Southend is ok for public transport. I was in the same position a year ago. From Liverpool Street, it's 50 mins or so to Rochford, then 3 or 4 quid in a cab. You'll probably find someone at your chosen club that will give you a lift back to the station. Or take a cycle.. .. .What god giveth in the way of long runway, ATC, traffic to help learn with, he taketh away in terms of it being a concrete dump with a McDonald's drive through for your lunch. A quaint english grass strip with charming clubhouse it is not.. .. .Aesthetics aside, you're there for the flying, and James Meson at Willowair, Southend, is just about the most chilled and friendly instructor I've met.. .. .And, if you get a bit tired of Southend's "character", you can always look forward to a Lydd cross country to remind yourself EGMC isn't so bad. The time in Lydd is 1957.