Local Area Information
Braintree can trace its origins back before the Romans. The town prospered from the 17th century when Flemish immigrants made the town famous for its wool cloth trade. It then became a centre for silk manufacturing when George Courtauld opened a silk mill in the town in the 19th Century.
Braintree is an historic market town surrounded by pretty villages but at the same time offers exceptional transport links.
The recently upgraded A120 dual carriage way takes you to Stansted Airport and the M11 in just over 15 miles away whilst in the other direction the road joins the A12 giving access to the East Coast as well as Suffolk and Norfolk but it's not just drivers who get the benefit of convenience. Braintree Station takes you into London Liverpool Street in around an hour.
The town centre features many independent retailers alongside 'high street' names such as Boots, Burtons, WH Smith, Superdrug, Argos and Tesco as well as a twice weekly market.
There's also a plentiful supply of restaurants and bars to take the weight off your feet after all that shopping!
Just on the outskirts of town is the Freeport Designer Outlet Village where visitors come from surrounding areas to experience designer shopping at a fraction of the price. There you will also find leading restaurant chains, a multiplex cinema and bowling alley.
The gentle rolling countryside around Braintree offers excellent relaxation opportunities and Great Notley Country Park and Discovery Centre is set within 100 acres of beautiful countryside.
Amongst the picuresque villages around Braintree is Finchingfield, described as "the most photographed village in England". Nearby Felsted is home to the notable Felsted School which dates back to the 16th century and stands in beautiful grounds in the village.
Primary & junior schools in Braintree
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St Francis Catholic Primary Gilchrist Way, Braintree, 01376 320440 |
John Bunyan Junior Lancaster Way, Braintree, 01376 320272 |
John Bunyan Infant School Lancaster Way, Braintree, 01376 321814 |
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St Michael's Church of England Primary School 01376 344866 |
Great Bradfords Junior School (Ages 7-11) Marlborough Road, Braintree, CM7 9LW 01376 326739 |
Great Bradfords Infant School & Nursery (Ages 3-8) Marlborough Road, Braintree, CM7 9LW 01376 326891 |
Secondary schools in Braintree
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Alec Hunter Humanities Stubbs Lane, Braintree, 01376 321813 |
Notley High School Notley Road, Braintree, 01376 556300 |
Tabors Science College Panfield Lane, Braintree, 01376 323701 |
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Rail - Braintree to London by train
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Nearest Train Station Braintree [BTR]
London Terminal London Liverpool Street [LST]
Journey Time 53 minutes direct 1 hr 07 minutes with 8 stops* 1 hr 07 minutes with 10 stops Running intervals - around 7.30am 46 minutes until 9.00am then every 1 hour Annual season ticket price to London Terminals taken during December 2011 for standard class adult season ticket £3,760.00 (£4,520.00 if travelling into zones 1-6) |
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Calling at: Braintree Freeport [BTP]* Cressing (Essex) [CES]* White Notley [WNY]* Witham [WTM]* Hatfield Peveral [HAP]* Chelmsford [CHM]* Ingatestone [INT] Shenfield [SNF] Stratford (London) [SRA]* London Liverpool Street [LST]* Train times taken from: National Rail Enquiries - trains from Braintree - weekdays at 7.30am
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Road - driving distances from Braintree to:
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Major Roads A120 1 mile A12 (junction 22) 7.5 miles M11 (junction 6) 16.5 miles via the A120 M25 (junction 27) 31 miles via the M11 |
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A130 6.5 miles via the A131 A414 12.5 miles via the A131 & B1008 A13 25 miles via the A12 & A130 A127 24 miles via the A12 or A130 |
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Other Towns & Cities Central London 50 miles via the A120 & M11 Basildon 5.5 miles via the A176 Braintree 22 miles via the B1007, A12, A130 & A131 Brentwood 6 miles via the A129 & A1023 Chelmsford 8.5 miles via the B1007 |
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Colchester 17 miles via the A120 Ipswich 33 miles via the A120 & A12 Southend 32 miles via the A12, A130 & A127 Sudbury 15 miles via the A131 Witham 7.5 miles via the B1018 |
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Airports Stansted Airport 15 miles via the A120 London City Airport 47 miles via the A120, M11 & A13 Gatwick Airport 75 miles via the A12, M25 & M23 |
Heathrow Airport 78 miles via the A120, M11, M25 & M4 Southend Airport 31 miles via the A12, A130 & A127 Luton Airport 60 miles via the A120, M11 ,M25 & M1 |