Are you thinking of living in Brentwood?

This Essex town has seen a huge growth in popularity. Brentwood’s rise to fame can be thanked, in part, to the popularity of TOWIE (The Only Way is Essex.) The reality TV show has truly placed the spotlight onto the Essex town. Regardless of your opinion of the show, it has really helped Brentwood to emerge as one of the most favourable locations in the county. Living in Brentwood is also a top choice for commuters. The town has excellent commuter links to London, offering more reasonably priced homes than many locations in the capital. Relocating to a new area is never easy. If you are considering living in Brentwood, here is our home moving guide to life on in the Essex commuter town. An increasing amount of people are considering leaving the city, seeking to live a more rural lifestyle.

Locations like Brentwood and some of the town’s nearby villages including Warley, Ingrave and Shenfield have seen increasing levels of popularity. The housing stock is diverse but in short supply. Around the Brentwood train station area, there are some beautiful twenties styled homes as well as an excellent selection of bungalows. The centre of the town still has some charming Victorian homes as well as some older period properties.

Living in Brentwood is a great prospect for commuters! Brentwood is located a few miles from the M25, sitting close to the A12 connecting London to Chelmsford and Colchester. Trains to Liverpool Street from Shenfield station take as little as 28 minutes! Those travelling by train from Brentwood station to Liverpool Street can expect a journey of about 38 minutes. The emergence of the Crossrail has also greatly improved travel prospects for those living in Brentwood. When the Crossrail project is complete, commuters will be provided with direct access to central London. The journey into Bond Street is expected to take around 48 minutes from Shenfield and 44 minutes from Brentwood, respectively. Residents living in Brentwood are clearly supplied with excellent transport links to the capital, making it the ideal home for commuters.

If you are moving with a family, there are various factors to consider.

Having access to a good education is key and will undoubtedly play a huge role in where you decide to live. The town offers a range of state schools, Church of England and Catholic schools and some excellent independent schools. Brentwood also has two renowned historic institutions; Brentwood School, founded in 1557, and the Catholic cathedral, which began life as a parish church in 1861.The town is home to some fine amenities. Ranging from numerous national parks to the Brentwood Centre which boasts its own gym, swimming pool, squash court and concert hall all in one convenient location. Brentwood’s various country parks are sanctuaries for nature-lovers, walkers, and families. Thorndon Park is home to the famous Gruffalo Trail, making it the perfect spot for families. Another family-oriented location includes Weald Park, home of Stick Man Play Trail. If you are looking to get in touch with animals and nature, Old MacDonald’s Farm located on the fringes of the town is the ideal attraction. Brentwood Park Ski and Snowboard Centre overlooks more than 54 acres of beautiful scenic woodland. An exciting variety of dry skiing and snowboarding to suit all ability levels as well as a ski shop selling a range of ski clothing and equipment, if you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at skiing this is the ideal place. Housed in a picturesque 19th-century building is the stunning Brentwood Museum. Although small, it offers a fascinating insight into Brentwood life in the early era of the 20th century, with an exciting collection of public and household items dating back to the period between 1840-1950.

Living in Brentwood is particularly popular with commuters.

This popularity means that Brentwood has emerged as a town where most residents do not expect to work where you live. Most locals living in Brentwood seek employment outside of town. This could be in one of Essex’s larger towns or in the capital, London. Despite the commuter town nature of Brentwood, the town still boasts a very high level of employment thanks to the numerous outstanding employers located in and around the town. The majority of people working in Brentwood are employed in the banking and financial services sectors, with insurance roles accounting for a large portion of employment. Construction also provides locals with substantial amount of employment. Residents living in Brentwood can expect good wages. The town boasts an average salary of £24,000 for those working in Brentwood. Unemployment in Brentwood sits at just under two per cent. This is an outstandingly low rate and clearly indicates the strong employment opportunities for those living in Brentwood.

Fran & Andy HS business partners moved from South London over 25 years ago and have enjoyed making friends in the area and bringing up their two children