Essex Area Guide – Griggs Homes

Essex Area Guide

Essex is one of the home counties of the UK, offering a diverse mixture of bustling urban towns and charming quaint villages. The area is home to over 1.4 million residents, the average house price considerably lower than that of its rival Home Counties whilst still maintaining the same rural, countryside environment many of them hold.

Whilst Essex has recently become well known for the show The Only Way Is Essex, the county offers so much more than its reality stars; with a whole host of fantastic amenities, great properties and even better price ranges, especially considering its close proximity to the UK capital.

Essex area guide

Essex is known for its rural countryside, castles and colourful personalities. Home to 1.4 million people with average house prices of £360,000.

Properties in Essex

Essex offers a range of properties for residents from lively urban townhouses to traditional coastal cottages.

The area’s landscape is also as diverse as it’s range of available properties, residents having the choice between rural countryside villages, stunning coastlines such as Southend or active urbanised towns like Brentwood or Loughton.

Below is a list of the county’s 12 districts and boroughs:

  • Basildon
  • Braintree
  • Brentwood
  • Castle Point
  • Chelmsford
  • Colchester
  • Epping Forest
  • Harlow
  • Maldon
  • Rochford
  • Tendring
  • Uttlesford

Essex boarders the southwest of London, making it great for commuters with superb transport links, all whilst holding an array of family-friendly activities such as zoos, petting farms, beautiful walks and historic sites.

The average house price in Essex is reported to be £360,855, making it the perfect area for those working in the capital. Reports have also shown that house prices within the county can go considerably lower than this price, Jaywick is the cheapest area in Essex with an average house price of £140,852.

Whilst it’s true that house prices in this area can be considerably lower than its neighbouring counties, there are still many areas of Essex where residents can splash out, with Ramsden Bellhouse is the most expensive areas for property in Esex, coming in at a £1,081,250 per average home.

For more information about what we offer at Griggs Homes, see Bespoke Builders in Essex and Property Developers in Essex.


Living in Essex

Essex can offer a great quality of life, accommodating to its residents’ needs in terms of property styles, property prices, locations and environments. The area has fantastic transport links, with a vast network of walking and cycling paths, buses and trains.

Most of the trains operating throughout the county are serviced by c2c or Greater Anglia, with some areas covered by Transport for London (West Essex in particular). The Central line of the London Underground runs throughout Epping, transporting Essex residents to and from such major areas of London as Bank, Liverpool Street, Oxford Circus and more.

Its transport links make it a more than suitable location for those commuting into London for work, however, residents can also find a variety of different jobs available throughout the county.

The University of Essex not only offers students great opportunities, but is also a big employer within the area, hiring research and academic roles, as well as service and administrative roles too.


Things To Do in Essex

There’s a variety of different things to do in Essex, meaning you’re bound to find something throughout the area to peak your interest. Below is a list with just some of the many things to do in the county:

  • Walks – as previously mentioned, Essex has a diverse landscape, offering quaint, country village walks in addition to spectacular coastline strolls. Popular areas for walks include Tollesbury Wick, Hatfield Forest, and Danbury Country Park.
  • Shopping – there are also a variety of big shopping centres throughoutEssex, including intu Lakeside, which is home to over 200 shops and huge areas of parking. Additionally, shoppers can get great discounts on items at the Braintree Village Outlet, or explore farmers’ markets, car boot sales and antique fairs.
  • Amusement Parks – Essex is also home to a number of amusement parks, including the seaside Adventure Island, Leisure Island, Clacton Pavilion Fun Park and more, with rides and amusements available for all ages.
  • Historic sites – the county is also holds several historic sites, including the beautiful Hedingham Castle, Hadleigh Castle ruins and the Audley End House. These sites are not only rich in history but also offer great views that all the family can admire.
  • Football - Essex is home to various football clubs including West Ham, Leyton Orient and Southend United.
Audley end

Audley End House is a beautiful early 17th-century country house located outside Saffron Walden, Essex. With the estate and gardens open the public, it is one of the finest Jacobean houses in England.
King edward vi

King Edward VI in Chelmsford is one of the best grammar schools in the country and one of the oldest too, established in 1551.

Schools in Essex

For those living in Essex with children, there’s a whole host of excellent schools to choose from, education ranging from primary right up to university level (University of Essex). Below is a list with the top performing secondary schools in Essex based off of their Progress 8 scores:

  • Colchester County High School for Girls
  • Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School
  • King Edward VI Grammar School
  • Chelmsford County High School for Girls
  • Moulsham High School
  • Colchester Royal Grammar School
  • Ormiston Rivers Academy
  • Saffron Walden County High School
  • Becket Keys Church of England Free School
  • The Gilberd School

For more details on schools and their performance throughout Essex, please visit the gov.uk page here.


Sources:

https://www.ons.gov.uk

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/

https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/