Brentwood is a relatively affluent Essex town that has much to offer in regards to both lifestyle and property. It has always been a popular place for commuting and, especially, a place Londoners have tended to move to. Brentwood has had a number of new home developments built in the town in recent years such as The Galleries from City and Country and Burntwood Square built by Linden Homes. For those on a lower budget the East Ham estate has some excellent value properties while at the other end of the market, multi-million properties are available in Old Shenfield. A number of high-end new homes are available other areas and, in particular, Warley.
A younger visiting age group has been attracted to the town, many drawn by the town's exposure as being the setting for the reality TV programme The Only Way is Essex. Relatively high rents can be charged in Brentwood for those looking at buy-to-let. The town also has a lively nightlife with many bars and pubs. Yet, it's a place that has managed to keep a lot of its history intact and in many places it has a village atmosphere still making it attractive for more family-orientated new home buyers.
Brentwood is often described as being the perfect blend of town and country and this isn't without reason. It's on the doorstep of two country parks and there are plenty of open spaces right around the town. It has excellent transport links with two easily accessed railway stations in the area, Brentwood and Shenfield. A rail journey from Brentwood to London Liverpool St takes only 40 minutes. A, faster, 30-minute service is available than from Shenfield station. As of October 2016, a yearly season ticket for Brentwood to London Liverpool St would cost approximately £2,500 or from Brentwood to London Travelcard Zones 1-6 it would cost just over £3,300.
As with so many London commuter towns, Crossrail being completed is expected to result in a rise of local house prices. Brentwood and Shenfield will be the final two stations on the north-east section of Crossrail. It means that from 2018, Brentwood residents can travel right into the heart of the West End without having to get on the tube.
Brentwood is located just on the outside of the M25. The M11 is also close by as is the A12 and A127. Brentwood originally developed as a coach station and its location still makes it handily placed for many other places. For instance, it's the same distance to Stansted Airport and Southend as it is to Central London.
On last element of Brentwood that makes it an attractive place to buy a property is the good choice of quality schools it has such as Brentwood School, judged outstanding by Ofsted. Other schools with a good reputation include St Martin's, Brentwood County High and Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School.