Worthing is it worth it??

[thornrose]

I currently live in London and I'm feeling very restless. I want to move and have been looking at Brighton.
I started looking a bit further afield and realised I can get much more for my money in Worthing or Goring on Sea. I need to research these areas and what better way than Mumsnet!! Does anyone live in and around these areas and have any comments?

[GirlsAreLoud]

Worthing is ok, bit of an older persons town. NOTHING like Brighton in terms of demographic, nightlife etc.

[thornrose]

Mmm, that is the impression I got! I'm early 40's with a 9 yr old daughter and just want to escape the "rat-race" and be near the sea to be honest. However I don't want to stagnate!

[thornrose]

Sorry, not a stimulating topic for a sunny Sunday afternoon, but does anyone else have any comments about life in Worthing and surrounding areas!

[thornrose]

OK, this is the last time I bring this to the top then I'll bow out gracefully.

[noddyholder]

Completely different vibe to Brighton but some lovely houses and areas.I love the sea front it is real old english seaside.Prefer to swim in Worthing too don't know why and better chips and ice cream!Custy lives there so if you keep bumping she will fill you in.brighton is great though and not as £ as it was hth

[AllotmentMum]

Worthing's great! I have been saying to anyone who'll listen in the last few years (about 3 people that is ... )that Worthing will catch up with Brighton. OK, nowhere near as groovy but same beautiful housing stock, great seafront, and much much better schools than Brighton. Good shopping, great hospital (biased, as I worked there for years), and the demographics is getting younger as people move in to escape Brighton house prices. Goring is still seen as the posher end of town, but in my opinion its the last bastion of "establishment" Worthing. If you commute, then you can still get a seat on the train at Worthing, but you'll be standing from Portslade onwards. It's a nice place - go for it!!! I live mid way between Brighton and Worthing, so happy to answer any queries you may have.

[thornrose]

Ooh, now I'm excited. I don't want groovy (I've lived that for the last 20 years) I want good schools, good seafront and good standard of living. I knew I could rely on Mumsnet!
AllotmentMum, I may be shouting out your name over next few months, you may regret being "happy" to answer queries (half joking!!).

[AllotmentMum]

No problem, just don't hold me to account if you move to Worthing and don't like it! I could also recommend Shoreham as a very up and coming place. However, if you are like me and would put schools above most other things, then go for Worthing - lots of choice between some excellent schools. When your daughter is a bit older it is also very eary to get into Brighton or London on the train. The other place to look if you want near Brighton is Lewes - a fantastic place, but much more expensive.

[thornrose]

Don't worry, we won't blame you if it all goes pear shaped!! One question, what is the ethnicity of Worthing and surrounding areas?My daughter is mixed race and lives in a predominantly Afro-Carribean area at the moment. It's not a big issue at this stage just curious?

[AllotmentMum]

We moved down here from Tooting, and the one thing we really miss is the diversity. I can't kid you that it won't be harder than in London where mixed race is part of the norm. You'd probably only find 3 or 4 kids per year group who are mixed race,and there are more asian than afro carribean communities. Having said that I haven't come across any racism or general mindless hassle. Worthing isn't as cosmopolitan as Brighton, but its close enough that the values rub off. Easy for me to say, with a white family, but from the chat my kids bring home from school, and from work colleagues, I would say that it shouldn't be a problem. Defintely different from the norm, but not so it would register on the ricter scale. I've just put your question to my kids (age 8, 10, 12)and they couldn't really understand the point - "why would black kids be treated differently?" That's got to be a good sign! Come down, we could do with morer afro carribeaqan influence around here!

[Tortington]

hi,
agree with whats been said already, i moved from up north 7 years ago and don't regret it one bit

today - i went swimming then went to the fun fair on the sea front.

we have regular farmers markets and french markets and the town centre has the usual shops however we do have a french restaurant - fish is fresh - you can buy from the fishermen on the sea front if you so wish. we have a creperie!

we have two (small) theatres - which in itself i find quite astonishing for such a small town - and two cinemas.

as a general rule within worthing and goring itself looks for property from the sea to the train tracks.

east worthing has a reputation i understand ( not so good)

however these things are relative - i mean it will obviously be reflected in the house prices for a long term investment - but no-so - good is a relative concept ...from where we were living withing the shithole of hell up north - everywhere is brilliant!

[AllotmentMum]

. . and one of those cinemas is The Dome. Most beautiful art deco cinema with best pop corn going!

[thornrose]

I don't see the race "thing" as an issue, she has strong links with her dad's side and will be visiting London regularly, just idle curiousity on my part.
We live in Stockwell and it's all a bit "intense" at the moment, we need a bit of a change of scenery and some peace.
I'm originally from the North East coast and I miss the sea but I don't want to go back up there. This seems like the perfect compromise and looking better all the time because what you are both saying just "ticks all my boxes".
I intend to try for next summer all being well, my daughter is 9 and will have a year at primary to settle in before heading off to Secondary in a new town which is pretty good timing I think.
Did I say I'm excited??

[toja555]

Hmm.. I have nothing to comment about Worthing (have never been there) but I always wonder how people are so free to move - as for me, my job is a big tie to London.. how do others manage?

[thornrose]

My circumstances are fairly unusual. I'm a single parent with one child so don't have a partner to consider.
I'm a Learning Mentor/TA and so I can work pretty much anywhere.
I'm living in a housing association flat at the moment but my mum has her own house and is retiring this year so she is going to sell up and we'll move in with her temporarily. Not ideal but will be great for my dd to have a garden and a nice house which I couldn't afford on my own.
I guess if I had a partner and we had well paid jobs and a mortgage my options would be more limited if that makes sense!

[Tortington]

you should consider asking NOW your HA about moving to another county as a swap - someone from down here might want to swap with you?

there is a website - i can't temember what its called

[Molesworth]

Agree with custy, look into doing a mutual exchange. I've done several mutual exchanges through this website including two moves in London. I wouldn't give up your HA place lightly as it's so hard to get back into the public housing system!

[thornrose]

I want to be out of the public housing system, it's been a life saver for the last 7 years but I don't want to be in it anymore. Let someone else have a turn.

[Molesworth]

Fair enough if you're in a position to not need it any more

[thornrose]

I sounded a bit self righteous there, didn't mean too!

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

I really like Worthing.

The promenade is lovely, shopping not bad, the general area is nice. Not far from the South Downs.

I used to live in Brighton and now live about 3 miles from Worthing. With children I prefer this area as it's less busy and chaotic than Brighton.

The beach is nicer in Worthing aswell. When the tide goes out there is a big stretch of sand which is lovely for playing on.

[thornrose]

More positive comments, thanks. I know Brighton can be manic on a sunny day I hoped Worthing might be a bit quieter.

[Tortington]

kinda - it depends which stretch of beach you go on - but generally its not sardines like brighton

[AllotmentMum]

There was a fantastic photo in the Guardian last summer which showed Brighton and Worthing beaches on a sunny day. Brighton was cheek by jowl (literally) but all the people were groovy, slim, hip looking types. Worthing had groups widely spaced along the sand but they were all either large old dears with hats on or small family groups playing in the waves. Summed up the difference to me.

Just like any town Worthing has its rougher parts and nicer bits, so I hope some of the people who actually live in Worthing can advise you.

If you check the Ofsted reports of the schools you get a pretty clear idea of the areas that you want to live in.

[scousemummylondon]

allotment mum. how is life in worthing now? im thinking of moving from tooting with my teenager aged 14