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Original poster

Where is nice in Hastings?

77 replies

SarfEast1cated · 29/07/2017 20:02

I have spent the last few years trying to work out where to live when we move out of London, but am no further along, despite spending many weekends down there. I would like a 4 bed house, (detached preferably) in a nice area by a park, and in the catchment area of a decent (non-religious) senior school for my DD9(yrs). I would like the house to have a nice level garden, and for the house to be peaceful. I don't need to be near the beach, and I would happily live in a bungalow if it was big enough. We would need to be near to a station so DH can get to London 3 times a week, and I would like to be close to a nice cafe too (if possible). I would love to be somewhere where DD can ride her bike safely. Places previously considered have been Rye (too expensive) Fairlight (also a bit dear but love being on the clifftops) Old Town (houses too old - low ceilings sloping floors etc, no gardens) but I don't know enough about the other parts of Hastings to judge. I am also an old mum, so would like to be in an area where I won't stand out like a sore thumb in the playground. Can you help? I would be really grateful. Links always welcome. Budget could go up to around £450k but would prefer to spend £360K. Love the look of these houses but they are too dear and I have no idea what the areas are like:
Brittany Helen Thanks in advance!

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WhereAmIGoingWhatAmIDoing · 03/08/2017 10:28

Hastings is OK, old town is pretty but the Schools aren't great. Hence why I moved away after I had my kids! I do know the area well but not sure where to advise if good schooling is what you are after? Battle has a better school, and is on the train line to London but quieter and less going on. And, generally the train line Hastings to London is quite slow and unreliable, very frustrating when I used to live there! So Goodluck with decisions, there's no easy answer with moving to Hastings!

WhereAmIGoingWhatAmIDoing · 03/08/2017 10:30

Ah just saw you are looking at Tonbridge. Sounds like a good plan. I do feel Hastings to be quite 'rough' at times. Goodluck with move

Original poster
SarfEast1cated · 03/08/2017 17:21

WhereAmIGoingWhatAmIDoing I had the idea of getting the train from Rye to Kings X as a good way to get into London, and thought that Rye College might be a good bet. Feel free to trample o'er my dreams though
Have looked at Tonbridge, not quite as 'affordable' as Hastings, but I can see the appeal!

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bubblesquirrel · 03/08/2017 17:46

Does dh work very near kings x then?

witchofzog · 03/08/2017 17:50

I lived near Amhurst Gardens a while ago when ds was a baby and it was lovely round there. There were a few lovely streets nearby within walking distance to the station and the town. I loved it in Hastings 😊

user1492287253 · 03/08/2017 17:56

we are just about to move to Battle. we looked extensively in Hastings, St Leonards and Bexhill but we went for less house in exchange for Secondary school.

Original poster
SarfEast1cated · 03/08/2017 18:03

Umm no Squirrel he works in Vauxhall.

He only needs to do it 3 times a week though! It'll be character forming for him.

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RTKangaMummy · 03/08/2017 18:07

Bexhill is about to expand on the north east side and west side of little common

RTKangaMummy · 03/08/2017 18:08

I mean NE side of town

bubblesquirrel · 03/08/2017 18:32

He only needs to do it 3 times a week though! It'll be character forming for him.

Ha! I grew up in rye and my parents still live three and I have been stranded in their station cafe when I've missed my connection so many times that I'm probably a bit jaded Grin

Treadlightly · 03/08/2017 19:45

We left brockley & moved to Canterbury. Dh still commutes to London & the travel is a bit of a nightmare tbh!!

Love Hastings and we're going on holiday there this summer :)

Alexander park is lovely - lots of nice houses round the park

Is margate too far?

Original poster
SarfEast1cated · 03/08/2017 23:08

What was it like growing up in Rye Squirrel? I am a bit torn about whether it's better for DD to grow up out of London, in a bigger house with a dog (hopefully) or stay in a tiny flat in London where she will have more opportunities when she's older. Big decision!

How do you find Canterbury Treadlightly? Does it compare favourably to Brockley? I grew up in Thanet, so know the area quite well, so could never move back. I never felt I fitted in then, so not sure if I would feel any differently know. We do go back to go to the beach and the Turner though.

