How is it like living in Basildon, Essex with school going kids?

[js1000]

We currently have a mortgage on a small flat in London . DH n I work in East London . Our kids go to really nice school here but not we are desperate to buy a bigger house as we feel squashed in our 2 bedroom flat . We can not afford/like the properties that we have viewed so far in east London . I have been looking in Internet the house prices n sizes in Basildon are really good and affordable but am worried as the reputation of Essex and some horrid comments in the Internet .
How is it like to live there ? how are the schools n people ? how is commuting to London ? Any suggestion ?
Thanks

[oldboiler]

Southend is better than Basildon and house pricers pretty similar. Better schools than Basildon, plus more green spaces and the sea.

[hiccupgirl]

Essex suffers from a lot of bad press but like anywhere there's good and not so good bits.

I work in Basildon - the better end is the west side closest to London. The further east you go, the less good it is. Langdon Hills and Laindon are better choices than Basildon itself. Or suburbs like Noak Bridge. Schools are mostly pretty good in these areas too.

Or as above Southend has lots to offer. Also Rayleigh and Hockley are more upmarket and have lots of local shops and railway stations with trains into Liverpool Sreet (I think...might be Fenchurch Street!).

[werenotreallyhere]

Whereabouts to do work? Where have you been looking that you can't afford?

[werenotreallyhere]

Sorry, I meant whereabouts do you work?

[PlasmaBall]

Basildon is an amazing place to live, especially with children/teenagers as they get older. It has all the facilities they could want all within cycling distance of home which avoids parents being taxi all the time and gives them some freedom.

You have to develop a thick skin when dealing with people who live in the surrounding towns and will look down on you but they don't know what they're missing.

East side is nicest.

There are some good primary schools but unfortunately the secondaris aren't really up to scratch yet. Families in mist of the "nicer" parts of Basildon send their dc to comps outside the town.

[PlasmaBall]

posted too soon.....

the town is surrounded by nature reserves and country parks whilst being only 40 min from London and 30 min from the sea.

Even snobby mil had to admit the people are lovely after spending a few weeks caring for dgc. Apparently its noticeable how much more helpful people are in helping with doors/ stopping to let you cross the road etc than they are in her much posher (more expensive) town

[fussychica]

Moved there from East London as a child (many moons ago). My parents hated it and moved out to Benfleet as soon as they could but at the time I thought it was fine. However, when I came to buy my own place I stuck to Benfleet and Thundersley areas, a few stops further away from London. I also worked there for several years. Secondary schools did go steadily downhill during the years I lived there and by the sound of it haven't recovered. I haven't been back for years though so current dwellers will obviously give you the best advice.

[SnakeyMcBadass]

Langdon Hills is lovely, Laindon much less so.

[PlasmaBall]

Your looking at the wrong bits of Laindon Snakey and Fwiw London Hills doesn't actually exist except in the imaginations of estate agents. The station is, as you would expect, right in the heart of Laindon.

[SnakeyMcBadass]

I have family on both sides of the train tracks, and Langdon Hills is much nicer imo. Plus, I was never mugged for my sweets in Langdon Hills

There are some lovely little villages a few miles out of train stations, OP. Orsett, Fobbing and old Corringham are nice. I don't know much about the schools tbf, but Gable Hall was my old stomping ground and had a good rep. There's a train station in Stanford, but haven't been there in a decade.

[js1000]

Many thanks for the replies.
werenotreallyhere - I work in Whitechapel
fussychica - I took your suggestion n am viewing couple of houses on Saturday as schools are brilliant there and the houses look pretty good too.

Sorry for late replying.

[fussychica]

We were very happy in Thundersley/Benfleet area and lived there until I moved north with work. The schools were always good. I hope you find what you are looking for js1000 - it's not a bad commute from Benfleet - something I've also done.

