Basildon, England
Roundabout Republic of Basildon
"Where New Town Dreams Met Concrete Reality"
Official Coat of Arms
A shield quartered with a roundabout rampant, the Eastgate Centre's escalators crossed like swords, and a pylon from the A127 standing sentinel. The motto beneath reads 'Ex Concreto Surreximus' - 'From Concrete We Arose'.
TripAdvisor Review
★★★☆☆ 3/5
"Came for the Eastgate Centre, stayed because I got lost in the one-way system for three hours. The town centre has that classic 1960s 'we love concrete and roundabouts' vibe which is either brutalist chic or just brutal depending on your mood. Basildon's got heart though - the market's decent and Gloucester Park is a genuinely lovely surprise in the middle of it all. Wouldn't recommend driving anywhere without a satnav, three backup satnavs, and a support group."— Derek Pankhurst, Chelmsford
Property Listing
Stunning New Town living in the heart of Essex, offering unrivalled access to not one, not two, but SEVENTEEN roundabouts within a five mile radius! This vibrant hub boasts the iconic Eastgate Centre, excellent rail links to Liverpool Street for the commuter who enjoys quality thinking time, and a can-do 1960s architectural spirit that says 'we built this fast and we're proud of it'.
Twinned With
Milton Keynes — Both are proud postwar New Towns that gave the world roundabouts instead of romance, and both are tired of the jokes.
Supporting Evidence
Basildon was one of the original post-war New Towns designated in 1949, purpose-built to rehouse East Londoners, and it later became so politically symbolic that 'Basildon Man' was coined to describe the aspirational voter who decided general elections.