Suffolk vs Sussex.

[PickledLilli]

I'm planning a future move and I'm not completely sure where I want to move to but I've been looking at Sussex. However a friend who lives in Suffolk is desperately trying to encourage me to move there. I know little about it. I'm currently in Scotland.

My budget would be £550,000. I'd be working from home and I have no children at present. I'd like to be within an hour of a city or larger town. I'd probably want to live in the suburbs but would consider something more rural. I like a quiet life so nightlife isn't important but I enjoy visiting larger towns and cities occasionally for shopping, museums and theatre.

Which county would you prefer. I appreciate that it varies by area but I'm trying to look at the pros and cons of each location. I have some relatives in Norfolk so that's a plus for Suffolk.

Any ideas/thoughts/opinions would be appreciated. TIA

Sussex for much nicer weather and scenery.
What about Hampshire? Some lovely towns and villages and also good London connections.

I’m in Suffolk but I’m up in the north east corner, near Southwold, which is just lovely. Walberswick is just nearby which is full of Londoners in the summer so clearly a lot of southerners find it appealing. We get a lot of tv people and actors for some reason.

Aldeburgh is just down the coast and is a bit the same only posher. Property is very expensive there though. It is very flat round here but then we get absolutely miles and miles of beautiful coastline.

See also Snape, Dunwich, Woodbridge for gorgeous locations.

They really are two very different places. Get an air b n b for a couple of weeks in each to see how it goes.
Suffolk is much more rural, much less traffic and much less dense population - more traditional and less diverse. Much cheaper but more remote from London. East Sussex is a bit cheaper than West Sussex.

ClareIsland We found a different attitude between the two but then Crawley and Chichester are very different, as are Bexhill and Brighton.

Lowestoft is very different to Aldeburgh, Southwold to Ipswich.

It depends whereabouts in the counties. We get an average of three cars a day down our road in Sussex but the A27 can be a nightmare. That said Lowestoft has a bascule bridge that can be stuck for ages.

Totalling agree - depends what OP wants - coastal, rural remote, urban, village, touristy , busy or sparsely populated etc seems that the link to London is key. Is this public transport or roads? Day trips getting back after theatre or staying over night? Do you need cultural stuff locally?

I think it really depends on what you want. Are you moving for a specific reason? I’ve lived in Edinburgh and I travelled a bit round Scotland and loved it.

Hampshire is a great county as is some of north Essex if you’re looking to get into London.

Op - I’d suggest have a look at some the the towns on the East Sussex/Kent border too, such as Tunbridge Wells and Wadhurst. Both towns are on a very good train line into London and close enough (30min) to Gatwick. Loads to do round here - they are surrounded by lots of lovely villages too.

I would say you're potentially looking at pretty different lifestyles there. If being close to London in time-terms is a priority, Suffolk may not be for you.

Thank you all for the advice. I would consider Kent and Hampshire. though wary of my budget.

I'm going to visit relatives in Norfolk soon so I'll take some time to look at Suffolk. Then make plans to visit Sussex again.

I want to move because I'm bored and tired of my current location. I've spent practically all of my life here in the city and the suburbs, and I want a change. I feel as though I've run out of options for things to do(besides wait for a play/musical or concert that I'm interested in to come along, and I no longer enjoy going into the city because it feels like a dump.

I appreciate that everywhere has its problems though, but I need a change and I'm hoping to find a part of the UK with somewhat milder Winters, as due to a disability it can be hard to get out then.

I love the South East (and South West) and feel much happier there though I appreciate that visiting isn't the same as living there but there are many factors that draw me further South. I'm not so familiar with the East other than visiting relatives but I can see much to like.

Sussex appealed because of the mixture of coast and country, and I'd like to have the option for both, but I appreciate that it's becoming increasingly crowded. I probably seem as though I want the moon on a stick but I'll narrow my criteria down.

I don't anticipate going to London more than once a month or so but I like the option of being able to go through there for the culture within a few hours, either via road or public transport.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. It's very useful and much apppreciated.

Sussex any day of the week
Lovely (pair of) counties

I'd probably want to spend overnight in London if seeing a play., but if visiting museums it'd be nice to be able to return the same day.

I know both pretty well.
Suffolk quieter and prettier.
Suffolk - your money will go further.
Sussex - prefer West Sussex
Busier and more crowded. This brings more ‘life and stuff going on’.
Suffolk less diverse.
If pushed to live in one or other I’d choose Sussex but that’s because I am central London and know I’d struggle with quite how ‘country’ lots of beautiful Suffolk is.
Good luck op. Spend time and choose carefully. Sussex in particular has ‘dodgy areas’ which may seem beguiling in a summer day . . Etc.

We live know sussex, between London & Brighton. It gives us a really good mix of city options, together with lovely local towns, countryside, coast etc.

On the downside, it is expensive, but if you don’t need to get to London very often, prices can drop quite quickly as you move away from the train lines.

Thank you Heron and Equimum. I'll probably start another thread on where to live in Sussex as I definitely want to avoid any dodgy areas and local knowledge is so important.

Good point about costs near train lines. If you don’t need to get into London everyday and only once a month - then don’t bother paying a massive premium to live near one.