Somewhere like Brighton but not Brighton!

[nancy75]

Has anyone got any suggestions, thinking of a night away, Similar to Brighton but not Brighton!
Doesn’t need to be seaside but have nice shops/market/places to eat.
We are in SE London & will be driving - probably 3 hours max (I’m the only driver)
We’ve dome Brighton to death, would be nice to discover somewhere new

Whitstable is a fab place to go.

Cambridge. Ticks all the boxes. Market, river, punting, museums (which may now be open again?), lots of independent shops etc.

@ChequeredPasty

Just look at places that will give you a couple of hundred grand to spare on the purchase and with the amenities you require and you too can find your own little middle class psuedo arty haven with all the poor people at a reasonable arm's distance.

I'm sorry. That was what you were asking about wasn't it? Not so cheap as to let the plebs in, but enough so that you can have a decent garden and an art cafe in walking distance.

Bloody hell, who rattled your cage 😂 who knew a night away could be so controversial!

Another one for Bristol - it has the same hippy vibe as Brighton

I’m thinking Cambridge for this quick trip (mainly due to distance as I’m driving)
If dp can get a few days off in August I’m definitely liking the look of Bristol, but think it might be just a bit too far to drive for 1 night

Tunbridge Wells has lovely shops and is easy to get to from SE London

Tunbridge Wells is lovely but it’s somewhere I go for an afternoon shopping

Frome, in Somerset. (Further than Cambridge, but a little bit closer than Bristol).

Another vote for Lewes.

Is there enough to do in Lewis for 2 days? It wont be a weekend

Bristol, every day of the week.

Cambridge

@concernedforthefuture OP is a) in SE London so not near paddington. And B) driving, so more like 2.5-3 hours.

@ShinyFootball not quite as good but Whitstable

Also Folkestone!

Another vote for Oxford or Cambridge.

Bristol so much better than Brighton

Lewes too small for a weekend. More a place for a morning's wander.

OP, I think we're on the same page. Lewes didn't do it for me. I've had some good times in Oxford - punting's always fun in the Summer.

How about a festival weekend somewhere?

You’re not going to find anywhere as quirky as Brighton imo but Cambridge, Oxford, Bath, Cardiff are all great options! Not a fan of Bristol but that’s just my opinion

Festival would be lovely, sadly we are stuck with only being able to stay on Tuesday night through to Wednesday😩
DP job being a complete nightmare at the moment & that’s all he can get.
There is a slim chance he might get a 5 days later in the summer, if he does I’ll look at maybe a couple of nights in Bristol & a night in Bath.
Right now I’ll settle for anywhere that isn’t in my house - even just 1 night!