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?

See UN, you wouldn't get much for that budget in a nice area. Some parts are very run down, but overall I'm glad I moved from the Home Counties.

My DH is from Brighton, his dad still lives in Hanover. Terraced houses on his street go for £700k. We have family in Hangleton and Worthing. One of them just bought a 3 bed semi, 70s style for £420k so definitely more affordable.

I agree Brighton has a great vibe, particularly when the sun is shining! But, posters who say it can be rough are not wrong either!

What is interesting about Brighton is it’s not actually very multicultural! I expected it to be more like London. It surprised me. Definitely mostly white faces, of all genders and sexual orientations of course! Don’t know if things have changed more recently.

No, not at all really. It has a significant Chinese population but otherwise very white. The council wrings their hands about it and wonders oh whatever shall we do on a regular basis because their workforce is also mostly white.

I wonder why. It’s always something that has baffled me since I started visiting 25 years ago.

You have to live and work there to know. I worked in the NHS in Brighton and saw the sad underbelly of it. I couldnt wait to leave.

A lot of people have said Worthing, but I think that is too expensive on a £250thousand budget. I just had a quick look, and there not many houses. If you plan to have a baby, I’d also consider missing out the flat stage, as you’d be spending money on moving costs buying a house in a few years time.

i’ve just looked for Faversham, Deal and Folkestone and there’s a lot more choice.

Consider the Hastings / St Leonard’s area. Smaller version of Brighton without the price tag .

Faversham is definitely estuary, not sea. I like Deal, but I’m not sure it has the Brighton vibe.

One of my DDs described Folkestone (and Margate) as WannabeinBrighton.

Hastings town centre is mainly crap (like a lot of places), but there's plenty of decent places to live that are quite good value for sussex. You've got to like the vibe though, it's fun, wild and rough round the edges, which isn't for everyone.

Folkestone has changed a lot, and could be worth considering. Deal is nice too, maybe a bit twee?

Seaford is still cheap, but a bit rough/lacklustre.

Just can't imagine you'd get much of anything for 250k in most places people are mentioning. Shoreham-by-Sea prices rocketed up years back.

Hastings is not horrid . Parts are really nice . No town is without tattoo / vape shops and areas of deprivation. You have the beach and countryside on your doorstep . The town centre is run down but you don’t have to go there .
The old town is lovely , around the park is lovely , there are massive numbers of small independent shops and lots of creatives . The OP would get a lot for her money in Hastings and they have a council trying really hard for the communities they serve .

It’s expensive because it’s commutable to London. Your budget puts Brighton itself out of reach I think. If you don’t need daily access to London for work, why pay the premium for it? There are other cool seaside towns: Tynemouth springs to mind. It’s much less scruffy than Brighton! I visited friends there recently (well they actually live in Monkseaton - also lovely) and was really taken with it. Charming town; great bars and restaurants; beaches; surfing; wild Northumberland hills nearby; on the metro/underground line to Newcastle and the airport.

Brighton and Hove is lovely and very safe. I lived there for two decades and had to move for work reasons abroad but as soon as I have the chance I will be moving back.

Nowhere in the UK even comes close in my opinion. Love it there

how about Bexhill, you can take a train to hastings, a train to brighton

Hastings certainly has a very lively vibe. Green man festival every year. Personally Id much rather live there than Brighton.

you can get a 4 bedroom house in Bexhill for £270

I would agree with other PP about Portslade. I grew up there. Lived there for 16 yrs. Good transport links to B&H as well as direct trains to London. Also worth considering all the mainline stops between Portslade and Worthing - Southwick, Shoreham, Lancing - all direct trains to Brighton in less than 30 mins I think.

Friends who live there think very little of secondary schools

Tynemouth is fabulous but it doesn't have the weather! Good shout though. Wonderful area.

If that was me, you have completely misrepresented what I said. I said nothing about trans people.

‘Accepting people as they are’ is exactly what gender realist people are advocating for. Unfortunately Brighton and Hove want all children indoctrinated against biology reality and this particularly harmful for women and girls. I’d be concerned about my DC going to a school under that Local Authority because they appear to have no regard for the safeguarding of girls.

Sun also. The weather is better - like yeah I am sure by Newcastle IS much nicer. But it is much colder and will rain more.

brighton micro- climate as between the sea and the downs, sandwiched in.

also why it is so expensive- sea or nation park, there is just not much housing stock

I think because it is one of the most secular places in the country so it's not very diverse.

Brighton is not 'Dead', you have to live there to realise that Brighton isn't West Street.

Loads of places are commutable to London that are way cheaper so it isn't just that it is commutable to London. It has always had issues with drugs, you wouldn't live in Brighton if you want wholesome community vibes.

True, Faversham is an estuary, and wannabeBrighton is an accurate description. But that’s also a positive, as they have the vibe which Brighton had twenty years ago (and is still living off), but I think Brightons honeymoon period is over.

@TakeALookAtTheseSwatches do you mind me asking where you live as we are also looking to relocate ?