‘On the up’: Brentwood named one of the UK’s best places to live in 2024

Blogger Muddy Stilettos has curated a list of the top 260 best places in the country to live this year – and the Essex town is one of them.

Brentwood made it to number nine out of the ten best places to live in Essex, for its “speedy connections into London” coupled with a “slew of leafy parks”.

The lifestyle blog said people should not be put off by the fact that Brentwood is “TOWIE (The Only Way is Essex) heartland”, as this “pocket of Essex is on the up”.

Muddy Stilettos said: “This sprawling, leafy suburb of a town is the perfect blend of town and country.

“It’s also commuter catnip with the spinky spanky new Elizabeth line making the daily shlep into Paddington or Liverpool Street a little more bearable.”

Brentwood’s ‘buzzy’ high street got a mention from Muddy Stilettos (Image: Charlotte Anderson) The blog post lists Brentwood’s best places to eat, shop and soak up some culture.

A special mention for “Italian done right” goes to Crown Street’s Tarantino’s, while Felix or Alec’s are the best places to go for “wow factor”, according to Muddy Stilettos.

RELATED NEWS: Larchwood Primary School, Brentwood, rated ‘good’ by Ofsted

When is comes to shopping, Brentwood’s “buzzy” high street was one of the reasons it made it onto the best places to live list.

Muddy Stilettos said the town’s “string of indie retailers”, including Chicken and Frog, Hey Joe Music & Coffee and French Quarter, mean people can find everything from “gorgeous” glass and tableware to vinyl on one high street.

Green spaces were another highlight for Brentwood, and Muddy Stilettos noted Thorndon Country Park, Weald Country Park, and King George’s Playing Fields as great places for picnics and walks.

Green spaces, like King George’s Playing Fields, were one of the reasons Brentwood made the Muddy Stilettos list (Image: Charlotte Anderson) READ MORE: A day out in Brentwood on foot – including Brentwood Cathedral

Other towns in Essex that made it to Muddy Stilettos’ top 260 best places to live series were Saffron Walden, Chelmsford and Leigh-on-Sea.

The editor of Muddy Stilettos Essex, Claire Muffett-Reece – who herself grew up in Brentwood – called Essex the “best county in the UK”.

She said: “Of course, I’m biased, but what’s not to love about Essex?

“We have countryside and coast, culture and cuisine – not to mention amazing days out, be it going solo, with your partner, or as a whole family.”