The 'up and coming' hidden gem towns and villages Essex estate agents say are the best places to live

-Credit: (Image: Matt Lee/EssexLive)
-Credit: (Image: Matt Lee/EssexLive)


With its commuter belt connections, busy city centres, and rustic countryside retreats, Essex is the perfect location for anybody looking to live close to London while free of its extortionate pricing and endless urban sprawl. But where is best to live? We talked to Essex estate agents about their favourite hidden gems and which up and coming locations they’d recommended for prospective buyers.

Fenn Wright in Chelmsford said that “one location that seems to be getting quite a bit of attention and that has definitely changed is East Hanningfield.” Recently named one of the Top 20 secret villages to live in by The Sunday Times, this village boasts Essex’s most romantic restaurant, Vita Bella. As well as its proximity to Chelmsford city centre, for those looking for some peace and quiet it’s also only a stone’s throw from the scenic Hanningfield Reservoir and gorgeous gardens of RHS Hyde Hall.

Fenn Wright also mentioned Maldon as a hidden gem which has had “very heavy development in the last two years” but explains that the location still has a “market town feel.” They said the town is “almost a secret because when you speak to people they don’t seem to know where it is” but “everyone that visits seems to really like it.” The waterside location boasts an Edwardian promenade and historic Medieval buildings.

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Fenn Wright also suggested Beaulieu Park in Chelmsford which has been “growing for many years and that continues to be one of the most popular modern developments in the area.” For villages Fenn Wright recommended Little Waltham and Great Waltham. While there are new housing developments being built outside of the villages, the villages themselves remain “quiet” and “really nice” areas to live.

Another Essex estate agents Hair & Son said that “Leigh-on-Sea is probably the most up and coming area in terms of value of property and hospitality. They’ve got a lot of attractive restaurants and bars on the broadway, which seems to be very popular at the moment”, adding that the town has “definitely come a long way.”

They suggested that the mixture of “attractive properties” with the “social” lifestyle “goes a long way” with buyers. In 2023 lifestyle magazine Muddy Stilettos named Leigh-on-Sea the best place to live in Essex and one of the top 10 places to live in the UK. Its combination of restaurants and craft shops, with its crisp sea air and cobbled old town streets would make it an ideal home for any family.

Hair & Son also said that historic market town Rayleigh was an “up and coming” area, “following a similar model to Leigh-on-Sea” with its bustling High Street and good selection of restaurants. Another group of estate agents, named Bear estate agents alternatively suggested Southchurch, Westcliffe, and Shoeburyness in Southend as hidden gems for buyers.

They said, “we've got a lot of first time buyers down there, especially in Shoeburyness”. They added that younger families are moviding down” and there’s “more of a cash flow going into the area.” With a sandy beach and nature reserve on offer, this is the perfect location for families looking to keep young kids entertained.