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Rattysparklebum · 04/08/2017 19:33

I live in Ore 😕 it covers a largish area, my neighbours are teachers and head teachers and 3 lots of social workers so all mature professional people 😀 The nearest secondary school Hastings Academy has improved a lot recently and I think is getting better results than the previous top performing school, look at the Clive Vale area of Ore.

bubblesquirrel · 04/08/2017 19:58

What was it like growing up in Rye Squirrel? I am a bit torn about whether it's better for DD to grow up out of London, in a bigger house with a dog (hopefully) or stay in a tiny flat in London where she will have more opportunities when she's older. Big decision!

Ah it's so hard to be objective! It's a lovely and beautiful town, it can get quite claustrophobic as a teenager as everyone knows everyone to a certain extent, I went to the dance school there which filled my spare time but a lot of other hobbies you'd probably have to travel to Hastings/ashford for.
There's a really cool cinema there now though that wasn't there when I was younger!

We chose tonbridge cos whilst we've got a much bigger house than we could ever afford in London, London is only 35 mins on the train so hopefully our kids will get to know it both with us and then with their friends when they're older. I love London and was sad to leave so didn't want to be too far on public transport (and dh works there too).

Original poster
SarfEast1cated · 05/08/2017 08:51

Thanks BubbleSquirrel I can imagine it would get a bit claustrophobic, but there's something about it I like, there are a few houses on Love Lane that I quite like, expensive though. I will go to Tonbridge and have a look around, as the commuting time is really good.
Thanks Ratty it's very hard to describe the kind of people you want to live near without sounding like a twat, but the people in your area sound like the kind or people I would feel at home with. We live in a historically very lefty/creative part of London (due to having Goldsmiths on our doorstep) and I really like that. Gentrification means that's changing a lot though.

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bubblesquirrel · 05/08/2017 09:33

Love Lane is gorgeous, and 10 seconds from the schools!

Ah we moved from new cross too! We do miss it but god I do love having space and a garden!

KitKat1985 · 05/08/2017 12:56

If you're willing to consider smaller towns then both Polegate and Seaford are near good secondary schools, and both have train stations for commuting to London. Polegate is on the 'Cuckoo trail' so great for bike riding, and Seaford is on a beach and there's a good long stretch of path running along the beach for bike riding too.

another20 · 05/08/2017 14:29

Rent out your flat and rent down there for 6 month or even a year - then you will really know which area you like and your wish list will change. If you have one child I would be looking at quality over quantity - personally I might be ditching the large detached and buying a frontline seafront apartment with a large balcony. DD9 would have the beach as her playground - and you could watch her sipping cocktails from your terrace! Seriously if you rent for a while you could rent something frivolous that you wont buy just for fun. Good luck.

user1492287253 · 05/08/2017 14:51

But good luck finding a year 5 primary place.

LavenderLemons · 05/08/2017 14:59

Avoid Bexhill. There's a reason it's known as 'the graveyard with traffic lights.'

Original poster
SarfEast1cated · 05/08/2017 20:02

Another I like your style!
User we'll be moving to coincide with DD starting secondary I think. Has it been hard for you and your family?
Lavender I might quite like to live somewhere where I am one of the youngest - it make a really nice change!
KItKat Thanks for the suggestions I'll have a look at the commuting times.

Thanks everyone, you've all been very helpful :D

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user1492287253 · 05/08/2017 20:21

If you are going to be in the right house in time to apply for secondary you will need to be there for at least of year 6. My dd starts year 5 in september. There are no year 5 places at all so we are in the hands of the education authority to allocate a place at a school but she will not have a place to start in september. However the house is in catchment for outstanding secondary so we will just have to sit it out.

Minecraftfan · 06/08/2017 23:12

[://www.your-move.co.uk/property/house-for-sale-st-peters-road-st-leonards-on-sea-tn37-id-527720463/search]
Thanks for looking The property is in St Leonards on sea

user1492287253 · 07/08/2017 08:11

So you would need to be in the right house by end of October of year 6, so realistically moving during year 5

Original poster
SarfEast1cated · 07/08/2017 21:05

Thanks User very unsettling/useful information. I thought I might have a bit more wriggle room than that. Are you Homeschooling while you wait? That must be nerve-wracking for you. My DD is the same age as yours so we would be in the same boat.

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