The Southeast Essex region encompasses the areas of Southend on Sea Borough together with the districts of Castle Point and Rochford.
The region borders London in the south and curls around the Essex coastline towards Gt Wakering. This area is both rural and coastal and populated with towns, villages and seaside resorts like Southend-on-Sea.
Property Types in Southeast Essex.
In the villages and the towns, there are a mix of period and modern properties plus flats, apartments and retirement complexes. There are townhouses, rural cottages and coastal villas, reflecting the history of the area and the population mix.
Belfair Woods
Southend-on-Sea is a popular seaside resort with both day-trippers and those that work in London as it is situated only 30 miles from the centre of the capital. Like many seaside resorts, it mushroomed during the Victorian era with the arrival of the railways. It is currently undergoing a regeneration with many developments of stylish apartments.
The southeast Essex area is dotted with small towns, all of which have a long history due to their proximity to London. It has proved very popular with commuters as property prices compare very favourable compared to London.
Average property prices in Southeast Essex average £365,000* with a premium being paid for period houses in good locations or those close to London. The more luxurious can reach into the millions of pounds.
The average monthly rent is £1,303**
Property Types in Southeast Essex.
Like other parts of the county, Southeast Essex has long been a draw for Londoners who want to escape city life. There is plenty of new house building in Benfleet, Rayleigh, Rochford, Hockley and Canvey Island. The population mix is spread amongst professionals looking for better house prices who are happy to make the commute, through to young families and retirees who tend to head to the coast.
Schools and Colleges in Southeast Essex.
Southeast Essex has a mixture of state and private education. There are some notable ‘Outstanding’ schools graded by OFSTED including Southend High School for Boys and the sister school to this which is Southend High School for Girls.
Not all villages still have primary schools, and popular schools which are oversubscribed will have a very tight catchment area.
Private schools in Southeast Essex include St Michael’s and Saint Pierre in Leigh on Sea, both day schools for boys and girls aged 3-11. In Thorpe Bay, Alleyn Court Preparatory School is a private day school for boys and girls aged 2-11, while Thorpe Hall School is a day school for boys and girls aged 2-16. There are other private schools dotted throughout the area.
A campus for the University of Essex is located in Colchester and has a Campus in Southend On Sea as well.
Local Attractions in Southeast Essex.
Hadleigh Castle
Outside of the towns, Southeast Essex is a largely rural and coastal area with plenty of history.
Hadleigh is home to the ruins of Hadleigh Castle. These romantic ruins overlook the Essex marshes and offer wonderful views of the Thames estuary and a colourful history dating back to the 13th century.
Nearby in Leigh-on-Sea is Great Wood and Dodd’s Grove, a 36.8-hectare Site of Special Scientific Interest covering 90 acres with wonderful woodland walks and lots to do for the family including golfing and horse riding plus there is a restaurant on site.
The market town of Rayleigh goes back many years and is steeped in history and known of course for its famous Windmill.
If the great outdoors is your thing, visit Belfairs Wood run by Essex Wildlife Trust which has a Nature Discovery Centre, the gateway to the Daws Heath Woodlands with plenty to do and see or just a great destination for a quiet ramble.
History abounds in this part of Essex due to its location and the strategic importance of its coastline and the River Thames.
Shopping Facilities and Leisure in Southeast Essex.
Southend on Sea High St offers an extensive range of regional shopping names and Lakeside Shopping Centre is a large retail complex with all the big high street brands represented plus leisure facilities and dining outlets within the complex.
The smaller towns tend to favour more independent retailers, and Leigh On Sea, Benfleet and Hadleigh have a great selection of boutiques, independent shops, cafes, restaurants and wine bars to enjoy.
Rochford Hundred Golf Club
Southeast Essex offers all types of leisure activities. For keen golfers, there are a choice of courses from the famous 18-hole Rochford Hundred golf club to the coastal course at Frinton-on-Sea just north of Clacton and Boyce Hill Golf Club in Benfleet.
The coast and Thames estuary offer access to all types of water sports including boating, fishing, water skiing and jet skiing. Essex Powerboat & Jet Ski School is based on Canvey Island and provides expert training at three different Essex locations.
There are still plenty of local theatres and cinemas including the Odeon cinema in Southend town centre, the historic Palace Theatre in Westcliff-on-Sea and a Cineworld in Basildon. It’s just a short hop by train into central London for all the excitement of theatreland and the latest stage shows and musicals in London’s West End.
Pubs and Restaurants in Southeast Essex.
Southeast Essex has just about every type of culinary experience on offer from seaside restaurants and bars on the coast to cosy country pubs nestling in the countryside and everything in between.
Westcliff-on-Sea is home to the enduringly popular Italian restaurant La Pizzeria. There are many great places to eat in the Castle Point area, with the Malaysian restaurant, Malaya, in Benfleet one of the best-rated choices.
Yemek is a highly reviewed Turkish restaurant in Hadleigh, while The Lakes at Stambridge offers lovely lakeside views and menus.
The Labworth Restaurant in Canvey Island serves European cuisine with tables overlooking the seafront. The Lobster Smack also in Canvey offers a traditional setting for a quiet drink overlooking the Thames, while the Hoy & Helmet in Benfleet and Fatty’s Bar in Hadleigh are also popular watering holes.
Upcoming Developments in Southeast Essex.
Most of the towns across Southeast Essex have some sort of planned development to meet the government’s housing targets. As part of Basildon Council’s Local Plan, 1,350 new houses are being proposed for development in North Benfleet, although the scheme’s exact details are yet to be released.
Castle Point Council in Thundersley have plans to build 4,000 new homes by 2035, while 722 homes will be built at the Wolsey Park development in Rayleigh. 100 new homes will also be constructed in Canvey Island’s Thorney Bay Park, which is currently a caravan site.
Travel connections from Southeast Essex.
There are a few stations that connect the region directly to London. From Shoeburyness, you can travel into Fenchurch Street which takes around 75 minutes. Trains from Benfleet also travel into this station, taking around one hour.
Southend Victoria station provides services into London Liverpool Street with journeys taking just under an hour. You can also travel from Rayleigh which takes 45 minutes.
For flights into Europe, London Southend Airport connects to a number of major destinations and Stansted Airport is easily accessible at Junction 8 on the M11 motorway.
Get in touch
We are local area property experts for Selling, Letting and Property Management of residential property. Please contact us for more information and advice on 01702 719191 or property@abodeuk.uk
*https://www.zoopla.co.uk/house-prices/benfleet/
**https://www.home.co.uk/for_rent/south_benfleet/current_rents?location=south_benfleet