Live the life

Located in Essex on the edge of Greater London, Thurrock is a popular area for commuters to live, offering good transport links into the capital without compromising on greenery and countryside. The area includes the towns of West Thurrock, East Tilbury, Grays and Purfleet, making Thurrock the ideal place to settle if you want the best of both rural and urban living.

Things to see and do

Thurrock has a diverse mix of things to do and places to see, from retail therapy at the huge Lakeside Shopping Centre to evening entertainment at Thameside Theatre in Grays and the Royal Opera House in Purfleet.

If you love exploring the countryside, there are lots of great places to enjoy a breath of fresh air in and around Thurrock, including Chafford Gorges Nature Park, Beacon Wood Country Park and Langdon Hills Country Park. To learn more about local history, you can visit Hadleigh Castle, Tilbury Fort and Coalhouse Fort.

Families are close to plenty of kid-friendly attractions in Thurrock, from Hadleigh Farm to Grays Beach Riverside Park, Essex Fire Museum and Thurrock Museum. If you want to get fit, you can go biking at Cyclopark in Gravesend or get active at Hornchurch Sports Centre.

Education

If you’re moving to the area with school-age children, there are lots of excellent schools to choose from in and around Thurrock. Outstanding primary schools include Quarry Hills Academy, Dilkes Academy and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, while Gravesend Grammar School, William Edwards School, Harris Academy Chafford Hundred and Mayfield Grammar School are also top-rated.

For independent education, Bronte School and Gad’s Hill School are nearby. South Essex College is located in Grays, and Anglia Ruskin University, London South Bank University and the University of Essex Southend are all within commuting distance.

Getting to Thurrock

Located just outside the M25, Thurrock is well-connected by road to London and other parts of the UK. From Gravesend, the journey to Grays in Thurrock takes 30 minutes by car, while the drive from Dartford takes 25 minutes, and the journey from Chelmsford lasts 35 minutes.

To get to Grays from central London, the drive takes around 45 minutes depending on traffic, while the train from Fenchurch Street takes between 35 and 45 minutes. London City Airport is only a 30-minute drive away, ideal for travelling to and from the airport at holiday time.