Chelmsford Areas

[EmilyZ]

Currently living in south london with DH and DC and looking at houses in Chelmsford. We need to commute to Liverpool Street for work and don't know the area. Which areas should we avoid and which are best to live ? Budget is 600k and want 4beds. Cheers

Hi! I moved from South London to Chelmsford two years ago. I'm in Old Moulsham and would highly recommend the area - walking distance to the city / Station and lovely houses. We are in the catchment for Moulsham high school which has a great reputation,though a relatively small catchment (less than a mile) and some children walk to chelmsford grammer schools, or get buses to Southend/Colchester grammers

Hi , I moved to Chelmsford in the Summer (Great Baddow) which is a really nice little village/town - except there was a murder the day I moved in and half the street was taped off by police for 2 weeks! But actually its very nice. Springfield is also a nice area. Although I don't know the area too well, as I've just recently moved.

Incidentally, I'm looking for host families in Chelmsford as I have a group of Japanese students coming for a week in March. Families will be paid to take care of the students, but its more about enjoying having someone from another culture come and stay and to embrace the experience. If anyone is interested, or wants further info, please drop me a message. Thanks.

I know this is an old thread but did you move to Chelmsford in the end?!

Bump!

Hello,

We're planning to move to chignal Road in Chelmsford. how is this area ? House we're looking is middle of chignal road. Is that area good and would child be able tom take C2 bus to grammer school ? How's the safety on C2 bus to schools via Melbourne avenue.

I wouldn't pick the Melbourne area if I could avoid it, but I also wouldn't worry too much about the safety it's a pretty safe area in general

How is travelling by bus in that area ? Would be good to know from the people living in that area please.

I mean buses aren't the most reliable schedule wise but never had any issues! Just watch out as they love changing the route numbers randomly

I realise this is old but I’m also looking at Chelmsford and looking for grammar schools or top state schools, with a <60 min commute to London.
We are currently in the north east, so no insight whatsoever on the area.
Any views on East Hanningfield?
TIA

I think you'd struggle for a <60 min commute from East Hanningfield, it's out in the sticks. Unless you mean 60 mins on the train, plus travel to/from the station at either end? For context I live about two miles from the station, I either cycle or get the bus there and have a 10 minute walk at the other end. My commute takes about 1hr 20.

East Hanningfield appears to be nice but very small. I'm not sure what your nearest secondary would be - probably Great Baddow? The grammar is difficult to get into, your children would need to be very academic.

What's the appeal of Chelmsford if you don't know it at all?

East hangingfield is sandon catchment, grammars are incredibly difficult to get into but I would ignore sandons latest ofsted. They are getting it overturned

Thanks for the advice.
it appeals because it’s not too far for the commute and it had sprung up a couple of times when I was doing random searches.

Thank you that’s really helpful

Hello sorry to jump on but we're looking to move to Chelmsford. We're viewing a house in old moulsham. When we try to research online it generally says old moulsham is one of the nicer areas but moulsham is best to avoid. Is that really the case? When I look on the map they are so close. How can one area be good and one be bad? We have young children so schools are so important. Does anyone have any insight or experience of old moulsham, particularly moulsham drive?

Hi! I live in old moulsham and it is lovely. I wouldnt say Moulsham is 'an area to avoid' so not sure where that came from. I would agree that old moulsham is nicer - personally I like the housing stock (Moulsham is mainly 70s houses, whereas old moulsham has a nice mix of Victorian and 1930's styles) and the proximity to high street and station (Moulsham is too far to walk to station which put me off as I work in London). Moulsham Drive is a really nice road so think you will be very happy there. I have lots of friends in the road and it has a good community spirit etc

Are you sure it doesn't say Melbourne is best avoided? Can we see the link? Moulsham is one of the more sought after areas, it's fine. Old Moulsham is the older area, closer to town and the station, whereas Moulsham is more suburby.

Moulsham Drive is a nice road, good size houses. My only concern would be road noise as you're very close to Princes Road and the Army and Navy. But if that doesn't bother you, it's fine.

Agree, sounds like maybe Melbourne??

I moved to Old Moulsham for schools a few years ago and love it, it's a perfect location. Super close to the city centre, my eldest walks it to KEGS grammar school and youngest to Moulsham High School which is also a fab school. Moulsham street also has some lovely independent shops.

Thank you, this is great!!! I know you can't believe what you read online but I wanted to get some opinions of people in the area so thank you for all your opinions. We've found a lovely house so I'm hoping me and my boys will be happy there