Worthing

[Gosia11]

Hi Mums :)
I just wanted to ask about Worthing now (2016) because the other post on it is 6 years old. We are thinking of moving there but don't know anything about it. We are looking for a place on seafront with some character, friendly, pretty, safe, good schools (we currently live in St Albans and that's what we are used to). The reason why we are thinking about Worthing is simply property for the money. We would love to live in Brighton but cant afford it. If Worthing isn't what we are looking for , is there any other place in similar proximity to Brighton you could recommend? Thank you :)

Worthings main road in & out is the A27 - it is a nightmare. I drive along it on a regular basis and a 20 mile journey can take at least an hour.

I don't know anything about Worthing - I live further East - and I don't want to put you off but if you are going to commute it is well worth thinking about that wretched road.

Thanks Megimedi , I think we would just take a train if we decided to relocate there. Your journey sounds awful but then agin, I heard it isn't much better commuting to Brighton for the East either.

Worthing is lovely but the train line dissects it unless you work/commute to Brighton then the A27 at rush hour is aware but the trains are frequent. I love Worthing especially with children much nicer bigger houses.

Definitely don't try to work east of Worthing and drive the commute. It's hideous.
Worthing itself is perfectly nice these days and the beach is lovely.

Have you considered any of the more reasonably priced parts of Brighton? Places like Bevendean have in the past had a bad reputation but are actually lovely. It feels like we live in the countryside (our back garden backs onto the South Downs) and yet we can get the bus into town from our front door.

What is you priority - sea front or good schools? Generally the good schools aren't that near the sea front (unless you are catholic?) and so if you go for seafront you will end up with a place at one of the undersubscribed and not particularly great schools.

For sea front - Look around west of the centre, around the area where Grand Avenue arrives at the sea and near the Marine Gardens. There's a lovely pirate playpark right on the edge of the beach just there and it's a short stroll up Grand Avenue to West Worthing train station which will make your morning commute much nicer than getting to the main Worthing station.

What size property are you hoping for? Most seafront options are flats.

I would sacrifice seafront for schools above the train line West Worthing is better for schools and the seafront is a short drive away. East Worthing has some lovely houses nearer the seafront but I'm not sure on schools. Worthing seafront/pier beats Brighton hands down once you've got kids. I moved here a couple of years ago and I have really noticed a difference in culture and attitude. Almost everyone, children teenagers and adults say hello/acknowledges you you see children walking to school much younger than in Brighton & Hove the parks are quieter and the beaches are a dream for kids. Parking is easy £1 an hour in town I am really, really happy here after thirty cramped expensive years in B&H. Not to mention we have a detached house, drive, garage, big garden for the price of a tiny terrace with a six foot square patch of lawn in Hove. We have an EP in the family and she's relocated to Worthing from Brighton as they are trying for a family and she doesn't rate any of the Brighton schools that are affordable for catchment areas (these are tiny).

Thank you all for the info. It looks like Worthing might actually be an option since none really had anything bad to say about it :). We will also look at cheaper parts of Brighton mentioned above! I am not that bothered about living super close to the sea - would actually prefer to be 20-30 min walk from it. Thank you again. :) Hope you are all having a lovely sunny Monday :) xx

Also looking at Sussex coast.
Did you move to Worthing OP?