To ask is there a better version of Brighton

[Wondergirl100]

Sorry a bit cheeky to put on AIBU - but - it's an important question!!

Brighton - great vibes, creativity, open mindedness good schools - but overpriced and the countryside isn't amazing and there are no gardens.

So what is the alternative! Where else is open minded and fun and has sea air and countryside but is not ruined by hen dos and property prices. And needs to have good schools.

Sadly, I have to write off the whole of Kent as I don't approve of grammar system. Unless there is somewhere in Kent with good secondary moderns.

@Wondergirl100

Sorry a bit cheeky to put on AIBU - but - it's an important question!!

Brighton - great vibes, creativity, open mindedness good schools - but overpriced and the countryside isn't amazing and there are no gardens.

So what is the alternative! Where else is open minded and fun and has sea air and countryside but is not ruined by hen dos and property prices. And needs to have good schools.

Sadly, I have to write off the whole of Kent as I don't approve of grammar system. Unless there is somewhere in Kent with good secondary moderns.

Worthing

@EmbarrassingMama

You have a bizarre view of Brighton. Having grown up there I don't think there any many places with more misplaced arrogance. It's really not very diverse (yet dripping with people who consider themselves 'woke' and 'inclusive') and so much of it is a real dump.

At one point I think Brighton won in a 'how fast can you score heroin' competition!

That said, it's also weird that you think there's not much countryside there. Having the sea and the Downs are the best things about it!

In a nutshell

@HeronLanyon

Rye not ‘rue’ - can you imagine a town called rue

Would be very confusing in France!

‘At one point I think Brighton won in a 'how fast can you score heroin' competition! ‘

Maybe if you got looking for it? But I’ve never been offered or seen anyone flogging drugs. Not in 15 years. Presumably just not trying to buy heroin is enough to avoid it????

There is a town in northern France called Rue!

I work at a large organisation on the outskirts of Brighton that tends to attract a lot of people that would describe themselves as "open-minded" and a good fit for the Brighton vibe.

What I've noticed in the past 5 years is that it's only really my colleagues who are child-free and happy renting that have stayed living in the centre of Brighton. The majority of with children or looking to buy have moved out to places such as Eastbourne, Seaford, Shoreham or Worthing to give them more space whilst still being close enough to pop into Brighton regularly. They all seem rather happy with their decision.

As a few PPs have said, a lot of these towns are rather more conservative than Brighton, but I think the influx of people moving from Brighton is starting to have a positive impact.

Don't get me wrong, there's a long way to go and these towns are still not "cool" by any stretch, but I say they are definitely worth a look depending on what you are prioritising and if you are happy to make some compromise.

@IsThePopeCatholic

There is a town in northern France called Rue!

Well, I suppose it’s not that confusing, as there is a town in Somerset called Street.

St Leonard's

Margate (pretty rough round the edges)

Totnes, prob a bit small though

Falmouth

Cardiff

Get somewhere in Bristol the side nearest the sea (eg West) and you can be there in 15/20 minutes

Cork (if you can get residency)

People I know who live in Eastbourne seem to really like it, but it's definitely not Brighton and isn't as edgy as Hastings (in both good and bad ways!)

Is eastbourne lively???

In a word... no.

I'd move to Brighton in a flash if I could afford it. When we moved to Eastbourne I thought we'd be over in Brighton all the time as it's not far away but it's not worked out like that.

There's a lot to be said for Eastbourne. The Downs are wonderful, as is the sea. Old Town is nice as is Meads. There are some nice pubs and parks.

But it's nothing like Brighton. It's conservative (with a large and small C - loads of Tories and Brexiteers here). The arty, city vibe is entirely lacking. It's a sleepy town with lots of narrow minded people who like to complain! (Not everyone, of course - but the local Facebook group the Eastbournians is dubbed the Eastmoanians!)

The Towner is good and the Printer's Playhouse shows promise but there's nothing anywhere near the sheer scale of all the arts and cultural stuff going on in Brighton.

Some of the primaries are lovely, but I'm not so sure about the secondaries. Over where I am (Old Town) the two local secondaries are pretty average. My bright son is being allowed to coast, and other parents say similar. I don't know much about the other secondaries though.

