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?

I've been away so missed the latest updates. Thanks! Mumbles still sounds nice now, although the rain...
Lewes just doesn't appeal to me, although lovely. I think I am just too common .
redshoes good suggestion, lets all move en masses somewhere and set up an ex-Brighton massive!
Just back from hold in Turkey and now want to move there

From hols in Turkey.

Missed this first time round but have to say have chortled loudly at suggestions of Margate and Broadstairs and Folkestone.

Don't get me wrong. They are all nice places. They are stuffed full of nice people, and are certainly 'up & coming' places. But Brighton they are not. They might be in 15 years time of course, but by then you might want something different.

Whitstable isn't the new Brighton either; but I see a lot in common between Whitstable and, say, Islington (other than the fact that it's nickname is Islington-on-sea). Trendy lefty types, good restaurants, buzzy at weekend, fair bit to do (including a tiny bit of theatre and an arty cinema). Having lived in Islington I feel right at home when I walk round Whitstable (I live not far away), and it's certainly a good place to live.

The difference between Whitstable and Brighton is diversity. Whitstable is getting there but isn't there yet. Whereas in Brighton people almost 'celebrate' individuality and quirkiness and they recognise that without such diversity there would be no buzz whatsoever, in Whitstable people are still much more conservative. Lefty is OK, 'Fashionista' and 'Media' is all OK, but you don't get the whole range - there's no real melting pot feel about Whitstable. But TBH I have yet to find anywhere that quite matches the Brighton vibe.

Canterbury, by the way, is a lovely city to live in. But very conservative.

Thanks for that. It is great to get all the different perspectives.

Now we're semi considering France LOL. Now I wonder if there is an owl-ier Brighton in La France ;-)

Hi, I thought I would update this as I have now visited some of the places (more to go...)

We visited Totnes, Bridport, Dartmouth, Falmouth, and various other coastal towns in Devon, as well as Exeter and Ide a little village near there. Also Broadstairs, Deal, Kent, Hythe, and Sandgate in Kent.

All were flying visits, some just literally drove through!

I liked Totnes probably the most. Although it isn't anything like Brighton apart from maybe an alternative vibe. Seemed to be a lot going on there.

In Kent, Sandgate looked ok but I liked the look of Deal more. Husband doesn't like coastal Kent though.

Falmouth did remind me a little of Brighton. Well a lot actually. Though a lot smaller. And I guess less diverse. It has the higgedly piggedly overcrowded hilly look, which is lovely to look at but not a nice way to live (imo). I wouldn't move there from here. I'd just stay here instead if that was the alternative.

Exeter seemed like a nice enough place, although I don't want city life. Maybe a village outside could be nice.

Dartmouth was beautiful, really really liked it. But it is nothing like Brighton. Seems quite posh and naval, but so picturesque, and there is an art house cinema and seems to be lots going on (or at least enough).

Have been whizzing all over Sussex again looking at villages. None like Brighton but maybe we could sacrifice things to do/diversity for peace and quiet. And owls.

I'm with your DH on Hastings - terrible depressing place. If it was up and coming it would have upped and come by now. Avoid.

Totnes sounds lovely.

wow - really impressed with how much dedication you are putting into your search.

in my view the Kent coastal towns are not a patch on the Sussex ones....Brighton really is hard to beat

Which Sussex villages are you considering? We've just put in an offer on a house in Ditchling; it's a very pretty village with a nice feel to it - not stuck in the 1950s unlike some; and only a short train ride to Brighton (from Hassocks) for all things uniquely Brightony.

Does she really?!

Seventh I did do an internet search on the villages near Chichester and they do look nice.

Rhubarb congrats - Ditchling is gorgeous, though we couldn't get what we need for our budget I think. As for Sussex villages, well looking everywhere really, though vast majority in east Sussex. Would like Ditchling, Glynde, Fulking - but too exp[ensive. So looking further east towards Robertsbridge too. Sedlescombe seems good value.

Anyway have to put the young un to bed...

Come join us and help make Eastbourne cool

Seriously you can get a massive place in Eastbourne, compared to Brighton. And we have the Downs on our doorstep. The Old Town is lovely and has a choice of Ofsted-outstanding schools.

How about this? 5 bedrooms for £379,950 in the Old Town with views to the Downs, yet under 10 minutes walk to the main station.

Or how about this 4 bed for £295,000 also in the Old Town.

Glynde is lovely :) Have you ever visited Firle? (Nice pub!)

Oh yes I've been to Firle, even enquired about a tenancy there on the estate!
threeleftfeet, I think Eastbourne is nice (well only seen the seafront really) and then you have East Dean and the seven sisters nearby. DH doesn't fancy it though.And long commute to London. At the moment I commute but I hope to not do so one day. Lovely houses.

Don't discount falmouth -it's great, something going on all yar, not just tourist season and has one of the fasted growing unis which is giving the town a real buzzy vibe. I love it and the villages around it are great, real working villages.

You are describing Whitstable. It's all the things you said!

aylsham Falmouth was lovely, I agree. But maybe too like Brighton to be worth moving there.
janmoomoo I've only briefly visited Whitstable and I know people rave about it. I've never gone around that town, but the seaside there just seems very flat and brown. Maybe I went on the wrong days!

don't try - did you choose anything in the end? Using your thread to choose a nice short break destination - thanks

We haven't chosen yet, but at least we have decided we will definitely go and not stay here. Totnes and Dartmouth wild be lovely!

Frome!

Thinking of Rye now...anyone know it? Not anything like Brighton though.

And now thinking of just staying in Briton and moving to Patcham. jeez....I am going insane here...trying too hard to get everything...