Is there a smaller Brighton anywhere?!

[donttrythisathome]

I live in Brighton and love it, but want to move somewhere a lot smaller and more rural. I've realised that my dream is somewhere like Brighton. Not, as in, for example, lots of drug deaths and hen parties. More the sea, open-mindedness, lots going on. Just smaller, and greener. Somewhere you can walk to countryside easily, and hear owls at night.

Stop laughing, you over there....!

So, is it an impossible dream?

A small seaside place, that is vibrant and progressive, with a great community. And noticeable owls, or at least easy access thereto?! Oh and work for a future childminder and current carpenter/furniture maker?

[upthegardenpath]

Lovely to hear form some of the old zombie posters!

I've only been to bridport in passing - it was lovely, we went to check out the Jurassic coastline at West bay, briefly. Can see myself going there for holidays definitely, but not sure about living permanently.

Saw Broadstairs briefly during Y2 school trip - what I managed to see from the coach window looked lovely. A really sweet, simple seaside town without the usual tacky crap going on.

I suppose that having been in side the north circular part of London for most of my life, I can't imagine living anywhere so small!!

Will I get claustrophobic?!

It's the everyone knowing your business bit that worries me. Some anonymity of the big city appeals to me, but not so much so that I never know who the hell has been living next door to me for the past 25 years., IFSWIM.

On another note: just heard through a separate thread, that Brighton & Hove council are in the process of discussing how to change the secondary admissions for Brighton schools e.g. Varndean and Dorothy Stringer - apparently a new academy by the Uni of Brighton is also going to be built in that same area.

Wondering if anyone knows about this and how it may affect admissions? My Dc in Y3 currently, so if we did move to the Fiveways bit of Brighton that we like, the admissions chaos would be just coinciding with out move there. Great

[DownstairsMixUp]

Thanks wannabe

[wannabestressfree]

Let me know if you need any School help I am a teacher :)

[t1mum]

Bridport is nice, but if you wanted to stay closer to Brighton, how about Arundel. this is only just over budget for you. Beaches are very close (10 mins) and the town is full of antiques shops, etc, but in a more funky than fusty way (some fustiness though). It has a Lido as well as the nature reserve and castle.

[DownstairsMixUp]

Lucky you! I am tempted to move there once the kids start secondary, much nicer than Herne Bay and not really a huge move either, wouldn't want to be too far from HB as some of our family are still here.

[wannabestressfree]

Downstairs that's where I live :) broady/ St Peters

[DownstairsMixUp]

upthegarden i moved from east london to herne bay in 2011.

Things i like:

Beach, better schools, good community spirit, not as busy and fast paced as london, nice shops, just a slower way of life really

Dont like:

No anonymity. Its a small town and everyone knows each others business. Lots of gossip and barely meet anyone who isnt linked in some way to me or dh. Crap transport.

[DownstairsMixUp]

I live in herne bay and im in between canterbury and whitstable. Canterbury is studentsville (including me) and its busy busy all the time. Crap for parking. Constantly coach loads of tourists there. But its accessible and good schools. Agree with what someone implied about Whitstable, its rough. I dont know how it gets its twee reputation. The one night club it had (brewery bar) was a haven for drugs. They just use all the pubs on the high st now. I have been assaulted twice in Whitstable! In summer its heaving when the regatta comes about and car show/oyster festival. I love brighton but i dont feel the same vibes i get in whitstable. Always feel unsafe. Herne bay is whitstables ugly sister

Broadstairs is lovely, especially St Peter's and I love Shoreham. I want to live on a house boat! Ditto Leigh on sea. Beautiful.

[DeliveredByKiki]

Another one who doesn't care this is a zombie thread - we live in California now but are looking to move home and prob to Brighton in the next few years and loving the alternative suggestions

markingplace

[monkeypuzzlesandwich]

Whitstable is lovely. I've enjoyed this thread too!

[upthegardenpath]

I know this is a zombie thread and all that, but it was a fascinating and illuminating 12 pages to read
I would seriously love to know where you all are today, where those wanting to move ended up and how you like your new location - or not!
For the record - this is a Londoner talking, thinking about the vague possibility of moving to the Fiveways area of north Brighton...

[saintlyjimjams]

I was going to say Totnes or somewhere coastal in the south hams.

[redshoes]

OP stayed in Brighton... Leaving me concluding there is nowhere quite the same!

[nettlefairy]

I need to know - where did you decide to go??? I may be moving from Brighton to Stroud in a year or two and totally related to your posts. Hoping you found what you were looking for. Too wit too wooooo! {owl noise!!}

[WhatKatyDidnt]

Ha ha, well done OP! Enjoy your new pad.

[GoldQuintessenceAndMyhrr]

Oh, I have JUST what you are looking for!

A smaller Brighton

It is quite far from England, though.



But there is no M&S, no Waitrose, no online grocery shopping.... No Starbucks. Not sure if Amazon even knows where it is.....

[BikeRunSki]

Tynemouth

[BikeRunSki]

Southwold.

[BikeRunSki]

Exmouth?
Torquay?
St Anne's?
Hapisburgh?
N Walsham?
Skye?
Oban?
Hebden Bridge and Holmfirth if you can sacrifice sea, and replace it with reservoirs? Also Penistone.

[FriedSprout]

How about Bridport? About mile from the Jurrasic coast, has thriving maket and flea market, apparently Martin Clunes and Billy Bragg are locals!

Surrounded by beautiful countryside, locals are very friendly and not too far up their own bottoms!

Lots of community feel and events too

Bridport

Also think Dartmouth would tick all boxes. dartmouth

[Isabeller]

More than one Brighton friend moved to Newhaven very happily (one still works in Brighton). If you want to go further I'd agree Totnes or Whitstable from similar minded friends in each place.

[TheCollieDog]

Lancaster. 10 mins to Morecambe Bay, and 40 minutes to the Lakes. Best little city in the country.

[donttrythisathome]

Thought Totnes was lovely, and am definitely going back to visit. But I feel at home in Brighton/Hove, and can make a living here too. Haven't ruled Totnes out though for the future.

[wewereherefirst]

Totnes is about 20-30 mins from the sea. Totnes prides itself on being a huge community and has almost all small local shops, nice views and houses, very expensive compared to most of Devon though.

[Rudolphstolemycarrots]

Totnes and Stroud are very similar. V alternative and bumpy. But Totness is near the sea. Stroud is about an hour and a half I think?