Commuter home hotspots: Southend-on-Sea property guide with house prices, time to London, best schools, beaches and more

Unexpected destinations are now commuter hotspots and, with houses from £300,000, Southend-on-Sea is hard to beat on price.
Landmark: Southend Pier, the world's longest at over a mile, and the town's new Cultural Centre
Alamy Stock Photo
Ruth Bloomfield23 November 2017

WHY MOVE TO SOUTHEND-ON-SEA?

This swathe of Essex seaside is hard to beat on price and is slowly shedding its "kiss-me-quick" reputation as more young families move in.

Gary Denyer, branch manager of Bairstow Eves estate agents, estimates that 50 to 60 per cent of homes are sold to incomers, most from east London seeking affordability.

Thorpe Bay is the smartest address in town, where a four-bedroom detached Thirties house will cost you about £400,000 — less than a one-bedroom flat in Canary Wharf.

Vital statistics

Average property price: £235,000

Price increase since 2007: 40 per cent

Average price for a house: £300,000

Journey time: 54 minutes

In summer the seven beaches are the big draw, and a £50 million plan on the table to upgrade the seafront includes a seawater swimming lagoon.

Out of season all roads lead to Leigh-on-Sea Broadway, with its boutiques, vintage shops and thriving café culture.

Southend's sports facilities are good, with several leisure centres offering everything from swimming to tennis.

There's an Odeon cinema, an art gallery, and two theatres, and London Southend airport's a plus.

The town's two single-sex high schools each hold "outstanding" Ofsted reports.

ANY DOWNSIDES?

Primary school standards are patchy, and while you might dream of a sea view, you'll need deep pockets to acquire one.

A family house in one of the Victorian/Edwardian streets with sea views will cost six figures.

Town centre shopping is mostly chain store, and nightlife can get rowdy, particularly in high season.