Essex - Braintree, Colchester, Clacton-on-Sea

[muchlovex]

Hi there, I have asked a similar question re: Colchester however, I still have further questions. My wife and I are relocating from the North East of England to Essex. She has a job in Weeley, near Colchester, we are looking for recommendations of a nice area to live in. We are both in our 30's, like nice pubs, restaurants. I am applying for a job in Braintree, so we are possibly looking to live inbetween weeley and Braintree. Can anyone recommend nice areas to live in? Also, what is the traffic like from Weeley to Braintree? We have heard that Wivenhoe is a nice area also. Thank you for any help in advance. x

[Octavius]

I think, as suggested the last time you asked, that you both really need to spend a few weekends touring around areas, looking at house prices etc, and even rent for a while so that you settle your minds on somewhere suitable to live.

It took me 2 years to isolate a particular area I wanted to live when I relocated upwards (from south to north) and a further 6 months trying to find the right house.

No amount of suggestions from individuals can compare to our own exeriences and shortlisting and we are delighted we took the time to get it right and find the perfect home.

[muchlovex]

Thank you Octavius. We are going to visit Essex next week for a few days to check it out.

[Buenchico]

Weeley to Braintree is a really easy drive. From Weeley, you quickly pick up the A133 (which is a good road to drive on unless you're travelling in the same direction as day-trippers going to/from the coast on a hot summer's day) and then the A120. This is the dual carriageway serving Harwich docks. It's rarely busy and driving along it is pleasure. Nipping down the A12 takes hardly any time at all and then you're back onto the A120 which is a main artery into Stansted Airport. (It's mainly single carriageway as far as Braintree but it's generally free-flowing).

The real jewel along that route is Coggeshall. If you're old enough to remember Lovejoy on the telly (or you've been watching the repeats on digital TV) you'll know what it's like because much of the series was filmed around there.

There are also some pleasant areas around Marks Tey (which is probably considerably cheaper than Coggeshall). On your 'inspection visit', I strongly recommend calling in at The Food Company at Marks Tey. It's like a massive extension of Harrod's Food Hall and well worth a visit.

The area around Copford and Stanway is also worth considering for housing. Drive along the B road which runs parallel to the A12 between junctions 25 and 26.

Chris

[ChuckFickens]

well I'm originally from braintree, now live in colchester and worked in clacton for some time so guess I better say something )

There are a lot of very nice areas round this way, most of the villages mentioned above by chris would be good areas to live... but if one of you has a job in Braintree and one in clacton the main thing you want to be looking at for areas between those two will be easy access to the A12. wivenhoe is very nice, and will be OK for getting to clacton but a nightmare for getting to braintree as you would have to cross Colchester.

a good locationl location for both for those places would be stanway or copford which would be about in the middle and has good access to the roads needed to get to both of them, you also have some nice villages round that area such as west bergholt, Eight ash green, Fordham and great horkesley.

Chris is slightly worng in a couple of things he says.. the A120 between braintree and colchester is a nightmare at rush hour, and love joy was mainly filmed in Long melford not Coggashall :) (sorry chris I know that for a fact, I done some work on the set!)

[Aprilis]

I'm with Buenchico here, Coggeshall is lovely.

As Chuck says, it can be a right royal traffic nightmare at times on the A120 between Braintree & Colchester, particularly at Marks Tey.

[HarryFindlay]

Whatever you do, don`t move to Waltham Abbey, Waltham Cross, Cheshunt, Hoddesdon or Harlow

[Bee35]

If you fancy venturing a bit further North but still in reach of the A12 for travel, South Suffolk is lovely!

A happy Suffolk Resident :)