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

I'd second Midhurst, if you're not worried about the lack of a train station. If you're interested in Hampshire, Petersfield is lovely, and is on the Portsmouth line into Waterloo.

Re Hampshire, I'd suggest you look at / around Winchester. A beautiful city and glorious at Christmas and in summer. Beautiful surrounding villages. Alresford springs to mind, but there are many others.

Also worth checking out the village Odiham which is nearer Basingstoke.

Thank you all so much, you lovely people, and thank you for the Hampshire tips too. I'll definitely carefully consider facilities. My current town's high street can be covered in ten minutes so a town of that size or even a not too remote village with access to similarly sized town within half an hour or so would be fine.(And ideally within an hour of a good sized town or city) I'll ensure that I have a list of requirements to hand when researching.

@PickledLilli you may not like Chichester then 😂 the town centre is in a cross so if you want one shop in north street and another in east street it's never a quick walk 😂😂😂😂🤣

You want Emsworth. It's the best town in the world.

@ElizabethinherGermanGarden ha ha I did my gsce geography project (fair few years ago now!) in emsworth! I had to find a decent conclusion as to why there were more pubs in Emsworth than anything else 😂😂😂😂😂

Has the best butchers though! Known Mick and his team for over 20 years!

Thank you for the information on Chichester. PrayingandHoping. Unfortunately, I very much need the exercise so it may not be a bad thing.

I'll read up on Emsworth too. Thank you.

Oh, it's a foodie kind of place. I'm sold already.

@PickledLilli yes it is!

Honestly the butcher is amazing!! One year we had a turkey purchased elsewhere we discovered was off and they gave us theirs!! (Sure their wife was thrilled!) lol if they read this they'll know exactly who I am 😂 they are so friendly and even though I moved away I still pop over with my dad to say hi to everyone! 🤣

Emsworth has a beautiful little harbour.... and as I said.... a lot of pubs!

It sounds delightful. My only concern is flooding. I'm very wary of that wherever I go though. I think I'll definitely be checking it out in person though, if only to stuff my face.

I don't recall any flooding issues 🤔 we lived there for a couple years a couple roads back from the sea and were fine

I live near Tunbridge Wells and have family in Sussex inc Chichester. If I could move tomorrow with no job issues I would move down towards Chichester in a heartbeat. Tunbridge Wells has gone downhill massively, the council are ruining the town centre and the surrounding local towns with over building. The town centre is a ghost town. Nicer areas in Kent are Tonbridge and Sevenoaks but none are as nice as Chichester.

If I put it in Google it shows reports on flooding there in 2010 and 2014 and concern last year that a new development may cause flooding. Again, it probably depends on where homes are located, so I'd just choose carefully.

We were there much longer ago than that. As you say. Prob just research the house you buy 👍

They've put in new defences too.

Interesting to read differing opinions on Chichester, and sad to read that things are getting worse for TW. TBH I feel the same way about my city, but I'm sure that many locals would disagree with me.

If you choose Midhurst or Petersfield, they are in the South Downs National Park, so much less new building.

Waves to everyone near Chichester

First Avenue, Southbourne
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-64368666.html

This is pretty close to the Harbour

I'm not from Chichester or TW but visit them every now and then. How exactly are they going down hill?

I live in East Sussex and that is all I hear about most towns, including my own.

What exactly are we talking about?

Is it a sign of the current state of society? Where services have been stripped back to the bare minimum - policing and social support? East Sussex County Council in particular is in a lot of trouble.

Or is it more local?

I would really avoid Lewes, we lived there for two years. We got an anonymous letter pushed through our door after a few months (the full "cut individual letters out of newspapers and stick them down" sort) telling us to go back to where we came from. We had moved from Brighton 😂

After the last floods in Emsworth (down by the Lord Raglan in 2014) there were lots of defence improvements and the water board are always going around checking.

Horsham, Slinfold, Southwater are all fab - including the little villages outside Horsham.

Personally, I'd avoid East Grinstead, Forest Row, Ashurst Wood, Felbridge, and most parts of Crawley - areas are going downhill and Crawley wasn't a nice place to live for the brief time I lived there

Rottingdean? Bus routes to take you directly to the station, lovely beach, nice community feel

Another vote for Rottingdean. Woodingdean is also lovely, little bit cheaper although slightly more inland. Not by much though. Its a bugger to get out if its snowing though.
Also think that worthing should get a mention, I moved to worthing a few years ago and live it. Schools have really good ratings as well if that's something that interests you.

I have a friend that lives in Bosham and it’s lovely. He dh commutes to London occasionally for work and finds it ok.