Anyone from Uckfield or surrounds

[Tangerineandteal]

We're possibly moving here. Had an offer accepted on a house. I like the immediate area we're moving to, the surrounding countryside and I've liked the look and feel of Uckfield high street (stopped for lunch, DH caught the train into London Bridge to test the commute). But I'm worried about the wider town and although I realise Uckfield College has a good rep, it's massive. (We've got three DC, almost at secondary age). There's also a very big, new housing development underway I gather.

I've joined a couple of local fb groups to get an idea of what the locals are like and am seeing talk of too many modified cars owned by boy racers, break-ins and litter/vandalism. I know lots of people like to moan though.

I am a bit of a snob, I admit it. But I'm not going to change and I need to be happy. Ideally we'd like to be in Lewes but it's too expensive and the commute too long. Can anyone enlighten me a bit about Uckfield, it's young people and the school itself? Thank you.

I don't know uckfield but moved into a small town in East Sussex 18 months ago. Don't judge by the local Facebook groups is what I say. To test this, look at one for somewhere you know well. They are all the same!

Thanks - a good point and you're probably right. Still worried about sprawling housing estates and what the local yoof are like though. Anyone?

I'm not from Uckfield itself, but close by. Tbh it is one of the better towns in East Sussex (and better schools), and you get petty crime everywhere. True, it's not as upmarket at Lewes, butld do a lot worse.

If you're commuting , the train can be unreliable but what rail service isn't these days.

It's also not far from Brighton, and there are some beautiful areas close by, such as the Ashdown Forest.

Thanks Princess. That's reassuring. Have you got children at the school. Do you commute? I heard the train to London is much, much better than it used to be since recent work to the line.

I'd always take the community pages with a pinch of salt. Every town has crime, it's only because of Facebook that we now know about all of it which potentially makes it sound like it's gotten worse.

Personally, I love Uckfield. Close to some lovely walks and wonderful stately homes to visit, not to mention the seaside etc. It's a lovely area 😊

I've lived in Uckfield and most of the surrounding towns over the last 20 years.

Uckfield is OK, it has good parts and bad parts. The school has a good reputation, and I wouldn't say it's especially big, not in comparison to the other secondary schools in the area.

I think you have all the required shops in Uckfield and it's only a 30 minute drive to Tunbridge Wells and a little more for Brighton.

Commuting can be difficult. The peak time trains are packed as well as often being cancelled.

The town has grown hugely in the last 10 years with lots of estates being built.

Personally I would prefer Uckfield over Lewes. I have lived in both.

My brother lives there and is very happy. I guess it depends on where your new house is though? Can you specify the area?
The school is fine, better than Ringmer or Priory in Lewes I would say.
Lewes is expensive but the commute to Victoria is 1hr 5 mins so not too much longer - unless you need London Bridge end of town.

I'm in Lewes, so basically next door. I really like Uckfield. We go there for the cinema, the high street and the swimming pool.

The houses up by the leisure centre seem really nice.
I've never got the impression that the place is rough.

Everywhere has its crap parts. Lewes May be upmarket but there's a very dark undertone of drugs which took me years to even find out about, and of course the dodgier areas.

No place goes unscathed.
I think you'll really like Uckfield.

Thanks! Especially 😊 hearing of somebody who live in Lewes but likes going to Uckfield. Do Uckfield youngsters hang out in Lewes much? When we've been there (Lewes) I've noticed groups of teens sitting in scenic spots around town (parks/nature reserve). Possibly smoking a joint but that's ok by me. It just seems a nicer place to hang out as a youngster than Uckfield. What do Uckfield teens do for fun?

Lived in Uckfield up until 2012, and still have family that live there so visit frequently.

Schools - Uckfield College (formerly UCTC) was pretty good generally. It is a large-ish school but I still felt supported through my education and left with very good grades (this was 2010 so I accept a lot may have changed). If you are after primary schools, Little Horsted CofE was brilliant and still has the same headteacher as far as I am aware. Manor Primary was terrible.

Areas - New Town and Ridgewood are probably the nicest parts, however Ridgewood has been developed a lot in recent years and is currently having another huge housing estate built so I assume that'll have a knock on effect on traffic and school placements. Perhaps have a look at surrounding villages - Isfield, Little Horsted, Maresfield, Buxted, Hadlow Down, High Hurstwood.
Buxted is the second stop on the London Bridge commute.

In terms of what we did as teenagers in and around the area, we tended to get buses to Tunbridge Wells/Brighton etc for shopping, or spend time in one of the parks or rec grounds around Uckfield. I believe there was/is plenty to do. There is also an Air Cadets squadron on the college grounds, various dance groups, majorettes, football clubs, rugby clubs etc. The skate park at Victoria grounds is popular. The cinema is great.The shops are a bit naff but not really any worse than Lewes. I can't say that we ever travelled to Lewes to spend our free time.

I've never really experienced any crime in Uckfield so I can't comment much on that.

If you're referring to the Uckfield Talk facebook group, I'd take it with a pinch of salt. A lot of waffle on there generally.

Happy to help with any other questions.

According to my son, there are some older teens that use the skate park.
But aside from that I've no idea about teens from Uckfield in Lewes.

I'd have thought they would be more likely to go to Eastbourne, similar to teens in Lewes like Brighton.