Where to live NE London/NE of London - Essex

[800msprint]

Any recommendations for family locations with easy access to A12 to see family in Suffolk but also commute to Cannon Street?
I live in Surrey and I'm struggling here. I'm not sure why. I miss London a lot but I think it's also just that I'm not suited to Surrey! I live in a small commuter town/village and I probably need a bit more going on too.
We'd prefer state primary but happy to do private for secondary.
Budget is around £1.5m.
Thank you x

Wanstead is nice - it's on the central line, and still feels quite London. Further our along the line it begins to feel less London, more Essex (but still quite nice, I think). I'm from Surrey originally, but quite converted to this neck of the woods.

Wanstead, Woodford or Chigwell

Chigwell fits though can be a bit footballers wives. Excellent private secondary there, has some footballers kids in it. Nice place with good shops, sports facilities and greenery.

I had a quick look and fell in love with this one but its further out so not your things to do requirement but own pool and tennis court.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-54327708.html

Wanstead, Woodford Green, South Woodford.

Brentwood/Shenfield/Upminster

All have good links to A12, great schools and lots going on.

Brentwood has a great Private school btw.

We're in between Brentwood and Shenfield, surrounded by green space and close enough to get into London easily. The a12 is about 10 minutes drive from here.
It's nice! Lots to do and not too out in the sticks, but enough to feel a bit rural.

Thanks everyone. I need to go for a look around. Do I need be put off by TOWIE vibes or is that all a load of rubbish?! I wish I liked where we are - I'm scared of moving tbh but can't spend my life feeling miserable somewhere I don't feel settled.

Wanstead is nice and you’ll get a decent house for 1.5.

Walthamstow for a more bohemian vibe - not at all Towie!

Great connections on Victoria line or overland to Liverpool street, lots of amazing primaries, reasonable secondaries but Forest school if you want to go private.

It's a lot less conservative than the areas PPs have suggested so depends what you're after. There are big houses in Upper Walthamstow that would match your budget, some of which back on to Epping Forest. Or if size is less important, you'd easily get something around the village for that price.

Also Stoke Newington or Hackney would met your ask, but more expensive.

Some of that area is very TOWIE. More rural parts much less TOWIE, almost zero, closer to London less. Definitely worth visiting. Also check out private schools - Bancrofts is good.

Thank you all

I second Wanstead/Snaresbrook/South Woodford.

Good tube links between the three

Chelmsford?

It might be a bit further out than you are thinking of, but it is a city itself as well as the county town of Essex and has good train links to London. The A12 is just outside of it to the south and easy access.

Property prices would be generally cheaper than London, though I think have been rising following it's fairly recent elevation to city status.

Epping! Its glorious 😁