Rye, Lewes or (wildcard!) Stroud for a place to live with a young family?

[Mooooover]

How is Rye for families? Is Lewes better? Rye appeals because of the proximity to the sea!

The commute would be to work in St Pancras 2 days a week (3 from home).

We’re looking for a liberal, arty atmosphere - but with a lot for children to do and decent schools.

Another place we like (and have family) is Stroud.

Bump!

Lewes is better (more happening in general) - but probably twice the price than Rye .... so depends on your budget. You are unlikely to get a 3 bed in Lewes for much less than £500k.

Our budget is £800k, which seems to be ok for all three. We’d always rather spend less!

I suppose we’re looking for the nicest place to raise kids, but somewhere with a welcoming and liberal community.

(We currently live in Brighton, which is why the sea appeals!)

Look at Totnes, south Devon. No idea about schools though.

IME having visited there a few times Stroud is beautiful

STROUD has good schools, two grammar schools and a great sense of community. Would it be helpful to live near family members for support?

@Upsetmom

STROUD has good schools, two grammar schools and a great sense of community. Would it be helpful to live near family members for support?

The family wouldn’t be able to give much support, but it’ll be great to be near them!

I don’t know much about schools so it’s helpful to know there are good ones nearby!

Do you think Stroud is worth considering over Rye or Lewes?

I was in Lewes yesterday as a visitor. It's lovely, felt like it has more going on that Rye, which IME has always had a bit of a sleepy feel.

I love Rye to visit but it's very touristy.
Lewes is lovely and you're still not a million miles from the sea. I don't know Stroud but can't say.

Folkestone, grammar schools and the fast train to St Pancras. Rye is lovely but touristy and more older people than kids.

I live and grew up near Stroud. Easy access to places (on the M5, not too bad to M4, direct rail to London). Loads of stuff to do with a young family and schools used to be great and am guessing still are - they have grammars which was always a bit weird as I lived in the next town down and we didn't!

You have a couple of close places for stuff like theatre (Bristol, Cheltenham and Bath) lots of nice places to eat and stuff for young families. My dear old dad used to hate it as it was too 'hippy' for him (he felt the same re totness mentioned up thread - if he were still alive I'd lend him to you as a sniffer dog!)

It is obviously in a beautiful part of the world although not close to the coast.

Down sides are it's very hilly, public transport always used to be awful so once the kids are older it's mumcabs all the way. I always find it pretty cramped up and difficult to navigate.

The biggest downside I'd say is for older kids/teens where it is harder to get to places and not masses to do. There used to be quite the teen drug problem in the district although again not sure if that's moved on.

I moved back home after 15 years in london and looked at Stroud at the time and it was that last bit that put me off. We moved somewhere less attractive but easier to get into the city (Bristol in our case).

Now idea about the other places as I'm a West Country lass

I live quite near Stroud - probably out of the 3 you would get more for your money there. But yes very hilly and spread out so you would need to consider your areas carefully.

I used to live in folkestone in kent and have visited rye a few times. Quite isolated and windy. Not sure would recommnd it for families. Beautiful though.

Dont know lewes i'm afraid.

You might be better in Folkestone with that budget and St Pancras requirement. Loads going on for families here. Been here four years and we love it. Pleasant commute. Lots of DFLs and across from Brighton families too so it’s easy to make friends. Totally recommend it if you love a beach/creative lifestyle.

BTW I know Rye v well and it’s not very interesting for teens…beautiful, but a tad boring after a day or two.

Lewes is lovely, lots of arty stuff going on, good schools but very expensive and a bit, erm, snooty. Plus the Council is crap. It’s a long commute to St Pancras. Waiting on a windy platform at Hayward’s Heath to change trains? No thanks!

Horsham? It’s not as liberal but easier commute. Better facilities. Great for families.

Rye is too far and I personally think it’s too cut off.

They’ve all got Tory MPs and Tory dominated Councils so not sure how liberal you want….they are not like Brighton in that respect.

I adore Rye and dream of living there; envious of your budget! You could have a beautiful house there.

Lewes creeps me out – I love that you can walk straight from the town to the Downs, it’s got some lovely indie shops and gorgeous views but the bonfire societies, particularly the racist costumes, put me off.

I’d opt for Sussex, though, since you’re already there. Eastbourne? £800k would go far!

May I ask why you are thinking of leaving Brighton? A lot of people form london are moving there- or maybe those two are related! .

I love Stroud but found it a bit wearing at times. Everyone is very very opinionated, and whilst that is good in many respects it can get on your nerves. There is a divine between locals and Londoners who have moved in. There is also a big drug problem and a lot of unemployment. The scenery is lovely . Public transport is awful and sometimes it can all feel a bit scruffy and earnest.
Very few jobs in Stroud itself. There is a train station with good links to London and grammar schools are good, but state schools not great.

I don’t know Lewes but someone I know has just moved there and loves it. Never been to Rye.

To be honest if you currentlky live in Brighton and want a liberal arty atmosphere with good public transport etc etc I dont think Stroud would be for you.

I come from Wiltshire and have family in Stroud and other parts of Gloucestershire and so maybe experienced the dull bits growing up but in my experience this part of the country is very conservative and slow with only small numbers of graduates and any 'arty' type activuties very dispersed across the local towns noit all in one city location, worst thing is the need to get in the car to get anywhere. If you want a liberal arty place in the West country your options are really only Bath or Bristol. Plus if you want the sea Stroud is about as far as it can be!

Or how about Southsea along the coast in Hampshire? Got everything you need in a compact area with an arty 'alternative' vibe. You could live within 5 minutes walk of the sea

Stroud is anything but conservative and slow. Lots of alternative arty people. Lots of radical political lobbying going on. Lots of Londoners moving in and already there. The locals are much more staid, yes. If you want arty and liberal, Stroud is your place.
The public transport is awful though

There is a train station with direct trains to London.
Easy to get to Bath and Bristol or Cheltenham.

what did you decide Op?!