What Is Living In Halstead Like? A Guide To Halstead
Last Updated November 2022
Halstead is a town located in Essex, seven miles north of Braintree, eight miles south of Sudbury straddling the river Colne. Halstead was first developed on a hill to the north of the river. The name Halstead comes from an old English term meaning place of refuge.
Here is everything you need to know about Halstead!
Is Halstead a Nice Place to Live?
In a survey conducted in 2021 by property experts Garrington found that Halstead is one of the nicest places to live in the UK. The 1,372 locations that they reviewed were scored on features such as; proximity to open water, national parks and areas of outstanding beauty. They also look at things such as; air quality, crime figures and number of listed and period homes. Due to Halstead location in the Colne Valley, it is surrounded by untouched countryside that provides beautiful walks for residents. There is also a large range of local attractions such as; Trinity Street’s gardens, the history of St Andrew’s Church and the beautiful architecture which ranges from Georgian to Tudor buildings.
If your looking for nice places to live, why not look at our Colchester area guide? It was voted one of the happiest places to live in a 2019 survey!
Halstead’s Population
From the 2021 census, the population of Halstead is estimated to be 12,91. If you want to be amongst the crowds and in a busier area, why not look to move to Chelmsford? With a population of 181,500 people, you’ll find you fit right into any crowd.
Is Halstead a Safe Place to Live?
Unfortunately the statistics say that Halstead one of the 10 most dangerous small towns in the Essex area and ranks 45th overall as the most dangerous out of Essex’s 315 towns, villages or cities. In in 2021 was 88 crimes per 1,000 people, which is 8% higher than the average of the area. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Halstead is the 149th most dangerous small town, and the 907th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages. Another blow for the reputation of Halstead is that in 2020 it was found to be the worst place in Essex for the possession of weapons. The most common crimes committed in Halstead are violence and sexual offences, which is not uncommon in the UK.
Average House Price in Halstead
The average house cost over the past year for Halstead is around £320,944. If your looking to move to Halstead, why not look to move to Harlow instead? With a similar house price average of £355,372, it might be the perfect fit for you. Look at our Harlow area guide to find out more.
The following shows the average property cost in Halstead:
House Pricing by Property Type
Detached- £486,211
Semi-detached- £306,641
Terraced-£264,367
Flats- £156,838
Renting in Halstead
The following shows how much a rental property costs in Halstead:
Flat – £1,889
House – £1,127
Average Property Rental Cost Per Room (PCM):
1 bed – £1,804
2 beds – £1,597
3 beds – £1,207
4 beds – £1,200
Landmarks and History
Hedingham Castle
Hedingham castle is seen as the best-preserved Norman keep in England. The castle fortifications were thought to be built around 1100 and the keep in 1140. Hedingham Castle is the only major medieval structure that has stayed standing, although with a little damage. The actual castle does still remain a family home, and the Norman keep and grounds are open to the public from Easter time to October. The castle hosts several events such as; jousting, falconry, archery, re-enactments plus many more. They also provide the backdrop for vintage car show, theatre performances and music concerts. It can also be hired for private events such as weddings, Civil ceremonies, Civil Partnerships, Renewal of Vows and Naming ceremonies are all permitted. The Queen Anne mansion house and marquee are used for wedding receptions and parties.
Travelling in Halstead
There are a number of bus services available in Halstead, along with a train station that offers a service to get you to London in under an hour.
Eating and Drinking in Halstead
The Little Book Café
This friendly little café is located in a beautiful 17th century cottage. There is a warm and cosy environment where you can enjoy a fresh pot of tea and some homemade cake. They also offer home cooked breakfast, brunch and lunch. What quirky about this café is that they offer a range of books for you to browse borrow or buy.
The Foragers Retreat
This is a deli, café and bar that’s only open Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. But you will jump at the chance to try some of the delicious food on offer those days. Each day has a different menu; On Thursdays they serve coffee, cake, pastries and hot sausage plaits in the morning. While dishes from the Deli are served at lunchtime. Fridays you’ll find breakfast & brunch from 10-3 with the Caribbean available at lunchtime and arguably the best pizzas this side of Italy are served from 5pm to eat in or to collect hot. On Saturdays they serve breakfast and brunch from 10-3 with the Caribbean menu available at lunchtime. Saturday night there is Caribbean food with themed cocktails, music and restaurant dining. On Sundays there is breakfast & brunch from 10-11.30, roast at the retreat from 12-3 as well as takeaway roast ready to collect, heat and eat!
