Where to live in Sussex?

[PickledLilli]

You were all so helpful on my Suffolk vs Sussex thread so I thought I'd ask for some area suggestions.
I'm planning a move from Scotland to the South East(or possibly East) and I'm considering Sussex(Also Kent and Hampshire but that's another thread.)

My budget is £550,000. It could be stretched a little if necessary. I'm looking for 2 preferably 3 bedrooms. I'd prefer to live in the suburbs/small town or possibly a village as I like a quiet life but don't want to be too remote . I would like to be within an hour of a larger town or city though. I'll be working from home and only going into London once a month or so so while it'd be nice to have a train station relatively near it's not essential. No real preference between East or West.

I'd like an area where there are some things to do so not completely remote. I don't drink and I'm not a fan of nightlife so that isn't an issue.

My main concern is finding a nice area. It doesn't have to feel "posh", just nice enough and relatively safe. I'm from a major city but I'm far more comfortable in the "soft suburbs". So being a wuss I'm very anxious to avoid any dodgy areas.

I've been considering in and around Chichester(But I've heard that it's going downhill). Horsham and I've been recommended Eastbourne but unsure and. I've been warned off Hastings but perhaps there are some nice areas around it?

Any suggestions and areas to avoid would be appreciated. TIA

Another vote for Horsham!! The surrounding villages are amazing too, and you'd get loads for your money

Thankyou for the links, WorriedAboutMyGirl. Those are beautiful houses. Much Nicer than I'd hoped for.

I've just been diving into rightmove. Love this one - private estate just a short hop from the beach www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-57672045.html

Sea view? www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-73558147.html

Thank you, LittleandOften. Those are lovely.

I would go to Alfriston. Bit touristy in summer but very pretty.

I live between Bognor and Chichester too. There are the South Downs, the sea, shops, parks, all kinds of restaurants, leisure centre, cinema, museum, all nearby. Good transport links to London, Brighton, Southampton, Guildford if you want more shopping choice.

There’s a microclimate and it’s usually warmer down here. You’d get a four bed house for £500,000 where we are. Rustington has a nice little centre and some pleasant houses. Arundel has the castle and Amberley has a thriving museum. There are loads of things to see and do. I like Chichester cathedral too.

It’s the thing on a Sunday morning, when the weather is good, to walk to the Lobster Pot for breakfast. Pagham has a wildlife area, Chichester harbour is lovely, there are great pubs around. A favourite is The Gribble in Oving, which has its own brewery. Bosham has a great walk and a pub called the Anchor Bleu.

Where I live, I can get a bus into Chi every ten minutes and the journey time is 10-15. There are the usual supermarkets within a 5-10 minute drive, gyms, farm shops, garden centres, community centres, all sorts.

You’d certainly get the right house for your money. We came here from Surrey. Much better. The New Forest isn’t too far away, so there’s sea, countryside, amenities all around.

Chichester needs to go downhill quite a lot before it's the equivalent to Horsham IMO.....

What's the deal with Hastings? Am moving too...is it bad?

Tunbridge Wells surrounding areas are lovely (not so much North, but East, West is South of the town). There are some gorgeous villages on the Kent/East Sussex border - one of which I live in - that are frequently described as some of the prettiest in England. Pricey, but for c£500k you should be able to buy what you want. I’d recommend Frant, Wadhurst, Lamberhurst, Ticehurst, Rotherfield, Mayfield all have great amenities and are close to Tunbridge Wells and mainline stations into London.

Personally I wouldn’t go too close to the coast without knowing the area well, as you have more chance of coming across a ‘dodgy’ town (most are lovely, but from your OP I’d say there are definitely some that seem nice on paper but wouldn’t suit what you’re after).

If you are planning on having children in the future, the aforementioned villages have great primaries and are in the catchments for good secondaries too.

putsomethingontheendofit Hastings has a bit of a bad reputation. Parts of it are incredibly run down, which is a shame because it could be beautiful. A lot of seaside towns in the southeast traditionally rely on the money the older generation bring in, which is why Eastbourne and Seaford do well, but Hastings just doesn't have this so it has no investment. It has quite a good 'alternative' community.

@Foxyloxy1plus1 yes, we are officially the sunniest place in the UK!

Although you wouldn't know it to look out of the window today

I'd also say one of the villages bordering horsham, you can't go wrong, meets your needs and commutable to London.

Horsham or its surrounding villages, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Storrington, West Chiltington, Aldwick.

I'm Sussex born and bred but moved away some time ago. Still love going back for visits though.

Those are mostly coastal towns, is that what you're after? If not, I'd try Forest Row or Lindfield, they have a nice villagey feel but still have shops and stuff going on.

I used to live in Chichester, and it was good then, but I had a look at maybe going back recently and decided not to because the schools were bad unless you go private. Might be good if schools aren't an issue though.

Shoreham-by-sea is worth a look too. West Wittering is beautiful but a bit remote if you want to live there full time (good for holidays though).

LOL, and you can always tell who's lived in Chichester because they call it Chi

Something like this might suit
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62925369.html

Good old Chi. Back in the days of meeting your mates at the Cross on a Saturday. my vote is for Bosham, Emsworth, Arundel or maybe Midhurst?

Forest Row

Lindfield

Shoreham-by-Sea

They don't have to be coastal towns.

Thank you all so much for your assistance. So many wonderful places to check out. Are there any towns/villages that people would suggest avoiding? I'm wary of them looking good on paper, as another poster mentioned, but being the exact opposite of what I'm looking for.

Is Chi pronounced like Chai?

Crawley! Avoid, avoid.

Yes, like chai 😁

Hasting and some parts of Eastbourne are shit holes. Literally... even some parts of Brighton are, the same in most places always have the bad areas. You’d be better living on the outskirts of Brighton. So lewes, Peacehaven, saltdean, rottingdean, seaford (not newhaven as that’s a shit hole too) and surrounding areas that has Brighton at arms reach, also not far from Eastbourne (the good parts)

I forgot about Forest Row, as a PP mentioned. That’s lovely - too big for me, but has very villagey feel. Hartfield is a great village nearby; right on the outskirts of the Ashdown Forest.

Stay away from Hailsham if you’re in East Sussex. The centre of it looks lovely but outskirts are very dodgy. Ditto anything near Hastings, Bexhill or Brighton (very dodgy estates on outskirts). Crawley is not nice in West Sussex.

Not meaning to cause offence to anyone; I use ‘dodgy’ based on OPs requirements.

So I live in Hastings and I would avoid here. Tbh when you move from London it's a breath of fresh air.. for a while.

Peacehaven is gorgeous, as are Rottingdean and Lewes. There are many lovely places in East Sussex