to be really disappointed after visiting worthing today? (say yes!)

[TooMuchRain]

In September we will be moving to near Brighton (can't afford actual Brighton unfortunately) and I was getting quite excited about Worthing until we went to visit today... it just felt a bit run down and I couldn't see what we would do there - no independent cinema, not much by way of watersports and stupid things like we couldn't find a naice cafe in west worthing (where we were house-hunting)

So, can you tell me if IABU and we stupidly missed the great bits or if I am looking at the wrong town??

[frutilla]

YABU I love Worthing. Am a Londoner, but lived there for a short while in my twenties. Love the Dome Cinema and the Connaught Corner House, it has a good library and renowned theatre. Would consider moving there again as it's a good place for kids to grow up.

[EhricLovesTeamQhuay]

Goldenbear I moved to north lancing 3 years ago for that reason. I never regretted it. You can buy a decent 3 bedroom house for well under £200k, the primary schools are good and my house backs on to fields. I rent, and I have a 3 bed house with a huge living room, garden and driveway for less than I paid for a 2 bed flat in portslade.

[RichManPoorManBeggarmanThief]

Worthingers- if any of you are still reading this thread, what's the new swimming pool like- is there a shallow/splash pool for toddlers? Also, what's the soft play like on Stoke Abbott Road. ANy other hints for good parks/ playgrounds with a 3 yr old and a 1 yr old?

[farewellfigure]

Go to Ferring instead. The cafe on the beach is lovely. No don't actually... as the beach is nice and quiet at the moment!

[NonnoMum]

The new swimming pool was opened yesterday by Ellie Simmons. The 'leisure pool' is great for young children. The soft play (P.L.A.Y) is OK if you like soft play...
The Waterwise Children's park on West Worthing Seafront is always busy in good weather. Highdown Gardens is gorgeous for a picnic.

[burberryqueen]

Someone else suggested Hangleton: don't do it. Hangleton is what death is like
100 per cent agree - give Hangleton and Portslade a v wide berth

[EhricLovesTeamQhuay]

PLAY is fine. It's a soft play...the cafe serves foul coffee and it's separate from the soft play room so you can't have a drink while watching them play.

Fucking hell there is a lot of snobbery about hangleton and portslade. I've lived in portslade and it's no better or worse than any residential area of any town anywhere. No it doesn't have chi chi cafes or boutique shops but I don't really give a fuck. It's safe enough, schools are fine, near the sea, easy access to centre/A27. What's wrong with that? Same with hangleton.

[burberryqueen]

well I lived in Hangleton for six years and Portslade for two.....and no they are not great, sorry if that makes me a vile snob.

[cantspel]

RichManPoorManBeggarmanThief

Lovely brand new play area at Bull park. Ideal for younger children.

The soft play like on Stoke Abbott Road is good with areas for little ones and plenty of slides, ball pits foam cubes etc. Can get very busy during school holidays but nice and quite for preschoolers during term time.

[EhricLovesTeamQhuay]

No, they aren't great. But they aren't bad either.

[burberryqueen]

yeh Portslade is OK, but Hangleton is not, sorry.

[RichManPoorManBeggarmanThief]

Thanks all.

[EhricLovesTeamQhuay]

Parts of it aren't the best, but parts of it are fine. Lots of lovely big houses on hangleton road/way, very little trouble. I wouldn't choose to love round harmsworth crescent but I'd be happy a mile down the road. Much like anywhere really. Silly to write off an entire area because it has a council less desirable area.

[burberryqueen]

lol harmsworth crescent yes...say no more..

[burberryqueen]

i know it well...so i am speaking from bitter experience

[EhricLovesTeamQhuay]

love live round harmsworth crescent. Although I have a friend who used to live in one of the bungalows and I might have loved a bit on her sofa after a particularly heavy night out

[burberryqueen]

looooooooool - i know those bungalows - hehehehehe

[ARTHOUSE66]

Hi there, we moved from London to Brighton and after 10 years to Worthing, much quieter and very different but great schools, loads of space, bigger house space, lovely beach, few great cafe's, more interesting shops emerging, two great cinemas, brilliant for walking (got a dog!) And.. when I miss Brighton I jump on a train and it's 30 mins to the centre and £7 return! Or direct to London!
The area is changing and growing and house prices rising, I find Brighton great to visit now and am happy to escape back here to the peace with more space. Any questions happy to help.

[SpottedGingham]

You bumped a 4 year old thread?

[sunshineinabag]

Insider tip: Margate will be the new brighton in 10 years. Source: a lot of my brighton art and music friends are moving there.

[sunshineinabag]

Oh. Zombie thread. Disappointed.

[Madwoman5]

Dome cinema, reasonably quiet beach, shops, bowling ally, activities on the pier like circus school, park just down the road that does all sorts of things for the kids (shoreham side). Love the place

[Katrina79]

Hi ARTHOUSE66,

Would you mind if I pmed you with a few questions about Worthing? We are in south east london, seriously considering moving to Worthing. Heart broken to be moving just because we are happy here but house prices not sustainable plus pollution is a real worry here. Researched Worthing very intensely to get some more insight and we will spend lots of weekend there to get a better feel. Maybe see Chesney in the panto! Looks like our perfect fit but bit concerned about primary schools as we’d be making an in year application for my DS who would be either entering reception half way through the year or year 1. Worthing looks great to be honest and a bit underrated seeing as it seems to have changed a lot for the better over the last 10 years , but it gets really mixed reviews. Insider information and experiences would be welcome whether good or bad.