Brighton or Hastings

[bubbleybee]

I want to move to Brighton, my partner says Hastings would be better as so much cheaper and its up and coming. Anyone live in either place who can advise? Are there cheaper areas that are not too far out in Brighton? We like the idea of all the stuff that goes on in Brighton for families so don't want to be too far out. Is Hastings up and coming? We are currently in a village in the midlands so can't keep driving down to see. I have never been to Hastings but partner has. Would love to hear opinions , thanks

I have lived in both. You get much much more for your money in Hastings and it is a lovely town. Nice parks, beach and shops. The castle is pretty. Not sure about schools but think they are good

Brighton is amazing with a great atmosphere for all ages. However if I am honest I would only want to live there with kids if I had lots of money or you will end up living in a small flat and paying a fortune for it. It's a fab party town and without kids a small central flat is great. Not so much with kids.

There are 37 miles approx between the 2 and if you do go for Hastings then you cN have day trips to Brighton very easily. Druisillas zoo is also on the way there 😊 I would go for Hastings for a better quality of life

If you insist on Brighton though the cheaper areas are possibly Portslade (officially Hove but very close) Woodingdean, Saltdean and out towards Falmer. When I was there the cheaper areas were also Whitehawk and Moulsecoomb but they were not quite so nice. Might be very different now though

I live in Brighton and it really is an amazing place to live. But you will definitely get more for your money in Hastings. There are cheaper parts of Brighton if you head away from the centre - towards Portslade/Lancing for example. Complete variety of school standards depending on which catchment area you're in. I guess it really depends on your budget as to how much of a compromise the type of property you'd get in brighton would be

Hastings is definitely up and coming as is its sister town, St Leonards. Property prices are still fairly reasonable unlike Brighton where they have rocketed. Hastings & St Leonards are not trouble free but I don't think their issues are unique and I'm sure no worse than Brighton. There is a real vibe, always plenty going on especially within the arts and just generally lots of madcap activities! Plus we are surrounded by beautiful countryside and coastline.
Personally, I don't think the schools are that great but I don't know how they compare with Brighton. Having said that, my daughter has just graduated with first class masters degree from a top university and she went to a local comprehensive school so it can't have been all bad!

Well we would prob have about £400,000 for a house, we have two preschoolers. Thanks for the info re areas in Brighton. Maybe portslade then, others look further out. Will have a look at the prices for properties there. Good to hear about Hastings too, sounds worth a look. Schools will be important in the next couple of years too.

Thanks Mistrals, Hastings looking like a possibility then. Will check schools there.

Eastbourne?

With that kind of budget you could certainly be looking at 3 bed houses in central Brighton, and bigger further out. We paid a little less than that last year and live within walking distance of both the beach and Brighton station

I don't know Brighton well, but I've spent a lot of time in Hastings and I'd happily live there. You could get a beautiful period house near the seafront in Hastings or st Leonard's for your budget and it's easy to jump on the train to London or the other coastal towns.

Looking at house prices in Hastings and its sooo much cheaper! What's the catch??

It's further to commute from London, which makes a huge difference

Well we don't need to commute, only once a fortnight probably. I think we will go and spend a day in Hastings as it is the atmosphere and amount of great stuff happening in Brighton that I like. Thanks for all the advice anyone know about schools in Hastings? Brighton look like a bit of a mixture.

Well we don't need to commute, only once a fortnight probably. I think we will go and spend a day in Hastings as it is the atmosphere and amount of great stuff happening in Brighton that I like. Thanks for all the advice anyone know about schools in Hastings? Brighton look like a bit of a mixture.

You won't get much for £400,000 in Brighton if you want to be near good schools.

I'd personally choose Eastbourne over Hastings or Brighton. I think it is a nicer town, and the South Downs / Seven Sisters are beautiful. You can easily access events in both Hastings and Brighton as you are only 30 minutes from either and there are better schools too. Always lots on for families.

Brighton and hove are bursting at the seams. Schools very very full. Don't do it

Eastbourne, is a pleasant town but somehow lacks the character, quirkiness and vibrancy that Hastings/St Leonards and Brighton have to offer.
From Hastings there options when travelling by train to London, fastest being to Charing Cross (about an hour and 35 although some are slower) this is on South Eastern thus avoiding the currently troubled Southern Railway which you'd be stuck with from Brighton. Alternatively, if Southern aren't striking you also have direct trains to Victoria and Gatwick airport.
Definitely take a look and there are nice places just outside the town too if you wanted somewhere a little quieter, Battle, Crowhurst, Rye, Winchelsea all depends on what you're looking for.
Good luck in your search.

Have friends on both. Although friend lives in St Leonards which is just next to Hastings. Both moved from London. You will definitely get more for your money in Hastings/St Leonards. As much as I love Brighton, parking is a nightmare and the cheaper residential houses tend to be towards the back of the city. Having said that there is always tons to do and it's quote buzzy. But I think I would prefer to live on St Leonards. Stunning Victorian houses. The beach is a lot quieter om summer too.

I'm not a fan of Hastings, it's been up and coming for a while...

Brighton is great, but I wouldn't live near the centre. The suburbs are good, Hove especially.

Have a look at Lewes. £400k won't get you a lot there, but it's a lovely town and very convenient for brighton and London.

I moved to Eastbourne from London a few years back and I'd highly recommend it. £400k will get you a nice house in a nice area, with good schools. Old town and meads are worth a look. It's got the beach, a lovely seafront, and the downs. And it's not far from Brighton. The town centre could be better, but there are lovely side streets, little village shops in the different areas, and the centre is being revamped at the moment.

My best friend moved from Surrey to St Leonard's and my brother lived in Brighton and DPs birth mother lives in Hastings.......so I know both areas. I'd pick Hastings/ St Leonard's over Brighton for family living definitely but agree Eastbourne would be worth considering too.

Schools?
BFs kids both went to state schools and got into Russell Group Unis so not too dusty. Neither were considered particularly high achieving.

Brighton if you've not visited in the evening ....do so, the stag and hen night culture is pretty rampant and I found it off putting after attending concerts at the Brighton Centre. Might not bother you but would be a deal breaker for me.

Thanks all, well we are in Brighton this weekend and will come down another weekend for Hastings and possibly Eastbourne. DP thinks Eastbourne is more like Worthing and full of older folk but maybe he is wrong? Nothing wrong with older people by the way just a different vibe perhaps. I had great time in Brighton and didn't see any hen/stag dos but we were in the north Laine area last night. I don't think we could afford a garden in Brighton unless we move out further. What about Patcham? 15 mins on the bus someone told me and nice village feel they said?

Coconuts - can I ask what it is that you don't like about Hastings? Seems everyone has been very positive about it but would appreciate any negatives too.