Essex


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-nbsp">WHY?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>With an exclusive village vibe, Stock is pretty special. It&#8217;s got all the necessaries, like a primary school and hot property, but with enviable extras, such as gorgeous gastro pubs and a fabulous&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/stockwindmill/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">red brick windmill</a>.&nbsp;It&#8217;s also close to Chelmsford, Ingatestone and Billericay, with their great transport links, shops and schools.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</h2>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignleft size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/10/Untitled-design-338-1.jpg" alt="Laliana Eseex" class="wp-image-19161" style="aspect-ratio:1.4992503748125936;width:640px;height:auto" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/10/Untitled-design-338-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/10/Untitled-design-338-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/10/Untitled-design-338-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/10/Untitled-design-338-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Layalina</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>You&#8217;re spoilt for choice when it comes to being fed and watered in and around Stock. Bar-wise, head to Muddy 2024 Best Bar Finalist&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cristis.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cristi’s</a>&nbsp;for cocktails and Italian munchies. For an upmarket gastropub, check out the award-winning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thehoop.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Hoop</a>, serving delicious dishes using local ingredients.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thebearstock.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bear Inn</a>&#8216;s another delight, with a great garden and choice of&nbsp;menus.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bakersarms.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bakers Arms</a>&nbsp;serves British and Mediterranean dishes, while for café culture visit indie bistro&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dandelion-burdock.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dandelion &amp; Burdock</a>. Want to go all-out? Our 2024 Best Boutique Stay winner,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.downhamhall.com/north-wing-restaurant/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Downham Hall</a>, has an&nbsp;<a href="https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/websites-wordpress-uploads/downhamhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/A-La-Carte-May.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">à&nbsp;la carte</a>&nbsp;menu&nbsp;to salivate over. And head to Billericay for our 2024 Best Restaurant winner,&nbsp;<a href="https://layalina.co.uk/billericay" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Layalina</a>, offering mezze delights such as roasted asparagus, tahini, Maldon sea salt and sumac, and mains including spice-roasted rack of lamb with roasted tomato.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<p>Okay the high street isn’t exactly a metropolis – you need to go to Chelmsford or Billericay for major retail therapy – but there’s the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063740071002" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stock Village Shop</a> for essentials and the multi award-winning <a href="https://stockflorist.co.uk/flowers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stock Florist</a> for the freshest of flowers. Just up the road is <a href="https://www.stockbrookfarmshop.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stockbrook Farm Shop</a>, with locally sourced fruit and veg, eggs, bakery, butcher, biscuits and cheese, plus beers, wines and spirits. You don’t have to go far to find more great indies: Billericay has <a href="https://www.nshelley.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">N Shelley</a> for womenswear and the <a href="https://billericaybrewing.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Billericay Brewing Company</a> should be your pitstop for local beer.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<p>If you want to register for a village GP <a href="https://www.stocksurgery.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stock Surgery</a>’s your best bet. <a href="https://www.greenwoodshotel.com/fitness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greenwoods Hotel &amp; Spa</a> has a great fitness suite, with membership starting at £71.40 a month, or why not book <a href="https://essex.muddystilettos.co.uk/muddy-awards/muddy-stilettos-essex-awards-2024-winners-drinks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 Muddy Stilettos Best Yoga/Pilates Studio Awards</a> winner, <a href="https://www.theyogaclubbillericay.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Yoga Club Billericay</a>? Finally, when it comes to hair and beauty, check out multi award-winning salon <a href="https://www.instagram.com/edwardtaylorhair/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Edward Taylor Hair</a> in the village, with Billericay’s <a href="https://www.beautologybeautylounge.co.uk/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3Zl6BdKU8avchWwEaKMESpz6XD8ukVWIp2lqdAYN0tD0wKNfddRZIFV8A_aem_jyLeanr02Fu9Ggy23pFkyg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beautology Beauty Lounge</a> on hand for facials, massage, nails, eyelashes, brows – the lot. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/07/4-9.jpg" alt="Billericay Soap Box Derby" class="wp-image-17780" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/07/4-9.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/07/4-9-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/07/4-9-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/07/4-9-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Billericay Soap Box Derby</figcaption></figure>



