The most family friendly place in Essex?

[nousernamesareworking]

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! :)

Fellatio - I grew up in South East Essex (Basildon) and I whole heartedly agree with you. North Essex is far nicer and prettier than the South.

..and I used to love the school dinners !!! :)

Wow, we were very close then!

Yes, we knew the Lees family, they lived just a few doors away from us. Near the Tylers if you knew them too?

Which corner of Beaumont Park were you on? Did you live next door to Mr Ridd or on the other side of the road?

You must have been near the Kundig family too? Marietta used to cut my hair!

Marietta used to cut my hair too....we lived virtually opposite her!! Remember her son Jacob...I have some old photos of me and him when we were very young!! And Max the dad??

So yeah, on the corner opposite the Kundigs, the house with the long brick wall going down Beaumont Park with the big Silver Birch Tree which used to knock the wall down in high winds.

fellatio, small world indeed. Betty and I have discovered by PM that we know tons of people in common!

God I was devastated when that house fell through, I loved Danbury so much I thought it was the end of the world. Funnily enough despite looking at loads of houses in Danbury and LB in latter years I never did end up living there.

It is a lovely village, though it has become stupidly expensive now. So many fond memories!

Where did you end up instead Fellatio?

I will have to tell you by PM, as I am in danger of outing myself!

This thread is making me so homesick. I live in Bristol now with my Bristolian husband who has NEVER been to Essex and likes to make stupid jokes about it. I showed him some photos of Coggeshall and the house that I grew up in there and he was completely taken aback as it was NOTHING like he had imagined.

I've also lived in Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend and Thundersley but wouldn't recommend any of them tbh!

Coggeshall is bloody gorgeous.

It is nice. I grew up in a rambling Victorian mansion on the outskirts, which he knew about obviously, but he thought the town itself was going to be some grotty concrete hell with burnt out cars in the front gardens etc. I proved him wrong! ;)

Fellatio what year did you try and buy St Cleres Way?? Shame, was a lovely road with lovely people :)

It was 1999.

Avoid Thurrock. Like the Plague.

I'd gone by then!!!!

Bummer but I am sure you ended up somewhere equally as lovely :)

I know exactly where you danbury lot are talking about. Love danbury spent many weekends walking round the lakes/common areas. They now charge for parking cheeky feckers

Merry I know!! I was really pissed off when I went last year and had to pay for parking!!!

Oh, so did we! We used to walk there often in winter and autumn when our children were little. Lovely memories. Also along the towpath at Papermill Lock in Little Baddow - beautiful.

Paperlock Mill is lovely....I remember canoeing all round there with the brownies :)

Glad non of you mentioned Burnham on Crouch, I'd hate to think of you lot crowding into our wonderful town with its many pubs, places to eat, 1930s cinema, thriving sports teams, sailing clubs, miles of seawall walks, railway station, etc. I'd hate you lot to start feeling like you're on holiday everytime you go down to the quayside.

I LOVE Burnham!!!! We go there loads in the summer :)

Yes, sorry, used to go to Burnham regularly too, for windy seaside walks on Sundays, and eat pots of cockles and buy some oysters.

I love this thread.....brings back so many memories of a truely awesome childhood :)