Best Place to live in Essex?

[KingRichard]

Might have to relocate for new Job, has to be 20-30 minutes commute from Stansted Airport.

Preferably Lively, decent area or near university towns (treacles!)

Any towns scream out? I don't know Essex at all, apart from the common sense to veer away from canvey island!!

[Imadreamer]

Hertfordshire is pretty close to Stansted too. Just avoid Harlow.

[jimothy]

Imadreamer said:

Hertfordshire is pretty close to Stansted too. Just avoid Harlow.

Harwlo is a dump. However, Sawbridgworth just north of Harlow is lovely, and has loads of pubs. Lots of nice villages round that area, if you can avoid the concrete cesspit of 'Arlow...

[KingRichard]

Just having a peek on rightmove, i'll see whats in my price range. Anymore comments welcome... areas to avoid? Heard Bishops Stortford is quite nice. any views?

[mutt]

KingRichard said:

BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN ESSEX?:

Kent?







PS. Before anyone kicks off, I'm from Essex!

[ncs]

mutt said:

KingRichard said: BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN ESSEX?: Kent? PS. Before anyone kicks off, I'm from Essex!

Oh poo - you beat me to it

Nick

[Ferg]

Can I just suggest Braintree....


















..should be avoided at all costs.

[BMGM3]

mutt said:

KingRichard said: BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN ESSEX?: Kent? PS. Before anyone kicks off, I'm from Essex!

Don't bother with Kent . It's slowly filling up with pikeys .They are spreading into Kent from the Dartford Tunnel area. I don't know about a border patrol at Dover . I think it's needed at the Dartford Tunnel !

The few times I've been to Essex , the general rule was that the further north you went , the better it was.

[zippee]

KingRichard said:

Just having a peek on rightmove, i'll see whats in my price range. Anymore comments welcome... areas to avoid? Heard Bishops Stortford is quite nice. any views?

Stortfords nice but is getting a bit rough in places. I grew up there, leaving home finally at 21 and my dad still lives there.
Personally its a place I'd never go back to but others may like it.
Saffron Walden is quite nice, as is Sawbridgeworth though this is a lot smaller than BS and so won't have the nightlife.

[robbieduncan]

I could probably drive to Stansted in that sort of time frame and I live in London! Seriously from E3 it's a short blast up the Blackwall Tunnel Northern Approach then onto the M11. As it's in London plenty lively enough.

[Jaglover]

BMGM3 said:

Don't bother with Kent . It's slowly filling up with pikeys .They are spreading into Kent from the Dartford Tunnel area. I don't know about a border patrol at Dover . I think it's needed at the Dartford Tunnel ! The few times I've been to Essex , the general rule was that the further north you went , the better it was.

Some parts of Kent are extremely nice.

[Ferg]

BMGM3 said:

The few times I've been to Essex , the general rule was that the further north you went , the better it was.

I think you may be right.

Cheers,
Ferg
North Essex

[Extra 300 Driver]

I work at Stansted and I live in Leigh on sea, takes about 45-60 mins in the morning an 1-1.25h in the evening.

Take a look out towards Braintree way, with the new A120 its only 20mins to the Airfield.

Stortford is ok but with the departure from Runway 23, all the traffic goes right over the top!

[Big_M]

Great Dunmow and surrounding villages are fine - as is Coggeshall where we live. Both have a bit of character and Coggeshall has plenty of Olde Worlde charm with some properties dating from 1300's. Our house was built in 1880 and is the newest one in the street.

Saffron Walden is fine - although a bit Chav in parts but generally North is better. Avoid Braintree and Witham like the plague.

Are you looking for an isolated village or small town?

[Muncher]

Ferg said:

BMGM3 said: The few times I've been to Essex , the general rule was that the further north you went , the better it was. I think you may be right. Cheers, Ferg North Essex

Indeed, the further North you go the better, Colchester is quite nice actually, as are the surrounding villages.

[princeperch]

bishops stortford is very nice, but like all places has its not so nice bits. If your after a quiet village, look around standon, stansted abbots, hertford, and the few villages around the a10 corridor. Sawbo is very nice but its closeness to harlow would I admit put me off..

Wont get a lot of change out of 250k for a bog standard 3 bed semi tho...

[lightningghost]

Saffron Walden is extremely nice: a very pretty town. Quite a few chavs though, but the'll go away if you tell them to off.

>> Edited by lightningghost on Saturday 23 April 19:42

[jonscz]

only problem with Sawbridgworth, Jimothy, is the neighbours ..... Beckingham Palace!!!!!!

[simpo two]

Ferg said:

I think you may be right. Cheers, Ferg North Essex

Ditto! If you can make Suffolk, that's worth looking at too.

[Muncher]

simpo two said:

Ferg said: I think you may be right. Cheers, Ferg North Essex Ditto! If you can make Suffolk, that's worth looking at too.

simpo, whereabouts in Suffolk are you? Your Jag isn't black is it?