Moving to Essex

[Yumyum15]

We want to move back to Essex to be nearer to family. Any recommendations for areas?
We need to be close to amenities and a train link to central London. Good primary and secondary schools and some green space although not rural. Also, a fairly safe area is important for us.
Thank you

Essex is huge - how close to London, do you need to commute there for work, what's the budget, whereabouts do your family live, close to what sort of amenities?

Essex is massive - where are you thinking?
loads of places have overground into London and others the tube

Avoid anywhere near the A12.

Would rather overground and not tube stations. Amenities probably a few local shops but not too far from a town centre, buses.
Approx 1 hour away from central London.
I was born and grew up in Chigwell and I have family in Upminster but I don’t want these areas, I would rather a bit further out.

Forget Brentwood, it used to be lovely but now it’s like a big car park most days.
There’s no police station, crime is rising and they’re throwing up flats on green belt everywhere.
i can’t wait to move away.

Yes I heard Brentwood, Romford, Dagenham, Basildon are not very good. Even Hornchurch/Upminster which used to be good areas seem to be going downhill.

Romford, Basildon and Dagenham are completely different to Brentwood & Upminster. The first 3 are pretty rough, the second two are not.
But your criteria covers pretty much all of Essex still so much more specific requirements are needed to advise!
What sort of property, size of property, size and feels of town, coast or not, schools important or not, and most importantly what is the budget!

If you need to commute into London then c2c considerably cheaper than greater Anglia. That means upminster, Basildon, Benfleet, Leigh on sea into Southend. Tbh I wouldn't bother with most of the towns on that line with the exception of Benfleet Leigh and Chalkwell and I wouldn't touch any of the towns on the train loop at all. Rayleigh and Hockley are nice, that's on the greater Anglia line so a good option if you only need the train occasionally

We've recently moved to south of the dengie peninsula, near burnham on crouch. Its quite rural outside of the towns/villages but there is a train line that runs into liverpool st, altho that will take a little over an hour.

Property is reasonably cheap, but can be a little overpriced by the estate agents. There are threats of more development in and around, but thats true of a lot of less built up places.

We absolutely love it here, we have decent shops and pubs in walking distance, people are friendly altho outside of burnham, maldon and south woodham ferrers, it might be a bit too quiet for teenagers. Depends what you are after.

Sheffield is nice - next door to Brentwood but much better vibe. Direct trains to London or Chelmsford so more expensive. Chelmsford also nice.

Shenfield obviously!