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Original poster

Brentwood, Chelmsford or Bishops Stortford - which is better for a family?

30 replies

Lovecat · 30/04/2007 09:28

We're moving house - well, if our daughter ever stops drawing on the walls long enough to show the house, we are - and are torn between 3 destinations.

Bishops Stortford ticks all my boxes, esp. for schooling, but is slightly more awkward journey to work for the OH and there's the uncertainty of what's going to happen with Stansted.

Chelmsford seems nice, but I only really like one particular part of it (Old Moulsham - I don't do new-build!) and I don't know anything about it beyond the shops and the grammar school (and it's by no means certain that dd would get into it in 9 years' time!). However, it'd be easier for both of us to get to work from there.

Brentwood, similar to Chelmsford (but for Old Moulsham read Warley - I've got this weird thing about being able to walk to the shops/schools etc!). Plus, it seems a bit 'Essex glossy' for me ykwim (I am by no means a yummy mummy). And it's v. expensive...

Can anyone who lives in any of these places tell me what they are like for toddler activites etc. and friendliness to incomers? At present I live in Ilford, capital city of 'nothing whatsoever going on for small people' so it would be nice to live somewhere with a few local facilities and the chance to make some new mum friends - all my Ilford mum friends have fled to the depths of outer Essex amd Chelmsford is the furthest out the OH will contemplate as he has to drive to work!

Thanks

OP posts:
eachpeachnallyplum · 30/04/2007 09:42

I am a CM and live in Chelmsford (this is not a sales pitch for my own business ) Chelmsford is lovely. There are loads of toddler groups, soft play areas and parks galore!! Nearby there are places to visit - adventure playgrounds, farms, zoo, butterfly sanctuary, sealife , etc
Chelmsford BC put on various events in the summer months for little ones - the '3 foot people festival' and 'play in the park' are excellent

eachpeachnallyplum · 30/04/2007 09:45

oh yes, commuting is easy from Chelmsford too

michaelad · 30/04/2007 09:49

eachpeach, were you on the chelmsford kegs thread and said you'd be interested in meeting up for a coffe in Chelmsford?
If so, I've been trying to find you for a while now..Chelmsford thread's gone dead.

If not, then apologies!

michaelad · 30/04/2007 09:49

coffee even

eachpeachnallyplum · 30/04/2007 10:17

yep thats me!

michaelad · 30/04/2007 12:13

And still interested?

Original poster
Lovecat · 30/04/2007 13:36

So... there's a couple of people in Chelmsford who'd be up for having coffee, then?

Any Brentwood or Storty mums out there?

OP posts:
eachpeachnallyplum · 30/04/2007 14:36

no no, forget about those other places - Chelmsford mums are the best, aren't we michaelad?

yes, coffee or tea or squash would be lovely!

michaelad · 30/04/2007 19:06

Excellent! I'd suggest Starbucks in Chelmsford for our first meetup so that if someone feels awkward they can just leave after one coffee, iykwim

Tuesdays and Thursday are best for me (both kids in nursery.

michaelad · 30/04/2007 19:07

Lovecat, please come and join us even if you don't end up moving to Chelmsford.
It takes us roughly an hour to Ilford. Ds2 is signed up with Scallywags.

eachpeachnallyplum · 30/04/2007 23:52

out of the two, Thursday mornings would be better for me as then i will have my least amount of kids...
prob could do 9.45am for about an hour only though, then off on pre-school run....no rest for the wicked!

prufrock · 30/04/2007 23:55

Not BS - I lived there for 14 months and describe it as my time in purgatory. Very essex wifey in the toddler groups, little to do for kids - one grotty grotty soft play place, and real lack of decent housing except in newbuild developments which are soulless and soul destrying places

eachpeachnallyplum · 30/04/2007 23:58

(used to live in Brentwood too, quite a few years ago, before dh and dc. not as much going on as in Chelmsford, but more expensive, probably due to being closer to London)

eidsvold · 01/05/2007 03:40

we lived in a small village just outside of chelmsford - easy access as dd1 went to nursery and dh worked at Broomfield hopsital. When I wasn't working dd1 and I attended a fab mother and toddler group at one of the churches. We lived a short walk from the danbury lakes, we could walk to the park, local shop etc. Chelmsford was a 5 minute drive to do high street shopping and I did grocery shopping at Maldon tesco.

Sorry village called Danbury. Loved it loved it loved it. in fact told dh last night that if for some mad moment we ever had to move back to the UK - I want to go back and live there.

I did an easy commute to Basildon where I used to work. Straight on to A12 or back way to A130, A127.

Loved chelmsford for shopping etc. A number of people I worked with - lived in Chelmsford and surrounds.

michaelad · 01/05/2007 08:59

Ok, a thursday it is then. And don't worry about only being able to make it for 1 hour. That's still enough for a coffee and a first impression.

Who else would be up for a Thursday coffee then?

Tyakit · 01/05/2007 10:07

Hi all,

I am in Chelmsford area too and was on the last thread about KEGS. I live in a small village about 30 mins from Chelmsford and DH used to work at Broomfield Hosp. We moved here for work and didn't expect to like it this much. DD is in a lovely school and we have a nice house (though we bought 9 yrs ago before prices went up) in a lovely village with a good community spirit.

Would love to meet up for coffee but will be a bit busy for the next few weeks as being admitted to hosp tomorow to have DC2 by planned CS. Can I join in next time??

michaelad · 01/05/2007 12:32

Absolutely, Tyakit! We haven't even got the first one worked out yet
Good luck with your CS!!

gingerninja · 01/05/2007 12:39

Michaelad, it's me again! I lost the other thread.

For the OP. I live in Chelmsford, first time mum. There are lots of nice things to do with kiddies, not that i've really taken advantage of them yet. I commute (back to work in Aug) The trains are definately better than if you travel from south of london.

michaelad · 01/05/2007 12:42

Helloooo Ginger!!! Nice to see you again! Everything ok? Are you going to join us in Starbucks on a Thursday morning before August then?

gingerninja · 01/05/2007 12:44

Michaelad, yep why not. Do you ever go to any of the mother and toddler groups in C'ford? I go to the library for bookstart but that's about it.

michaelad · 01/05/2007 12:52

No, not really a toddler group person, I'm afraid..don't know why..
We live in Writtle, so Chelmsford wouldn't be first choice anyway.

Original poster
Lovecat · 01/05/2007 13:40

Sorry for not coming back sooner - I would love to come for a coffee and meet some other MNers! Thursdays are good for me (work Mon-Weds) so let me know where and when (will have dd in tow, but she's relatively well-behaved if there's a biscuit in it for her....)

OP posts:
SherlockLGJ · 01/05/2007 13:42

Do not move to Brentwood, it is a dormitory town with no soul.

michaelad · 01/05/2007 19:21

Will definitely count you in then Lovecat! Excellent, really looking forward to this already!

USAUKMum · 01/05/2007 19:56

OP. Just saw this thread.....and I live in Stortford ! We really like it alot. We moved here from out of the area and people are really nice here. The town has changed a lot since we moved here and is getting a lot of improvements as well. Lots of toddler groups, activities and soft play here as well. The schools are really good too.