The most family friendly place in Essex?

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My husband and I were born and raised in Central London. However, were tired of the scenery and want a nice, quiet place to move to where we can raise a family. Our initial thought was Essex and a family member suggested moving to Rainham. Unfortunately, were both very ignorant of places outside of London and I was hoping that some of you mumsnetters could help!
Is Rainham a nice, family friendly place to raise children? (we have only visited a couple of times, but we like what we have seen. However, the opinion of someone who is there more often/perhaps lives there would be more helpful).
Are there other areas in Essex that are nicer to bring up a family?
Thanks! :)

Oh and to whoever mentioned Leigh-on-Sea, it's a lovely place but the 'beaches' are bloody awful...full of dried oil from your lovely neighbour Canvey Island

Braintree high street is dying on its arse.

Me too Merry! I went to the Colne college after the school too what was I thinking?! Better than my options in Clacton though! The Colne still looks the same, apart from the weird white thing at the front that they added

Yeah, I have a few mates who still live there!

I grew up in lawford, my Dad commuted everyday to london.

Lexden is stunning and Myland ok too.

Sudbury (suffolk) is ok, I lived there for a bit but it was very isolated and the commute into london is not great.

Dedham etc is a bit rural.

Clacton is known as cracktown, I wouldn't live there if you paid me, even though I live on whats known as one of the worst estates in colly.

Apart from a few obvious offenders this thread is making me truly bewildered about why people have a perception of Essex being horrible. how can they not know how wrong they are?

I find it far, far easier to list lovely places than awful ones. OK, so we are not awash with stately homes, but who cares about that?

Hmm, I don't think there is a perception of Essex being horrible as such- I think its more there is a perception of Essex people being a certain type.

The stereotype was just dying out and then TOWIE came along - confirming a nations prejudices.

I live in Colchester and I love it. Theres a good arty and music scene, its reasonably friendly, historical, lots of pretty areas. Local villages nearby which are lovely. Fairly diverse. Its nothing like what most people perceive essex to be like.

45 mins from London on the train so easy to commute. (my dp works in the city)
There are a few clubs where it can get lairy at night, but there are also a lot of places doing live music, and a couple of theatres, we have the arts centre.
Lots of mother and toddler groups and playgroups for littleones. Schools vary but there are some excellent ones

Haha - the vast majority of Essex is nothing like what most people perceive Essex to be like, to be fair. TOWIE is a trumped up joke based on one town.

Do you find that when you say you live in Essex, people do go "ohhh..really?" and there is an undercurrent of 'why' or 'eurghh'?

I live in Essex.

Areas like Leigh, Rayleigh, Hockley, Eastwood all nice. Do you want village or Town? I grew up in a village called Danbury, was a very nice place for a family to live although I think it is quite expensive now.

We are nothing like TOWIE at all :)

Betty, which school did you go to in Danbury?:)

Jinsei - I went to Danbury Park Primary school........such a lovely school :)

Betty, me too! And yes, it was lovely! How old are you now? We might have been classmates!

Wow!!! I am 41 so went there from 1976 - 1981 (I think)...Mrs Alderton was the head mistress and then Mr Thorpe or something like that!!

How old are you.....oooh...did you live in Danbury too?? I was on the Heights Estate :)

I also grew up in The Heights!!

I'll be 40 in March, think I started in around 1978 and left in 1984. I remember Miss Alderton (and deputy Mr Palmer, who had very hairy hands . Then there was a chap called Mr Sibley for a short time, followed by Mr Leake (but he did have an affair with Mrs Thorpe and they later got married).

Then there were the teachers - Mrs Acklaw, Mrs Hovell, Miss Condie, Mr Hudson, Mrs Rand.

Happy days :)

What comp did you go onto?? I went onto Sandon!

I was St Cleres Way!

Mr Sibley was a right drip wasnt he.....Mrs Thorpe had an affair with Mr Leake....didnt they fall out of the stationary cupboard or something. I used to love Mr Palmer and Mr Hudson..........Mrs Rand is the mum of one of my good friends from the school....I remember her calling everyone Fumble Fingers when they missed at netball!!

I loved the school library too.

Very happy days, was so sad to leave that school :)

I live in Brentwood and its lovely few towie sorts now and people coming and taking pictures of sugar hut but otherwise it's great

Did you used to congregate down The Green to play rounders and it?? Used to love that!!

wivenhoe is nice. I think it gets mentioned a lot as its seen as a desirable area in colchester., Quite middle class but in a nice way. Very mumsnetty ;)

I think it was the kiln room and not the stationary cupboard.

I remember Mrs Rand's daughter and her brother. :) My DSis is still in touch with Mr Hudson, he lives in Scotland now.

We lived on the heights itself, but on the corner with St.Clere's Way. My parents still lived there until a few years ago. I used to love walking into the village through the churchyard, and going down to the lakes.

For secondary, I went to Ingatestone..

yy, do you mean the green around Beaumont Park?

Thats it...the Kiln Room :) Quite the scandal back then I remember.

Yep, I am still in touch with her...bet we know loads of the same people. I lived in Danbury till I was 17 and was a regular down the Bell and the Cricketers!

Yeah thats the one......all the kids would meet up down there and play games like rounders etc.....was so nice :)

I bet we know loads of the same people too. How funny!!

My mum worked as a dinner lady at the school, so you might have know her too!

I lived on the corner of st cleres way and beaumont park right near the back footpath. You must have lived near a family called the Lee's then?? Mum and dad were good friends with them.