Moving to Essex

RussellHobbss · 2023-03-09T18:18:23+00:00

Hello, we currently live in south east London and thinking of moving to Essex with our 2 year old daughter. We would love a 3bed/2bath house with garden with max £500k budget near excellent schools and commutable to Liverpool Street. We were thinking of Wickford, Billericay or Rayleigh. Neither of us know the areas so were hoping for some insight on what's best. Thanks in advance x

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NotAdultingToday · 09/03/2023 18:59

Hi i live near Rayleigh know it fairly well as go in a lot. Its a nice area, some lovely primary schools and i have heard good things about some of the secondary schools.
It has been getting busier as more people move out of london.

It depends what you are looking for really. The high street is not very big more for basics really but its 30 minutes from lakeside and its an easy drive.
Its no more than 30 minutes to Southend sea front and all the bits you can do there which is really nice.
Has some nice parks locally and just outside a couple of nice bigger parks with nice play areas.
No locally cinema youd have to go to Southend, Basildon, Lakeside for that.

Also close to Chelmsford which has lots to do etc

It has no public pool, which for me was a bit of
a shock as i have always lived places where there is easy access to pools. But there are a couple of private companies with pools that are nice and of course you can go to Southend, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford etc for pools.

Theres 3 hospitals close Southend, Basildon, Broomfield in Chelmsford which are all one trust so you have choice (though i think Southend would be nearest?)

Im not sure on house prices as we are renting through husbands business.

I dont know if that helps at all 😊

NotAdultingToday · 09/03/2023 19:02

Haha i have just seen this is in the education section sorry 🤦🏼‍♀️

There are some lovely primary schools in Rayleigh. I highly rate Wyburns School 😊

Original poster

RussellHobbss · 09/03/2023 20:15

NotAdultingToday · 09/03/2023 18:59

Hi i live near Rayleigh know it fairly well as go in a lot. Its a nice area, some lovely primary schools and i have heard good things about some of the secondary schools.
It has been getting busier as more people move out of london.

It depends what you are looking for really. The high street is not very big more for basics really but its 30 minutes from lakeside and its an easy drive.
Its no more than 30 minutes to Southend sea front and all the bits you can do there which is really nice.
Has some nice parks locally and just outside a couple of nice bigger parks with nice play areas.
No locally cinema youd have to go to Southend, Basildon, Lakeside for that.

Also close to Chelmsford which has lots to do etc

It has no public pool, which for me was a bit of
a shock as i have always lived places where there is easy access to pools. But there are a couple of private companies with pools that are nice and of course you can go to Southend, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford etc for pools.

Theres 3 hospitals close Southend, Basildon, Broomfield in Chelmsford which are all one trust so you have choice (though i think Southend would be nearest?)

Im not sure on house prices as we are renting through husbands business.

I dont know if that helps at all 😊

Thank you so much for this, it's definitely helpful. Hopefully we can find a pool nearby as daughter does water babies lessons and really keen for her to continue

OP posts:

Original poster

RussellHobbss · 09/03/2023 20:16

NotAdultingToday · 09/03/2023 19:02

Haha i have just seen this is in the education section sorry 🤦🏼‍♀️

There are some lovely primary schools in Rayleigh. I highly rate Wyburns School 😊

Will definitely check them out thank you !

OP posts:

NotAdultingToday · 09/03/2023 22:16

There are a couple of swim schools locally that do lessons in school pools and they are good.

Swimming tales is one of those "private pools" that is for the public if that make sense, they do some great sessions and also have lessons

Strokes Swim school is also very good my son uses them

So there is stuff about i just was shocked there wasnt a leisure centre pool!

