To ask where you think I could move to

[Movingon2018]

I currently live in Brighton with 2 kids age 10 & 6 but it’s expensive and having lived here a long time (18 years) would like to move on - but where to?

DD starts secondary in 18 months so that’s a factor. Brighton is also too expensive now- I rent and I’m a single parent.

Aibu to ask for your suggestions about where to live? I would like a community, nice schools and work opportunities if possible!

Places that have been suggested that are apparently quirky (!)- Totnes, Frome, Stroud - I think lots of ex brightonians head to those towns! I have family in Bristol and Wales.

I would love some ideas please!

Why not move closer to family? Bristol is pretty decent and Wales...well, depends where but would certainly be cheaper than Brighton.

I would move closer to family. Use right move to search for rentals in those areas so you get an idea of costs. What type of work are you looking for?

We moved ro Bristol from Brighton two years ago (job relocation) and I’ve found it as expensive as Brighton. Where about in Wales is your family? Perhaps somewhere in between Bristol and Wales? Newport? Cardiff? Swansea? All likely to be more affordable. Plus still not too far from family.

I second Stroud.

Stroud is also expensive

I guess anywhere seems cheap after Brighton @mummagiles!

I like all of these towns named but think you might need to move into Wales to get something significantly cheaper than Brighton. Cardiff is great and there are some lovely towns in the surrounding areas.

Most of Wales is crap for work opportunities. Wales has really high unemployment and few available opportunities. Cost of living is cheap there because nobody has any money.
Bristol is expensive.
I know nothing about Stroud or frome.
Why not try to secure work first in one of your possible areas and then do the maths and move if the numbers stack up.

@Els1e can you name some nice towns around Cardiff? I don’t know area well x

I don't have advice op but I also leave in Brighton. My dc are younger so only in infants but we also plan to move away before secondary. It's expensive here and the schools at secondary aren't the best.

Do you want to get away from Sussex/South East? We are considering the Southampton area as we have a few links , it's much cheaper

We used to live in Brighton, if you move outside of the city you can get much more for your money, suggestions Seaford? Seaford Head School, Ofsted rated Outstanding secondary school. Eastbourne? Quite similar to Brighton, Good choice of secondaries. Peacehaven/newhaven? Shoreham? Worthing? All by the sea but cheaper property prices.

@yogagirl123 thanks, yes, have considered those areas but think I want to leave the south east all together as it’s so far from everywhere else esp my family!

How about looking in Hereford and Worcester? It's not so far from Bristol - DB and Sil live there and it is less than an hour door to door.

Bristol is wonderful, but housing is extraordinarily expensive these days. Bedminster/southville is still relatively affordable and vibey though.
Totnes is quirky but really far from anywhere.

@putyourdamnshoeson yes, that’s my worry about Totnes. Someone also suggested Falmouth but again, miles from anywhere

I liked Dinas Powys and Barry. Or what about some of the suburbs of Cardiff like Cardiff Bay. I think the idea to look for the job first and then plan your move around that is a good one. North Somerset, Minehead or Dunster, is another area which might be worth looking at. Or South Gloucestershire, Chepstow, Monmouth. Though I think transport links in the area Bristol to Cardiff might be better. What type of work do you do OP?

I think anywhere in South Wales would be cheaper and also closer to Bristol. If I were you I'd move to somewhere to somewhere in Pembrokeshire.

If you're looking for links to family, Cornwall and darkest Devon are out (doesn't stop me fantasising about it).
Dunster is lovely, never any houses for sale though not that I stalk rightmove. I wouldn't bring a child up there or in Minehead if you paid me.
I'm in Taunton, so near those areas. It's fine. Just fine. Neither I or DH are from here and moved here separately and temporarily 17 years ago .
I dream of moving to Bristol or even Exeter, but a house like ours, in a comparable area would cost £350k min and would need work, ours is worth £230k tops
Clevedon and Nailsea are supposed to be really nice and easy reach to M5 and Bristol.

Penarth is nice, on the coast a few miles west of Cardiff, although I think house prices are relatively pricey for S Wales. Ogmore by Sea too.

Portsmouth. Very cheap to live and Southsea has a Brighton vibe going on. You won't be away from the sea either which after 18 years would be a wrench to leave I imagine.

I work in Chippenham.

Great schools, reasonably priced housing, beautiful countryside, close to the M4 for Bristol and Wales.

Bristol is frighteningly expensive and schools are hugely oversubscribed.

Wales is beautiful but employment opportunities are more limited I believe.

How about somewhere like brixham, it’s very close to totnes, Dartmouth, Paignton and Torquay,fabulous community, prices arnt bad but the town is undergoing a huge revival and I reckon prices are going to skyrocket, it really is lovely, as is Teignmouth which is about half an hour drive away!! Both worth looking at

Most of Wales is crap for work opportunities. Wales has really high unemployment and few available opportunities. Cost of living is cheap there because nobody has any money

No one? In the whole Country?

What a ridiculous generalisation. There are lots of skint people in Wales. And lots of wealthy ones that live in mansions...except the mansions cost £700k instead of £7m

Re employment 'opportunities ' then it totally depends on what the op does. If she's a banker then yeah, she may struggle in West Wales. If she's a cleaner then she'll do a hell of a lot better and have a much better standard of living in Wales than the South East.