had our lunch, which always helps save money on a day trip.

Next, we headed to the beach, and sadly, this area really lets Southend down. The pebbly sands were packed with people, as expected, but as we got closer to the water, I was put off taking a dip due to the brown colour of the water. It's just not the kind of place you want to swim in. Later on, I did some research and found out that natural sediment gives the water its unappealing colour, however, it's always worth checking the water quality before you swim anywhere.

While the colour of the water can't be helped, issues such as overflowing bins and litter can. I appreciate it was a busy day, but it was unfortunate to see rubbish strewn on the floor in some areas. One area was dubbed "so gross" by my teenager.

Southend has a lot of free attractions, such as local museums and historic sites. The council's website also lists free events going on locally, such as live music performances. One spot that's still reasonably priced is Southend Pier. It was upgraded in 2005 and now includes a Pier Museum where you can enjoy a nostalgic look back at this iconic spot.

If you need to get your steps in, then a walking ticket for the pier is just £1.60, and the 1.3-mile-long pier is an amazing place to enjoy views of the coast and take photos. You can also opt for a pier entry ticket with a return on the train costing £7.70 for adults and £4.10 for children, or £19.50 for a family ticket. Ice cream is expensive, but you're paying for the view while you enjoy it.

Finally, we made a quick stop at Adventure Island, a theme park that parents will be relieved to hear is free to enter. Day wristbands cost £20 if booked online, allowing for unlimited rides, or you can opt to pay for individual tickets at £4 each. It's handy for parents with kids who get bored easily as you aren't paying for a full theme park day.

Was it the cheapest day trip I've been on? No. We saved a bit of money by packing a picnic, but a round of £3+ ice creams and an attempt to win a Labubu from a 2p machine soon pushed up the cost of the trip. However, if you can resist the allure of the amusement arcades and simply want to enjoy the promenade and pier, it's still good value for money and definitely has that nostalgia factor.

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