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Original poster

How is it like living in Basildon, Essex with school going kids?

52 replies

js1000 · 02/02/2014 23:07

We currently have a mortgage on a small flat in London . DH n I work in East London . Our kids go to really nice school here but not we are desperate to buy a bigger house as we feel squashed in our 2 bedroom flat . We can not afford/like the properties that we have viewed so far in east London . I have been looking in Internet the house prices n sizes in Basildon are really good and affordable but am worried as the reputation of Essex and some horrid comments in the Internet .
How is it like to live there ? how are the schools n people ? how is commuting to London ? Any suggestion ?
Thanks

OP posts:
highinthesky · 07/03/2017 12:12

Ok, what is it about Basildon town centre I have missed? The last time I was there (many years ago) the place was full of Neanderthals.

Southend probably isn't much better but what stood out at me is sheer number of very young parents wheeling prams around. Not my social circle but it feels like a safe place. And the library is good.

highinthesky · 07/03/2017 12:13

Btw anyone who is used to East London will be able to adapt to South Essex.

Deathraystare · 07/03/2017 12:24

I lived nearby (Canvey Island). Hated it and did not like Basildon but was prejudiced then (many years ago) by the appaling bus service. It might have improved. I had to get a bus from Basildon to Tarports Corner and used to have to walk from there the buses were so crap. I did enjoy walking around Pitsea market and the big Tesco there. My brother bought a shirt from there and it is still wearable - we are talking over 21 years ago!!!

I hated the attitude of some of the people too. If you weren't one of the herd, you got a lot of stick.

highinthesky · 07/03/2017 12:50

OMG Canvey don't get me started Shock

AstrantiaMajor · 07/03/2017 12:58

I have lived in East London all of my life. I have found there a wonderful hotpotch of people from all over the globe. We live together happily and tolerantly for the most part. Not sure the word tolerance applies when you move a few miles further out.

Chewbecca · 07/03/2017 21:03

astrantia where do you get the 'highest crime' statement from? Is that a fact?

Piwi1625 · 07/03/2017 22:24

Oh wow that is a coincidence lol thanks for that Michy boo 😊

Piwi1625 · 07/03/2017 22:26

Thank you! Funny enough I visited Upminster for the first time last week

PerspicaciaTick · 07/03/2017 22:28

Have a look at Wickford too,

AstrantiaMajor · 08/03/2017 07:17

Here

How is it like living in Basildon, Essex with school going kids?
Specialnatz · 26/12/2017 05:34

I'm currently living in north London an want to move to Essex basildon I'm a single mum an want a fresh start I have a friend that lives there an said she's loves it but I'm looking at some of the comments that people have been writing an it is really off putting I have visited an love it but I guess I would have to live there to foundout for myself can anyone help me out

Goncalop · 16/02/2018 17:42

Hi guys, we are looking to buy in Basildon or in Benfleet, currently, we live in Streatham, we want to move because it is impossible to buy a house in London and the commute from C2C is really good.

From what I've read here is like Basildon is a really bad area to buy a property, but from what I have been reading other places there will be a massive investment in Basildon in the future.

Benfleet from what I have read is better because it is not so crowded, as Basildon, but it is more 15m for each way to the trip and the houses are more expensive.

We have looked also in Westcliff, but the houses are all more than 100 years old, most of them have the original roof and to add to final price is to add the price of a new roof (more 10K).

So we are now looking to buy in those 2 places, any other recommendation?

Cheers

Pradaqueen · 17/02/2018 06:34

Goncalop - what is your budget? Do you need to consider schooling?

Cheeseislife · 17/02/2018 17:28

Find it quite odd people are suggesting Billericay and Upminster when OP has asked about Basildon specifically - for a person with kids assuming they are looking for a house there's surely 100k+ difference in budget to look there! It's long been touted as the place to invest in within Essex purely as it's far cheaper than anywhere else locally.

Cheeseislife · 17/02/2018 17:34

Also should have read the thread properly to know it's been resurrected, sorry!
Goncalop I know someone who's just taken their house off the market in Benfleet as they couldn't get a proceedable buyer (funnily enough they had multiple buyers from London that could never sell to get a chain together). From knowing there experience over the last 9 months, I'd say there is absolutely no harm in making an offer and seeing if the vendor is motivated enough to consider it.

Benfleet has lots of green space earmarked for development which could affect the area eventually but to be honest most of the green spaces in Essex are under threat of that!

KayDolz · 04/06/2018 19:57

@Piwi1625... did you make the move? How are you finding it?

Piwi1625 · 05/06/2018 15:11

I'm still in Edgware, hoping to do a swap.

KayDolz · 23/07/2018 18:51

We just made a successful offer on a house in Langdon Hills... mixed feelings, there is the excitement but also the fear that it works out to be a nice area for us and DD (7years old).

AishaK · 09/08/2019 16:31

Kaydolz how have you found it?

Yadiya · 11/10/2019 09:41

We are in the same boat. Have lived in East London for 10 years and looking to move to Laindon/Basildon
Anyone had a development from their stories an year or two ago from the initial post?!

Tropics4 · 23/01/2020 16:41

Hi Yadiya I have recently moved to Langdon hills, it's lovely here, lots of green space and access to 127, good neighbours and have seen zero crime. I avoid Basildon town centre like the plague though, but then again Brentwood town centre had little to offer. Secondary schools are sadly lacking but here is a world apart from the centre of Basildon.

Domdom20 · 26/01/2020 08:52

We are trying to escape busy London as well and have found a property in Langdon Hills/Lee chapel south next to a good primary school. As I am reading loads of bad things about Basildon I am slightly put off, however people say that Langdon Hills and Lee chapel south are nice areas in within Basildon. Any opinions in 2020 would be really appreciated? :)

HomelyK · 26/01/2020 17:28

I would say that both those areas are nicer areas of basildon and Lee Chapel school continues to have a good reputation. I think basildon maybe has a bad rep but as Essex in general is getting more expensive more people are moving into areas such as basildon and Wickford so they are on the up :)

Domdom20 · 26/01/2020 19:02

Thank you so much for your reply, I appreciate it a lot! Just need to go for it now and fingers crossed we will like it. As a working class small family these are the areas that we can afford, being close to London as well.

Dranktoomuchpepsi · 02/05/2020 08:00

Hi, know the thread is from January but can anyone advise on Corringham/Stanford-Me-Hope? Thank you!