Spice Zone
Established in 1999 and family run since then, Spice Zone delivers fantastic curry to the residents of Halstead. They specialise in authentic dishes and use different cooking methods to bring out the best flavours. They offer a range of food from the sub-continent and offer in restaurant, delivery and take away services.
Shopping in Halstead
Halstead has a historic town centre that is full of independent shops and highs-street staples such as boots and New Look. If you drive a little further out from Halstead you’ll find bigger outlets and shopping centres, such as Lakeside shopping centre.
Hotel’s in Halstead
The Dorrington
Located just a 3-minute walk away from Halstead town centre, The Dorrington is a good choice for sightseers. There is free Wi-Fi available in all of the rooms, plus free parking on site. Every room features an on-suite with a bath or walk in shower. There are also tea and coffee making facilities and TVs in every room. You can have a full cooked breakfast in the morning from 7.30am onwards. Stanstead airport is 23 miles away.
Bull Hotel by Greene King Inns
This 500 year old building has been a hotel (of sorts) for 500 years, starting life as a coaching inn. It now offers all the mod cons, including free Wi-Fi, a lively bar and home cooked good. All the rooms are comfortable and cosy, featuring light colours and modern TVs. You will find tea and coffee making facilities as well has hairdryers. Built in 1398, the hotel has retained a lot of its period features, which makes this hotel a beautiful place to stay. It is also a 25 minute drive to Stanstead airport.
Top 5 Things to do in Halstead
- Wash Farm
- Halstead Antiques Centre
- Broaks Wood
- Gosfield Lake Golf Club
- Essex Pottery Studio
Need a Locksmith in Halstead?
When moving into a new home changing the locks is vital as you never know how many keys are out there and risk the keys falling into the wrong hands. Arrange for a Halstead Locksmith to come and fit a new lock the day you get your keys to provide you with peace of mind. We at Keytek® Locksmiths Halstead provide a professional local mobile Locksmith service complying with British Standard and Home Insurance policies to ensure your home is as secure as can be! What’s more is all our customers benefit from a FREE home security check on site to ensure your home is as secure as can be!
There are many other things you need to consider when moving home so check out our Moving Home Checklist to help you along the way! Once your in consider improving the security of your home further still by checking out our Ultimate Guide to Home Security here!
View our Keytek® Locksmiths Halstead page to find your local Locksmith today or call us on 0131 297 2081!
Jessica Davies
Jessica brings over six years of specialised expertise to Keytek's comprehensive UK location guides, combining meticulous research with genuine local insight. As the architect behind Keytek’s area profiles, she delivers essential intelligence on house prices, crime statistics, schools, and community character—everything you need to know about the city or town. Armed with a photography degree from the University of Brighton and an exhibited portfolio, Jessica approaches each location asking, "What would it be like to live here?" This perspective transforms dry statistics into lived experience, revealing not just what places cost, but what they truly offer. Since 2019, Jessica has partnered with Keytek®'s security professionals, weaving real-world safety expertise into every guide. Her work addresses practical realities: Is this neighbourhood genuinely safe? What security considerations matter? How does local infrastructure support daily life? From bustling cities to quiet villages, Jessica's field research uncovers authentic local character. Her commitment to accuracy and on-the-ground investigation has established her as a trusted voice—helping people navigate different locations across the UK and home security with complete confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Halstead a Nice Place to Live?
In a 2021 survey by property experts Garrington, Halstead was found to be one of the nicest places in the UK to live. The 1,372 locations reviewed were scored on factors such as proximity to open water, national parks, and areas of outstanding natural beauty. They also considered air quality, crime figures, and the number of listed and period homes. Halstead’s location in the Colne Valley means it is surrounded by countryside, offering scenic walks and local attractions such as Trinity Street’s gardens, St Andrew’s Church, and a mix of Georgian and Tudor architecture.
What is Halstead's Population?
From the 2021 census, the population of Halstead is estimated to be 12,911
Is Halstead a Safe Place to Live?
Statistics indicate that Halstead is one of the 10 most dangerous small towns in the Essex area and ranks 45th overall among Essex’s 315 towns, villages, or cities. In 2021 it recorded 88 crimes per 1,000 people, which is 8% higher than the local average. It is also ranked as the 149th most dangerous small town in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and the 907th most dangerous location overall. Common crimes include violence and sexual offences, and in 2020 it was reported as the worst place in Essex for weapons possession.
What is the average house price in Halstead?
The average house cost over the past year for Halstead is around £320,944.