Runwell is a small village and ward on the eastern edge of Basildon borough in Essex, England, lying just north of Wickford and within easy reach of London by road and rail. It retains a semi‑rural character with a mix of farmland, housing and pockets of woodland, giving a quieter contrast to the nearby new‑town landscapes.
Historically the village is best known for the former Runwell Hospital, a large psychiatric hospital that once dominated the area and has since been closed and redeveloped, while the parish church and a scattering of older buildings hint at a longer rural past. Today life in Runwell centres on local community activities and small amenities, with many residents looking to nearby Basildon or London for employment and wider services.
Postcode districts covering Runwell
Most populated places nearby
- Southend-on-Sea 9.4 miles
- Bexley 20 miles
- Basildon 5 miles
- Colchester 24 miles
- Chelmsford 7.9 miles
- Maidstone 24.4 miles
- Gillingham 17.5 miles
- Harlow 20.7 miles
- Grays 12.8 miles
- Chatham 18.2 miles
- Barking and Dagenham 18.1 miles
- Dartford 18.3 miles
Neighbouring places
- Wickford North Ward 0.9 miles
- Wickford Built-up area 1.1 miles
- Shotgate Parish 1.5 miles
- Brock Hill Built-up area 1.5 miles
- Rettendon and Runwell Ward 1.6 miles
- Wickford Park Ward 1.7 miles
- Downham Built-up area 1.7 miles
- Battlesbridge Built-up area 1.8 miles
- Coalhill Built-up area 1.8 miles
- South Hanningfield Parish 2 miles
- Ramsden Bellhouse Built-up area 2 miles
- Nevendon Built-up area 2.1 miles
Example postcodes in Runwell
SS11 9FD, SS11 7NA, SS11 7JR, SS12 9YW, SS11 7HD, SS11 7BA, SS11 7GE, SS11 7LP, SS11 7EY … See all
Transport links
- London Southend Airport 8 miles
- Stansted Airport 21.9 miles
- Wickford Railway Station 0.8 miles
- Battlesbridge Railway Station 1.6 miles
Hotels near Runwell Ad
- The Oakland 2 4.1 miles
- Rettendon Lodge 2.3 miles
- The Harvard Inn 4 4.6 miles
- Holiday Inn Basildon 4 4.1 miles
- Premier Inn Basildon - East Mayne 3 3.4 miles
- Greenwoods Hotel & Spa 4 4.5 miles
- Premier Inn Basildon - Festival Park 3 4 miles
- The New Chichester Hotel 3 2.2 miles
- Premier Inn Basildon - Rayleigh 3 4.5 miles
- Pontlands Park Hotel 3 5.9 miles
Schools in Runwell
- Runwell Community Primary School Primary
Local points of interest
- Hylands Estate 6.6 miles
- Canvey Island Heritage Centre & Museum Museum 7.3 miles
- Roots Hall Stadium 9.1 miles
- Thames Estuary Yacht Club Marina 9.6 miles
- Yantlet beach Beach 12.2 miles
- Furze Woods Forest 12.5 miles
- Ongar Castle Historic site 13.3 miles
- Dines Hall Country house 14.2 miles
- Pirgo Historic site 14.2 miles
- Chelmsford City Racecourse Recreation 15 miles
- Sheerness Harbour Harbour 15.5 miles
- University of Greenwich - Medway University 15.7 miles