[northeastMove2015]

All I hear is Laindon hills is awful to live, we are moving to Laindon and we were told it was a nice place to live :(

[awesomeone544]

but what about basildon streets for halloween someone has to think its ok for kids to go out trick or treating with there big brother or sister

[JessB15]

Hi everyone, posting within the same post as we are currently considering moving to Basildon long term with our toddler and would like to know which areas to look at and which to avoid...Thank you!

[ImStickingWithYou]

I would say the above still holds true. Schools are the things to research, especially the secondary (I know it is a long way away but how often are you intending to move areas?). Basildon Secondary schools aren't great, if you can go slightly outside Basildon to steeple view or Noak Bridge, or even further into Billericay, the secondary school options really improve.

[Piwi1625]

Hiya I'm looking to do a swap over to Essex. I'm from Edgware Middlesex and just want a total different scenery. What is Basildon like for black people in particular?

[Sallycinnamum]

I live up the road in Upminster which is much nicer but the house prices are more expensive although you'll save money commuting in.

Personally, I would look at West Horndon and Billericay and avoid central Basildon. You could also look at Leigh On Sea but the traffic is absolutely fucking hideous if you drive, especially in the summer.

[Michyboo]

Hi Piwi1625
What a coincidence - I moved from Edgware to Billericay which neighbours Basildon! Since moving to Billericay I have not experienced any racism. Billericay is definitely more 'upmarket' than Basildon and there does seem to be a bit of a conscious divide - I don't know anyone who would move from Billericay to Basildon, let's put it that way. However, I like Basildon and choose to shop there all the time as they have a greater selection of shops and I also find the people very down to earth and quite no nonsense but not unfriendly. In comparison, I have found the odd person in Billericay 'unfriendly' but I think this just comes down to snobbiness rather than racism. To keep things in perspective, the majority of people in Billericay are lovely, polite and friendly. There are quite a few black (African and West Indian), Indian and Asian people in Billericay as well as Basildon (I'm black by the way), so you definitely won't be the odd one out. I hasten to add, Basildon and Billericay are by no means as multicultural as Edgware. I don’t know much about the schools in Basildon, but the schools in Billericay are good and I have only had positive experiences here. It's natural to be apprehensive regarding such a massive decision like moving house, and choosing the right location for your family so I hoped I have helped. All the best! x

[highinthesky]

I wouldn't wish Basildon on anyone, nor Laindon, nor Pitsea. Leave all of these well alone.

Billericay is lovely but expensive, ditto Brentwood and Upminster. Leigh is way overpriced. Southend is a great option but the market seems to have stagnated over the last 3 months. Benfleet is also lovely and ideal for the commute to London. Hornchurch might be a good compromise?

[highinthesky]

At Christmas I had a discussion with friends in Benfleet about preferred shopping areas. I wouldn't set foot in Basildon town centre but they were all happy with it and interestingly less likely to visit Southend.

I suppose I am just used to Southend.

[AstrantiaMajor]

If you are moving away from the main areas be very wary about public transport links Fobbing for example requires a bus, to get anywhere. One bus an hour, provided the driver turns up. Kids can get very isolated without transport to get them town. It cost an absolute fortune to get them to school.

[MrsTrentReznor]

I grew up in SE Essex and I wouldn't touch Basildon with a bargepole myself. Especially the schools.
Like PP said, the surrounding villages and towns are not bad at all though.
Southend has 4 Grammars and a couple of selective religious schools.
The majority of the comps are really rather good too.
Again as PP have said, Leigh on Sea is nice, has a kind of village feel to it, but it has got quite up itself and overpriced.
Benfleet is fairly pleasant.
Parts of Westcliff are no go due to multiple occupancy and muggings etc. Other parts are lovely.
You definitely need to look into each area carefully.

[TobleroneBoo]

Basildon is not a very nice place any more, but the town centre ( despite having less choice) I find preferable to southend

[AstrantiaMajor]

There is normally a reason why house prices are low. Basildon and Southend have the highest crime figures in South Essex.