BBC Essex live
BBC Essex at a glance
BBC Essex frequencies
Where to find BBC Essex on FM, AM and DAB, from Ofcom’s records. Find what reaches your postcode →
Contains public sector information from Ofcom, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
About BBC Essex
BBC Essex is the BBC's local radio station for Essex, bringing listeners local news, travel, weather, sport and conversation from Chelmsford, Southend, Colchester, Basildon, Harlow, Brentwood, Clacton and the towns and villages of the county. Searches for bbc essex and radio essex are popular, and on this page you can listen to BBC Essex live online for free.
Local radio for Essex since 1986
BBC Essex launched on 5 November 1986 and broadcasts from studios on New London Road in Chelmsford. Unusually, it did not follow the BBC's normal naming pattern of BBC Radio followed by the county name, to avoid confusion with the commercial station Essex Radio, which later became Essex FM and is now Heart. Over nearly four decades, BBC Essex has covered the big stories of the county, from the Thames estuary and the coast to the growth of its towns and the busy routes into London.
What you will hear
Breakfast and drive-time programmes bring the latest headlines, travel news for the A12, A127, A13, M11 and M25, rail updates and weather forecasts. Through the day, phone-ins and interviews cover the issues that matter in Essex, from housing and transport to health, the coast and community life. Sport coverage includes Colchester United, Southend United and Essex cricket, and evenings and weekends bring music, specialist programmes and conversation.
How to listen to BBC Essex
BBC Essex broadcasts on 95.3 FM from South Benfleet and 103.5 FM from Great Braxted, and on medium wave including 765 kHz, as well as on DAB digital radio, smart speakers and BBC Sounds. The easiest way is to press play above and listen to BBC Essex live straight away on your phone, tablet or computer. Please note that some live sports commentaries may be restricted online. If you live in Essex, you may also enjoy Heart Essex and BBC Suffolk, both available on our site.
For local news, sport and the voice of the county, BBC Essex is Essex's own BBC station.
- 100% free, no sign-up
- Live stream, 24 hours a day
- Listen from anywhere
- Works on phone and computer
How to listen to BBC Essex live
In 3 simple steps, with nothing to install.
- 01Press play
Click the "Listen live" button at the top of this page.
- 02Wait a moment
The live stream starts loading within a few seconds.
- 03Enjoy
BBC Essex plays right in your browser, with nothing to install.
Radio stations in Essex
Other stations from the same place — click to open.
Frequently asked questions
BBC Essex broadcasts on 95.3 FM and 103.5 FM, on medium wave including 765 kHz, and on DAB and BBC Sounds.
BBC Essex launched on 5 November 1986.
The name avoided confusion with the commercial station Essex Radio, which later became Essex FM and then Heart.
Yes. Press play at the top of this page to listen to BBC Essex live for free on any device.
Yes. You can listen to BBC Essex live for free here on UK Radio Stations, 24 hours a day.
Yes. BBC Essex plays in your phone’s browser on Android or iPhone — there is no app to install. Just open this page and press play.
Yes. Connect your phone to the car stereo by Bluetooth or cable, open BBC Essex here on UK Radio Stations and enjoy the live stream on the road.
If the stream does not load, wait a few seconds and press play again — some streams take a moment to connect. You can also refresh the page or try another Variety station meanwhile. UK Radio Stations checks every stream automatically.