A Guide to Living in Essex

Essex is a county in the East of England and is one of the most populous counties in the country. It has a population of 1.4 million people, making it an attractive place for prospective home buyers to invest their money and enjoy all that Essex has to offer. Below we’ll take a look at what you should know about Essex before deciding where to put down roots!

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Average Location Score

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Best places to live in Essex

HomeViews Top Rated Development ranking takes into account the Star Rating and HomeViews Transparency Rating of every development in the area

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Where is Essex?

The county of Essex is located to the East of London. It borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire in the South West, Hertfordshire in the North West and Kent along its Northern border.

Areas in Essex

The county contains many different types of areas – some are large towns while others are smaller villages or rural communities that offer peace and quiet away from city life.

Some popular places include:

Chelmsford – The county’s largest town and its administrative centre, Chelmsford is a vibrant and growing community with excellent schools, shopping and leisure facilities.

Basildon – Located in the East of Essex, Basildon is one of the county’s fastest-growing towns thanks to its convenient location and modern amenities. With transport links to London and the coastal resorts, Basildon is a great place for commuters to live.

Southend-on-Sea – With its beautiful seafront location on the Thames Estuary, Southend is popular with Londoners looking to move out of city life but still want quick access via train or road.

Colchester – Situated in the North of Essex, Colchester is a historic town with plenty to see and do. With two universities and an abundance of shops, bars and restaurants, it’s no wonder Colchester is one of the county’s most popular places to live.

Clacton-on-Sea – A seaside resort on the coast, Clacton is a popular choice for holidaymakers and those looking to retire because of the proximity to the coast and countryside.

Universities in Essex

Essex is home to a few universities which draw students from all over the country – these include:

The University of Essex – With over 13,000 students and nearly 600 international ones, the University of Essex is a popular choice for those looking to study in an informal environment and specialises in social sciences.

The University of Essex is located on the outskirts of Colchester which has a vibrant social scene with plenty to do for students.

Writtle University College – Located in Chelmsford, Writtle is the only agricultural university in Essex and offers courses such as land management, forestry and agriculture.

The Colchester Institute – a popular choice for students looking to study in the creative industry, the Colchester Institute offers courses in fashion, design, marketing and more.

Top Schools in Essex

There are many good schools in Essex catering for children of all ages. In addition to state schools, there are also many prestigious private schools located throughout the county.

Some of the standout institutions include:

King Edward VI Grammar School for Boys – a top independent school that is part of a network of more than 30 King Edwards throughout the country, this grammar school has been established since 1551

The Thurstable School – recognised by The Good Schools Guide as one of the best state schools in England, this selective boys’ school is less than 8 miles south of Colchester.

Colchester County High School for Girls – Another top state school, this selective girls’ grammar boasts high academic standards and impressive examination results.

Population of Essex

The population of Essex was estimated at just under two million people as of 2016. This number is expected to grow steadily over the next few years making now a great time for prospective homeowners to consider buying property in the area.

Featured developments in Essex

Reviews in Essex

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Disappointed

Verified Resident

Review Date Jul 2024

So most of the reviews are from 2021 , we are now 2024 and the development is still not finished what a joke Barrett’s where meant to finish the project but have give the last build part to another contractor. Took there money and left in other words , the property management company keep raising service charges especially when the project is not finished what are we paying for . Stay clear of this site if I was you

Please review your development:

The project is a joke moved here in 2020 and the building is far from finished they sell you a home with the promise of shops schools amenities free parking , then after a year or so , the management company raises the prices (double ) bearing in mind the project is unfinished .plus charge for parking space that apparently comes with the property I’d stay clear of I was you place is a joke

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I wish I knew the project would take over five years and still not complete

What is the best feature of your home:

Can’t really say look what the best feature is when I look out of the window I see a building site

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Loving life at Leaf Living

Verified Resident

Review Date Jul 2024

Great parking and it is very peaceful! Fantastic facilities on your doorstep and improving everyday.

Please review your development:

Living alone on the development, I feel very safe and at home after 4 x months! The design and completion is taking shape perfectly and the construction workers are extremely considerate. I’m very happy, so far it seems a great place to live and work

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I personally have nothing to share here. All good.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Response within 24 hoursExcellent service provided

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Do not buy from countryside homes

Verified Resident

Review Date Jul 2024

It’s a long walk into town. Bus service is ok especially if you want to go to Stansted airport for £2. Local pub the king William is very clicky and the landlady is not very welcoming

Please review your development:

It’s a nice development and very quiet at times. The major downside would be the day your house is 2 years old countryside homes completely wash their hands of you. And the NHBC certificate they give you isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. Also the constant flow of Essex police cars going to the housing association flats to sort out the drug problems can be a bit frustrating

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

The fact countryside do not care about you. The rip off maintenance company. The NHBC certificate isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. The constant flow of police officers going to the housing association flats. The fencing that’s falling over in our back garden. The park that we have been paying for has never been finished. The paths are all cracking up. The lack of lighting on the walkways. The litter is never picked up. The place looks like a jungle because the grass is never cut. Lack of trees that should have been planted

What is the best feature of your home:

The front door. We can’t wait to get out of it. The fact that our roof tiles have fallen off after 2 years is not a good sign. We can’t wait to move. Do not buy a new build home. They are paper thin and not built very well. Always problems with something. If it’s not the boiler it’s something else with the hot water system or the heating

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Modern apartment in a peaceful area and community

Review Date Jul 2024

Great access to local shops, bars, open spaces and public transport. Area’s very quiet and well maintained. The post room is a godsend. The communal office space, tenants lounge and private dining room are great amenities to have although the booking process for the dining room could be easier.

Please review your development:

The development itself is fantastic and we’re happy with the overall design. The balcony door could use a stopper or position lock (where you lock the handle to fix the door’s position) as, when it’s windy, the door can be easily blown into the railings. The bedroom could also use a window that can be opened separate to the balcony door. All small things though.

From what we’ve experienced so far, the building and property management has been brilliant. I do wish the onboarding had been a bit more thorough so that we were clearer on how to raise maintenance issues (I’d normally expect a form within the portal) and what information we could find where – maybe the welcome pack could be a bit more detailed?

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I wish we’d known that we could find most of the info we’d need after moving in on the resident’s portal. I also wish we’d known that visitors parking is limited and that you need to pay for the permits for these.