Should we leave London for Hastings?

[Usernamenotavailabletryanother]

Hoping you’ll tell me what to do, as have no idea.

We’re in east London at the moment, have 2 kids aged 8 and 11 (eldest starting secondary next week).

Both worked in London until DH was made redundant at the beginning of lockdown. I work in local government but not sure I want to continue to do so.

We’ve never, ever wanted to leave London before- but have had our heads turned by Hastings/St. Leonards. Is this a terrible idea?

Could be work wise, but with a much smaller mortgage we could be more flexible with the type of work we do.

I’ve heard that the secondaries aren’t great; how bad are they?

Has anyone made the move and loved/hated it?

Any advice or views would be very welcome

[Vintagevixen]

Great tip DipperL - didn't know about that Facebook group, have applied to join!

[TheTeenageYears]

Kids from Hastings travel to T Wells, Tonbridge and Maidstone so they are still loosing that tier of pupils from comps to the grammar system.

[MeanwhileTime]

Aha, gotcha! Thank you

[DipperL]

@MeanwhileTime 'Down from Surrey (or Suffolk)'. Such a great group - full of info straight from the horse's mouth 🐴

[MeanwhileTime]

DipperL I am trying to figure out what the acronyms "DFLs, OFBs, DFSs" stand for. I'm guessing Down from London and over from Brighton for the first two? But what is DFS (other than a sofa shop )?! It's bugging me that I can't figure it out!

[DipperL]

We are making the move to the Alexandra Park area of Hastings within the next month (sale/purchase permitting). We have spent a lot of time in Hastings/St Leonard's area over the last few years (holidays/long weekends). We are drawn to the area because of the amazing countryside/pubs/restaurants and all things arty-farty. Train links to Brighton, London, Tunbridge Wells, Ashford International. There is a lot of poverty here - but the good things outweigh the bad. I mainly work from home but need a to go into the London office once a week. We looked at Worthing also - which is lovely. There are lots of Facebook groups for the Hastings and St Leonard's area but the most useful one for finding out which roads might have more antisocial issues than others is called 'DFLs, OFBs, DFSs etc' and also for offers to meet up once I've landed, joining cinema groups (Kino and electric cinema) open water swimming to name but a few. So my advice is contact the locals who made the move. Unfortunately/fortunately, depending on how you look at it - there is a very buoyant/competitive housing market. Prices have not fallen in the five years this area has been on my radar and in fact have increased significantly in price for a 'finished product'. I believe there is a bit of tension between the locals being squeezed out of the rental/housing market and a local estate agent informed me that 80% of the viewings are from people who are from outside the area. Good luck with your decision

[Usernamenotavailabletryanother]

That’s so good to hear, @Vintagevixen- especially as we used to live next to Victoria Park! When we looked around the area around Alexandra Park, we all said how much it reminded us of our old area which we all loved so much. We’re less taken with the area of east London we live in now, and I think this was a big part of why we had our heads turned...

@CatkinToadflax, I very much appreciate that- any info about schools would be very welcome. Have two very different kids, so any info would be helpful, thank you

[Vintagevixen]

Just to add - you are right, some stunning houses around Alexandra Park, really beautiful. I am really happy with mine, it has a cracking view of the sea, the castle and much of the town.

The park itself is one of the best parks I've been to - I used to live near Victoria park in Hackney which I loved but this one is IMO better. Tons of different spots to walk, lovely reservoirs you can fish in, quiet places, more family places, a good cafe, even a miniature railway!! Pre Covid times regular events staged there. The variety of trees and wildlife in the park is staggering if you're into that kind of thing. Very good tree climbing if you have young kids.

[Vintagevixen]

Yes username - and I will come back in a month or two and report on the secondary schools - when DD gets her in year place!

[CatkinToadflax]

The Alexandra Park area is indeed a lovely place to live.

If you are considering a move and have any questions about schools or anything else, feel free to ask me.

[Usernamenotavailabletryanother]

Don’t worry, I won’t make any life decisions based on MN but the thread is really helping me to think things through.

Lovely to hear some happy Hastings people- was really taken by the area around Alexandra Park in particular, loved the houses there... will definitely stay there when we visit next.

Kent is an absolute no for me due to the grammar system. I know the area and the schools well through my job, and there’s just no way DD1 coud access a grammar school; and am not impressed by the comprehensives (which are rarely comprehensive). Have heard lots of lovely things about Folkestone, but it’s not for us.

[Requinblanc]

A colleague of mine used to commute from Hastings. She moved there from London and always said her family was very happy.

It also seems to have a growing art scene with artists choosing StLeonard as an affordable place to live.

But I have heard a lot of negative things from other people about drug, poverty and the area being 'rough'. To be honest the reputation put me off when I was looking at a seaside town to move to.

As other people have said there are seaside towns in Kent with better reputations. Try Folkstone/Sandgate/Hythe or Broadstairs.

Or you might just want to give it a go and spend a few days in Hastings and get a real feel of the place and decide whether it is right for you or not.

[Vintagevixen]

I have just moved to Hastings from London (post divorce.) I am really happy in my house - it feels safe here, but I am not near the front but more near Alexandra Park. Its very peaceful and I find I sleep really well here (lived on an A road in London!)

I am spending more time outdoors - regular yoga on the pier, lots of amazing walks and green spaces - the west hill, country park, Alexandra Park, St Helens wood, the sea front. Even considering taking up paddle boarding! The scenery is really stunning, lots of hills so bear that in mind if you walk everywhere, but it does get you fit.

