Lancaster or brighton?

[BrightonOrLancaster]

For a woman in her 30s moving alone with her cat!
Brighton: very good friends, warmer sea, more fun, livelier, but all family in north and expensive, closer to London and handy for getting away
Lancaster: very close family, much cheaper, less bullshitty, but no friends to start with, more isolated

No need to talk to me about schools etc as irrelevant to me! I work freelance in something creative. I'm really torn!

Vote:
YABU: Brighton
YANBU: Lancaster

Brighton's just London by the sea isn't it?

I'd go North for the space and the scenery.

Bugaroush

I'd move to Brighton. Lancaster can be dreary.

I love Lancaster so much - I went to uni there, and grew up not too far away. There's a growing scene of creatives, some great places to work in the day and good coworking rental spaces available - so meeting people I think wouldn't be too hard (I'm only down the road and a creative too, give me a DM if you move haha!). Some gorgeous food and drink options, it's BEAUTIFUL (you'll never get bored of walking round the castle, I lived looking onto it for a year and was always excited by the view), excellent views across the Lakes and the bay from Williamson Park. It's friendly, it's tiny so mega walkable, house prices and rent are reasonable, some good green space, you're near the sea, you're near the Lakes and not too far from e.g. Manchester on the train for a day out. In fact, well connected by trains either way because it's on the west coast line, so direct train to London is about 2.5h so Brighton wouldn't be too inaccessible for visits at all. Great walks along the canal (and some excellent pubs on the way), and it's getting more 'cool' every year. I'd go back in a heartbeat :)

For the sake of fairness though, the cons: it's fucking freezing about half the year haha, traffic can be awful at rush hours because of the one way system, it's very small so if you want buzzy and nightlifey rather than nice little pubs/bars/restaurants you'll be out of luck, obviously there are a lot of students (although nobody I know who lives there now says it's much of a problem unless you live in very specific areas), and... I cannot even imagine how cold the sea in Morecambe Bay would be!

I'm biased, I know. Brighton is great (although whenever I've been it looks really run down!? But I've not seen much of it), but Lancaster is so lovely - it always feels old and witchy and a bit mystical (not that I'm remotely into that kind of thing, but it feels a bit magic and atmospheric because of the old buildings and the witch trial connection). In autumn it was the prettiest place to live, too. But it's a very, very different place to Brighton.

If you are a Brighton sort of person you will probably love brighton. The fact that you are considering it and have good friends there mean you probably will.

I personally never quite get the appeal of brighton.

I live in Lancaster, moved here from Bath several years ago. I love it but it is very different to Brighton ( although in my mind, the beach with amazing views over the bay at nearby Morecambe is far more pleasant than the nasty rocks at Brighton) Lancaster is a lovely place with brilliant transport links- Edinburgh and Glasgow under two hours, no changes and stunning scenery but you have the Lake District far closer and the joys of Arnside and Ulverston close by and Manchester under an hour away by train. Beautiful countryside nearby, Williamson Park in Lancaster is my favourite park ever, wonderful for kids to go and look at butterflies and meerkats. Some lovely cafes, pubs and restaurants to be found- I am veggie and spoilt for choice but it is not as 'fancy' as Brighton and not really comparing like against like. I am happy here in my house which is so much cheaper though :-)

As a proud Lancastrian ( a person from Lancashire, not necessarily Lancaster 🤓 )
I would say 'oop north every time.
You're on the edge of the forest of Bowland/ Lake District/Pendle and East Lancashire/penines. You get much more for your money and there is so much more space..

Mind you, I haven't actually ever been to Brighton 🤔

I kind of agree with PP about Liverpool, I’d be inclined to live there or Manchester. Then you have the creative scene and accessibility, with cheaper property prices and mega achievable to drive to Lancaster every weekend if you so wished.
It depends on what lifestyle you’re looking for I think, and I would say it’s way easier to make friends as an adult in more of an urban location.

I voted Lancaster because Brighton just irritates me a bit (a lot) even though I'm a Southerner. I think putting some money into the North is a good thing even if it's only one person! It makes a difference. And I think being close to family could be amazing and I'm sure you could make be friends or reconnect with old ones. If you're moving back from abroad, now is the time for a new start!

If it doesn't work out, you will have more reason to swallow the costs of Brighton. But if you don't try it, you could just be opting for an expensive option which is equal to, or even worse than, the cheaper option!

Having lived in Brighton previously, I wouldn't want to again, very expensive to live, it's mostly a dirty dump tbh, druggy beggars shout and Harass you dare you say no to giving them money. Summer time , the streets are crammed full of students, very busy, driving is nightmare, high rates of crime. Depending on your age , if you're young the nightlife is great and I do miss the palace pier.

Don't know about Lancaster but I'd rather move there by the sound of it.

Brighton on balance.
If you’re going Lancaster way, how about somewhere near to the the Forest of Bowland/Ribble Valley e.g. Clitheroe.

@Iamnotminterested

WTF is bungaroush?

A lot of the houses in Brighton were build to house the workers who came there to work building the railways.

