East Sussex

[SparksAndShiningDragons]

We're looking at moving out of East London and considering East Sussex.

We need to have amenities in walking distance or on a quick and reliable public transport route including good primary and secondary schools and a station. Ideally independent shops, pubs and restaurants, a nice gym/ health club and clubs/sports/entertainment for the DC. We also want to be somewhere very safe, with a nice community feel and in easy reach of lovely countryside.

Absolute max budget £650k, ideally for a 4+ bed detached, but would consider 3 beds and/or semi for the right location.

Any insight into Crowborough, Uckfield or Wadhurst? Any other suggestions that might suit us?

Thanks!

I live in a village in the High Weald 😀

Agree with pp Uckfield is a bit dull but is does have most of what you are looking for- great schools, cinema, pool, lots of sports clubs. There are more independent shops opening up so I do think it’s worth considering. Trains are not always reliable, but not sure many are at the moment!

I know some people diss it but I love Hastings . You get so much property for your money and there is such a lot to do there . The old town is lovely as is the park . Yes there are some tatty parts but that could be said of most places . I just like the mix of cultures and creative vibe , there's not many places you can walk to the beach as easily as the countryside and have many activities available . I also think the council try's to foster a good community spirit . I'd recommend it .

I personally prefer West Sussex.
Chichester and Worthing, easy access to Brighton.
Nice small towns/villages like Horsham and Haslemere. Majority of South Downs is in West Sussex. Also borders beautiful Hampshire for places like Winchester and Surrey.

@Matpayhelp2022

I personally prefer West Sussex. Chichester and Worthing, easy access to Brighton. Nice small towns/villages like Horsham and Haslemere. Majority of South Downs is in West Sussex. Also borders beautiful Hampshire for places like Winchester and Surrey.

These are lovely places , Chichester is my home city but they are worlds away in terms of budget .

The nice parts of West Sussex are eye-wateringly expensive and our downsizing budget is very decent.

Wadhurst has little going for it- the traffic on the high street is painful and there is very little there. You will spend your life driving to Tunbridge Wells. Crow borough is cheaper, but again not the best. The schools don't have a good reputation either. The train line to London is one of the most unreliable too.
Can you tell I used to live in that area and now don't?

I live in a village outside Uckfield. I really like it here. The primary and secondary schools are great, especially the secondary, new build, really nice.
We have an independent cinema, pool, restaurants, a proper gymnastics centre.
The downside is no big shops, I head to Eastbourne for that about a 40 min drive.
It's a little bubble round here, there is crime and drugs but in my teeny tiny village it's rare.

Horsham is absolutely your best bet. Great town lovely countryside excellent rail links, good schools it's also got some really good gyms and yoga studios and the Theatres not bad. Add to that a lovely range of housing. You could get a great 30s house or an immaculate new build for that and the schools are great. Haywards a heath also has great ra connections bug the town isn't great and it's rather soulless. Eastbourne is a no, just no and Brighton is very expensive tiny tiny terraces sell there for more than you've got.

Uckfield is where you go when you have given up on life, the most boring place on earth! I lasted 2 years and it was painful.
I now live in Hove and absolutely LOVE it!

Avoid any coastal areas Our cousins havebeen in Eastbourne for 20 years and apart from Old Town it has gone down . The train to London is awful takes ages with frequent cancellations.
Places such as Wadhurst or Frant near T Wells are the best as you get quick access to London and wonderful countryside.
Actually I would avoid E Sussex and go to Surrey, West Sussex for example

I’ve lived in both East and West Sussex (Haywards Heath) and they are very different. West Sussex is much more built up - you get more wide open spaces and lower property prices in East Sussex.

Personally, I’d avoid the coastal towns. I like Eastbourne. I like Hastings old town. But having lived close to them, they are both very cold and quite depressing in winter. Try walking along the seafront in Hastings on a rainy day in January, it’s not pleasant.

Wadhurst is nice but Battle is nicer. Further down the trainline for sure but it’s got the abbey in the centre of town, lovely countryside, lovely properties and it’s very close to the Hastings for trips to the beach in summer. Claverham, the local Secondary is good and some of the children do go to Kent grammars in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge if you want to go down that route.

Lewes if you want a bigger town is great. Pricey though and avoid houses near the river as you might have issues getting insurance (Lewes historically has flooding problems).

Rye isn’t practical in terms of commuting but it’s such a lovely town. If you don’t need to get into London regularly, take a look. The local Secondary isn’t great though.

And on Haywards Heath - having lived there I would completely avoid it. Over built up. Over priced. Dull.

@leavingthispoohole hah - I lasted nearly 4 years in the environs of Uckfield and the happiest day was when we moved away.

It’s only saving grace is the cinema.

Godstone- it’s east surrey, gorgoeus countryside and three stations to choose from half an hour from london- Caterham, Redhill and Oxted. I am back in brighton now but lived there very happily for five years. You would get a nice detached home with character in that area.

Our finance director commuted daily from Godstone to Notting Hill. Even in a Porsche, it sounded like a nightmare of a commute. Not one I would choose, but if you like the idea I wouldn't dream of disagreeing.

I grew up in Cooden - idyllic childhood there. Highly recommended.