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!

Lewes is on the Brighton line, and is a great place

I get my feet under the table at the new place then see about flexibility. DW has quite a bit London job but had a WFH day a week ( moves around) and also goes in really early on Fridays and heads home at 4 to make the most of living by the sea :)

Would you consider living in London itself? There are some really great areas where the commute into London Bridge would take 15 minutes. Just a suggestion .

The homeworking is a good suggestion but to make it worthwhile you need 2 days in the office and 3 at home, because a weekly season costs as much as 3 day tickets.

South Western do a useless carnet scheme where you can buy 10 tickets at a 5% discount and they're valid for 2 months. But Southern may have something better (Chiltern used to have a scheme for 10 tickets at a 10% discount).

Agree with considering London itself?

Plenty of nice inclusive places with very quick direct trains into London Bridge (Brockley, honor oak park, Forest Hill, Sydenham?)

What would your budget be?

Thanks so much everyone! Our budget is 500k and we are so cramped now in our 3 bed flat that was ideally want a 2/3 bed house with garden. It would have to be a project for that price but plenty just outside preston park I've found. Think London itself would be too expensive?

In south east London edging out towards Beckenham and Bromley there are plenty of 2/3 bed properties with garden on the market for around the £500,000 mark. I've just found one in leafy zone 3.

You would definitely get a larger and more up to date property in a more chi chi area in Brighton for the same money, but you would be able to commute in to London Bridge in around 20 minutes and you would have all the great schools and every other excitement that London has to offer.

One of my best friends moved from Lewisham to Brighton when she had kids. Now, 20+ years later, she's moved back because London is just the best place to live. She couldn't be happier in her smaller house (she lived in the Preston Park area too).

Not everywhere outside Brighton isn’t inclusive! We live in one of those places mentioned and we’re inclusive! There are gay people outside of Brighton!

It's improving vastly but if you want the country/ sea air you're not going to get it.

You can be in genuine countryside in about 15 minutes from Croydon, that's one of the great things about it as a town

The problem with Preston Park is a lot of train services were cut with the new timetable last year and depending on what sife of the park you're on, it could be a massive ball ache to have to go from Brighton station instead.

South Croydon has some nice(ish) parts and is 19 mins into London Bridge. Coulsdon, the town centre is meh but the Downland there is beautiful open countryside 21mins on the fast train. And Caterham is lovely but a bit slower 44mins and way more expensive.

littlecaf I agree!