Braintree - Whats it like?

[Goochie]

I've just applied for a job in Braintree in Essex (I live in Staffordshire). What is the place and the surrounding area like? where should I look at that is commutable to Braintree and where should I avoid?

Thanks.

[sjc]

Plenty of very nice villages around there. Depends how far out you want to commute and how much you want to pay. Town itself isn't great, but could think of a lot worse.

[Goochie]

sjc said:

Plenty of very nice villages around there. Depends how far out you want to commute and how much you want to pay. Town itself isn't great, but could think of a lot worse.

40 mins drive is about as far as I'd be willing to commute on a regular basis.

[sjc]

Goochie said:

sjc said:

Plenty of very nice villages around there. Depends how far out you want to commute and how much you want to pay. Town itself isn't great, but could think of a lot worse.

40 mins drive is about as far as I'd be willing to commute on a regular basis.

Loads of choice then...
Thaxted,Great Dunmow (10/15mins) are lovely,Great/Little Leighs 5 mins,Wickham Bishops,Little Baddow, Danbury,Woodham Walter all 15/20 mins.Plenty of other litle hamlets as well.Depending on where you're coming from, you may be very pleasantly surprised.

[Goochie]

sjc said:

Goochie said:

sjc said:

Plenty of very nice villages around there. Depends how far out you want to commute and how much you want to pay. Town itself isn't great, but could think of a lot worse.

40 mins drive is about as far as I'd be willing to commute on a regular basis.

Loads of choice then...
Thaxted,Great Dunmow (10/15mins) are lovely,Great/Little Leighs 5 mins,Wickham Bishops,Little Baddow, Danbury,Woodham Walter all 15/20 mins.Plenty of other litle hamlets as well.Depending on where you're coming from, you may be very pleasantly surprised.

Coming from South Staffordshire, 15mins from the NEC at Birmingham.

I grew up is rural Buckinghamshire and have had a craving to move south again for some time!

[Adrian W]

The Essex villages are very nice, however if you move to Braintree town you may have to learn Polish

[JamieG]

sjc said:

Goochie said:

sjc said:

Plenty of very nice villages around there. Depends how far out you want to commute and how much you want to pay. Town itself isn't great, but could think of a lot worse.

40 mins drive is about as far as I'd be willing to commute on a regular basis.

Loads of choice then...
Thaxted,Great Dunmow (10/15mins) are lovely,Great/Little Leighs 5 mins,Wickham Bishops,Little Baddow, Danbury,Woodham Walter all 15/20 mins.Plenty of other litle hamlets as well.Depending on where you're coming from, you may be very pleasantly surprised.

Can second this. Also, friendly group of pistonheaders in the region aswell!

[biomedbob]

Nuffing wrong with living in Chelmsford either,10 miles outside of Braintree,loads of shops,Nice pubs,lot of ex londoners here,friendly bunch,though thats my personal opinion seeing as I lived here now for 30 years, I have no moans or groans .

[stevethegreek]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Isaac's got it bang on here, although we are both biased i feel

Coggeshall is a great village, good area, great schools and good links to the main transport links. I've lived in Earls Colne, Halstead, Kelvedon previously and, just like Coggeshall, you can be in Braintree within 15 minutes. In fact all these places are definitely worth a look...

STG.

[E-one]

Lived here for 4 years now, as others have said the surrounding hamlets are lovely, town is ok, seen better but TBH ive seen an awful lot worse!

With commuting, cars are fine, the town gets a little congested at rush hour but nothing terrible, and the A120 from Marks Farm to the Braintree/Rayne turn offs gets snarled up at peak times, the back roads are mainly clear though, and theres some nice hooning roads!

Lived on the White Court estate for a couple of years, thought it was quite nice, and some of the places on London Road are very nice. Town is a bit chavvy!

[RobinFocus]

Chelmsford has much more going on, there are lots of good bars and places to eat. The only thing lacking is culture but how do you compete when London is 35mins away. Also for pistonheads all you need to know is head for Gt Dunmow on into Thaxted and dont stop.

[JRM Rossi]

Head for cressing ? nice & quiet, not too far from m11 & a12 walking distance to braintree town (when drunk)

[Vlad.]

Saffron Walden is a nice town - it's got enough pubs and restaurants while keeping it's character. Drive to Braintree on country roads - about 30 mins I would guess - may be a drag doing it every day though.

[Lensey]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Interesting, why would that be?