Move to Essex

[Scoobydoobydoo123]

Pre COVID we were considering a move to Essex from Surrey. We had spent as much time as possible there to make sure we were sure. Then lockdown happened and it’s all on hold. We are thinking Wivenhoe or colchester.
We can both work anywhere.
When we’ve told people about our potential move they have all thought it’s a bad idea (I think they have pre conceived ideas of Essex)
AIBU to think that Essex offers a good lifestyle?

North Essex is beautiful. South Essex (estuary Essex) is towie/grim.

i’m from Essex and it’s pretty there and Colchester is great! It’s got a lot of history and things to do (pre covid ofc)

Not all of North Essex is nice, have you not heard of most of Tendering, the knife crime rates in Clacton, the crown in the jewel being Jaywick? Parts of Colchester are also very rough. Wivenhoe is ok, there are some very good grammar schools in Essex and not as competitive as Kent, lots of pretty villages North /North west of Chelmsford and Chelmsford town centre is now very nice for shopping. I live in Essex and much like any other county there are good bits and bad bits, South of the county is much better for commuting especially with HS2, but also much pricier, bits like Thurrock are just east London (pre gentrification) spread. Billericay and Brentwood after very TOWIE. Leigh on sea and Thorpe Bay are nice on the coast. You'll probably get more for your money than in Surrey but you'll have to get over people making ridiculous jokes about your intelligence and white stilettoes when you tell them where you live.

Which bit of Surrey are you leaving?

I have a friend in Colchester and the quality of care for mental health is appalling. This may be the part of Colchester they're in, but they constantly have to fight with their GP to be seen for any physical problems as their surgery is dismissive.
Currently the hospital there is overwhelmed and I understand homelessness is on the rise.

I went to Essex Uni at Colchester and would move back like a shot! Wiv great and Colchester vibrant.

I wouldn't recommend Leigh on sea only because it's the only place I have ever had a knife placed to my back... and it was lunchtime!

We moved to Colchester from London and really like it. I think there are some bad parts (still don't know the area that well) but we find where we are nice, town centre is good and as a whole the location is really convenient - not far from the sea, London, Norwich, airports etc.

I'm in essex by the sea its lovely not cheap but I appreciate what's on my doorstep some beautiful places in essex I recommend it