Can't afford London thinking of moving to clacton-on-sea.... Please help

[noorqt]

Hello folks,I can't afford anywhere near London was thinking of moving to clacton on sea (essex) as I might be able to afford a house there for me and 2DD

Please help, I'm not sure if there are any good school or how the shopping , after school activities are like. So very daunting as I'm a new single mum

[InstitutionCode]

Not sure how to post this without causing offence, so please be assured none was meant.

Does it have to be a sea-side town? The cheaper areas have lots of temporary accommodation and the social problems that go along with that .

[ClareAbshire]

I come from Essex and its referred to locally as "Cracktown" because of the drug issues. When I was doing my PGCE some fellow students were sent to Clacton for their teaching practice and the lecturer joked that "you'll really be earning your money working there!"

There are better places similar distance from London.

[InstitutionCode]

I think that might be what I was trying to say Clare

[Tomuchcake]

Not Clacton

[DoctorDonnaNoble]

Surprisingly, the primary schools seem ok. The secondaries however....
Also , Jaywick, part of Clacton is one of the most deprived areas of the EU! It is true, that your money will go further there but there are other parts of North East Essex.

[Finola1step]

Erm...some really god advice already given.

[noorqt]

Thank you everyone for toto kind responses. Can anyone suggest a better place/area to look into in that case. I am looking for similar distance to London as I was bought up in London and would look to commute into London given the opportunity and I have some family in essex too. I just want a good size garden for my beautiful babies to play in. It been tough since the separation with their father and just want the absolute best I can afford for theme. Thank you all once agin

[SkodaLabia]

I've seen Leigh-on-Sea recommended on here before.

[Golfhotelromeofoxtrot]

Leigh is v expensive

Elmstead mkt, Colchester?

[InstitutionCode]

Basildon is much maligned but it has a lot going for it for a family with fantastic green spaces and especially as they get older, excellent leisure facilities reachable along excellent safe cycleways. Some good primaries and if you live on the fringes, lots of children bused to schools in the surrounding towns for secondary (secondaries are mostly getting better OFSTEDs but still have poor reputations and results, IMO as result of all those children from "better" families being bused outside...)

Easy and relatively cheap commute too. Houses less than half the price of Leigh!

[Tomuchcake]

Braintree is nice

[ClareAbshire]

What about Wickford? That seems to be becoming increasingly popular. And another voice for Basildon- my friend worked in a couple of schools in nearby Billericay that has a lot of Basildon intake. Outstanding schools.

[maroonedwithfour]

Whats your budget op?

[noorqt]

Thanks again folks for your responses. My budget is around £175k-£180k

[ItsRainingInBaltimore]

Please don't go to Clacton. There's a reason it's affordable.

It is not the town it used to be. It's Gangsta Central these days. If you want that general area look at some of the nicer villages around Colchester or Ipswich instead.

[scurryfunge]

If you dont mind a longish commute, think about South Woodham Ferrers, Burnham on Crouch, Southminster, Wickford.

[InstitutionCode]

You'd get a nice central 2/3 bed terrace with a garden in Basildon for that.

[psyandsoc]

Don'tgo Clacton as mentioned by the other posts.

[fussychica]

Benfleet, Hadleigh both cheaper than Leigh and slightly closer to London. I've lived in Basildon, Benfleet and on Canvey (best vfm), albeit many years ago and thought Benfleet/Thundersley the nicest of these.

[WanderWomble]

Clacton is grim. Jaywick is even worse- I was there at the start of the year and parts of it reminded me of a shanty town.

[noorqt]

Thanks guys. There just seems to be so few properties on sale within the vicinity(Basildon, benfleet, wickford etc) and within my budget. I'm keeping my options open

[NinkyNonkers]

Frinton is naice, I wouldn't live in Clacton though!

[EssexMummy123]

will you be needing to commute to London for work?

[answersonapostcardplease]

Braintree has some really nice parts. You could get a 2 bed for your budget. (I posted earlier, have nc)

[ChaiseLounger]

No to Clacton. Frinton is a no no aswell. We visit mil very regularly, and the population is very ageing.
The whole place is beyond dire and run down, although I love going to the local beaches, piers etc.