For people who want to get out of the hustle and bustle and want a larger house, Eastbourne could be just the thing. But if you really want Brighton, you'll be disappointed with Eastbourne in my opinion - I reckon Brighton is where you'll have to go!

Unless - maybe Cardiff or Edinburgh perhaps?

Not on the coast but Frome is a smaller version of Brighton. Not very welcoming though.

Nooooo @CandyLeBonBon, Worthing is a terrible place to live...I wouldn’t advise any Londoners to relocate here 😬

We’ve got all the relocating Brightonians, don’t send the Londoners too

For those who have corrected my use of the term secondary modern and said we now only have comprehensives...

How can the word 'comprehensive' describe a school in a fully grammar area (ie. Kent for example) _ that takes all the children who don't get into the many grammar schools. It is absolutely not a truly comprehensive school.

It is clearly shown in research that children getting into grammar are more and more the tutored middle class kids - in any case, there are many arguments against dividing kids up by an exam at 11 and I don't believe you can call the non-grammars in the grammar areas comprehensive as they clearly aren't.

Struggling a bit with your 'brief', OP!

You want a big cheap house NEAR Brighton, because you have to be 'back and forth to London' a bit. And you want wild countryside, the South Downs and south coast not being wild enough for you. And a fully comprehensive school system (although you can opt out of a selective system anywhere). It sounds like basically you want to inch out of London, but not really go.

What's your budget? How much have you got to spend on this big cheap house near the sea, wild countryside and lovely cafe and cultural scene? Because you do know that Newcastle (to take one example) is near the sea, wild countryside, has stonking architecture and culture and has fast trains to London (3 hours)? But do you actually want to move?

And re. what is wrong with the grammar system. I think it's unfair and wrong and I have no idea if my kids would pass without being heavily tutored and I don't want them at a school that is missing many of the brightest kids in the area - I think children should learn in a full comprehensive system.

* Where else is open minded*

You don’t sound very open minded to me OP

@Tightwad2020 you are right my brief is ludicrous really. I think I should probably accept Brighton and its limitations as offering a lot of what I want (and I love it as a place)

I'm glad to hear you recommend Newcastle, I think I need to stick to the south coast, at 43 yrs old I can't face a total new beginning and I have a lot of friends in brighton and nearby.

You are probably right part of me doesn't want to move, we have a nice house where we are in London with amazing parks etc and all the good bits of London, just also a lot of violent crime and absolutely dire schools. And I miss the sea and feel like an aventure.

I don't agree you can 'opt out' of selective education. Grammars demonstrably damge the education chances of children who don't get into them.

@Itsabeautifulday81 not sure why you say that. I already apologised for implying some places aren't open minded. I think it's a reasonable thing to say - I have travelled the Uk a lot and some places are more tolerant/ diverse etc than others.

Haven't rtft - has anyone mentioned Chichester?

I don't understand the stuff about the 'burbs' Are you complaining about suburbia? Are you saying that somehow people living in new build houses on the outskirts of town don't fit your criteria?

Where I live, the bijou shops in town and the little non-chain cafes and the lovely private garden centres, are only sustainable and viable because there are vast suburbs and people with enough disposable income.

It doesn't sound very open-minded to write off about 60% of the population.

OP there was a post about moving to Brighton on here a few months ago and the poster became very interested in an area north of Queens Park which had its own little park and a nice vibe with lots of community events. Can't recall the name though but estate agents in Queens Park should know.

I also disagree with the Kent grammar school system after a family from there, who we met on holiday, said it's all down to money anyway, as it's children from the families who can afford the most in-demand tutors who get in.

Folkestone is a bit Brighton esque. What about Leigh on Sea?

I love Bristol though, want to move there.

If you like the Hanover and Queens park area that's why you perceive Brighton to be grimey. I hate it over that way.

I grew up in south London and my dad still lives there, I think Brighton is way nicer and that's saying something as I'm not it's biggest fan.

@Wondergirl100

Anyone know Dover? A friend told me it's quite wild for parties on the beach for teens - sounds fun.

I really like Folkestone but as I said, don't like the grammar/ sec modern divide - maybe I'll have to get over that.

I know Dover, it's a bit of a shithole but has it's quirks. Very good schools and gorgeous surrounding villages, if you want the scenery and schools, maybe Deal? Sounds right up your street.