Grays is a riverside town in the borough of Thurrock, in England, sitting on the north bank of the River Thames. It developed from a market town and riverside port into an industrial centre for cement, brick and tile manufacture, and you can still see traces of that heritage along the waterfront and in former chalk pits nearby.
Today Grays serves as a diverse commuter and commercial hub with good rail and road links into London and easy access to the M25 and A13, while nearby retail and leisure include the Lakeside complex. The area combines suburban neighbourhoods with riverside open spaces and historic attractions such as Coalhouse Fort, supporting an active local community and a multicultural social scene.