Locals say the town has plenty of ‘chatty’ and ‘supportive’ people
The small Essex town is becoming a popular destination for Londoners fleeing the capital because of its friendly locals and good commuter links. South Benfleet is a great little Essex town, balancing a thriving high street and direct trains into London with quiet countryside living.
But it’s the ‘friendly people’ and the strong local community that perhaps sets it apart from other commuter towns within an hour of London, which is what really sets it apart for those seeking a more peaceful life.
‘Most people are very friendly and chatty’
Gwen Shepherd has been working at the Aladdin’s Cave shop on the town’s high street for years and says the town really attracts chatty people.
“Nearly everyone who comes into the shop lives locally,” she says, “Most people are very friendly and chatty! I’d say South Benfleet is very clean, with a good mix of parks and green spaces, as well as some more built-up areas.
“The transport is very good – there are buses and trains from South Benfleet that go straight into London. There are some nice schools in the area too, a good variety, which I think have good reputations. Bigger cities like Chelmsford aren’t too far away, either.”
‘I’m from London – South Benfleet is so quiet in comparison!’
Claire Murphy works at Munsell London, also on the high street, and only moved to Benfleet from London recently.
She said: “I moved to Essex from London, and South Benfleet is so quiet in comparison. Compared to London, the buses here are quite slow, so they could do with being a bit more frequent.
“The people are friendly, though. The shop was shut for a while, and when it reopened, customers were so supportive and nice.”
‘I moved from London for a cheaper and quieter life’
Sam Michael, 62, has lived in South Benfleet for about 30 years after growing up in London. He moved with his family for a ‘cheaper and quieter’ life.
He said: “It’s got its pros and cons like most places. Traffic can sometimes be really bad, and you get some teenagers causing problems.
“But I’d say its a good place to live if you’re buying your first house. It’s got its own train station, some nice houses, and green spaces too. Also, very friendly people for the most part.”
At EssexLive we’re on a mission to highlight every corner of Essex. We will be visiting a new neighbourhood every week to talk to the people who live there and capture what life is like across our county. For some places that will highlight the hidden gems there or the reason people are flocking to live there, for others it might allow us to shine a light on an issue that’s troubling residents.
Our aim is to get everyone #ExploringEssex more, and venturing further across the county to discover different areas to visit and live in. If you have a suggestion for where we should visit next let us know below or in the comments.
