Winchester or Horsham or Lewes?!

[KobaniDaughters]

Would love some on the ground thoughts on these three areas - we’re moving home to the U.K. from the states, previously lived in London, and have narrowed down to these three areas based on budget, schools, commute to London, distance from family, distance from the coast and now would just love thoughts from people who live there!

I’m more drawn to Winchester and Lewes though they are an hour away from my parents and Horsham only 30mins, they both feel like there’s a bit more to them but I’m happy to be corrected re Horsham. We have guaranteed school places Horsham and Lewes but not Winchester though all the schools we’d be happy to go to so would just depend which one we can appeal or get into

Housing as it is for everyone everywhere js obviously an issue in terms of availability, we’re going to use a relocation agent to find us somewhere to rent but after 6-12months we’ll look to buy so interested in the surrounding areas too

I’m feeling the pressure to get this right as we don’t want to move again for 10years and we can’t reccy before we move.

Family of 4, 10yr old and 13yr old, looking for a welcoming, creative community!

I only know Lewes and Horsham and both are nice. Horsham is far more conservative than Lewes. Lewes is more liberal, arty and relaxed. It's also much closer and better connected to Brighton, but less well connected to London (takes longer).

All three locations are nice. We moved to Horsham from Dorking and very happy with our decision. We need to be in London once a week so the commute is fine for that level of frequency. I imagine Lewes is the most creative compared to Winchester or Horsham. I'd keep looking at all the three locations until you find the best house. Not sure if the housing market has cooled down now but it was very competitive over the last year with the best houses receiving multiple offers, so keeping a flexible location gives the best chance of finding a suitable house. Good luck!

I know all 3

To me Winchester is the most diverse due to the Uni and proximity to larger areas. It is very historical and cultural with excellent schools. You pay for it though as it is very expensive. Lewes and Winch are on par with this coming in at over 800k average house for a detached in 2021. Horsham is a bit cheaper.

I lived in Winchester from 2004 to 2010, so cannot comment on it now. It has lots of attractions, like the cathedral, the watermeadows and some lovely walks and bike rides in surrounding Hampshire. Also, great for getting to London by train. I lived very centrally. The reason we left is that..well, the place is a bit rough to be honest. The level of anti-social behaviour was appalling. I was burgled twice in six weeks in a rented flat that I initially lived in. Then, when we moved into a house, it was torture every night with loud youths shouting and yelling on the park outside. One night, when the police did finally respond to an altercation outside in the street it turned into a running shouting battle, and they had to call for reinforcements. It never got better, so we moved. The whole street was helpless on what to do about it, as the police were useless. If you do choose Winchester, have a good look at the crime statistics before you move. Talk to local people round where you plan to move.

Agree with @AllInADay re Winchester. Have lived just outside Winchester for over 30 years now and worked there for 8 years until 2020. The high street is losing its heart with stores closing and units empty for months/years. Winchester used to have many many independent stores which gave it a uniqueness but, due in part to covid I’m sure, many have closed. In the evening it can be quite rough and (sadly) there are many homeless people.

There are many good things about Winchester, especially the history, good schools, proximity to good walks/new forest/ coast, but it’s not the great city it once was.

Oh wow that’s so sad to her about Winchester - everything I’ve heard so far has been glowing but it gives pause for thought.

What about traffic? I’ve heard it’s bad in Winchester and I’m terrified of those teeny tiny streets in Lewes (I learnt to drive in the US so I’m used to massive roads!) - though I do currently live in an infamously bad traffic area now!

@SurreyMay that is our thinking at the moment - maybe just move to wherever we find the right place to live!

I live in Horsham but I'm from London. I find it very dull and very conservative. My teenagers find it boring. Of the places you've suggested, I'd go for Winchester. It's bigger and they'd be more to do.

@GMH74 that is a fear of mine - I’ve lived in major cities since I was 12 and I worry about feeling like a place is a bit provincial? I know Lewes isn’t big at all but it’s so close to brighton and has what feels like it’s own quality - I worry Horsham feels just like a commuter town

I've lived in Winch since 2014. I live close to the station, so very centrally. We haven't had any problems with antisocial behaviour at all.

