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

[Lovecat]

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

Must add that we live on the south west side of town and very rarely do we hear a plane. Only if they somehow get "lost" (ie they are late and trying to make up time) by going off the flight path.

eachpeach, I have just sent the link to your website to a friend of mine who might be looking for a childminder. Hope that's ok

michaelad - yeah no prob. hope she likes it!

eachpeach, is the website up to date? How many under five vacancies do you have at the moment?

Just about to sign a contract (hopefully in the next week) to take on a little one in July, so unless it all falls through at the last minute I won't have any under 5 vacancies.