I would like to live in Brighton and Hove

[0hIdoliketobebesidetheseaside]

Visited last weekend and I really think it’s the place for us. But I’m not sure we can afford it, is there anywhere like it?
Things we loved

beautiful shops in the lanes, seaside, so much to do, arts, live music etc. People seem friendlier than in a lot of places. South Downs for walks

But we have only £250000 and thinking of having a baby soon

any solutions or alternatives?

I will look thank you and at Hangletown and Portslade

St Leonards is a good shout. I have a couple of friends there and they love it.

Where in the north? I also live in the north and you certainly wouldn't get all that for that price here? Nowhere near!

I lived in Hove for 10 years and loved it. But when we wanted to buy we moved out. Lots of our friends moved to Worthing. It has lots of nice cocktail bars and venues now. No longer a place for old people!

You could buy our flat 🤣 we're 25 minutes on the train from Brighton. Train station is a 7 minute walk from the flat.

We've raised DD here from birth and DS since he was 3. It's made a lovely starter home for us

I can't imagine you'll find it easy to get much at all in that area for your budget. Portslade, Lancing and Worthing have all increased a great deal. You might to squeeze a 2-bed flat in a less desirable area I guess, but it doesn't feel like enough.

My friend is selling his modest two bed terrace in what used to be a cheaper area (where Hove morphs into Portslade) and he'll probably put it on for around 620k.

Just to echo what PP have said, lots of young people seem
to buy flats in Hove and then move West towards Worthing when they buy houses/have young children. Worthing is much better than it used to be, but you’d still want Brighton for shopping!
others move north up the train line, Hassocks and round there.
A PP said Southsea is in the middle, they mean Shoreham
by Sea, also nice!

I would also love to live in Brighton too, I love it there but can't afford to move there with 3dcs!

Brighton used to be lovely, it isn’t lovely now. It’s crowded, dirty, and full of those desperate to seem hip. Avoid,avoid,avoid!

We lived in Brighton for many years - went to Uni there and never left. Got married there, bought a flat and DD was born there.

We moved away when DD was young. We couldn't afford the next level up in housing and our small flat wasn't great for a family.

We found that house prices are approaching the same as London - but Brighton wages are not as high as London wages - so it is hard to live and work in the area. Many people commute to London - which is what pushed the house prices up. We moved to a completely new life in Gloucestershire but ended up back in London after a couple of years - ironically would not be able to afford our SE London house in Brighton!

It is a cool fun place to live, not so easy to bring up a family there. If you are OK to enjoy a few years but be willing to move when you have a family go for it - but if you are thinking of your forever life - do think carefully about whether you can afford it.

I really think you're looking at Brighton through rose tinted glasses. Yes, The Lanes is lovely but outside of that, Brighton is awful. So scruffy and overrun with stag/hen parties. The Lanes is lovely for a day's holiday/visit but you'll avoid it once you live there because of the tourists. Then you're just left with a rundown, really scruffy town centre that you would not want to bring your kids up in. I wouldn't live there if it was cheap let alone the extortionate prices they have down there. (I have family there and so go a lot. I had the same impression as you the first time. But once you've done The Lanes, you start to open your eyes to the rest).

Agree with others that Worthing is a better bet but, again, the town centre is awful.

Stick to the midlands, you can live in a palace there compared to the pokey house you'd end up in around Brighton and you'd have a considerably better lifestyle for both you and the kid/s.

Ok I get this but why are people willing to pay so much to live there if it’s so rough? I don’t get it. It wasn’t just the lanes. We went along the seafront and to a gorgeous restaurant and we also went to the South Downs Devils Dike

I'm from Hove, moved to Brighton as an adult, moved out a few years ago to have kids as it was too expensive.

Worthing did have a reputation as being for older people (my grandparents moved there from central Brighton when I was a kid!) but it has really changed now. I'd say central Worthing is a good option and still close to Brighton.

Generally families are being priced out of Brighton, primary schools are closing or shrinking because of fewer children in the area. So I'd think very carefully about it. You could also look at Saltdean, which is more of a suburb, but right on the coast and just a short bus to the city so easy to go in for shows and events etc.

Also to two parks which did not seem rough and were full of children. People seem relaxed and friendly

You'll be old one day. If you're lucky.

The appeal of Brighton beach is a mystery to me. So many lovely sandy beaches on the south coast and people flock to Brighton. Whilst I don’t like Brighton at all I can see the appeal of the town to some people but the beach is hideous.

True 😂

I liked that people gathered for the sunset and the nice art galleries and some shops and bars

We live in Brighton. It has always felt like an oasis cut off from the rest of the UK, in that so many people weren't born in the city. Perhaps like Totnes in Devon, but bigger. It gives the city it's bohemian feel, if you like.

I find people in general friendly, but don't judge Brighton and Hove by the city centre area. When you move away from there it feels much different.

I would imagine that other seaside towns have a different vibe because more locals were born in that town.

I read that Worthing has had a large number of Londoners moving into it over the last few years, so maybe it will become more like Brighton soon.

I am looking at Worthing now

I prefer the beach at Worthing. It used to feel like a retirement place and there are lots of retirement homes there, but there are also lots of younger people there. Beautiful countryside nearby.

Also as a local I would say, locals avoid Brighton in the summer. The beaches are absolutely rammed on warm days and we were always looking for alternative beaches (like Saltdean!). And there are thousands of English language students in the summer who go around in huge groups which makes town awkward to wander round. I'd definitely say live locally but not IN Brighton - cheaper housing, close enough to go in for shows, galleries, events etc.

I live in Hove and to be honest, I wouldn’t live anywhere other than Brighton and Hove- it really is a wonderful place

Same. I love living here, was born here, grew up here and brought up my kids here.

I have never felt unsafe at all (and I used to go clubbing and walk home alone) and we regularly go out into town as a family in the evenings or down by the beach. My kids are now teenagers and love living here too.

The only downside is that it is expensive to live here.

OP it’s impossible to really advise whether it’s right for you as depends what your priorities are. Coast, shops, schools, public transport, things going on that aren’t an hours drive away in traffic etc. Or something else?

Our priorities have become living somewhere people aren’t Islamophobic/racist/xenophobic/ think anyone claiming benefits is a scrounger etc. Also somewhere people don’t stay in their little bubbles of ‘nice’ housing developments and ‘nice’ schools, driving between the two, avoiding anyone they deem not ‘nice’.

Thats cut the list down a lot.

It’s great place to live, I am sat in the sun enjoying a latte with my kids & friends here now, having moved 10years ago. Very friendly & cosmopolitan, teens love going to the beach after school, loads to do. Hangleton is developing & more affordable for families if poss, with great schools. Portslade is more in your budget though depending on your needs- look at South Portslade if you can. Ppl often suggest Worthing, Shoreham, hassocks etc (I do like all), but in my experience folk who want the Brighton vibe, but move for affordability, don’t quite find that in neighbouring towns. If you live in catchment consider secondary schools too as there are some very popular ones that get over subscribed. Catchment rules have changed this year so worth looking into how it all works with family in mind. Good luck! Dm me if you like. I have tween/ teen dc but moved when they were small.