Discussion
Hi all,
I'm considering moving to Brentwood. Couple of questions if anyone on here lives there or knows it well:
1. Houses within walking distance of the station are beyond my budget so I'm thinking of getting a scooter to do a short drive, leaving it at the station. However there seems to be no motorbike specific parking around there at all. Does anyone know of any? Seems the NCP charges bikes as cars!
2. Does anyone know the area to the north west of the town, specifically the newish estate at the end of Weald road before you reach the A12 bridge? Looks like some nice houses there but also quite a bit of social housing, which looking at national crime map has had quite alot of incidents in the last couple of years.
3. Any other general pointers or local knowledge welcomed!
Cheers! Hopefully start going to the Essex car meets again once we're back in the county!
I'm considering moving to Brentwood. Couple of questions if anyone on here lives there or knows it well:
1. Houses within walking distance of the station are beyond my budget so I'm thinking of getting a scooter to do a short drive, leaving it at the station. However there seems to be no motorbike specific parking around there at all. Does anyone know of any? Seems the NCP charges bikes as cars!
2. Does anyone know the area to the north west of the town, specifically the newish estate at the end of Weald road before you reach the A12 bridge? Looks like some nice houses there but also quite a bit of social housing, which looking at national crime map has had quite alot of incidents in the last couple of years.
3. Any other general pointers or local knowledge welcomed!
Cheers! Hopefully start going to the Essex car meets again once we're back in the county!
Why this area specifically? We moved to Chelmsford 4 years ago and looked at Brentwood but could not see the attraction. It’s fairly built up, not very attractive and in my view over priced from a housing perspective. Billericay, Sheffield and Chelmsford were where our short list needed up.
You mention the station - bear in mind that the current quick trains to London don't stop at Brentwood (appreciate that this might not matter for you and Crossrail's on the way which will stop at Brentwood AFAIK).
Housing-price wise Brentwood's always been strong. As the OP mentions there's better value a little further up the A12/A127.
If you'd consider apartments there are a couple of office conversions that will be launched in Brentwood town centre shortly that might be worth looking out for.
Housing-price wise Brentwood's always been strong. As the OP mentions there's better value a little further up the A12/A127.
If you'd consider apartments there are a couple of office conversions that will be launched in Brentwood town centre shortly that might be worth looking out for.
I live in Harold Wood which is the next station closer to London than Brentwood but I work in Brentwood.
To me Brentwood is a strange place, you have got people living there at both ends of the wealth spectrum. Its odd walking down the high street and see a lambo go past and then a couple of drunks drinking cans of high strength lager before most people have had their breakfast.
Towie ruined Brentwood
To me Brentwood is a strange place, you have got people living there at both ends of the wealth spectrum. Its odd walking down the high street and see a lambo go past and then a couple of drunks drinking cans of high strength lager before most people have had their breakfast.
Towie ruined Brentwood
Edited by stneville on Friday 1st December 21:49
I live very close to Brentwood, and it can indeed be a strange town. That said, it can also be a lovely place (though the house prices near the station can be astronomical). You may be better off looking closer to Shenfield as it has direct routes into the city and is a better station. There are houses on the roads off of Hanging Hill Lane that are nice and affordable too, and butt right up against some very good neighbourhoods, and are also within walking distance of the station.
I lived there for 12 years. It's a nice enough place but as others have said, a bit of an oddity in terms of where it sits 'socially and economically'. the same could be said for many places but it seems far more prominent there.
The biggest issue is that the place is always rammed and the traffic terrible. And it's getting worse.
If you need easy access to London, I'd suggest looking at the south the town - Warley area - so you can travel into town from Upminster (a lot cheaper from there).
If not, then I'd be looking at Shenfield or Chelmsford. Personally, I'd go for the latter. Chelmsford is rather up and coming these days.
The biggest issue is that the place is always rammed and the traffic terrible. And it's getting worse.
If you need easy access to London, I'd suggest looking at the south the town - Warley area - so you can travel into town from Upminster (a lot cheaper from there).
If not, then I'd be looking at Shenfield or Chelmsford. Personally, I'd go for the latter. Chelmsford is rather up and coming these days.