<p>If you want to know what is happening in the village, from community funding opps to clubs and groups to join, log on to <a href="https://stock-pc.gov.uk/">Stock Parish Council&#8217;s&nbsp;great website</a>. Billericay has a lot of fun events from an annual&nbsp;<a href="https://www.billericayessex.co.uk/events/billericay-soap-box-derby" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Soap Box Derby</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.billericayessex.co.uk/events/billericay-food-drink-festival" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Food &amp; Drink Festival</a>, to a weekly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.billericayessex.co.uk/events/billericay-park-run" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Park Run</a>&nbsp;and more. There’s also a great&nbsp;<a href="https://billericayfireworks.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Billericay Round Table fireworks</a>&nbsp;display, and&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://billericaychristmasmarket.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Christmas Market’s</a>&nbsp;pretty special, too.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/07/3-17.jpg" alt="We Are Barleylands" class="wp-image-17784" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/07/3-17.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/07/3-17-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/07/3-17-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/07/3-17-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">We Are Barleylands</figcaption></figure>



<p><a href="https://www.greenwoodshotel.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greenwoods Hotel &amp; Spa</a>&nbsp;is a 17th-century manor house on the edge of the village – we’d pop in constantly for an express facial if we lived nearby. Golfers will appreciate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crondonpark.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crondon Park</a>, while a 15-min car ride takes you to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.barleylands.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">We Are Barleylands</a>, a farm park packed with animals plus indoor and outdoor entertainment (hello, goat yoga!). Fancy a walk? Head to <a href="https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/swan-cygnet-woods/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Swan Wood</a>&nbsp;or <a href="https://www.billericayessex.co.uk/guide/lake-meadows-park" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lake Meadows Park</a>&nbsp;– and be sure to go and see the Wind in the Willows&nbsp;sculpture trail at <a href="https://www.essexwt.org.uk/visit/nature-trails/wind-willows" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hanningfield Reservoir</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<p>Step into <a href="https://www.galleryno3.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gallery No.3</a> in Margaretting for unique paintings, sculpture and photography, while&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/museums/collections/fine-art/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chelmsford City Museum</a>&nbsp;has a fine art collection based around local artists. For theatre, comedy, live music and kids’ entertainment, check out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thebillericaytheatre.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Billericay Theatre</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;Basildon’s&nbsp;<a href="https://towngatetheatre.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Towngate Theatre</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-prices">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICES</h2>



<p>High at £1.25m, but that&#8217;s to be expected when you see the houses and the village itself. Detached properties sell for an average of £1.4m, while semi-detached homes go for an average £887,000. Flats average £165,000.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-property-nbsp">HOT PROPERTY&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/11/Untitled-design-2-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-19487" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/11/Untitled-design-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/11/Untitled-design-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/11/Untitled-design-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2024/11/Untitled-design-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><span style=", sans-serif">Oh, go on then: this</span> <a href="https://street.co.uk/platform/properties/752e0dca-860f-45f3-aabf-2c5b437267e5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">four bed home</a>&#8216;s been transformed with tons of mod cons, from &nbsp; integrated SONOS system to security intercom with automatic gate. £1.65m.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries">NURSERIES </h2>



<p>As you&#8217;d expect in a village this fancy,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stockpreschool.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stock Pre-School</a>, aimed at kids aged 2 – 5 yrs, is super-impressive. Ofsted Outstanding, it offers lots of fun activities, from gardening to yoga.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools-nbsp">SCHOOLS&nbsp;</h2>



<p><a href="http://www.stockessex.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stock Primary School</a>&nbsp;has approx 210 pupils and is rated Ofsted Good. Nearby,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stjohnsschool.net/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">St John’s School Billericay</a>&nbsp;is an independent co-ed for ages 2 – 16 yrs, while <a href="https://www.brentwoodschool.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brentwood School</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://essex.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/new-hall-school-chelmsford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Hall</a>, two of the most well-regarded and high-achieving Essex indie schools, are within easy reach.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret-nbsp">BEST KEPT SECRET&nbsp;</h2>



<p>OK, so it’s not really a secret now we’ve written about it in the intro, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/stockwindmill/">Stock Tower Windmill</a> is a&nbsp;five-storey Grade II listed mill, built around 1804, restored and now complete with several floors of machinery.&nbsp;Well worth a peek. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>London Liverpool Street by rail from Chelmsford or Billericay takes little over 30 mins, making this prime commuter territory. A season ticket from Chelmsford costs £4,976, and from Billericay it&#8217;s £4,372. Working closer to home? It&#8217;s around a 10 min drive to Chelmsford or 25 mins by car to Colchester.</p>



<p><em>View the full <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live">Top 300 Best Places to Live</a>.</em></p>


Stock

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