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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask is there a better version of Brighton

687 replies

Wondergirl100 · 26/04/2021 11:10

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.

OP posts:
reenon · 26/04/2021 12:20

I live in Brighton (Patcham). I love it. I have a decent sized garden. I can walk in to the Downs in 5 mins. Walked from my house to Ditchling Beacon. Views were amazing. How is that not decent countryside...?

ShakeaHettyFeather · 26/04/2021 12:22

I'm told Worthing is the new Brighton, and that Eastbourne now has enough students to counteract the old folks.

Though if commuting to London is a factor, perhaps Haywards Heath?

Bellringer · 26/04/2021 12:22

Hatings

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 26/04/2021 12:22

St Leonards on Sea - I stay close to there quite a lot

MistyGreenAndBlue · 26/04/2021 12:24

@GreyhoundG1rl

What's the "open minded" thing? You're in London, what on earth do you need the community to be open minded to?
I think what OP means is " Woke"
HopingForRainbow2021 · 26/04/2021 12:24

Hastings! I grew up in one of the surrounding villages and didn't rate it when I was younger, but I really love it now. There's so much going on - lovely fun traditional events through the summer, like Jack in the Green and Pirate Day. The old town is lovely - there are lovely walks at the firehills, and it's by the sea. People are generally really friendly too. Of course there are good and bad bits, but I think the good far outweigh the bad :)

HugeHoveFan · 26/04/2021 12:24

Brighton and Hove have their down-sides of course:

The people you see out in many areas of Brighton are on the whole very chavvy (or flashy if they're rich) and not either cool or sophisticated at all! There's also a big drugs and homelessness problem.

Those things are so out-weighed by the positives though.

HugeHoveFan · 26/04/2021 12:27

My DH lived in Hayward's Heath as a teen and said it was the worst town he's ever lived in...

Toomanyradishes · 26/04/2021 12:30

Totally misread your title and thought ypu were referring to bridgerton, so was coming on to extol the virtues of Jane Austen. So in that case i think your options are Bath, Brighton, Tunbridge Wells or Harrogate... (sorry I am of no help....)

garlictwist · 26/04/2021 12:30

I was also going to say Hebden Bridge. But it's probably a lot colder and damper than Brighton and very far from the coast.

idontlikealdi · 26/04/2021 12:30

TW is in Kent...with one of hte most competitive grammar school options.

All the SE Kent seaside towns are frankly a bit shit, Margate, Ramsgate etc supposed to be going through gentrification but really just a bit grim.

Where is work, can you go up North?

Proudboomer · 26/04/2021 12:32

@HugeHoveFan

Brighton and Hove have their down-sides of course:

The people you see out in many areas of Brighton are on the whole very chavvy (or flashy if they're rich) and not either cool or sophisticated at all! There's also a big drugs and homelessness problem.

Those things are so out-weighed by the positives though.

Brighton has moved a lot of its h its homeless population to Eastbourne. No support given for their drug, drink or mental health problems( as that is why most of them are homeless in the first place). Just moved them along so they are someone else’s problem.
StayingHere · 26/04/2021 12:36

I'm from Brighton and leaving because of the secondary schools! For the best ones you have to live in a very expensive part of town which is mostly victorian terraced houses with small gardens and parking problems.
I dont think you would like Tunbridge Wells if you dont like Lewes. What about Shoreham?

Panicmode1 · 26/04/2021 12:37

If you don't like Kent because of the grammar system, don't come to Tunbridge Wells - as previous posters have said, it's probably the most competitive town for grammar places in Kent!

We have been in TW for almost 15 years, but will be moving as soon as our children are finished in the (excellent) grammar schools - far too many Londoners coming here Wink and the traffic is dire.....but there are great restaurants, bars, theatres, festivals etc (in non Covid times) and whilst it will never be 'diverse' I would say that given the exodus from London, it is fairly open minded and more tolerant than people think.

It also has 5 green flag parks, AONB and the High Weald on the doorstep, 45 mins (ish) to the coast, 50 mins to London on the train - aside from the fact it's in the hugely overcrowded SE and there is HUGE amounts of new development planned in and round the Borough, it's got pretty much everything.

Nodal · 26/04/2021 12:38

If you think Hove and Lewes are both too burby you will absolutely loathe Tunbridge Wells, and pretty much everywhere in between London - Brighton and London - Bristol.

whatistheworld · 26/04/2021 12:38

@ShakeaHettyFeather

I'm told Worthing is the new Brighton, and that Eastbourne now has enough students to counteract the old folks.

Though if commuting to London is a factor, perhaps Haywards Heath?

nah not Haywards Heath, its not open minded at all and we don't need anymore London folks
Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 26/04/2021 12:38

Grin at Morecambe

StayingHere · 26/04/2021 12:38

PS there are gardens in the outer suburbs of Brighton and its minutes from the South Downs which is stunning countryside.

BuyYourOwnBBQGlenda · 26/04/2021 12:39

Don't laugh, but I'd seriously consider Belfast. Moved here from just outside London last year and love it.

Countryside is amazing. Beaches and mountains on our doorstep.

Loads going on - street art, loads of vegan places and great nights out. Not as progressive as Brighton as NI is generally more religious but majority of people I've come across have been v open minded so I think it's a social circle thing (for instance I've not met anyone sectarian).

Property is brilliantly cheap. I mean really dirt cheap. Even in nice areas, when you compare to Brighton etc. 500k gets you four bed detached in a v. naice area with indie coffee shops, zero waste refill stores etc.

Education is good too. Private schools, if you go that route, are a fraction of the price.

Generally everything is super cheap. Our 3000sqft house costs 15 for the window cleaner, for example.

Can get to Dublin by train or quick to Heathrow (guy behind us actually commutes to his job in London)

Generally lots of much cheaper, more accessible outdoor activities like sailing. I know someone in Cornwall who keeps a boat here and travels up here to take it to Europe as it's 1/10th of the price to moor it.

Downsides are obvious and mostly political but generally we are v. glad we moved here. A friend recently came over from Brighton and loves it too. Wedged in a city between sea and countryside feels like home for her.

DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou · 26/04/2021 12:39

Sheesh, do NOT go to Hastings Blush

Saltdean is stunning, far enough away from the hen do's, close enough to be part of Brighton

CallforHecate · 26/04/2021 12:40

Lots of people who would previously have moved to Brighton seem to be going to Hastings and Eastbourne these days.

BuyYourOwnBBQGlenda · 26/04/2021 12:40

By the way, £500k example is v. much on higher end of market, house behind us is on for that and is part of a small cluster of houses behind electric gates. You can get a lovely family home in a nice area for half that.

Missteebeee · 26/04/2021 12:41

Nowhere near the sea but St Albans is a great place to live

Pyewackect · 26/04/2021 12:41

@FuzzyPuffling

OP "not Kent. I've discounted the whole of Kent. What's Tunbridge Wells like?".

Hmmm.....

In a nutshell !.
AndromedaGal · 26/04/2021 12:41

Chichester. Lovely there, very laid back, beautiful Cathedral city, near sea, beautiful walks & countryside, not far to the Isle if Wight. Always something interesting going on

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