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c2c | Our network | Living in South Essex | Living in Southend and the along the South Essex coast

Seaside lifestyle close to London

Imagine living in a place that people choose to take day trips to, and it’s only 45 minutes from the city of London by train. Coastal walks can be a daily activity. Your new local has stunning views over the water. There are art galleries, sailing clubs and water sports centres. From Benfleet, Canvey Island and Leigh-on-Sea through to Southend Thorpe Bay and Shoeburyness, the Thames Estuary coastline can be a wonderful place to call home.

Did you know? Leigh-on-Sea was voted the happiest place to live in the UK in 2016 and second happiest in 2017 in the Happy Home Index survey conducted by Rightmove.

Facts

Population (borough of Southend): 174,300 (2011 census)

Commute time to London: From 45 minutes

Annual train ticket: £3,528 (based on Southend Central to London Fenchurch Street)

Average house price: Semi-Detached; £331,655 / Terraced; £268,950

Average monthly rent for a two bed flat: £856pcm

Affordable housing

Whether you’re living independently or raising a family, there’s a good deal of affordable housing, some excellent schools, and new developments springing up all the time. Southend can offer amazing properties at extremely competitive prices, with an overall average sold price coming in at less than £300,000.

What's it like moving to the area?

We interviewed two people on what it’s like to relocate along the c2c route.

Great transport links to the city

We have seven stations along the Southend coast, from Shoeburyness down to Benfleet, with approximately 6 trains an hour running into London’s heart with journey times between 45 minutes to an hour. Southend central is the largest and most popular. The stations are all close to the sea with Thorpe Bay and Shoeburyness offering quieter residential areas. Our trains also run through Barking, Limehouse and West Ham connecting you easily to the London Underground, Overground, and DLR networks for more connections into the city.

Outstanding schools

There are lots of well rated schools in and around the area. From Chalkwell Hall, West Leigh Hall, to the “outstanding” Ofsted rated grammar schools Southend High School for Girls and Southend High School for Boys, and many more besides.

Things to do

Regeneration over the past couple of years along the Southend seafront has brought back the buzz, with plenty of shops, things to see and do, and bars and restaurants to rival London.

Other locations to live in

All along our route are areas that could make the ideal home with fast, direct trains into London. Here some other guides to living along our route.