Waiting on an in year school place for DD so can't tell you much about schools yet - I know the secondaries are below London standards but IMO it depends what you want for your child - I am quite laid back and not a parent obsessed with academic achievement anyway!

Yes the town centre is rough - regular group of drinkers outside MacDonalds, it is a seaside town with all the usual caveats - there is poverty, drug use, high rate of teenage pregnancy and less employment opportunities (I'm a nurse so go back to do agency work in London regularly as it pays more.) There is a lot to offend middle class sensibilities in Hastings! But I am as middle class as they come and I can cope with it fine.

Hastings is very "marmite" - you really do either love it or hate it. Lots of lovely housing stock - I have been able to become mortgage free which is not a bad thing given the recession that is coming. St Leonards very arty, lively music scene pre Covid.

I do miss London and visit regularly to see my family and I'm finding that is enough now, I'm always glad to get back. Went up to London last weekend and had forgotten how damn long it takes to get anywhere sometimes as I waited for a delayed district line train!

[CatkinToadflax]

Having lived in the area for 6 years I’ve never witnessed some of the horror stories described above. There are significant problems here, yes, with poverty and drugs, but it does seem that the Hastings bashers who turn up on every thread about the town generally don’t live here. It’s a really buzzy, quite arty place and having moved down here from a ridiculously snooty Home Counties village I will never leave. The only big violent public brawl I’ve ever witnessed was in Eastbourne and I much prefer Hastings to Eastbourne. I guess that makes me an Eastbourne basher!

One thing I would say, OP, which you’ll obviously get in any coastal town, is there is nothing more beautiful and good for the soul than being able to get down to the seashore in a matter of minutes. Whatever the weather it’s just so beautiful to look at. On a clear day I can see the sea and Beachy Head without even getting out of bed, and it never fails to put me in a good mood. Do consider moving to the coast - at least the UK has a lot of coast to choose from!

[Batfinklestein]

As previous posters have suggested, I’d definitely recommend you check out Folkestone. DH and I love Sandgate, which is right near Folkestone.
I’m not sure of the schools but there are some lovely parts.

[Lightsabre]

Have you been to Lewes? Small but bohemian and has a good secondary school - Brighton on the doorstep practically as are the Downs. Well connected to London. Lots of places on the south coast that are nicer than Hastings! Folkestone is also arty and has some amazing properties that are Hastings prices. Hythe and Sandgate nearby are quieter. Think these are Grammar areas though as they're in Kent.

[Lurchermom]

Have you looked at Battle rather than Hastings? Family had a house there for a while and it was a gorgeous village centre and stunning houses etc. Can't comment on the schools though I'm afraid as this was just a holiday home.

[mswales]

That was supposed to have an exclamation mark on the end, not sound so serious!

[mswales]

I have two separate friends who’ve moved to Hastings - one an artist married to a prop maker (they have one child) one a costume designer in film, and they both love it, for the reasons it sounds like you do. Could put you in touch if you want. Please please don’t decide where you should live or base your opinion about a place on a Mumsnet thread.

[Usernamenotavailabletryanother]

Well, I think I’ve successfully been put off the entire south coast now

I do not like Brighton, not at all. On paper it seems like the perfect place, but I can’t stand it there. Will visit Worthing, but I think it was a fleeting lockdown/summer influenced reaction; our lives are here in London and I’m probably a bit too old or lazy to start everything from scratch again!

Thank you for all the opinions though- going to go back to Hastings for more visits and leave it at that

[pilates]

No don’t do it.
Worthing, Seaford or Brighton far better.

[CornwallCucumber]

@UsernameN0Tavailable

Another no for Hastings, high unemployment, drug addiction, homelessness and crime. I live in Eastbourne and the last 3 times I've been to Hastings I've encountered drug addicts beating the shit out of each other, a man taking a shit in the shopping precinct and several Eastern European women wailing and crying about their babies dying of hunger, grabbing at the ankles of people walking near enough. The old town is lovely, and has good pubs and restaurants but you couldn't pay me to live there.

I never encountered any of this horrible stuff in public the entire time I lived there or whenever I visit. The worst thing I notice is the street drinkers hanging around Wellington Square and you get those in every town.

Again I know this is just anecdotal but I have family in both towns and I hear about more crimes in Eastbourne, one of my relatives had an arson attack on their car, others have been assaulted on nights out, a friend of the family had an attempted carjacking...

[FrogsLegs14]

OP, we live about 20 mins from Hastings. I love being so close, there's always something fun going on there. Old Town and St Leonards have a cool quirky vibe. But the high street is run down and depressing, and as everyone says there is significant poverty. It's a different roughness to London because there are so fewer job opportunities, and as others have mentioned, a lot less diversity.

Have you considered Folkestone? There are better train links to London and I think schools are okay there. I wouldn't discredit Kent altogether just because there are grammar schools. There are also plenty of comprehensives. Not everyone chooses to go down the grammar route, many parents I know who have bright children don't think it's right for them based on the levels of pressure.

[Johntaylorschin]

I live in Hastings OP, generally everyone just rubs along fine, when I go to other towns I notice poverty, drug use too, I think most towns have issues. St Leonards is very arty, there are lots of very creative people in the town and always new schemes and activities starting.
I agree it’s not great on the job front but one of the biggest employers is local government.

[AuntImmortelle]

Oh dear God no. Hastings is truly miserable. (Sorry people of Hastings).