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.

[quote Urbanhymngirl]@Piglet89 I don't think its a competition to see who has the best scenery to be honest. I come from North wales near Snowdon which is pretty lush but I can still see how different and unique the chalk and downland habitat of the South Downs are [/quote]
I live near the South Downs but know snowdonia really well as I have family there.

Snowdonia is giving amazing! The South Downs is lovely but a poor cousin in comparison to Snowdonia which is absolutely breathtaking.

Lucky you! 😊

OP I suggest you stay in London, it is very easy to get out of and get to the sea. Brighton is basically 'London on Sea' so is not cheap and is not really a great city, it just happens to be on the coast. I moved to northern city, great country side on my doorstep, multicultrual, great restaurants, theatre, ballet etc. Best economy outside Londob and very vibrant. We can drive to the seaside but it is either a tourist trap or quite 'faded' (although I rather like that) but certainty not buzzing, forward thinking hubs by the sea. What you are looking for does not exist.

I am a Brighton girl born and bred and I have also lived in Lewes. I have enjoyed living in both of these places but have now settled in Eastbourne. If you told me I'd be happy here ten years ago I would have laughed at you. Eastbourne has loads going for it and feels more my 'pace' now. Lots of great, reasonably priced housing and definitely up and coming as an alternative to Brighton for sure.

Cambridge?

Laughing at Chichester. That is the place my parents retired to, along with many other people. Seaside towns and cities in the UK are not cosmopolitan places, they are either quite rundown or full of incomers who create their own vibe. The only other coastal city, apart from Brighton, which fits OP's criteria is Edinburgh. Or maybe Belfast but that is quite a commute.

I came on to say Totnes, but it looks as if it's been suggested already.

@Wondergirl100

Know both Hove and Lewes well and too burby for me.

Anyone know Tunbridge Wells is it at all open minded

My SIL lives in Tunbridge Wells and it's lovely but quite snooty. None of the alternative vibe that Brighton has. If you find Lewes too "burby", I don't think TW would suit you. It's even more "burby" and full of "Gerry and Margot" types. And it's Kent, so has the grammar system.

Maybe too far from the SE for you, but I'm very fond of Bridport. It has lovely shops, pubs and cafes, just enough of an alternative vibe without being weird, lots of lovely houses and a nice high street with a good mix of interesting shops and useful shops (still has an old fashioned hardware shop) is surrounded by lovely countryside and a stone's throw from lovely coast. It's a bit like Lewes was 25 years ago, before it was overrun by DFLs.

West Sussex still has nice places. Arundel may have passed its peak and feels on the way to being "burby", but I love Chichester. Beautiful countryside and coast (the Witterings has lovely beaches) all close at hand, and nice pubs and cafes, plus its surprisingly arty. The local comp had a very good reputation, but my friends' kids are all grown up, so I'm out of touch with how things are now.

@CatherineMaitland

How about Eastbourne? Cheaper - parks - gardens - lovely seafront, walks out into grasslands and South Downs without even having to drive.

Also a big drug and homeless problem and some areas are really quite deprived.

There are a couple of huge hotels entirely used for temporary housing for homeless people who are vulnerable. Saw people jacking up in the street just a stone's throw from the Congress Theatre not long ago.

I think it's at a sort of tipping point where it will either get trendy and cool or slide slowly into squalour.

Hastings/St Leonards, on the other hand, I think is going to get better. The town centre is nowhere near as depresssing as it was and the old town is lovely. More and more of the town is getting the same sort of feel as the old town, and I think it's on the up.

We live in a neighbourhood in central Brighton, round the corner from a big park, 2 mins from a great school, with lovely dog and kid friendly pubs nearby and lots of indie shops. The sense of community is lovely here, really lovely and we love the outdoors vibe here. Lots of sports and sports clubs and community grps. But according to many posters here Brighton is an overpriced tip, over run with drug addicts and full of MC people who are up their own arses. I guess it’s a view, but it’s definitely NOT my experience as a LGBT working class parent...

‘ @rothbury surely there's a typo there - I can't think of anywhere in Brighton or Hove that's 7 minutes walk from the beach and 12 minutes walk from The Downs!’
That would be anywhere along the Dyke rd of the city - straight shot downhill to the beach, straight shot to Devils Dyke... or Kemptown side... the Downs start further into the city than you’d think.

Cambridge?
Cambridge is somewhat lacking in the sea air that the OP is looking for.

I think Brighton fits your bill OP!!!

Tynemouth

What about Llandudno in Wales, or Ayr or Helensburgh in Scotland? All nice seaside towns with much cheaper housing than the south of England.

@Tambora

Cambridge? Cambridge is somewhat lacking in the sea air that the OP is looking for.

I know, but it ticks all the other boxes and may be somewhere different to consider. About an hour to the Norfolk coast.

Having grown up in Brighton, I wouldn't raise a family there, schools are poor IMO
Too busy, low wage and high cost of living.
Kent is a large county, plenty of good schools, you do not have to put a child through the 11+

I've a very fussy three year old, always encourage him to eat but he doesn't always. I don't make a big deal out of it but I never give him anything else at dinner time. We always have supper after bathtime though, if he hasn't eaten dinner I give him something slightly more fulling that he likes then. That way he always has something in his tummy before bed and he doesn't recognise that he's getting something instead of dinner it's just part of his routine and I don't panic when he's not eating dinner.

@Oddsocksandeverythingelse

😆 Did you mean to post on another thread Oddsocks?!? This thread is about seaside towns!!!!

@AndromedaGal

Oops! I’m not even sure how I got on this thread!

I’m not reading all the answers but would think you might be looking for
Southsea
Ryde
Totnes

Southsea has a very lively foodie scene and music scene with lots of independent retailers and eateries. Lots going on around the common. Some good schools. Brilliant beach. Train direct to London. Doesn’t have the shopping Brighton has, but Gunwharf Quays is nearby with cinema, chain restaurants, outlet shopping.

Chichester is lovely but not exactly ‘cool’. Good schools, one of the best beaches in the country nearby, direct trains to London, Gatwick and Brighton. Very good theatre. However, not cheap, not especially diverse, quite conservative with a small c, more tennis club, ballet and sailing than street dance and graffiti art. Good place to allow teenagers freedoms in safety.

State schools aren't brilliant in Brighton actually.

London is the better version of Brighton.

And you can visit the sea in an hour.

Ryde is the wildcard. Stunning and safe beaches. A few minutes on hovercraft to Southsea or fastcat to Portsmouth with Gunwharf Quays and fast train to London. The island is very mixed but there is stunning countryside and beaches. Lots of big events like Cowes week and around the Island, Very chilled culture. Very relaxed with people talking to everyone. Strong on music, very good food and art.

Schools on island are mixed. Cowes Enterprise is very good state with fabulous buildings. Christ the King very good multi faith school. Ryde a
school very mediocre private. A couple of state schools are less impressive

‘ London is the better version of Brighton.’
Ahahahahah hahahah hahahahah . Good one.
The truth is, unlike many places, Brighton really is unique. So if you want Btighton and Hove then you move to Brighton and Hove and live with the fact that you may not have a huge garden but you can learn to paddleboard or wild swim instead.