Moving away from Brighton for London commute, recommendations!

[Snowcon3]

Hi, aibu to ask where I can live to ease my London commute? Just been offered a job in London and currently live in Brighton which we LOVE so much! But would ideally need to be nearer to London as worried I will barely see my family due to the long commute. I have been thinking about Haywards Heath, does anyone know the area? Or any other suggestions? We are an lgbt family and ideally would like to be somewhere a bit alternative like Brighton (I know it's unique but just a similar vibe maybe?!) I'm clueless so any pointers much appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Where in London will be working? Before you make a decision to move, I would just make sure you actually look into the difference in commutes depending on whether you'll be getting the thameslink or Gatwick express/southern. As although somewhere like Haywards heath is physically closer, there are less train options than from Brighton and so you may find at best it saves a few minutes a day

Horsham? I echo what PP said though, I think the commute into London Bridge is quicker from Horsham than into Victoria? Sadly I don't think you're going to find anywhere as liberal as Brighton but Horsham is very popular with young families (Dr's are scarce and the hospital is bloody miles away)

Thank you, really helpful, I hadn't even thought of being less trains etc. Job is 2 mins from London Bridge. Thanks v much!

Roughly what budget for what type of property?

I’d chose Horsham over Hayward’s Heath, or maybe Tumbridge Wells or Balcombe?

Not sure you will gain anything by moving closer to London tbh. Cost of moving/upheaval and train delays on all Southern routes surely?

Tunbridge Wells after living in cosmopolitan Brighton? lol

Although there’s nothing wrong with HH, and as it’s a major stop, similar amount of trains than Brighton. Thameslink direct to London Bridge (although they are usually full by HH). Could try Redhill or Edenbridge also if you want a much closer commute.

Burgess Hill as a huge town centre regeneration scheme just about to begin but Horsham is historic and pretty with a John Lewis and better schools than HH or Burgess Hill.

@sunshinesupermum

Hayward’s Heath after living in cosmopolitan Brighton, but that’s what the OP is asking.

I used to commute to London from Brighton - it's really not that bad, especially if you get a train with only a few stops. Recent Southern Rail 'difficulties' may make it worse, of course - but not sure it would be bad enough to give up living in Brighton for!

HH always strikes me as commuterville personified.It's pleasant, and has everything you need (I go there for Waterstones and M&S), but it seems really mainstream.

Would London Bridge be any good? If so, I'd look at East Grinstead. It has a pretty historic high street, some nice pubs and despite it's outward "Middle England" exterior, it's much more left field than it seems. Any town that can comfortably accommodate druids, dowsers, Mormons, Scientologists and a biodynamic farm can't be all bad imo. It's on the edge of the Ashdown Forest and surrounded by the beautiful High Weald, and it has steam trains.

It's a shame the trains from Lewes are so awful, I think you'd like Lewes. It's very inclusive and liberal.

Horsham is a lovely town with great schools but quite conservative IMO. Although it is a nice place to live the commute to London Bridge is much slower than other places on the London / Brighton line.

Haywards Heath has a surprising number of facilities although it is a total commuter town. The schools are reasonable & lots of gyms / sports facilities clubs etc. there are also some lovely villages like Cuckfield & Lindfield that are just about walkable / cycleable to the station.

It depends what you are looking for, nowhere in Sussex is as liberal as you will have experienced in Brighton and only you can decide if it is worth losing that for a shorter commute.

Feel free to pm me about it - we made a similar decision a few years ago.

We moved to Croydon in a similar situation but I don't think many would like that! It's improving vastly but if you want the country/ sea air you're not going to get it. But definitely you'd get the liberal /inclusive vibe because it's London.

My daughter lives in Redhill and commute is fine (which is why they chose it) but it is pretty suburban which might be a shock to the system after Brighton? Do you have young kids? If so, it could be fine there.

Personally I wouldn't give up the brighton life unless I was able to cut my commute at least in half. At least from Brighton you get a seat in the morning!

Thanks so much, this has been so helpful! I didn't think through the fact that due to other things somewhere nearer may not actually knock that much off the commute. I think on reflection we love Brighton so much that unless I could at least halve the commute it wouldn't be worth it. Maybe we will see how it goes and if it doesn't work out we could look at nearer to London Bridge. Thanks again!

op have you looked at Hastings (old town especially) its fun and quirky with a large LBGTQ community, easy commute to London.

If you can afford the rail fares and are near a station in Brighton, I'd give the commuting a try before you look at moving since your new office will be right by London bridge.

I found it galling to leave brighton but was 25 mins from the station at both ends which made it a heck of a commute and my salary at the time didn't really justify it. I don't think it's that much further than most of the towns suggested.

Commute won't be toooooooo bad if your office is right by London Bridge. Def give it a go and see how you find it before looking to move.

The commute from Haywards Heath to London Bridge is pretty reasonable, nice new trains and very frequent during peak hours.
The town has good restaurants, a few nice pubs/bars, and nice areas for walking nearby. It's a good base but you'd need to go to Brighton or Crawley for a shopping spree or cinema (although one is getting built in Burgess Hill at the moment).
I'm surprised by all the suggestions of Horsham. I admit it's a nice place and has a good town centre, but transport link wise it's not quite as good with an hour commute into London Bridge and an hour into Brighton.
Whereas Haywards Heath is 45min to London Bridge and 20mins to Brighton, with the option of going direct to Victoria or Kings Cross if you ever need to.
One thing to consider though would be how your getting to the station, parking isn't great at either station and buses aren't great in Hayward's Heath.

I agree with PPs re the Horsham commute. It is a lovely place, but really isn't that great for a London commute. You'd also have to add on getting to the station in the morning if you aren't within walking distance of the station. At least in Brighton there are regular and relatively fast buses going to the station from most areas (Horsham's buses are not the best..)

As PP have said, Brighton to London (especially London Bridge) really isn't that bad and, yes, you do get a seat, which will make a lot of difference in practical terms. TBH You probably aren't going to get anywhere that much closer in practical terms. Haywards Heath has been mentioned, but that is only 15 mins up the road (train wise!) from Brighton and you'd probably still need to drive to/from station. Maybe worth a try from Brighton before you upend the family?

And you may be able to work from home some days as well.

When I worked in London I worked with a few people who commuted in daily from Brighton, they all found it okay :)

Yes as Boopear says, will you be able to work flexibly? 1 or 2 days from home will make a big difference

Hate to piss in your chips but couldn’t you see about one or two WFH days instead. I know quite a few LGBT families who moved out of brighton to Horsham and Hayward’s Heath, or Crawley and came back as they hated it. Small town mentality, and dull compared to bright despite the bigger houses with gardens. And believe it or not the trains are better from brighton, more of them and when it starts going pear shaped the brighton trains ( particularly through Gatwick - ) get priority. I get the LB train and it’s pretty good, as first on at brighton you get a seat and if you have no changes or tube at the other end I’d say stick with that.