The houses were thrown up with barely any foundations and the walls were basically build of anything that came to hand that would hold together: gravel, bits of brick, sand, stone and so on.

As a consequence damp is a terrible problem in a very large percentage of the houses.

Also I think it's usually spelt bungaroosh.

Hmm, sunny warm seaside town with fab bars and cafes vs a lotta rain and chilly winds 🤔

We can’t help you OP. Of the two towns, Brighton is the clear winner but the main pull to Lancaster is your family and we can’t tell you how much priority to give your family. Close siblings and lots of nieces/nephews? Go to Lancaster. Elderly parents with good local care already in place and who realistically won’t be around in 5 yrs? Maybe Brighton.

If it was me, then Brighton. But I’d love to have family relationships good enough to make me want to move somewhere rainy.

[quote BrightonOrLancaster]@Toddlerteaplease
I don't know why but I'm scared Liverpool would be too dressy and out on the towny! I would be open to Liverpool later but I'm actually moving back to the UK after time abroad so I want a "soft" landing where I know people to ease myself back in for a year or two and then will think about moving elsewhere possibly[/quote]
Liverpool is a good suggestion — you do get the dressy uppy scouse brow scene but it’s just one small aspect of the place. It’s got a huge thriving lefty scene, big on arts and culture and is incredibly friendly and down to earth – ideal imo if you’re fresh back in UK and new to the area. It’s also incredibly cheap and a good place to get on the property ladder (if that’s something you’re considering). Also great access to coast, Wales, Peak District, Yorkshire, etc. for countryside and places like Manchester, Leeds, Calderdale (Tod, Hebden Bridge, etc.) for stuff to do.

Lancaster. Very close to the coast but has canal and river city centre too. Lovely castle and other parks, Ashton Memorial. Beautiful countryside on your doorstep. Well connected via M6 and train. Much more affordable than Brighton and people down to earth.

Plus The Dukes for theatre and arty cinema.

I have spent time in both places. As people have pointed out they are so very different. On balance I would choose Lancaster. The only thing I prefer in Brighton is the weather. Good luck with it all.

Lived in and around Lancaster for nearly 25 years, spent a LOT of time in Brighton owing to friends.
Your money will certainly go a lot further in Lancaster, good restaurants, easy reach of big cities for wilder nightlife, gorgeous countryside on your doorstep.
I prefer the vibe of Lancaster myself, and it's pretty arty/liberal on the whole, but you sound like maybe Brighton would be a better fit? More opportunities?
However, was there for my birthday a few weeks ago, and was staying next to a group who were same age, doing likewise. They said they'd never return as it had gone downhill so much... bloody bin strike didn't help !

Well it's a perfect 50/50 split! Really enjoying reading your different perspectives. I hadnt realised it was so easy to get to Scotland from Lancaster. The cold and wet doesnt bother me in the slightest but where I think Brighton has the edge is how easy it is to get to the sea. I dont have a car so as a PP pointed out it might be tricky for me to get out and about to the beach and the beautiful countryside around Lancaster. I was in the latter last week and was just worried that it felt a bit dead and quite rough in the centre maybe I caught it on a bad day though? 🤔

I'm leaning towards Brighton on balance but am going to go back to both after christmas and maybe go to a few meetups in Lancaster to see what the vibe is like. I think if I were coupled up I'd head north but as a single woman it might be easier for me to reintegrate in brighton

Lancaster.

Morecambe Bay, Lake District and Trough of Bowland all on your doorstep and Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow all a easy train ride away.

Good community, nice independant shops, cafes, theatres and bars and reasonable house prices.

Not sure why you would go anywhere else

I live in Lancaster. I wouldn't describe it as rough at all.
Trains from here to Scotland or London in a few hours. You can also get to Arnside and beyond on the train, or to Windermere

Why Brighton v Lancaster out of interest? What is the attraction of each, as they are completely and utterly different ...

You will have a lot more space and probably cash for your money up north. York springs to mind as a place for a creative freelancer wanting a place with things going on, Lincoln might also fit the bill. Being a "creative freelancer" - lots of networking and a definite market in Brighton v the advantages of far less competition potentially in Lancaster.

If Lancaster is where family are, I think the real question is - go home or go somewhere different, and ultimately exploring this question might help you decide, rather than the merits of each place.

Well I’m from Sussex so I’d say Brighton. I love the diversity, the easy airport access and the buzz. I don’t like the property prices!

I used to like Brighton but haven't been since 2018. I thought it was awful -dirty, smelly and full of students. Haven't been back since.

Lancaster.

But then it’s my home town, so I’m a tad biased.

Close to the Lakes, close to Manchester, and
Leeds. Only 2 hours to Edinburgh and Glasgow, and just a lovely pretty town.

Cheaper property, fresher air, excellent university, art house cinema, and arts scene.

And an independence from London which is refreshing.

Lancaster! It’s a rubbish beach at Brighton and the house prices are bonkers. Lancaster is steeped in culture and has a really good arts scene for the size of the place. Friendly vibe and of course close to morecambe bay which is just beautiful. Easy transport to lakes and Scotland and forest of bowland. No brainer for me- Lancaster