Undisclosedlocation · 09/03/2023 22:25

Clements hall leisure centre is 10 mins from Rayleigh and has 2 pools. To the Other side of Rayleigh about 10 mins away is Runnymede pools so that shouldn’t be an issue

NotAdultingToday · 10/03/2023 07:59

Ooo i thought Clements Hall was membership only and hadnt heard of Runnymede thanks for that! 😊

ILookAtTheFloor · 10/03/2023 09:22

Wickford I would avoid as although the primary schools are good, the secondary school options are less so- unless you go for a grammar in Chelmsford/Southend.

Billericay is pricey. Schools good but too close to Basildon for my liking!

Original poster

RussellHobbss · 10/03/2023 09:26

ILookAtTheFloor · 10/03/2023 09:22

Wickford I would avoid as although the primary schools are good, the secondary school options are less so- unless you go for a grammar in Chelmsford/Southend.

Billericay is pricey. Schools good but too close to Basildon for my liking!

Thank you for this . Would Chelmsford be a better option ? Ideally we would like a place where we can stay through primary and secondary (if at all possible/realistic)

OP posts:

ILookAtTheFloor · 10/03/2023 09:33

Chelmsford I would recommend - very good schools, obviously the super-selective grammars if that's your thing. Also- it's on the mainline, 25 mins into London. Your other mentioned options have railway stations but are branch lines, not direct.

East Chelmsford is generally nicer than the west side. Old Moulsham is very desirable but you pay a premium.

ILookAtTheFloor · 10/03/2023 09:34

Secondary school choice in Chelmsford is very good. There is only one less desirable of the comps. One school (all through, so primary and secondary) has just been judged outstanding.

Original poster

RussellHobbss · 10/03/2023 09:52

ILookAtTheFloor · 10/03/2023 09:34

Secondary school choice in Chelmsford is very good. There is only one less desirable of the comps. One school (all through, so primary and secondary) has just been judged outstanding.

Thank you so much , that really narrows it down. Do you think my daughter could get a school place easily ? She is currently in nursery here in London and turns 3 February next year.

OP posts:

Waypastshitcreek · 10/03/2023 09:52

The further north you go the nicer a place is. I've worked in Wickford, not all but a proportion are rough, rougher than Billericay. Billericay is prettier/ more rural.
Don't know Rayleigh too well but the rule of the further north you go the more pleasant it is applies in my experience.

ILookAtTheFloor · 10/03/2023 09:54

RussellHobbss · 10/03/2023 09:52

Thank you so much , that really narrows it down. Do you think my daughter could get a school place easily ? She is currently in nursery here in London and turns 3 February next year.

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In my experience it is straightforward getting school places- it's nothing like as competitive as London schools. I haven't personally tried to get into a school that we weren't in the catchment for - we live in a village outside of Chelmsford and go to the local village school. It was a feeder for a Chelmsford secondary so it was easy to get in there if you put it first on the form.

BuffyFairy · 10/03/2023 10:10

Hi OP, I’m currently looking at houses in Billericay, Brentwood area and Chelmsford at around your budget.

I really like Billericay, it’s a pretty town, mix of height street names and independent shops. It has a Waitrose. Lovely parks and countryside. All the primary schools are good. The 2 secondary schools are good, not sure if Mayflower still has an outstanding Ofsted. Mayflower has the better reputation out of the 2 schools which means the house prices in that catchment are higher than the sunnymede area. It’s close to Chelmsford and Basildon for cinemas / leisure activities etc.

Chelmsford - as a PP mentioned, most schools in Chelmsford are good. Avoid the Melbourne area and Hylands secondary school catchment. Springfield, Chelmer Village and Moulsham have good schools (avoid Springfield primary but plenty of others).

Aside from the grammars, Boswell and Moulsham high schools are good. The all through school is in the new development - Beaulieu Park. It looks nice but I’ve a lot of the houses in my price range have completely open plan downstairs which you may or not like. Also tends to be 1 allocated parking space. Chelmer Village is also like that for parking. They’re building a new station new train station (near New Hall school) due to open in 2025. Great Baddow is also very nice and some of Galleywood but further from the station.

