North Essex- where to buy first home?

[drswim]

DH and I are first time buyers in North Essex. We work just north of Chelmsford and have been house hunting in Chelmsford/ Boreham/ Great Notley/ Black Notley areas for the last couple of months, but I am still so undecided which areas are best for a young couple hoping to start a family. We drive so would commute by car, and would need transport links to London.

Would appreciate any advice about what the areas are like to live in, experience of schooling etc.

Thank you!

Boreham and parts of chelmsford are nice. Chelmer village is also nice. Some parts arent quite as nice, nearer to high chelmer. Also worth looking towards harlow, the rodings, sheering and around those areas are lovely. Can get buses to train stations, plus i am told schools are really good too.

Have you looked at the villages further towards Colchester? You get that much more for your money being further from London and loads of new builds going up.

AnnoyedByAlfieBear thank you- any in particular you would recommend?

How village-y do you want? I live in Marks Tey, but there are so many new builds going up in Stanway. Coggeshall is nice too. You've also got Hatfield Peverall a bit closer to Chelmsford.

Witham is great. Great transport links, 3 supermarkets, nice little town centre, on the A12 close to A120. I really like it here.

Also 40-45 mins direct train to Liverpool st

We would be happy with villagey but with some amenities eg shop, bus links, post office. That's making us think Black Notley is a bit too quiet/lacking in facilities?

We haven't looked in Witham actually- thanks for the tip.

I live in Chelmsford (north) and work in London. No kids, but lots of friends have them and it seems child-friendly from what I can tell, there are good and not so good schools as everywhere. Excellent shops, good general amenities and lots of money being spent in the town at the moment. Traffic is often terrible though.

If I didn't need to commute I'd move to Maldon, which I love.