moving to Brighton from London

[chumspam]

Hi all

I'm moving to Brighton (Preston Park to be exact) from London (East Dulwich) with the family (husband kids and cat) in early Aug and would love to talk to others who have done the same - I'm excited but also a bit nervous about such a big move.

The girls are aged 5 and 6 and my son is nearly eighteen months.

We'd also really appreciated iips on good places for the girls to do swimming lessons.

[thumbsucker]

There is a great gym (although it's a drive) at Falmer, which is really kid friendly. It's called Esporta. It has a good creche, outdoor and indoor pool and good swimming lessons. it's a little bit pricey but, like all gyms, if you use it, it's well worth it.

For useful, local info, get hold of ABC magazine. It's in quite a few of the kids shops (Wigwam at fiveways is quite close to preston park) and nurseries and doctors' surgeries.

We moved 4 years ago and have never looked back (now have two kids, 9 months and 2 and a half). Welcome to Brighton!

[furrycat]

I live in Fiveways. Been in Brighton 9 years after a lifetime in London. (DH is from Brighton) We have two ds aged 2 and 10 mos. It is fantastic here. A wonderful place to bring up kids and Preston Park si very family orientated and friendly.

[Pollyanna]

I moved in August last year from north London to 7 dials.

I found it quite strange moving in the summer as we didn't know anyone so didn't have the normal network that you have during school holidays. That said my dh was home for some of the time and I had alot of settling in to do.

The children's information service (CIS) section of the council has information on things to do in school holidays. This is on their website.

Which school are you going to? (I understand if you don't want to say).

As far as swimming lessons go - alot of the parents do seem to go to the gym at Falmer. I also know people who do swimming lessons at King Alfred - if you can get over the fact it is a dump, it is fine.

There are lots of toddler groups in P Park - I second the ABC guide. You can get a copy of this at the library, but the CIS will send you a copy too. They will also send you lists of different groups that meet up in different areas. (eg music groups, gym sessions etc etc). I found them very helpful when I moved down.

[BrummieOnTheRun]

You'll love it. We moved from Camden in December. horrendous move...organised in about 4 weeks, was 7 months pregnant and had a 3yr old and 18 mo old, but worth every drop of blood, sweat and tears, ha, ha!

www.childcarelink.gov.uk is the online CIS site with nurseries (childcare section) and activities (local information section).

This is also good:
www.babybrighton.co.uk

The ABC mag has a website with advertiser listings, btw.

[furrycat]

Never heard of Brighton baby before but had a look and it seems great - is it new?

[BrummieOnTheRun]

you know, I can't even remember where I found out about that site so no idea I'm afraid!

I'm not sure how good it is post-toddler but great for babies & toddlers. I've just signed up for some sing & sign malarchy, for my sins. Hoping it will be a good way to meet people. Quite difficult when you have 3 of different ages....

[furrycat]

The one thing about Preston Park is lack of mum and toddler groups where they just PLAY rather than do an activity iyswim

[BrummieOnTheRun]

That's so true. There were loads in Hove, which is where we spent our first 6 months, but couldn't find any 'come along for a cup of tea while the kids play and pay £1.50' type groups...

[ArcticRoll]

Dorothy Stringer playgroup has a parents and toddler drop-in on Friday afternoons.

[BrummieOnTheRun]

oooo, I just found one round the corner on Dyke Rd that offers "quality cakes & biscuits". I'm in! (was looking on the wrong section of the CIS website...playgroups are in the childcare section).

Also worry about being struck by lightening entering these church things though

[furrycat]

Quality cakes and biscuits? I'm there! what day of the week is it?

[BrummieOnTheRun]

It's on Wednesdays at 1.30 at the Good Shepherd Hall. The used an exclamation mark too, which implies they may have a sense of humour

[furrycat]

Typical. Ds1 and DS2 at nursery on a Weds..will have to search out quality cakes and biscuits! elsewhere. Sigh.

[tess1e]

I also recommend Falmer gym, they have an indoor soft play area for kids as well as a big new outdoor wooden section (more for slightly older kids) It's clean, got good facilities and the restaurant is a godsend at weekends - it's always heaving with kids but no one gets stroppy about them

You also get to say you've been to the gym and feel virtuous even if all you've done is a danish and coffee

Been in Hove for @ 13 yrs and have 5 (yes 5!!) kids 19, 18, 8, 4 and 1 - all boys except the last one...I know, greedy, deranged, brave, stupid...all of the above!