Chelmsford has a lot to do and very regular train to London.

Personally I’d avoid Wickford. Rayleigh had a nice reputation for families.

Shenfield / Brentwood / Hutton / Warley all mostly nice but more expensive. Especially Shenfield which has the fast train. Travel into London is a bit cheaper, Shenfield is the last station where you can use oyster / contactless.

HTH.

Original poster

RussellHobbss · 10/03/2023 10:34

@ILookAtTheFloor thanks for this, it's really reassuring.

OP posts:

jellytot24 · 10/03/2023 10:34

We moved across the country in 2020 but I lived in Chelmsford for 16 years and taught there for 6, Basildon for 10 and then supply all over Essex for one more so have a lot of info I can share. My bias would be Chelmsford for living and primary schools, I'm happy to answer any questions if you want to PM me.

jellytot24 · 10/03/2023 10:35

*Basildon for 4 years, not 10!

MrsSkylerWhite · 10/03/2023 10:35

Manningtree area is lovely.

Original poster

RussellHobbss · 10/03/2023 10:37

BuffyFairy · 10/03/2023 10:10

Hi OP, I’m currently looking at houses in Billericay, Brentwood area and Chelmsford at around your budget.

I really like Billericay, it’s a pretty town, mix of height street names and independent shops. It has a Waitrose. Lovely parks and countryside. All the primary schools are good. The 2 secondary schools are good, not sure if Mayflower still has an outstanding Ofsted. Mayflower has the better reputation out of the 2 schools which means the house prices in that catchment are higher than the sunnymede area. It’s close to Chelmsford and Basildon for cinemas / leisure activities etc.

Chelmsford - as a PP mentioned, most schools in Chelmsford are good. Avoid the Melbourne area and Hylands secondary school catchment. Springfield, Chelmer Village and Moulsham have good schools (avoid Springfield primary but plenty of others).

Aside from the grammars, Boswell and Moulsham high schools are good. The all through school is in the new development - Beaulieu Park. It looks nice but I’ve a lot of the houses in my price range have completely open plan downstairs which you may or not like. Also tends to be 1 allocated parking space. Chelmer Village is also like that for parking. They’re building a new station new train station (near New Hall school) due to open in 2025. Great Baddow is also very nice and some of Galleywood but further from the station.

Chelmsford has a lot to do and very regular train to London.

Personally I’d avoid Wickford. Rayleigh had a nice reputation for families.

Shenfield / Brentwood / Hutton / Warley all mostly nice but more expensive. Especially Shenfield which has the fast train. Travel into London is a bit cheaper, Shenfield is the last station where you can use oyster / contactless.

HTH.

Thank you for this ! We've had a brief drive through Billericay and it looked really nice. It's very good to hear about the schools

OP posts:

BuffyFairy · 10/03/2023 12:53

Sorry for all my typos. I should have previewed my post!

Waypastshitcreek · 10/03/2023 16:34

Queens Park in Billericay is very homely, lovely open country like park there, 20 min walk into town, walkable to station and the town lake/park

Original poster

RussellHobbss · 10/03/2023 16:54

jellytot24 · 10/03/2023 10:34

We moved across the country in 2020 but I lived in Chelmsford for 16 years and taught there for 6, Basildon for 10 and then supply all over Essex for one more so have a lot of info I can share. My bias would be Chelmsford for living and primary schools, I'm happy to answer any questions if you want to PM me.

Thank you will do !

OP posts:

Whiskyinajar · 10/03/2023 16:58

ILookAtTheFloor · 10/03/2023 09:22

Wickford I would avoid as although the primary schools are good, the secondary school options are less so- unless you go for a grammar in Chelmsford/Southend.

Billericay is pricey. Schools good but too close to Basildon for my liking!

Hayzee101 · 27/12/2023 19:56

Hi everyone, I'm planning to move to Chelmsford with my family as well. Where are the places to avoid?
Thanks