Moving to Brighton?

[shueshue]

Currently live in a tiny town near the Beds/ Herts border and feeling very uninspired. I am slightly alternative (have a creative job, am slightly obsessed with organic gardening) and don't fit in with the Tori crowd as friendly as everyone is, it's just not my 'tribe'.

I am wondering if it's worth taking 2 dc out of primary school and moving to Brighton for a slightly more easy going less stuck up (sort not wanting to be unkind) lifestyle. The dc's school is rated outstanding and both dc are quite happy there. But I feel like I am suffocating due to the lack of interesting things to do and frankly people around here are a little dull again sorry not wanting to be unkind.

What's Brighton like for family living? I know house pieces are climbing up there, which is a bit of a problem. DC1 is in year 4 and quite academic so grammar school system could possibly work for us.

Alternatively can anyone suggest any other easy going and nice places to live? DH and I commute to London but no more than three days a week.

My employer also has a largish office in Edinburgh and two of my oldest friends just moved there so I am wondering if that would nice too.

I lived in Brighton for a while and fucking hated it. I found it really pretentious, trying to get anywhere was a nightmare as it’s gridlocked, parking costs an arm and a leg, way too many people there in summer.

What about Frome in Somerset? Easy train links to London (though yes it would take longer than from Brighton) and a similar vibe without the bullshit.

Worth having a look at Worthing, lovely place ad there’s a nightbus you can take to Brighton. They also do open studio once a year where you can walk around visiting people’s homes looking at art.

Lived in Brighton, went to Uni in Brighton, kids born in Brighton and have property in Brighton. Only don't live there as we now live in NZ. It's still "home" though.

Just saw how old this thread is! Where are you living now?

We have a weekend flat in Brighton and plan to move there permanently when DH retires. It’s great, very buzzy and alternative and great for smaller kids. However I don’t think I would have wanted my teenage DC to grow up there (and they grew up in Croydon!). There is a massive drug culture in Brighton and that coupled with many, many night clubs where people get off their faces and very high levels of homelessness means it can be quite violent and intimidating at nights.

As someone upthread mentioned, neighbouring Hove (actually) has a lot of the advantages of Brighton without the seamier underside.

I commented on the original thread...saying we'd probably move somewhere nearby. Ended up moving to Brighton itself and am so happy we did :)

Born and bred in Brighton, lived there for 20 years until my escape.

Brighton is hell on earth imo, and this is coming from a tattooed, pierced, metalhead, nature loving vegan weirdo, so you'd think I'd fit right in.

It's too busy now and has lost loads of its original independent kooky shops that made it so wonderful, due to high rent and big chain stores squeezing them out.

I dread going back there to visit family and friends. If you absolutely HAVE to go, avoid going in the summer if you can help it. I wouldn't recommend living there at all.

The tourists would drive me mad