commuting to london/chelmsford - where is best?

hazyjo

Brentwood line was the most unreliable I've ever lived on (and that's saying something - my current one's not great either!).


Know nothing about Wickford but have heard some very good things mentioned about it very recently. Definitely look there.


My friend is in Rayleigh and enjoying it. My aunt has always lived there. (My first husband also lives there with his bit on the side/now his missus, but the less said about him the better lol.)


Is £160k your max?


Jx

noh

flea72 wrote: »

Braintree is on a branch line, so need to change at witham. Season ticket is £50/m less than colchester, but housing is more expensive than colchester. Then the gf would have to pay to commute to Chelmsford

Tbh i dont think the OP is going to find anywhere on East coast or C2C routes that commute costs will be low enough to offset the rise in housing costs

On £25k a year, i could just about afford/justify the commute to london, but i couldnt afford to buy a house nearer to london than colchester, in reality ipswich would give more sq/m.

Yes that sums it up.
On 25k (with 6k travel costs) a year I would not commute I would find a local job in fact that is what I have done all my working life currently living in Witham prior to that Chelmsford soon Mersea Island now we have all but finished working.

ERICS_MUM

Nice areas around Chelmsford include Sandon, Great Baddow (parts !), Danbury (expensive though). In Chelmsford there are some nice roads off Broomfield Road. Writtle is another nice area. Further north by a few miles is Witham (nice in parts), Hatfield Peverel and Kelvedon.

The latter 3 each have their own station on the main line into London Liverpool St but not every train stops at those stations.

All the other places I've mentioned would involved getting to Chelmsford station which has a frequent rush-hour service to London, most of the time !

I moved to Chelmsford from east London and have never regretted it for a minute. It's not the prettiest of cities but I would say it's a good place for raising a family.

You might need to look at one bedroom flats or starter homes on your budget though in Chelmsford.

Good luck, it's so difficult finding a place to move to.

westv

I have lived in Wickford (Wick Meadows ) and central Chelmsford (New Street).
For morning train seat availability into London, Wickford won (when I was there)
but Chemlsford won for speed of office to home - my flat was 5 minuted from the station.

uk_american

I live in Chelmsford (city centre flat) and own a buy to let house here. My other half (we live separately) owns a house and commutes to London.

Understanding your circumstances, I think you have a few options.

1. Buy a house in Chelmsford, but not a good market right now. You can get closer in (20 min walk) at a less desirable location (Melbourne) or a bus/cycle ride from further out (Tile Kiln, Baddow, Springfield). Prices range from low 200's (fixer upper) to 300's for 2 bed.

Or buy a flat closer in, city centre or 10 to 20 min walk. Flats at 15 min walk currently are being listed at 185 min for a 2 bed, ok neighborhood, 20 years old. New builds, 2 bed going at 320 (!)

2. Others have mentioned Wickford, my ex lives there, good value for money, 15 to 20 min walk you can buy much better than Chelmsford. A little boring for nightlife and schools perhaps not as good.

3. If you can deal with coming into Fenchurch Street for a transfer, also consider places on the c2c line (more reliable than Abellio for Chelmsford, Wickford etc). Southend, Leigh on Sea, Benfleet. Pitsea and Basildon are also on this line and cost affordable but perhaps not the most recommended. All of these places are on bus routes to Chelmsford for your gf's work.

I cannot comment on places like Colchester, Braintree etc but I know that they are options.

Good luck and let us know any questions.

westv

uk_american wrote: »

2. Others have mentioned Wickford, my ex lives there

My ex lives there too.

mattk_180

It's all a balancing game and will just be a case of weighing everything up.


The further away from London, the cheaper the house but more expensive the commute.
The closer to London, the more expensive the house but a cheaper commute.


On a balance I think you will find Colchester to be the best compromise between house prices and train costs. You could consider somewhere like Kelvedon (not much around though) or Witham. Ipswich is nice but a much longer/expensive commute. I'd also avoid Braintree as you would have to get 2 trains both ways.