Would you move from Edinburgh to West Sussex?

[Birdnuts]

Tired of the weather, finding city life exhausting and demoralising. What are the pros and cons? Jobs and schools not a consideration, we are thinking of moving for family reasons.

Personally I'd move from West Sussex to Edinburgh if I could 😂 sorry, unhelpful

No - because I don't live in Edinburgh. 🤣

But being serious - that's a hell of a change in lifestyle from living in a buzzing international city to semi rural commuterland.
You risk getting very bored and missing the opportunities that currently exist on your doorstep.

No, but I'd move to East Sussex.

I live in West Sussex and I don't think I'd choose to move here if I lived in Edinburgh. It's ok but there's not a lot to do, especially when the weather is bad. It's reasonably convenient for getting to London and I tend to go there a lot when I want culture. They'd be a lot more going on in Edinburgh, and Glasgow is fantastic too.

No.

Whereabouts in West Sussex? Rural, village or town? Some of the nicer towns are very pricey.

No.

I would definitely look into it, I live on the south east coast and the weather is noticeably different from my home town in the north east of England, summers are much nicer.
I'd consider somewhere like Worthing as you have nice Victorian houses for decent prices and you have easy train links into London and Brighton so you'll still have access to city life and culture/ great food scene.

Moved from a commuter town to just about the most remote and rural place you can imagine. Never regretted it and wouldn't chose to move back but this was a move home for me so I knew what I was letting myself in for. Including the terrible weather 😆

Yes ! Just for the weather !

Surely it depends on reasons why, family, work etc.

How can anyone really answer this question for you ?

Absolutely not. Not least because I couldn't point to West Sussex on a map if you offered me a million pounds.
But assuming it's in the south (?) of England, I wouldn't want to live there.

I live in a city that is considerably smaller with less culture and events than Edinburgh. I would be very happy to move to Edinburgh but couldn't afford it.
We have family in Worthing, the biggest place in West Sussex, and go there regularly. I couldn't live there. I can barely stand it there for more than a week. I could just about be ok with Brighton, but generally anywhere that's less than a couple of hours from London struggles to have a vibrant and self-sustaining cultural life.

Hell no. But I love Edinburgh and can't bear boring flat commuter-land.

I love in West Sussex, there are some lovely parts and benefits such as some fabulous beaches and lovely countryside, nice villages etc but be aware it is all being built on and the roads are absolute chaos! I would like to move away from here if I'm honest!

Live!! Not love 🤦🏽‍♀️

I probably would although I prefer Kent and East Sussex .

I would move out of Scotland entirely if I was able to.

We’ve done a Scotland to West Sussex move, no regrets at all. The weather is so much better, I hated Scottish winters with the days being so short and the summers always being chilly - especially when the haar rolled in. We have the South Downs on our doorstep, the beach is a short hop and it’s easy to get into London for a day out or to airports for trips away. Great theatre and independent cinema locally too.

Traffic can be dreadful though (like when everyone is trying to get to the coast), and I miss the vast open expanses of the Scottish hills, although the South Downs are lovely.

I moved from Edinburgh to the Home Counties and love it. Wouldn't go back now. You could always try it, no reason not to!

If no, why? I am tired of city life, horrendous traffic, not knowing the neighbours and finding it hard to make friends. I used to live in various parts of the South so know that Summers are much better. I have lived in Surrey years ago. Relatives are moving to Horsham which is an area I don't know, I have another relative in Lewes. Looking for a village rather than a town maybe,

somewhere where it's possible to have a semi rural feel.

I grew up in Surrey, moved to Edinburgh 20 years ago (for the love of my life). We now have kids and I thought I was here for life. Now approaching my 50s I'm suddenly feeling like Edinburgh is not home. The weather certainly takes it's tole, and I realise that it's not the utopia I thought it was. Though wonderful in myriad ways, it has hit me hard that is doesn't feel like it's where I want to be.
I'm stuck because my kids love school, I think their experience of growing up here trumps my needs 100%.
But I long for warm summers and the accent I miss hugely. Just binged Cockfields on iPlayer and it warmed the cockles.
Good luck for whatever you decide.

Did you post before about this?

If you are moving for family and good reasons then you could have a perfectly lovely life in west Sussex. Huge difference from Edinburgh but I'm sure there's pros and cons.

I grew up in West Sussex and it does have lovely countryside around the South Downs. Places like Arundel are nice for a small town feel but right on the country. Lovely around Midhurst, Petworth as well. Horsham is a MUCH nicer town than Worthing which honestly is a total dump. Horsham has nice villages around it like Wisborough Green and it’s close to Gatwick as well (but not too close!). Chichester and the country around Goodwood is really beautiful as well. That side of W Sx is nicer/prettier than the east side.

For things to do, there is a great theatre in Chichester, plus a heap of National Trust places, country walks, you can go boating all over the place, Brighton is very vibrant, loads of country pubs, nice restaurants dotted about, castles etc. It certainly isn’t as buzzing as Edinburgh but from Chichester to London it’s only about an hour on the train to London.

It’s also very nice around that end of Surrey (Godalming, Hascombe, Bramley) although it’s more expensive but Guildford is a town with more going on.

If you want south but less traffic I think the Wiltshire area is quieter and you also have nice countryside.

I live in west sussex. Moved here from. Kent with dh and the kids. It's nice enough but not much to do. We can't travel outside as we are self employed and rarely get a day off. I would only move if there was an actual need!