StevieBee said:
I lived there for 12 years. It's a nice enough place but as others have said, a bit of an oddity in terms of where it sits 'socially and economically'. the same could be said for many places but it seems far more prominent there.
The biggest issue is that the place is always rammed and the traffic terrible. And it's getting worse.
If you need easy access to London, I'd suggest looking at the south the town - Warley area - so you can travel into town from Upminster (a lot cheaper from there).
If not, then I'd be looking at Shenfield or Chelmsford. Personally, I'd go for the latter. Chelmsford is rather up and coming these days.
You're completely right about Upminster, its where I go from and I live in Warley too, though I don't have to travel into the city often. Parking isn't too bad in Upminster and they have a motorbike bit too I think. The biggest issue is that the place is always rammed and the traffic terrible. And it's getting worse.
If you need easy access to London, I'd suggest looking at the south the town - Warley area - so you can travel into town from Upminster (a lot cheaper from there).
If not, then I'd be looking at Shenfield or Chelmsford. Personally, I'd go for the latter. Chelmsford is rather up and coming these days.
lukeharding said:
You're completely right about Upminster, its where I go from and I live in Warley too, though I don't have to travel into the city often. Parking isn't too bad in Upminster and they have a motorbike bit too I think.
Brentwood, Upminster and Shenfield have all gotten too busy.Shenfield has the best rail links and with Cross Rail coming in you cant really go wrong but all these places have become very popular.
I can see the attraction of Chelmsford but the town centre of an evening i think has become a bit rough. That said Brentwood has become the same.
Neighbouring villages to Shenfield or Ingatestone or even Chelmsford is where i'd be looking personally
We looked at Brentwood when moving out of East London a few years ago. Didn't get a good feel for the place due to many of the aforementioned posts.
We ended up moving to Leigh on Sea. C2C line is brilliant. 45 mins to Fenchurch street. Nearly always have a seat for the entire journey. Lovely town.
We ended up moving to Leigh on Sea. C2C line is brilliant. 45 mins to Fenchurch street. Nearly always have a seat for the entire journey. Lovely town.
_Superleggera_ said:
We looked at Brentwood when moving out of East London a few years ago. Didn't get a good feel for the place due to many of the aforementioned posts.
We ended up moving to Leigh on Sea. C2C line is brilliant. 45 mins to Fenchurch street. Nearly always have a seat for the entire journey. Lovely town.
Leigh is probably the premier place to live in 'Sarfend' tbfWe ended up moving to Leigh on Sea. C2C line is brilliant. 45 mins to Fenchurch street. Nearly always have a seat for the entire journey. Lovely town.
Tbf, on the seafront now so worth it for the view 
Wouldn't touch Brentwood with a bargepole; so many nicer places with easy commute to London
Live just outside Shenfield in Hutton, just off Hanging Hill lane.
15 min walk to Shenfield Station & then 30 mins to Liverpool St and of course Crossrail.
House prices are crazy. Ex council house, 2 bed mid terrace getting on for £300k.
Shenfield High St is ok, but prefer Billericay for more variety and better pubs & restaurants :-)
15 min walk to Shenfield Station & then 30 mins to Liverpool St and of course Crossrail.
House prices are crazy. Ex council house, 2 bed mid terrace getting on for £300k.
Shenfield High St is ok, but prefer Billericay for more variety and better pubs & restaurants :-)
steveb_1966 said:
Live just outside Shenfield in Hutton, just off Hanging Hill lane.
15 min walk to Shenfield Station & then 30 mins to Liverpool St and of course Crossrail.
House prices are crazy. Ex council house, 2 bed mid terrace getting on for £300k.
Shenfield High St is ok, but prefer Billericay for more variety and better pubs & restaurants :-)
I’m tbf other side of the station to you In shenfield and I tend to agree . 15 min walk to Shenfield Station & then 30 mins to Liverpool St and of course Crossrail.
House prices are crazy. Ex council house, 2 bed mid terrace getting on for £300k.
Shenfield High St is ok, but prefer Billericay for more variety and better pubs & restaurants :-)
Shenfield is mobbed now I’d go Billericay or ingatestone
Gassing Station | Kent & Essex | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff