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Original poster

Chichester, Horsham or Billingshurst?

41 replies

Amy1976 · 26/09/2013 13:54

Hi girls,
I'm hoping you can help me out.
My other half's job is moving us down to West Sussex from here in Buckinghamshire. We've been looking around at homes to rent and places etc. and have fallen in love with Horsham and Chichester, as well as Billingshurst village.
We have no real preference, and just wondered what the differences etc. were in the areas as we have found nice houses to rent in both.
We are looking to rent for the first year or so, just to make sure all is ok with the new area etc.
We are both 37, have a 2 year old (Harry) and are expecting a 2nd in January.
So just wondered, if you girls had the choice, or could point me in the right direction and give me some thoughts on the areas, (Mother-In-Law, lives in Emsworth, near Chichester, and as much as i love her to bits, I don't want to be right on top of her!!)

Look forward to hearing from you all

Amy

OP posts:
ShoeWhore · 26/09/2013 13:56

My friend lives in Billingshurst and loves it - it seems really friendly and she has made lots of friends. Her kids are at the local school and they are very happy with it.

Is commuting into London an issue? My friend says it's too far to do regularly.

PigletJohn · 26/09/2013 15:20

Chichester is nicest, provided you are posh enough for them to let you in. Most people live somewhat outside the old part.

Horsham nothing special

Billingshurst rather small and get floods of antiquers.

pardonmytits · 26/09/2013 18:37

We moved to Chichester in April and love it so much. We did the same and are renting for now while we find our feet here. I don't know anything about Billingshurst, Horsham is nice though. But I'd really Chichester (and I'm not posh in the slightest :) ) I only have to commute once a week to London and it takes about 2 hours door to door, so wouldn't like to do it every day.

pardonmytits · 26/09/2013 18:38

*I'd really recommend Chichester...

Fenton · 26/09/2013 18:47

Chichester is very nice, but expensive to live near the city centre. Billingshurst is beautiful but a bit out in the sticks.
Not keen on Horsham, I worked there about 20 years ago and it felt very built-up and unfriendly to me.

mummaemma · 26/09/2013 18:56

In this order Billingshurst, chichester,horsham

GobbySadcase · 26/09/2013 19:02

I live in Horsham, it's nice but very Tory.

Titsalinabumsquash · 26/09/2013 19:05

I was born and raised and still reside in Chichester,

I personally wouldn't live in Horsham.
I've not had a lot of experience with Billingshurst.

If you have any specific Chichester based questions let me know. Smile

PigletJohn · 26/09/2013 19:29

chichester girls speak nice.

TiredyCustards · 26/09/2013 19:37

Chichester is great, I live in the whyke area which is quite near town and not too expensive (for the south east!)

Haven't been to either of the others!

notthefirstagainstthewall · 26/09/2013 19:43

Where is the commute to?

MiniTheMinx · 26/09/2013 19:49

Of the three I would probably choose Chichester, cultural life and shopping and the centre is lovely but expensive.

Horsham=dull and no character, modern town, the carfax is lovely for shopping though.
Billingshurst = not much character, lots of new housing.

You have chosen quite a large area, have you considered Midhurst, Petworth, Arundel or Wisborough Green? all lovely.

Wisborough Green is stunning. It lifts my spirits just driving through it Smile but they won't have me!

Fenton · 26/09/2013 19:50

Yes, Wisborough Green is lovely.

MiniTheMinx · 26/09/2013 20:01

I just wish I could pick up Westerham and plant it nearer to where I need to be, its the only place prettier than Wisborough Green.

Windowbasket · 27/09/2013 00:09

Sorry Mini, I beg to differ. Horsham is not a modern town, lots of character and a wonderful community spirit, too. We moved from London and love it. Lots of lovely Victorian housing stock if you want 'character', great schools, lovely people plus a great park and lots going on in the town. I like the fact that it's such an easy commute to London too.

Titsalinabumsquash · 27/09/2013 06:39

Arudel is stunning. Smile

pinkdelight · 27/09/2013 10:09

Horsham is best for getting into London. You're a bit stuffed with Buillingshurst if you want a night out and have to get back. That's what put us off moving there. But if that's not a factor, it is a nice little town and the school is good enough. It is quite sleepy/old folky though. And not as lovely as Wisborough Green. Chichester and Horsham have more going on. Depends how deep you wanna venture into Sussex, which you choose.

SilasGreenback · 27/09/2013 10:36

I grew up in Chichester and go back to see family. Seems to be more going on now and the shops have improved. It's nice in that you are near the sea and the Downs. Drawback is road links - anything going north is really slow.

Horsham is better for transport, but maybe a less nice town. A friend used to live there and it was just a bit bland. Also more a commuter town I felt.

Billingshurst is just in a bad place if you want to go anywhere else I think.

Where is the job based as I wouldn't pick these three places as being especially near each other.

MiniTheMinx · 27/09/2013 13:17

Windowbasket, yes I know its not a new town but much of it is new. The carfax is lovely. There are lots of late Victorian and Edwardian terraces. My GGF built several Smile but Horsham doesn't have the same architectural gems as Chichester does it?

Periwinkle007 · 27/09/2013 14:08

I love Chichester - was brought up very near Emsworth. I don't know Horsham or Billingshurst at all though so I can't compare places.

GobbySadcase · 27/09/2013 15:54

nope no architectural places of interest at all, really

beaglesaresweet · 27/09/2013 21:21

ooh, thanks for nice photos, Gobby (look under every word, everyone)! at last I'm getting the picture, for one - looking on google street views randomly doesn't let you see these easily, unless you know the streets.

beaglesaresweet · 27/09/2013 21:23

pinkdelight, is it really an easy commute? I had a look at the list of stops, and it always involves Gatwick, must be very crowded for that part of journey? personally I call it 'easy' when there aer as few stops as poss, but here you get the airpor to boot. Obviously, it's convenient when you do fly, on the other hand.

mimitwo · 27/09/2013 21:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

beaglesaresweet · 27/09/2013 21:32

mimi, but do you think it will change for the worse, or does this mean there will be more and nicer shops and places to eat? One thing is, it will become much more crowded, like St.Albans has become.

I still can't see how it's ideal for commuting, see my post just before yours. Is there a non-gatwick route that we've missed?