Leigh-on-Sea/Westcliff-on-Sea/Southend-on-Sea?

[micshi]

Am looking to move to this area, and have been looking in the Leigh-on-Sea/Westcliff-on-Sea area within 10 minutes walk of Chalkwell beach (for sea swimming), but since then beautiful houses have come up in Clifftown and Milton conservation areas. What are these areas like to live in?

Leigh and chalkwell are lovely. Avoid Westcliff like the plague loads of HMO’s and generally just run down and dodgy. Lots of drug problems

Thanks, and it's a shame as Westcliff does have some lovely houses!

Yes they do gorgeous massive Victorian. Sadly they separate them into bedsits a lot of the time so too may people living there. Chalkwell is beautiful I’d go for a drive through, you’ll know when you get to Westcliff as it changes. Leigh chalkwell lovely

Not sure I’d go sea swimming in the Thames at Southend.
Leigh on Sea is OK, I’d avoid Westcliff.

I would stick with Leigh / Chalkwell personally. If you are within 15mins walking distance from either of those stations, you are good.

The Clifftown/ Milton conservation area has lovely properties and is very nice in some ways but it is much more 'edgy' than Leigh & Chalkwell and there are HMOs scattered throughout.

Like anywhere, you get least house for your money in the 'best' locations so you have to work out the balance of house / location that works for you.

Some of Westcliff is nice. It’s road dependent. Which roads in particular?

Lots of people love to swim at Chalkwell btw, the Blue Tits are one of the best known groups who swim. Tide timetables are readily available & a dry robe is a must as well as a flask and cake!

I'm thinking it's going to have to be better location and less of a house, and I've seen the bluetits swimming at Chalkwell and would love to join them! I am genuinely worried about buying in the wrong area, as I've been living in the same part of East London pretty much my whole life

I’m sure those of us who live in the area can help you with good and bad roads.

Thanks, will keep a look out in the next few weeks, and see what comes up🙏

@micshiWestcliff looks a bit like east London tbh so try Leigh chalkwell if you want a change and improvement.

have you considered great wakering? Further down but almost countryside feel to it and you get a lot more for your money. Thorpe bay is lovely too but pricey! Mind you probably similarly priced to Leigh

I'm not sure I'd be able to cope in the countryside, after leaving in East London suburbs my whole life, and not sure about Thorpe Bay as golfing or sailing clubs isn't really me. I did look up how much beach huts cost there though and there's one for sale at the moment for £120k!

Think Leigh/Chalkwell so I can join the other dry robe wankers (I'm happy to own up to being one!😂) is looking the best option. If I'm living anywhere else then I'd have to cycle to swim, rather than walk. But to swim most days is one of the main reasons I'm wanting to move. Plus the better air.

Basically, if you are looking for the 'best' location, you are looking at (IMHO):

Chalkwell - between Mount Avenue and Chalkwell Avenue and south of Kings Road
Leigh - Marine Estate (i.e. south of London road, Tattersall Gdns to Salisbury Road), with bonus points (i.e. more ££ 🤣) for being south of Western Road.

Next best is anything adjoining the above!

Lived and worked in all 3 areas when I was younger. Even then Westcliff was going down hill. Leigh on Sea is the best of the 3 and also the most expensive as a result.

Bear in mind that Chalkwell is technically in Westcliff for address purposes, so the exact road you look at makes a huge difference.

Leigh is the better option, have several friends and visit often...surprised that westcliff is now all a bit grotty...used to be very popular with all my older jewish neighbours for retirement...but that was quite a few years ago.

I live in Westcliff and it’s a shame how it’s being represented. It’s got lots going for it, not least the proximity to the seafront, lots of culture including the Palace Theatre, good restaurants, green spaces. Some of the houses are really lovely, and your money will stretch further here than Leigh.

Thanks, the houses in Marine Estate look lovely, but they're pretty far from Chalkwell beach.

Are the roads coming off Cliff Parade, like Seaview Road, Victoria Road and Avenue Road any good? If nearer the bottom end? Appreciate that parking will be an issue, but the roads look nice with the sea view. And like the idea of being able to walk to the top of the road to go out for a coffee.

That would be an ideal location, as you say for the river at the bottom and The Broadway at the top but as you have said, parking would be an absolute nightmare. If you are looking seriously at Leigh anywhere with off street parking would be worth the extra cost if you are wedded to a car.

Not sure about the parking. Currently have a drive with two cars, but wouldn't need to drive all that much in Leigh-on- Sea, I don't think.

That’s how I think of it - but we’re talking late 80s/early 90s. It must’ve changed considerably as my friends house was fairly posh.

Most of the regular swimmers swim off the beaches behind Chalkwell station so towards there might suit you better (and you might have better luck with parking there). Leigh Road has a plethora of coffee shops too!

What sort of budget are you looking at?

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/171633446#/?channel=RESBUY

Perfect location for swimming and popping up to Leigh Road (& not needing to drive often)

Agree. Super location

Most of Chalkwell is Westcliff postally anyway! There are some nice parts of Westcliff.