I love it. It has the right balance for me - there are interesting things to do in Winch itself, the schools are great, and the people are friendly and welcoming. But you're also only an hour from London on the train, and you've got fantastic Hampshire countryside on the doorstep (and the coast less than an hour away.)

Because Winchester has so many people moving down from London, it is easy to make friends here because lots of people are keen and eager to put down roots and make social connections.

I wouldn't live anywhere else now! Best of luck with your move OP.

A friend has commented to me that even when you can't place a person you'll recognise people when you go out in Horsham I went to a restaurant on Saturday and people were staring, so I think she has a point. I prefer the buzz and anonymity of London. And yes, it is provincial. It costs a fortune to go into London on the train and there are often problems with the line. It doesn't have much life of its own. It's fine for primary aged kids but my older ones want to go into Brighton or London for stuff to do, as do I to be honest. It's pretty in parts but you struggle to find enough to do in the wet weather.

I know Lewes and Winchester fairly well and would choose Lewes over Winchester. It's a bit smaller, quirkier, feels more liberal and arty, and is really easy to get to Brighton, or further east towards Eastbourne, Rye etc. I would say though that housing stock is more limited - lots of beautiful town houses with no parking and small gardens, or larger estates without much character.
I don't know Horsham but imagine it to be more a bit slower, pretty but not that exciting. I may be wrong though. I think they're all nice so you'll probably be happy wherever you choose.

@SunnydayeverythingsAOK Thankyou - yeah it’s a fortunate position that be in

I know Horsham much less well than the other two but when I worked in London quite a few colleagues lived there. These were not especially highly paid jobs by London standards and I had the impression of a rather soulless commuter town with acres and acres of affordable (for the SE anyway) newish built housing....maybe being unfair.
I'd definitely go for the other two for a more liberal, arty ambience. I find the shopping in Winch still pretty good.

I don't know them well enough to comment on W/H/L but what about Newbury/Hungerford/Marlborough?

I have no idea about those areas @Gowithme or schools or housing or commute?

Our other potential option is Petersfield but am worried that’s proper rural

Why Petersfield out of interest? Much smaller than your other options,nice country market town though. What about Chichester?

@Cyberworrier DS is taking mandarin as his foreign language so we toured all the Bohunt Academy schools so we potentially have the option of him continuing it for GCSE in a classroom setting. Petersfield/Liphook is a bit of an outlier choice but we could be swayed by the schools if they offer him a place (waiting on a call with the Head next week)

Decided against Chichester - also Worthing and Shoreham for climate reasons and rising sea levels and not wanting to be stuck with a house we can’t sell in a few decades

That's really interesting about Chichester and rising sea levels. I will maybe say to friends who are considering moving there!

That part of Hants is nice and it isn't too far from Guildford/Chichester/Winchester depending on where exactly you end up, for more amenities. Good luck with your hunt!

Thanks @Cyberworrier!! It would def be a different option - honestly I can see myself in London a lot regardless but would just like to feel we live in a place that isn’t there solely for the purpose of being close to London!

Winchester is absolutely wonderful, I personally haven’t seen the same problems as some PP, but to be fair I don’t live there (I live close by and visit frequently). If I could afford my house there I’d move in a flash 😬 There is lots going on, the schools are great and the surrounding countryside is beautiful. It’s extremely expensive. I don’t know Lewes at all so can’t comment, but you’d get more house for your money in Horsham. Horsham is pretty enough and quieter. I personally prefer Winchester but I don’t think you’d be disappointed in Horsham.

Lewes all the way

Lewes is a whole bunch more fun than Horsham, which is OK but dull. Winchester is nice enough, not as boring as Horsham, but not super interesting either.

… Christ’s hospital is a great and interesting school if you do end up round Horsham way. They do mandarin. More day pupils than there used to be.

Petersfield is a great option too so wouldn’t rule it out and wouldn’t be disappointed if that’s where you decide upon.
Don’t recognise the antisocial behaviour that others have mentioned in Winchester. All Winchester schools are great. There is a lot of homelessness but also lots of help for the homeless.
Lewes also good.
Would rule out Horsham of all your options.
But right now with the housing and rental market as it is , I’d let your decision be guided by the best property as a pp suggested. Good luck.

If you do end up in Winchester, Henry Beaufort offers Mandarin as an extra curricular - not ideal but better than losing it all together.