Buckhurst Hill/Loughton area

[aliceelizaloves]

Hi,

Does anyone live in either of these areas or nearby and could advise? We currently live in Essex and potentially looking to move, mainly to shorten dh's commute which is 1hr 20 mins each way. We need to move anyway as have 2 children and a tiny 2 bed house so now seems like a good time to potentially change area. Our budget is max 515k and we have 2 pre schoolers so would like to be in an area which is family friendly with good schools.

Can anyone tell us if these areas are nice? Which are the good primaries? Thank you

They’re both nice areas, I would also recommend North Chingford if you or your husband happen to work near Liverpool St/East, the overground goes straight there in 25 mins, or to Walthamstow Central in less than 10 mins if you need the Victoria line. Loughton and BH are both on the central line, and growing up on that line I can tell you it’s a slow old line with lots of stops!!

All three areas are very family orientated and have a good community feel, particularly BH and North Chingford. Epping Forest very nearby all of them, decent high streets and low crime compared to most of London.

Good luck whatever you decide!

Thank you! I know our budget is fairly modest for these areas but it's quite similar to where we currently are as well, 3 bedroom is pushing us to the very top of our budget.

Would a house like this be in a nice area? Just so I get an idea of the sort of thing our money will give us there.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62949018.html

Hmm, it’s ok there, a few small estates to contend with but it’s not crime central. The Roding Valley side of Buckhurst Hill isn’t as posh as the Woodford side to be honest, and it’s a bit of a walk to the high street. It wouldn’t be my preferred area I must say.

I would be more likely to recommend this in North Chingford:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-71922985.html

It’s very near the forest, about a 20 min walk to the station and next to an Outstanding primary school.

This one in Loughton is way under budget, needs a lot of work but is in a nice area near good schools, the station and the forest:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62641314.html

When you look at these areas, you want the Woodford or Chingford side of Buckhurst Hill, North Chingford not South or Hatch, and the Buckhurst Hill or Epping sides of Loughton as opposed to the Debden side. The other parts aren’t exactly gangland shoot-out territory, but if you’ve got the money you may as well look at the nicer areas!

You'll get more for your money in Debden and schools are good. I like Debden as it's a bit more mixed than BH and Loughton, but that's my opinion. There some lovely properties near the forest but would be a bus to the station. An excuse to go on Rightmove - yay!!

You can afford some lovely ones in the nice bits of BH I must say!

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-82811864.html

If you’re choosing space over exterior aesthetics 😁 this one is in a lovely area and seems to have good size rooms:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-64483969.html

media.rightmove.co.uk/dir/70k/69298/75866903/69298_12451694_IMG_10_0000_max_656x437.jpg
This is nice

Oops, sorry thought I was linking the property, not the pic
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-75866903.html

Thank you! I really don't know the area very well so good to have some insider info on the best areas.

I'll post some links to other houses when we've visited a few to ask advice about which is best in terms of area and school, etc if that's okay. Thanks so much.

It really depends on you what 'the best area' is (your best might not be my best). The house is also really important, how close it is to station perhaps, garden space, parking etc. I'd say schools are much of a much. The one my kids go to is supposedly outstanding, but I think it's ok. They went to another school for a bit before we got into current one (but had to drive there which I didn't like) and it had a bad rep. But I'd say it was good, maybe better than this outstanding one. Then secondary is another whole kettle of fish!