[BrightonNim]

Have lived in Brighton for 7 years, moved down from London, and now have a 4 month old. Love living here - first as a single girl, and now as a mother - lots of different things to do.
Lots of options for swimming. Have recently left David Lloyd for various reasons, looked into LA Fitness (creche closes end of month)and Esporta at Falmer but in the end decided in Kinetika- the council owned lesisure centres and much cheaper, can use all of the 5 centres with one membership(Prince Regent, Stanley Deason etc etc) and a free creche at Prince Regent. Website is www.dcleisurecentres.co.uk/Centres/East+Sussex/East+Sussex
We used the pools at Prince Regent for the first time at the weekend and were really impressed - good children's pool, family changing cubicles etc. Clean, warm, easy to get bus to, not too busy. They do lots of swimming lessons, but I think there is a waiting list.
Our neighbour recommended a play group at st Nicholas' church, bottom of Dyke Rd opposite corner of Upper North Street. £1.50 - drinks and biscuits, lot of toys, doors carefully guarded to prevent escaping children so that Mums can relax etc etc.
Another friend has recommended gymboree in Churchill Square.
The paddling pool on the sea front is always popular but heaving in good weather.

[MABS]

come to join us at our lunch in Brighton on 29 Sept, be good to meet you. Look in meet-ups topic.

[Jackscat]

I know this is a bit of an old thread but I am hoping someone will see it. We are moving from London down to Brighton in early July. Wasn't that keen when my husband announced this but having just spent a couple of weekends down there looking for places to live I have fallen in love with it too. Anyway my question is does anyone have any recommendations for nurseries in the Hove/Central Brighton area. Have an almost 3 year old and 8 week baby so am keen to offload the older one for at least part of the day . Haven't found a place to live yet but Hove/Central Brighton looks gorgeous so we are aiming for that. Not sure what waiting lists are like there (in our area of London you practically have to put them down at birth) but am hoping someone can squeeze him in. Any suggestions?

[MABS]

can recommend Deepdene in Hove, also Young Sussex and Early Years are good too. Waiting lists aren't great here either. Where are you aiming to move to?

[Jackscat]

Thanks MABS that was quick. Not sure yet. I just spoke to an agent tonight though and he says he has a place for me to see in Westbourne Villas. That is the sort of area we are looking for don't know the actual street though is it nice? We would like to be closer to the sea, coming from Sydney we are craving the ocean. We will rent for the first year to make sure we like it. Mmmm like the look of Deepdene I am sure we would never get in there at such short notice though.

[BrummieOnTheRun]

Deepdene's lovely. It's a very nurturing environment and a good precursor to 'real' school.

Jackscat, the only warning about living in Hove is that the choice of non-faith state schools is very limited post 4 yrs old. Fine if you're a practising Christian, but if not, you're not exactly spoilt for choice. But if you're renting, you'll have time to research that more...

If you're going the private education route you'll be fine, clearly.

[MABS]

That's v true Brummie, mine are private. Westbourne Villas is lovely, v good mate lives there too, just a 10 min walk to Deepdene - v nice area.

[Jackscat]

Thanks guys. No chance of a faith school thing I'm afraid, haven't had my toe inside a church since I left my own rather strict christian school (not even when we got married) so can't see myself turning up once a week just to get the kids in. The plan is to go private too so thats ok but thanks for the tip Brummie. I am glad to hear that Westbourne Villas is lovely MABS I am hoping that it is not too far from the shops though I am afraid with my caffeine habit I need to be in sprinting distance of a Starbucks!! We only really had time to investigate the Central Brighton area properly which I know is close to shops but I have been told the Westbourne Villas part is better for families/schools/playgroups etc hoping that is true.Is there a high street, restaurant coffee shop area near there too?

[sunnydelight]

Hi Jackscat. Couldn't resist posting as we have moved recently from Brighton to Sydney!

Blueberry Nursery on Davigdor Road is the one that everyone is raving about at the moment apparantly (SIL sends her son there). My eldest went to Playcare on Windlesham Road and I was very happy with it, but it was a long time ago!

My kids are now all at a Christian school in Sydney which certainly wasn't the plan when we arrived. It is fantastic though to have my 5, 9 and 14 year olds all in the same place.

[MABS]

Hello Sunny m'dear, how goes? am off to the sun tmro myself Thank God.

[Jackscat]

Thanks Sunny will look into that one too though apparently you can't get a parking permit up that end of town for 6 to 12 months so that kind of puts us off renting there.

How is my beautiful Sydney hope you are enjoying the sun and the harbour I do really love it over here too but I miss being able to fry myself.