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?

Is Patcham owlish though?? What is the appeal?

Not remotely! You just get bigger gardens, views of hills, it seems nice enough, and I fancy the sound of the Buddhist school I suppose.

Whitstable for the mini-Brighton aspect.
Tenby for a nice small seaside town close to nature

Well, after all that, and looking into so many places around this county, country, other countries, other continents we have decided to stay right here and are proceeding on a house 10 minutes up the road! Who needs owls...

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Southwold.

Tynemouth

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.....

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

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!!}

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

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

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...

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

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

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