I would like to live in Brighton and Hove

Hastings town centre is mainly crap (like a lot of places), but there's plenty of decent places to live that are quite good value for sussex. You've got to like the vibe though, it's fun, wild and rough round the edges, which isn't for everyone.

Folkestone has changed a lot, and could be worth considering. Deal is nice too, maybe a bit twee?

Seaford is still cheap, but a bit rough/lacklustre.

Just can't imagine you'd get much of anything for 250k in most places people are mentioning. Shoreham-by-Sea prices rocketed up years back.

Faversham is definitely estuary, not sea. I like Deal, but I’m not sure it has the Brighton vibe.

One of my DDs described Folkestone (and Margate) as WannabeinBrighton.

Consider the Hastings / St Leonard’s area. Smaller version of Brighton without the price tag .

A lot of people have said Worthing, but I think that is too expensive on a £250thousand budget. I just had a quick look, and there not many houses. If you plan to have a baby, I’d also consider missing out the flat stage, as you’d be spending money on moving costs buying a house in a few years time.

i’ve just looked for Faversham, Deal and Folkestone and there’s a lot more choice.

You have to live and work there to know. I worked in the NHS in Brighton and saw the sad underbelly of it. I couldnt wait to leave.

I wonder why. It’s always something that has baffled me since I started visiting 25 years ago.

No, not at all really. It has a significant Chinese population but otherwise very white. The council wrings their hands about it and wonders oh whatever shall we do on a regular basis because their workforce is also mostly white.

What is interesting about Brighton is it’s not actually very multicultural! I expected it to be more like London. It surprised me. Definitely mostly white faces, of all genders and sexual orientations of course! Don’t know if things have changed more recently.

My DH is from Brighton, his dad still lives in Hanover. Terraced houses on his street go for £700k. We have family in Hangleton and Worthing. One of them just bought a 3 bed semi, 70s style for £420k so definitely more affordable.

I agree Brighton has a great vibe, particularly when the sun is shining! But, posters who say it can be rough are not wrong either!

See UN, you wouldn't get much for that budget in a nice area. Some parts are very run down, but overall I'm glad I moved from the Home Counties.

Oops, yes. Spell correct did that - I did mean Sothwick

Newhaven is on the up as apparently all the arty people who can’t afford Brighton live there. Big art scene and new trendy places opening up associated that. Your money will go further. Nice countryside as you will appreciate that when you have a baby and Brighton is close. Look at ‘look again Newhaven’ Instagram stuff.

Hastings, Folkestone, Margate. All a little edgy, but definitely regenerating.

Having said that, Margate has sand. So vulgar.

Eastbourne?
Hastings?

As I said, I have enjoyed many a weekend and day out in Brighton over many years. But in the past couple of years, I’ve spent several days at a time there for work and think it’s increasingly rough, especially after dark, where I’ve seen people openly dealing drugs on the street in Kemptown. Huge amounts of begging and homelessness, and people staggering around under the influence.

I found out last night that a friend who lives in Brighton was the victim of a racial attack on Friday night. He was walking home after a late shift at work. He lives in Kemptown. 😟

I too love Brighton. But is expensive.
If you’re not too bothered about the sea and as you live in Midlands, have you considered Leamington Spa? I find it quite similar to Brighton- regency architecture, smarter, better shops, lots of students so it’s buzzy. The parks are plentiful and better (fewer vagrants) plus you have Cotswolds and Stratford on your doorstep. It looks like a great place to bring up kids and something for all ages.

I’ve only been to Brighton a couple of times and not for a few years but yes, this is the vibe I got from it too. It changes when the lights go down, to quote Arctic Monkeys who I believe were describing sheff which is quite hilarious because Sheffield is one of the tamest cities I’ve visited in the U.K. Brighton is a bit dodgy and like a lot of coastal cities, kind of dead. I think it’s popular because it’s close enough to London to commute and people like being close to the sea but pebble beaches are hideous.

Parts of Hastings/St Leonards are becoming increasingly gentrified and it's getting pretty cool, much in the way that Brighton was 40-odd years ago.

They now make the "Hove, actually" joke about St Leonards.

Another vote fir Worthing. I think we are so lucky to live here between downs and sea. Traffic is gridlock much of the time, especially east west, and the town centre suffers from online shopping much as most these days, so it's in a transition phase, but we love it.
Great variety of restaurants and bars, cinemas theatre, entertainment venues. Swimming pool, seasonal ice rink, bowling alley, pool hall, seasonal fun fair, great parks, events for children throughout the summer. Museum, escape rooms, lovely pier and prom. Greenspace at Goring Gap, paddle boarding, kite surfing, art cafe. I'm.a big fan!
Aforementioned traffic issues aside, lots of day out destinations within easy reach, Portsmouth, Chichester, Arundel, Brighton. Gatwick in under an hour and London day trip-able. Even the New Forest, e IOW or continent are do able in a day,
Also beautiful sunsets, we are known for too.

I had my two children in Hove and honestly regret moving, it was a lovely creative place to bring up children.
They went to Brunswick Primary School and it was really nice https://www.brunswick.brighton-hove.sch.uk/
The thing people often forget about is how many nice parks there are in Hove, it was great for kids.

Wow

I spent quite a bit of time in Brighton recently. Honestly, I was surprised at how scary it felt in the town centre. There was really aggressive begging, including a woman who followed me all the way up the street and wouldn't leave until I entered a shop. It does have a great arts/culture/music scene, but some of it is a bit silly and pretentious - while I was there, there was a 'foam art' festival with baristas making pictures in milk on coffee. If I was living my bisexual teens again I'd move there in a heartbeat and flat share and do the clubs and pubs and events, but not as a family.

As I said, I have enjoyed many a weekend and day out in Brighton over many years. But in the past couple of years, I’ve spent several days at a time there for work and think it’s increasingly rough, especially after dark, where I’ve seen people openly dealing drugs on the street in Kemptown. Huge amounts of begging and homelessness, and people staggering around under the influence.

I currently live in a London suburb so I’m well aware that these problems exist in all towns to some extent, but I find it much more prevalent in Brighton than where I live. I wouldn’t want my teenage children socialising there of an evening.

When I’ve been working there, I’ve had discussions with colleagues who live there who also agree it’s edgy, so it’s not just my perception.

Still an enjoyable place to visit for a day out but definitely wouldn’t live there.

Seriously - Folkestone! You can get a proper house for your budget, not just a 1-bed flat you will need to move out of within a couple of years

E.g
found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/173521862 House

This thread is a good example of how people like different things. It depends what you want in an area and lifestyle. We live in East Brighton near the hospital and my kids are at school/nursery in whitehawk. Bits of it aren't the prettiest, but the school is excellent even though they have a tough demographic. It's 10 minutes from great beaches at rottingdean which are a lot less crowded and have rockpools fulls of loads of interesting stuff. We're a 20 minute walk from the town and pier, and there's a real sense of community. The downs and the town are both on your doorstep, and it's a great place to live. Summer is like one big holiday - I'm happier here than I've been anywhere else.