Braintree, Essex

Town of Braintree, Essex

Braintree is a town in the County of Essex, England

The population of Braintree is about 132,179 (2001 census)

 Braintree is 16 km. (10 miles) north-east of Chelmsford and 24 km. (15 miles) west of Colchester on the River Blackwater, A120 road and a branch of the Great Eastern Main RailwayLine.

Freeport is a shopping area on the outskirts of Braintree, described as a "designer outlet village". It has about 80 shops where designer brands sell surplus stock for lower than normal prices. Freeport also has its own railway station, Braintree Freeport station, which is the second stop on the journey from Braintree to London Liverpool Street.

Braintree is located at the junction of two Roman roads: one coming from the county town of Chelmsford, about 16 km. (10 miles) to the south-west and Stane Street running westwards to Great Dunmow, and eastwards to Colchester. Stane Street was a main road (A120) until the bypass road was built.

Braintree has two railway stations, Braintree and Braintree Freeport. Trains depart from Braintree station to Witham, where the Braintree branch line joins the Great Eastern Main Line to London's Liverpool Street Station.

Official Town of Braintree, Essex website: www.braintree.gov.uk