Chelmsford or Canterbury

[Sora20]

So DP and I will be relocating to one of these two areas from London, and we are stuck on where to move to. We are both professionals in our early thirties and we have one DC and hope to have 2-3 more when the time is right.

I would like some advice regarding where we should move to and what would be a good overall location.

Budget - between 700 - 800k (hoping for a 4 bedroom house).

Good schools—(Grammar, Private, or Faith) We would consider a good state school but would prefer one of the three mentioned.

Good links into London. While we both will start working in London, my job will be more flexible, and I will probably be able to move my position to a local area. My DP has a career in finance. (though they do not mind a long commute) plus our extended family are in London.

Good local amenities - Restaurants, cafe's, Cinema/theatres, museums etc.

Low crime levels

Close enough to the city centre so DP can walk into town. (do not mind a 15-20 min walk).

Any advice would be helpful.

The nice bits of Chelmsford are not a fifteen minute walk to town

Kent is a grammar school area.

Tunbridge Wells sprung out at me when I read your post. Very good grammars in Tunbridge Wells and nearby Tonbridge. Also good faith school. Has a theatre, and also a cinema. Lots of restaurants etc.

I also thought of Tunbridge Wells for Kent and Brentwood for Essex. I had not considered the schools in Tunbridge Wells. I will add this to the list.

I also thought Brentwood in Essex, but I also want a decent-sized home.

Where would they be?

You could look at Beaulieu which is near the new station due to open this year in Chelmsford. It is a bus ride from Beaulieu into Chelmsford town centre though. You have KEGS and CCHS for grammar school

There are nice areas in Chelmsford that are a 15min walk. Old moulsham is lovely and lots of us have moved from London. You would get a nice house for your budget. Lots to do, great schools, 35mins into London for communting (Liverpool street) with trains every 5-10mins. Lots of shops, restaurants and access to nice countryside

I'd say Canterbury, lovely x

I don't like this estate at all