HELP! Nice villages in Essex?

[Beckysk]

Hello,

I currently live in South-east London, and looking to move to a village/quiet suburb to bring up my daughter. Im looking for a village not far away from London (no further than Chelmsford), that has a good local school, lovely neighbourhood (not rough lol), some little shops, and some greenery. I was brought up in Kent, so am eager to get back to a little countryside :). If you could help me out with nice areas there I would much appreciate it :D

Becky

No-one know of any nice villages/suburbs I take it then!

I have not lived in essex for some time, but Ingatestone is nice, Brentwood is also OK although not a village. I bit further than
Chelmsford it becomes more rural.

Thank you. Was looking at ingrate stone, writtle and great baddow. They seem nice, and reasonable house prices
!

Ingatestone**

Billericay?

Great knotley & Black knotley are lovely my favourite is Maldon though.

Broomfield, writtle, ingatestone bit further than Chelmsford (within 10 miles) are cressing, black notley, great leighs.

Stock, Ramsden Bellhouse, Ramsden Heath, Downham, Margaretting, Mountnessing, Pilgrim's Hatch.........

Yes, Billericay, though bigger than a village it's small enough that you'll see people you know in the high st etc. Stock, Ramsden Heath, Downham are smaller outlying villages, v pretty but less in the way of amenities.

If you want more info about anywhere in this neck of the woods please shout!

Roxwell near Chelmsford is lovely.

Dedham.

Lots of places mentioned that I haven't even looked at. Sara, I looked up info about Billeracy as my partner has to travel so it's a bit closer, but not many people had much to say about it. Is it very green there? Suppose I'll have to have a drive round to see.

Thank you for all your answers! You've helped a lot!

Coggeshall, Feering and Kelvedon, are all lovely. Kelvedon is on the main line to Liverpool Street. Good schools as well.

It is quite green, yes. There's a lovely park (lake meadows) and it's all quite open - you don't have to go far for proper countryside.

Do have a drive about and get the feel of places, it's quite hard to go on other peoples descriptions...Everywhere everyone has mentioned (at least, the ones I know) are all nice, but some will feel more like home than others to you, iykwim?

Yes that very true Sara! Thank you for your reply :)

I've looked at Kelvedon, that does seem lovely!

Writtle, Stock, Billericay, West Hanningfield. Maldon is nice too.

Billericay is a desirable place, popular with commuters as the main line to Liverpool Street takes 30 mins. Plenty of shops and a nice attractive town centre. It is relatively expensive, though you might think it a bargain compared to London! Good schools, Mayflower and The Billericay School, as well as the private St John's school too. A catholic primary too, feeding into the catholic secondary in Brentwood. There are grammar schools in Chelmsford, Colchester and Southend. It's a lovely place for children to grow up, lots to do and the people are friendly! HTH

I lived in doddinghurst til I was 21, but that was 14 years ago! Blackmore, kelvedon hatch, are both nice villages, close to Brentwood/Chelmsford etc but still villagey.

i am looking to move to cressing whats peoples opinion on this village please. thanks

I live in The Rodings and it is gorgeous, lots of fields, few lovely shops and farm shops. Hatfield Heath is close by with post office, bakery, co-op, doctors surgery and is great for kids, plus with good schools too I am told! Writtle is also really nice and I'd love to move there if we had the budget. Sheering is nice too and a bit closer to Harlow for train links. Ongar is also really lovely, basically a one road village, but has a lot of lovely shops and nice pubs, with a great family friendly atmosphere. Abridge is a nice small village too which is closer to Loughton/Buckhurst Hill/Chigwell for good transport links.

Leigh-on-sea! More town, less village, but Old Leigh has lovely shops etc and easy to get to London for work.