A market town where the High Street, 1,000 acres of country park and a 35-minute train to the City all sit within a few miles of each other. Here is what to see, how to get here and what you need as a resident.
Welcome
Brentwood grew up on the pilgrim road to Canterbury and still keeps that split personality: a busy High Street of independents and high-street names on one side, ancient woodland and deer park on the other. Central London is 35 minutes away on the Elizabeth line, which is why so many people arrive for a day and end up looking at house prices on the way home.
This guide covers both audiences — visitors planning a day out, and residents after the practical things like bin collections, parking and transport.
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Visitor information
Where Brentwood is, how to reach it, and what you will find when you arrive.
Address: Brentwood, Essex, CM14
Brentwood sits in the county of Essex, roughly 20 miles north-east of central London, near the junction of the M25 and A12. That makes it easy to reach from London, the Home Counties and the east coast ports.
Nearby towns: Shenfield (2 miles), Ingatestone (4 miles), Romford (5.5 miles), Chelmsford (12 miles).
Brentwood station (BRE) is on the Elizabeth line in TfL Zone 9, with trains up to 8 times an hour towards London Paddington, some continuing to Heathrow Terminal 5.
Shenfield station (SNF) is the next stop east and the terminus of the Elizabeth line. Oyster and contactless are accepted at both.
Journey times: Liverpool Street 35 min, Paddington 50 min, Heathrow T5 1 hr 15 min.
Tip: Ingatestone station (INT) is outside the Oyster boundary — check the fare before you travel.
The High Street mixes high-street brands with independent boutiques, with more than 300 shops across the town centre.
Key shops: Marks & Spencer, Boots, Specsavers and New Look, plus independents on Crown Street.
The Baytree Centre: indoor shopping centre with a 555-space multi-storey car park linking straight to the High Street.
Over 1,000 acres of country park sit on the town's doorstep, good for walking, cycling and family days out.
Weald Country Park: 520 acres with a deer park, the Stick Man trail, woodland walks and long views.
Thorndon Country Park: 500 acres with the Gruffalo Trail, ancient woodland and fishing lakes.
With over 140 restaurants, cafés, bars and pubs, Brentwood punches above its size for eating out.
Popular spots: The Fat Turk (Turkish), Alec's (seafood), The Bull (gastropub), Nando's and Zizzi.
Traditional pubs: The Alma Arms, The Swan, The Boar's Head (Grade II listed) and The Merchant for craft beer.
Old MacDonald's Farm: award-winning family farm with animals, rides, soft play and outdoor activities.
Hopefield Animal Sanctuary: home to over 600 rescued animals including horses, donkeys and exotic species.
King George's Playing Fields: splash play area, crazy golf, skatepark and adventure climbing.
On the map
In Essex, with road and rail links to London, Stansted and the east coast.
Google Maps is held back until you ask for it, which keeps this page fast on mobile data.
In town
The best local food, shopping and everyday services in Brentwood.
Explore over 140 restaurants, cafés and pubs across Brentwood and the surrounding villages.
Browse places to eatHigh-street brands, independent boutiques on Crown Street and The Baytree Centre.
Browse shopsLocal businesses, tradespeople and professional services across the borough.
Find a local servicePlaces to stay, from full-service hotels to small B&Bs and country inns nearby.
Find a place to stayAttractions, walks, activities and events for families, walkers and day trippers.
See what's onFrom the pilgrim road and the martyr's oak to the modern cathedral and Cold War bunker.
Read the historyGetting here
Train, car or bus — Brentwood is one of the better-connected towns in south Essex.
Brentwood (BRE) and Shenfield (SNF) are on the Elizabeth line in TfL Zone 9 and accept Oyster and contactless. Direct trains run to London Liverpool Street, Paddington and Heathrow. Ingatestone (INT) sits outside the Oyster boundary.
From the M25, leave at junction 28. From the A12 in either direction, use junction 12 and follow signs for Brentwood (A1023). There is free one-hour parking on the High Street, and a multi-storey at The Baytree Centre for longer stays.
