This neighbourhood is based in the Borough of Thurrock. It is situated west of Chafford Hundred which has developed as this neighbourhood has. Home to the Lakeside Shopping Centre, also known as intu Lakeside, residents and visitors come to this area to shop, eat or grab a drink. With over 250 stores and over 50 cafes and restaurants, people will be hard done if they cannot find what they are looking for. In the unlikely case of shoppers running out of options to eat, they can fish in the nearby Lakeside Alexandra Lake and catch some of the fresh water fish that inhabit the water – but only if they have a license!

The origin of Thurrock’s name dates back to the Saxon era, during which it was known as ‘Turroc’. Grays is the administrative centre of Thurrock and was named after wealthy British aristocrat Henry De Gray, who purchased and named the area in 1195. Although being occupied since the Doomsday Book (11th century), this area began to vastly develop in 1989 and is widely considered the most desirable place to live in Thurrock.

During the 20th century, West Thurrock was one of the largest cement-producing areas in Europe.

Gidea Park Station was originally called “Squirrels Heath & Gidea Park”, we don’t know where the Squirrel went!

Traveller communities who once resided in Thurrock have been forcibly removed by Thurrock Council. It is the cultural norm of Travellers to migrate and live in open spaces, making it an extremely contentious issue.

In 2020, it was announced that the local Orsett Hospital would be permanently closed within the coming 5 years and replaced by four integrated medical centres across the borough – though only one was near completion as of 2022.

There are plans to expand Lakeside shopping facilities and other areas in West Thurrock. In 2020, Thurrock Council approved plans to expand the Lakeside Shopping Centre. The proposal includes the development of a new multi-storey parking facility, a new public square, a new and larger bus station (replacing one that will be demolished), as well as more pedestrian and cycle paths. It is estimated the scheme could create roughly 2,900 permanent jobs once finished and provide between 30 and 40 new stores and restaurants. Around 1,500 temporary construction jobs would also be made during development. In 2021, the Lakeside scheme seemed to have transformed into something more ambitious, exploring its potential to be transformed into a town centre with green methods of transport, like cycling and walking.