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

Horsham is good but a town rather than village. Great facilities and train connections though. A little further south are villages like Storrington, Pulborough, Steyning and Findon. All are nice enough with decent shops, pubs and all 20 ish mins max to a mainline station for London in an hour but all have a different feel, some more rural than others, close to the downs, the coast easily reachable.

Good luck!

A look on Rightmove gives you plenty of options in your budget but range from new build to do-er-uppers, again, depends on what tickles your fancy.

Chichester is lovely, I grew up there and my family is still there. It is certainly not going downhill!

Lots of lovely villages all around going up into the South Downs

I used to live near Hastings. St Leonards actually. I am afraid I did not like it. I did not even appreciate being by the beach! The place was full of transient people and had a very seedy edge.

My brother taught at a local school and the problem kids were the old fisher families. He would see mums and daughters out on the game and quite a few of the kids came in smelly unwashed clothes and there was abuse as well. OK can happen anywhere but was well in your face there.

The locals also did not like the fact that there were foreigners hanging around (there was a language school, I think they stayed in hostels and were at a loss of what to do when not in class).

I had some good times but also remember no heating in my bedroom so that may have coloured my opinion on the place!!!

Used to enjoy it as a kid on holiday there. My brother had a nice flat and stayed there when he married and had his first child. Then they moved to Hampshire which they truly love as it is a great place for kids.

I am selling a house in Wadhurst...

Lewes will probably be out of your budget, Eastbourne would be a good choice you would get a nice house for that budget.

Seaford? Quieter than Eastbourne, slightly more expensive but you would still get a nice house for that budget.

I personally wouldn’t bother with Newhaven, Peacehaven, Hastings etc.

Horsham is lovely, Hayward’s Heath is nice too not sure how your far your budget would stretch in those areas.

Good luck with your search OP.

I’d live in many places mentioned and do live in one that a pp mentioned...

Horsham, Lewes, Worthing would be on my list and your money would go further in Hayward’s heath or hassocks and on the Brighton main line..

On a technicality here- the OP is asking about Sussex. Tunbridge Wells, Tenterden, Sevenoaks etc are in Kent.

I moved 7 months ago from Burwash in East Sussex where I lived for 11 years. Beautiful as it is, train services to London or anywhere are dire. One an hour except in rush hour. Taxis - you have to prebook maybe weeks before.

Now I have relocated to Rottingdean in Brighton. Right across road from sea. I am now on my own. This place has it all. Peace and beautiful views, nice pubs, a fantastic bus service into town. All that Brighton has to offer and you can go home to your peace and views after a fun time out. 55 minutes on train to London and there seems to be a train about every 15 minutes. I know I chose the right place for me

Ps. I think you can get a house in your budget here

Chichester is only suffering what a lot of places go through when the London money moves in - it becomes very obvious who the have and have nots are. It’s a nice town but I don’t think they’d thank yet another person coming down and clogging up the roads, The traffic is appalling at times. A mix of too many people, heavy agricultural vehicles and hobby cyclists for the South Downs.
You might like to be nearer the Hampshire border side. You get the A3 and a better train service into Waterloo. Someone mentioned Midhurst which is very nice and has the Polo during the summer. It’s got no station so that bit cheaper but has the same feel as Chichester but smaller.

Nothing wrong with Crawley. Lived here my whole life.

It has everything you need. Good shopping. Big cinema. Great transport links. Right by the airport. Close to London and Brighton and all other beaches. Love it. Plus none of the snobbyness of Horsham (only partly joking here).

You would get a lot more for your 550k here too. We are the poor neighbour of Sussex lol.

I'd pick Mayfield, Crowborough, Wadhurst or somewhere around those areas. I love Mayfield in particular, such a pretty village with a lovely community. Might be too far towards Kent for you though OP.

Seaford? Quieter than Eastbourne, slightly more expensive but you would still get a nice house for that budget There's a reason for that. Seaford is the place where people go to die, but never do. It's a giant retirement village.

Lewes is lovely. We have family there. Good links to London, lovely community, very pretty, the bonfire night event!

@yellowsun Lewes is very pretty, but I found the bonfire night bloody terrifying!😂

LittleAndOften

I love Bonfire! Although my wellies got burnt by rookies one year.

I would definitely vote Lewes and it's definitely within your budget. Only downside is lack of garden space and terrible for parking.

Petersfield is also lovely.

What about Rye?
Lovely citadel town, a bike ride to Camber Sands or Winchelsea beach, station, easy access to the motorway, Paul McCartney lived there, as did the Pet Shop Boys.

Loads of 4 bed houses well within your budget.

Thank you all so much again. You've been all so lovely and helpful. I'm going to do a lot of research on these areas and try to narrow it down a little, but the more suggestions the better. I'd hate to miss the perfect place. I'm happy to receive suggestions of areas in Kent too, as I gave, because I'm also considering Kent and possibly Hampshire. I didn't want to list all three counties and given you all more of a headache than necessary.

@FionaCorkesWardrobebyKamizole Us Mayfieldians thank you for your kind compliment 😀

Mind you, its loveliness is why we live in a flat (same money would get us a house in Crowborough or Heathfield 😩)

I live in Chi, for the past 30+ years - I wouldn't really recommend it, it's deffo getting worse, the town is fading away most the shops are closing or have closed and the traffic is horrendous. House prices are crazy, Bosham is alright though for the villages on the outskirts, Emsworth is also lovey, they are building everywhere though.

I think you need to think about what sort of facilities you are after ..For instance do you want a town with supermarket(s) or a village with a mini market ?, A couple of pubs or selection of restaurants & takeaways ?, Library ?, Cinema ? Clubs ? . A regular bus / train service etc. Cottage gardens and fetes or delicatessens and coffee shops ?.. Would you like to walk places or drive ? Mayfield for instance is lovely, but has one small high street (10 mins walk end to end) whereas somewhere like Lewes has several shopping streets.

I grew up in Lewes and my brother now lives in Eridge. Both gorgeous places. As is Groombridge which is on the Kent East Sussex border. I've moved north and west now but when first married my husband and I lived in Uckfield and that is nice as well. He taught at a school in Eastbourne and it is a real shit hole - worse than Brixton where he was brought up.

Love love love East Sussex. Would move back tomorrow.

Eastbourne is NOT A SHIT HOLE.

It is a lovely town, with great facilities & filled with lovely people. I hoinestly don't see how you can compare it to Brixton unless you have personally had a bad experience there.

Lewes, in my view, is filled with Down From London types & lots of 'yummy mummys' & is very pretentious.

Absolutely agree with the PP saying Eastbourne is not a shit hole and I too have lived in London. It has excellent facilities and is surrounded by beautiful countryside.

Pevensey

Lots of fab places outside of horsham as suggested before- Steyning is great, storrington, partridge green and Shoreham too, but rapidly becoming more expensive, you can be in Brighton in 30 minutes. Hurstpierpoint also worth a thought b

Steyning (it’s my username!) is amazing. No train though only 15 mins to Shoreham if you need it. 20 mins to Brighton, right in the middle of the Downs, lovely town centre.