Several operators serve the town, including First Bus (routes 9, 9A, 37 and 351), NIBS, Townlink, TfL, Regal and Brentwood Community Transport.
Days out
Five that are worth the trip, whether you have an afternoon or a full day.
520 acres of woodland, meadows and lakes, known for its deer park, the Stick Man trail and long views across the Essex countryside. Café and visitor centre on site.
Home to the Gruffalo Trail. 500 acres of ancient woodland, nature trails and fishing lakes, with panoramic views towards Canary Wharf on a clear day.
A striking landmark blending Victorian Gothic with classical modern architecture. The interior is worth the detour for the ornate ceiling and stained glass.
Award-winning family farm with farm animals, rides, soft play and outdoor activities. One of the safest bets locally for a day out with young children.
A Cold War government bunker hidden beneath an ordinary-looking bungalow, three storeys underground. Interactive exhibits cover Britain's nuclear history.
Our full listings page covers walks, events, sports, and everything else going on across the borough.
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Partner offer
London's theatre district is 35 minutes away by train, which makes an evening show an easy add-on to a day in town. Book tickets securely through our partner, Theatre Tickets Direct.
Secure your seatsFor residents
Find out when your refuse, recycling and food waste are collected. Check the dates for your route, see what goes in each sack colour, and stay ahead of bank holiday changes.
Check collection datesThinking of moving here? These are the latest published figures for the Brentwood district.
Source: Office for National Statistics, November 2025 (provisional). Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
View the full ONS dataBrentwood is ringed by open country, including the Ingatestone and Fryerning Nature Reserve managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.
Well-marked trails run through ancient woodland and wildflower meadows — good ground for birdwatching and butterflies in summer. Add Weald and Thorndon Country Parks and there is over 1,000 acres of green space within a short drive of the High Street.
Find walks and days outCommon questions
The questions we get asked most about visiting and living in Brentwood. There are more on our full FAQ page.
Brentwood station (BRE) is on the Elizabeth line in TfL Zone 9, with trains up to 8 times an hour towards London. Journey times are around 35 minutes to Liverpool Street, 50 minutes to Paddington and 1 hour 15 minutes to Heathrow Terminal 5. By car, leave the M25 at junction 28 or the A12 at junction 12, then follow signs for Brentwood on the A1023.
Brentwood is about 20 miles north-east of central London. On the Elizabeth line it takes roughly 35 minutes to reach London Liverpool Street, which makes it a practical day trip from the capital and a common commuter town.
Yes. Brentwood (BRE) and Shenfield (SNF) are both in TfL Zone 9 and accept Oyster and contactless payment. Ingatestone (INT) is the next station beyond the Oyster boundary, so check the fare before travelling from there.
Brentwood has over 1,000 acres of country parks, including Weald Country Park with its deer park and Stick Man trail, and Thorndon Country Park with the Gruffalo Trail. Family attractions include Old MacDonald's Farm and Hopefield Animal Sanctuary. The town also has Brentwood Cathedral, a High Street with more than 300 shops, and the nearby Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker. See the full list of things to do.
Brentwood High Street has more than 300 shops, including Marks & Spencer, Boots, Specsavers and New Look, plus independent boutiques on Crown Street. The Baytree Centre is the town's indoor shopping centre and links directly to the High Street. Browse Brentwood shopping.
There is free one-hour parking on Brentwood High Street for short visits. For longer stays, The Baytree Centre has a 555-space multi-storey car park that links straight into the High Street.
Brentwood has over 140 restaurants, cafés, bars and pubs. Popular choices include The Fat Turk, Alec's, The Bull, Nando's and Zizzi, alongside traditional pubs such as The Alma Arms, The Swan, the Grade II listed Boar's Head, and The Merchant for craft beer. See places to eat and drink.
Refuse, recycling and food waste are collected on a set day for each route in the borough, and dates shift around bank holidays. You can look up the schedule for your street, and what goes in each sack colour, on our bin collection dates page.
According to provisional ONS figures for November 2025, the average house price in Brentwood is around £517,000, the average monthly rent is about £1,597, and the average first-time buyer pays roughly £374,000.
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