Relocating to West Sussex

[CatPetrucci]

Hi there!
we’re a family of 2 mums and 2 young kids and thinking of potentially relocating to West Sussex. I may have a work opportunity at Queen Victorias Hospital in East Grinstead. We found a lovely place that would be ideal for us there but reading on the town it doesn’t feel like it would be the best fit for our family.
can anyone suggest any other town that would give me quick and easy access to the hospital and a not-so-long commute to Kingston Hospital where my wife works?
good primary schools also a bonus ! Overall looking for somewhere safe, quiet but with stuff to do and where the kids won’t feel discriminated against.
Thank you very much!

Maybe Horsham, which is quite a big town and not far from East Grinstead. Looks like a more direct route to Kingston too. Theres Crawley, but that’s very close to Gatwick.

Kingston is a rather awkward place to reach. What is it about East Grinstead that puts you off? How far away from QVH can you commute?

Tricky. Would definitely not recommend Crawley. Haywards Heath is ok but possibly too far from Kingston. Dorking? There are plenty of lovely villages but the towns in that area are largely uninspiring dormer/commuter towns.

Thank you all!
someone has shared the crime rate has been going up in east grinstead, others have said it’s quite boring - though I’m not too annoyed at that. But the main thing is because of the different religious activity it doesn’t feel like a welcoming place for a LGBTQ family like ours. Plus others have also mentioned schools aren’t great. However I had a little look at a few primary schools nearby and they looked alright to me.
will have a look at Horsham.
dorking may be a bit too far yes. And would
rather avoid noise nuisance from Gatwick.
if all goes well my wife would then look for a job more local but initially she doesn’t want to leave Kingston.

Horsham is good

I don't think it is particularly unwelcoming of diversity , certainly no more so than other towns in the area. EG has amenities like leisure centre and theatre as well as being close to Ashdown Forest. The flight paths are under review, particularly if the second runway goes ahead but EG is a little further south at the moment. Schools there are good and there is an option to go to selectives in Kent at secondary. Alternatively Oxted might be worth consideration, with nearby access to M25 to commute to Kingston and 20/30 minutes drive to QVH, or one of the villages towards M23 like Crawley Down or Copthorne but you may gain aircraft noise, or Horley.

Thank you so much!
Any parts of Horsham or Oxted to avoid?
thanks again :)

Definitely Dorking or Horsham, but Horsham is a bit of a schlep from Kingston albeit lovely. You'd have to battle the A24 - on a good day, probably 40 mins if traffic clear.
Dorking would be quicker and more equal in terms of distance between the two. Good schools as well.

I'm biased to Horsham as my family live there, but in your case I'd think Dorking and surrounds might be better.

Hurst Green is a bit patchy and cut off from the town centre by A25.