When it comes to purchasing a home the adage “location, location, location” is true. The location of your new home, should be one of the first things you consider, as you need to ensure the area offers everything you need including good transport links, facilities, reasonable house prices, and good school property.
Located in Thurrock, Essex, Grays is a large town with a lot to offer buyers, whether they are families, professionals, first-time buyers looking to get on the property ladder, or couples wanting to downsize and enjoy retirement.
We spoke to some local Grays estate agents who told us the reasons why they think that Grays is so appealing to their clients and why it is such a good choice for buying a home.
Transport
One of the reasons why Grays has long been a popular area for buyers is because of its strong transport links. Known for being an excellent town for commuters, the center of London can be reached in just over 30 minutes on the faster train services or just under an hour in the car depending on traffic. This makes it very appealing for those who work in London or like to be within easy distance of the city for other reasons such as socializing, events, and entertainment.
Location
The location of Grays makes it extremely appealing to those who seek to be able to balance their life between city, town, and country living. The fast commute and good transport links mean that within around 15 miles in either direction you can be in the Essex countryside, the sandy beaches of Leigh on Sea or East London.
Affordability
In 2020, Grays was listed as London’s most affordable commuter town factoring in things like mortgages, travel time and train tickets. The average sold price for properties in Grays in 2022 was around £340,000 which compared to London property prices and those of other commuter towns is extremely reasonable with flats going for around £211,000 and semi-detached properties about £405,000.
Childcare And Education
If you have children or are considering starting a family in the future then nurseries and schools are an important thing to consider when looking to move home. Grays and its surrounding areas have some great options for parents to choose from including;
- A number of independent childcare nurseries
- Academy primary and high schools rated outstanding by Ofsted
- Schools offering sixth form education
Things To Do
Grays and the local areas boast some fantastic amenities all within a short distance including Lakeside and Bluewater Shopping Centre. These are both huge attractions that have everything you could ever want including hundreds of shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars as well as fun and exciting entertainment including water sports, fair grounds, cinemas, bowling, crazy golf, trampoline parks and soft play to name just a few!
There are also plenty of open spaces nearby for those who enjoy the fresh air including the Thurrock Thameside Nature Park that has 120 acres of nature park or the Thames Chase Forest Centre with woods, meadows, and ponds to enjoy and explore.
