Chelmsford vs loughton

[bluesky112]

Hello everyone!

We are thinking to move to either Loughton or Chelmsford. Its mainly cos of the space. We have been suggested that chelmsford is also a nice place to live . We are a family of 4 but will be 6 since my parents will be living with us.

Please share your views about both areas , how are these places generally, high street/ town centre, schools, everything! It will be a big move for us.. just confused. We Have lived in london throughout.. have heard good stuff about Chelmsford but its outside m25 so it feels too far and not in london . Maybe it doesn't matter cos their town centre etc is really good.
We haven't been to chelmsford. few friends suggested us this place.. so now we thinking to look into it.
so would really appreciate if you all can tell us a bit more about the area. Since we both work.. getting a house closer to the station is main priority. We love Kingston upon thames ( amazing town centre and e everything else) but beyond our budget.
Looking forward to hear from all mums! Xx

I grew up in chelmsford and really like it. It's a nice town with good schools and the surrounds villages are lovely. I would avoid living in the centre and instead look at great baddow, broomfield or writtle. Maybe Springfield too. It's been really developed over recent years with "bond street" getting a large revamp and the station being upgraded too. I would happily live their but we moved out to braintree to buy as it was much cheaper!

Loughton has a tube station. Some say the high street is a bit dodgy at night.

What's your budget?

Shamelessly place marking as we're looking at Loughton. What would your commute be like? It's pretty straightforward into the city and the west end from Loughton.

Loughton is a better commute - 27 minutes to Liverpool Street. Chelmsford is a nicer town though, and I would have thought you'd get more for your money there. Chelmsford is much bigger and has more shops/facilities. Loughton has a High Street but it's mainly bars and restaurants, not that many shops, although you are close to Westfield at Stratford. It is a bit 'The Only Way is Essex". Both places have terrible traffic in my experience.

Epping is between the two. It's nicer than Loughton IMO and is still on the tube line, although about 10 minutes longer journey. The other thing to consider is that commuting via tube is cheaper than via overland from Chelmsford.

@Picklesprout, which postcode do those areas you mentioned fall under please. I am interested in Chelmsford. Ay suggestions re primary and secondary schools?

What’s your budget?
They’re not easy comparisons as very different, Loughton much more expensive, easy commute. Town centre is small. Definitely NOT rough, house prices are high. It has a forest. Chelmsford big town centre, much cheaper housing and further out. Some areas deprived.
If you like Kingston you’d probably be better suited to St Albans which is much more upmarket than Chelmsford and has a large town centre.

Kingston is one of the busiest shopping areas in the UK so you’d be better suited to a city. A friend lived in Loughton years ago and I remember that being a lot smaller, greener etc.

What’s your actual budget? New Malden is one stop from Kingston on the X26 but closer in for commuting and better schools but also cheaper than Kingston + it’s got its own useful high street. Bits of Surbiton are also cheaper although the schools with be ok rather than wow.

The traffic in Chelmsford is horrendous. Not sure if Loughton is any better though.

I lived in Chelmsford for 10 years (moved out 2 years ago) and the traffic just got worse and worse over those years. Went back earlier year before lockdown and it was even worse

I live in Chelmsford, good schools including 2 grammar schools, great town centre with lots of restaurants and bars, 2 cinemas and an impressive leisure centre. Train into Liverpool Street in half an hour but the train is expensive. Yes the traffic can be busy at rush hour but we love it.

We are near Loughton (Chigwell Row) - pre Covid we just drove and parked near childcare 5-10min walk from Hainault tube (and you get a seat as it is the first stop). Loughton is nice but (again, pre Covid) the central line is extremely packed and is not a nice trip in peak hour, even for a short journey. Apart from that most of Loughton, Buckhurst Hill etc are lovely (debden end is less attractive though), and there is so much green space locally. Traffic can be busy in some places - loughton high st is usually busy, and if you drive to work it can be very slow in some areas at peak times eg around Woodford, so worth checking what your commute would be like, and also by visiting the neighborhood at different times if you can. Wanstead and Highams park are also nice, but you may not find a house large enough (depending on your budget). I don't know much about Chelmsford other than that it is a good connection if you work near Liverpool Street...

Mostly CM2- it's a big postcode!

@Biggieplus schools i am unsure about primaries but secondaries most are fine aside from Hylands! I used to work at Chelmer Valley which is a good one and attended Sandon myself. The grammar schools are good but so competitive.

@Pricklesprout, many thanks

I live in Loughton and love it. You have the forest, excellent High St, great schools and the central line. The commute is better and you are much nearer to London and on the Central Line (3 mins in the car to Chingford).
Having said that, you will get more house for your money in Chelmsford. Chelmsford is a decent area (if you get the right part) with a nice town centre but it is a bit far out for me