Blogs > A snapshot of UK Cities

A Snapshot into.. Essex

• March 15, 2021

The county of Essex boarders the east side of London and living there will provide you with a number of beaches and villages to explore to arts and shopping. The county is 2/3 rural and studded with charming little villages, pubs and amazing coastlines.

Although Essex is known as the commuter county into London it is well connected to the rest of the world, with two international airports, several ports and excellent road links. The cost of living in Essex is not as high as its rival Home Counties such as Surrey and Hertfordshire yet you still get to enjoy access to open green space and live in a close proximity to the UK’s Capital.
 

Acute NHS Trusts in Essex

East Kent - one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 695,000 people. They also provide some specialist services for a wider population, including renal services in Medway and Maidstone and a cardiac service for all of Kent based at William Harvey Hospital, Ashford.

Medway - Medway NHS Foundation Trust is Kent's largest and busiest hospital, dealing with around 400,000 patients annually. They employ around 4,400 staff, making them one of Medway’s largest employers

Maidstone & Turnbridge Wells - provides a full range of general hospital services, and some areas of specialist complex care to around 560,000 people living in the south of West Kent and the north of East Sussex. The Trust provide specialist cancer services to around 1.8 million and employs a team of over 5000 full and part-time staff

Hospitals in Essex

• Princess Alexandra, Harlow
• Chelmsford and Essex Hospital, Chelmsford
• Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford
• Colchester Hospital, Colchester
• Queen’s Hospital, Romford
• Basildon University Hospital, Basildon
• King George Hospital, Ilford

Facts about Essex

• Essex is home to Britain’s oldest recorded town, Colchester. Colchester was the first Roman capital in Britain
• The 350-mile-long Essex coast is the second longest coastline of any English county
• Southend Pier, at 1.33 miles long, is the longest pleasure pier in the world
• In 1920, the world’s first ever radio broadcast was made featuring Australian Dame Nellie Melba, a famous opera soprano of the time
• Colchester Castle is the largest Norman Castle Keep in Europe

Where should I live in Essex?

Essex provides you with an astonishing range of homes on the market from luxury mansions in Emerson Park to country cottages in Finchingfield or modern apartments in Chelmsford. There is something to suit every budget.

Average Living Costs

Accommodation

One-bedroom apartment in the City Centre	£717
One-bedroom apartment Outside of the City Centre	£578
Three-bedroom apartment in the City Centre	£1,195
Three-bedroom apartment Outside of the City Centre	£921

Transportation

One-way public transport ticket	£2.50
A monthly public transport ticket	£60
5-mile taxi ride	£14
1L of petrol	£1.26

Entertainment

Meal at an inexperience restaurant for one	£13
Meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant, three courses	£45
0.5L of Beer	£3.60
Cappuccino	£2.66

The time it takes to get to other UK cities

London – 30 minutes

Birmingham – 2 hours 30 minutes

Manchester – 3 hours 8 minutes

Bristol – 3 hours 9 minutes

Cardiff – 3 hours 23 minutes

Leeds – 3 hours 39 minutes

Edinburgh – 5 hours 50 minutes

Education in Essex

There are 90 secondary schools in Essex, the majority are comprehensive schools. However, there are a number of grammar schools in the region too, this includes King Edward VI School in Chelmsford, Colchester County High School for Girls and Colchester Royal Grammar School.

Things to do in Essex

1. Visit Colchester Zoo – Voted as the second-best zoo in the UK
2. Visit Audley End House – A historical manor house that will provide you with beautiful garden walks and fun activities for children
3. Epping Forest - Great for long walks or a game of golf
4. Visit Lakeside shopping centre - One of the top ten shopping centres in the entire UK
5. Visit Essex Outdoors – From zip wires to sailing to climbing and archers, there is something for everyone
6. Romford Market - A large open market with 270 stalls!

Relocation to Essex

If you are an international doctor and you need support with relocating to Essex or any other UK location, email your CV to [email protected] and we can support you in securing an NHS post and on your journey to the UK today.

Are you a member of our Facebook Group? When you join IMG Advisor, you will join a community of doctors all looking to relocate to the UK and join the NHS. We post a series of blogs and vlogs into the group every single day. We will also always be on hand to answer all your relocation queries.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel! We have over 35 videos on everything you need to know about relocating to the UK and joining the NHS!

References

Visitessex.com. (2019). Interesting and quirky facts about Essex not everybody knows. [online] Available at: http://www.visitessex.com/information/did-you-know.aspx

Numbeo.com. (2019). Cost of Living in United Kingdom. [online] Available at: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=United+Kingdom 

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. 2021. About us - Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. [online] Available at: <https://www.mtw.nhs.uk/about-us/> [Accessed 15 March 2021].