Moving to Essex from London... Good or bad idea?

[hayleybalmers]

Hi all,

My husband and I are considering a big move. We have a 5 month old daughter and are bursting at the seems of our current home in SW18. Originally we were looking at St Margaret's / Kew / East Sheen but a friend suggested we look at Essex, specifically around Sheffield / Billericay / Stock area. Having seen the vast difference of what we could buy (around £1-1.2m) we are definitely tempted! I'm also keen to be somewhere a little less polluted as I feel like I'm practically swallowing petrol walking around Clapham and Wandsworth sometimes.

We don't need to be near these areas in Essex but it is a good place to start and we have no draw to anywhere (any of the home counties would work actually which makes it harder somehow).

The trouble is, moving our of London is a little scary to me as I love it and it is what I know. I appreciate the trains in are super quick (and actually commuting isn't much of an issue as my husband works from home and I will work locally) but it feels like a million miles away.

I would like to live somewhere with a similar feel to what we have here, green spaces (we live v.close to Battersea Park), lots of nice cafes and restaurants (not that we eat out in the evenings anymore but we can dream!) and a very 'safe' feel. Schools are top of the requirements, non religious and state - primary for now but it would be good to be able to consider grammar schools down the line. Along with 4-5 bedrooms and a decent sized (not huge) garden - we would need to practically double our budget around here for such lengthy requirements.

I've tried to find a list of primary schools in the area and associated catchment areas. Richmond has a fantastic site clearly defining catchments and showing Ofsted ratings etc. and I can't quite find the same kind of thing for Essex though it's no doubt there somewhere.

Any thoughts or experiences would be really appreciated. We are meeting a friend next week to have a look around the general Brentford area to try and get a proper feel for the place. Essex seems to get such a bad rep which is why I'm assuming house prices are so much more reasonable but I know it isn't all bad!

Thanks for reading and if you have any thoughts, please do comment.

Hayley

I was in Basildon this weekend. Not the town centre, was with a group of friends at the Holiday Inn. It was actually quite pleasant, next to a lake, in the 'Festival Leisure Park, places like Frankie and Benny's/ Nando's/ Bowling/ Cinema. It's locally known as BazVegas. Sums up Basildon!

I would look for places with good transport links between Thurrock and Barking. I am sure they are on the same train line, so maybe there are some nice stops around there? Are you able to come down for a weekend to look at a few rental properties and also check out the areas.

Hi thank you , we will have a look when we come down for a week, next weekend.
Our original plan was to live in brighton, but weve now got jobs in Essex, so still considering commouting to Essex from brighon, as I will be only working Monday to Friday, and then we could spent weekends in brighton, but its a decision we haven't made full yet, but thank you

I think you would be too tired at the weekend to enjoy anything! However, Essex is a far cry from Brighton culturally. Very conservative / UKIP/ white. There are no real ' university ' towns which can give a more open vibe. I would seriously look at East London if you are keen on Brighton.

It's really not possible the commute from Brighton there. You have the get the motorway past Gatwick, which is really busy, the M25 is hideous all the way and you'd have to go through the toll at QE Bridge/Dartford Tunnel, which is expensive and also gets backed up a lot. Also when it is windy they close the Bridge and half the tunnel and you can be stuck there for hours. it'd make more sense to book a b&b in Brighton each weekend and go then. Also I'm not sure of Brighton rental prices, but they may be out of your budget.

could we possibly get the train to Essex ? I was thinking of leaving my car overnight at the office and then getting the train back to Brighton.. Feel really sad that we have the dream jobs but not the dream location :(
We did look at Greenwich, oh no what are we going to do...
Our budget is for a 1 bedroomed possibly 900 at the most for rent...
I know its best to be realistic , but I have no children theres only me and my husband.. my work is flexible working, id consider London if I got the affordable property

It'd take a long time as I think the trains from Brighton go into Victoria and London Bridge, then you'd have to change and commute back out....plus the train fares are so expensive...I think my husband's travel card, for zone 1-6 is around £200 a month, I think a bit more, and Brighton is much further away on top of that

Oh yes, check out the train commute prices and you will be shocked. Look up a Brighton to London season ticket price and then the London zone 1-5 (?). Greenwich is lovely but may be pricey. You can try Leytonstone, Leyton, Forest Gate, Wanstead

I've just checked, a Brighton to London season ticket is over £400 each a month...

I just want to say thank you so much for the help. I spoke to my new future boss and he said they aren't in a rush yet for me to start, however it will have to be within the 6 months of my working contract, so im trying to save money up north before I go south,
over the past 4 years my husband and I have been going to brighton for the culture and music, my sister lives estbourne and my mother lives there as well. they get their propertys payed by the government as they don't work.
so we were set on Brighton, but got offered a good job in Dagenham. my husband wants brighton, we keep changing from living in brighton then Essex, then London, but with our budget Essex would be the best option. But we don't know anyone in Essex and its not Brighton... we are willing to pay £900 for a 1 bed flat..But I am wondering if commuting is a option and I know on here you have said NO.but it would only be during the week, weekends in Brighton. I don't know anyone who makes that journey, brighton to dagenham

Hi, I’ve recently put my house on the market and planning to make a move to Essex.

Where I live in Ruislip is very nice, tree lined roads, cafes, libraries, as well as Waitrose/Sainsbury’s/Aldo/Lidl.
Ruislip Woods and Lido is great for DD and the dog and so bring near similar is preferable.
A massive choice. As well, the people are friendly, and there is a real sense of community. It is one of the few places I know where you can walk down a street and wave to someone because you’ve seen them before. I’d like to adopt the same in a new area where I am able to afford more for my money.

Hillingdon Council gives its residents a residents card, this allows us to park within the borough for a significantly reduced charge. I doubt I’ll get that anywhere else as
I’ve not heard of other council’s offering the same. Just thought I’d put that out there in case there is such a thing anywhere else.

Now that I’m planning to move to Essex and I’ve explore a few areas, I wondered could anyone help in determining any areas I should stay clear of places I need to hone in on.

So, Benfleet/Thundersley, Braintree Great Notley, Black Notley, White Notley, Chelmsford or Brentwood.

I’m looking for a 4 bed detached up to £450k.

My DD is 7 and so a good CoE primary school is a must. I’ve done schoolchecker on Rightmove and St Michael’s is one which keep coming up.

Any ideas, advice you could give is greatly appreciated.

Looking forward to hear back.

Where you are living sounds lovely. I doubt you would be able to get a detached 4 bed in Brentwood or Chelmsford for that price but you may be able to in other areas. For a sense of community I would look at Danbury and writtle in Chelmsford but they don't have train stations. Ingatestone is lovely and near by but for that money you are looking at a 3 bed semi detached at best xxx

We live in Shenfield, have done for past 20 years. Lovely place to live, close enough to major roads M25, A12 also 25 mins and you can be at Liverpool Street.
My 3 children all went to a lovely church school but other non religious schools also very good My 3 children all went to different secondary school, one was grammar.
Personally I think the 'Towie' era has left Brentwood