Upminster Area has gone downhill

[Bunintumm]

We were considering moving to this area however a few friends already living in Upminster/Hornchurch have advised us to look outside of London as since after Covid the area has gone downhill with lots of car theft/muggings etc.
im torn as the schools both primary and secondary are good and I’m currently pregnant (well less than 6 weeks) so am thinking long term too. Advice welcome.

Hornchurch has a busy and thriving high street, unlike Upminster, with a number of independent shops and restaurants, plus a theatre and botanical gardens and excellent country parks. Just to bring a different perspective.

Can't comment on schools though

I have heard a lot of people moving from Hornchurch to Upminster so I suspect it’s even less desirable.

Upminster was always regarded as the next step up, but just trying to bring a different view

DONT get it, it’s up the road, can’t be that different or better 🤷🏽‍♀️

What exactly are you asking OP? People who live here, and I am one of them, say its a nice area in the main and you keep saying you've heard it isn't so live somewhere else!

Obvpeople who live there would say that

It's on the district line both upminster and hornchurch and yes you do get them jumping off at both stations , robbing people of phones then jumping back on the district line again .
Can't comment on car thefts or muggings.
Upminster like a pp said has more independent shops and restaurants unlike hornchurch which has more chain shops.
Can't think of a tesco or sainsbury's in upminster but hornchurch have both. Upminster has a waitrose and an m&s though lol.
Only a bus ride to Lakeside or Romford where there's far more retail shops.
Romford is a shithole though I much prefer Lakeside. A 15 minute car ride away . It takes Longer by bus . Again Can't comment as never got to the bus to Lakeside
Hornchurch has more pubs which stay open late so is more lively.
Both have public parks
Hornchurch has more facilites in the way of a swimming pool and gym.
Both have libraries
Both have good primary / secondary schools of which there are plenty.
Upminster housing is slightly more expensive than hornchurch but that gap Is closing more . Upminster is no more affluent than hornchurch nowadays.
I live and work in hornchurch

Why would I say that? If I lived somewhere and hated it, I'd advise not moving here.

‘Proper’ Upminster (streets local to the station, shops etc) is lovely and would hardly resemble war-torn Beirut. Hornchurch ‘proper’ also has some lovely areas like Emerson Park etc. Obviously when you get to Rainham fringes the dynamic changes a bit. I agree with the comments made by @Heronwatcher .

If you want great schools at all levels and have Upminster money to spend look at Shenfield or Brentwood. There are literally no bad school and you also have catchment access to both the Chelmsford and Southend Grammars. Fast trains from Shenfield are quicker than Upminster if you work in the city or CWharf.

Interesting points

There’s also a lot of new builds starting to take over what used to be green open land and that’s off putting.

It's like Croydon though isn't it. It might technically be London, but it's not really, it's too far out.

Fair point

Each post of yours is more negative, despite many positive replies. I think you need to look elsewhere

😕

I don't know Upminster well but it was always considered to be better than Hornchurch or surrounding areas .
Good schools , 6th Form, nice green areas m Upminster Station and Upminster Bridge . Shops I;m not sure of but there was Roomes Dept store before . And a Waitrose .
London Borough of Havering IIRC rather than Essex,
I'm not a fan of Hornchurch but I cannot put a rational reason to it .

District Line is slow

Where I am , there is definately an increase in crime

"des res" means desirable residence. You really don't seem especially open to any positives so I think you should look elsewhere personally. I grew up in the area of both towns and went to school in Upminster. Its definitely seen as more upmarket than Hornchurch and the big 1930s villas near the station are £££. If you go out towards Corbets Tey its quieter - large houses with big gardens but walkable to town but still v expensive. I think these days you do literally get crime everywhere. Maybe write down your list of must haves, nice to haves and not bothered by and your budget, then settle down with rightmove and a map.

@Vivabasvegas Brentwood has gone downhill. Shenfield is new money and v v expensive. I live near to Shenfield. Train fares are ridiculous into London, clearly for the affluent. And no buses after 7 in some cases.

I would plump for Billericay over Brentwood/Shenfield. However, I do like Upminster and the ease of which to get into London quickly and cheaply.

To add..Brentwood has real drug problems unfortunately.

There's been a steady decline in Havering for years now, since all the building of the new housing estates.

They're packing families in like sardines and its having a negative effect on Romford and all the surrounding areas unfortunately.

I think the nightlife of Brentwood high street is not attractive but the place is not unsafe. Drugs are a feature everywhere…the OP asked about schools. All schools in Brentwood are good( if not excellent) particularly the faith schools. Billericay (if you exclude church schools) is a bit hit and mis s on the school front and The selection of state secondary is not extensive.

Shenfield is expensive but you can get to Liverpool Street in 20minutes. I’m not sure where the ‘new money’ comes into it (whatever that means) it has always been a place heavily centred on city workers from all sectors - as is Upminster.

Unfortunately, it seems that most London suburbs have gone the same way. I live in a outer North London borough that has definitely gone downhill and sounds similar to what you're describing. We're hoping to move in the next couple of years, before it gets worse!

Surely it depends on what you're looking for for your budget. There are beautiful homes in Upminster, with some areas being better than others. Looking at your comments I don't believe it's even worth you looking.

My comments are based on what I’ve heard about Havering.

I had a very happy upbringing and schooling in Upminster in 1980s-1990s. No family there anymore, so not there often, but when we last went it still seemed nice to me. We live in Billericay now and are very happy here.

OP, not wanting to be unnecessarily rude, but if Upminster has gone downhill, you might fit in nicely. You don't seem especially well mannered based on your posts.

People from these areas are always going to be more protective of them.