What's Worthing like?

[Schmokeandapancake]

Considering re-locating and one option could be Worthing.

What's it like for young families? Good schools etc?

Any insider info would be v useful, thankyou.

I am in Goring just next to worthing. What part are you looking at as it is split into several parts and some are alot better than others.
I would say west worthing is the nicest bit within the catchment of the Thomas A Becket school.
Lots for families in the area with the fairs and carinval in the summer on the sea front, a brand new swimming pool being built on the site of the old aquarena due to open in spring 2013 and the usual things like leisure centre ect.
Worthing has its own shopping centre which is not great but has most shops needed. It has a wilkinsons, marks, bhs and poundland, so quite a cross section of types of shops.
As to schools it is quite a mix with some very good and some not so good when you get to secondary.
For families i think it is really good and doesn't deserve its reputation as a place full of old people.

Thanks for your post cantspel, we are not looking at any particular part, just browsing rightmove at the moment.

Excited that we could actually just about afford a half decent, possible period, house if we re-located.

I wonder whether over time more families will move in to the area and its reputation may change?

I've only ever visited once, think I will have to pay another visit.

Are there things like playgroups etc do you know? Sorry, should have asked in the OP.

There are some lovely period houses in the worthing area and with most you get a decent sized garden rather than a postage stamp sized bit of lawn you get with a new build.
There are plenty of play groups, practically every church in the area runs one and if you put your mind to it you could probably go to a different one every day of the week. And there is quite a popular soft play place in worthing which runs daily termtime parent and toddler sessions.

Thanks so much cantspel - sounds like a definite possibility. Think I could only handle a playgroup once a week though .

I was impressed with the garden sizes too from what I can glean from rightmove.