Relocating, Brighton or Cambridge?

[samyu]

Hi there, I am struggling about relocate to Brightong or Cambridge,could anyone here give me some advices about my struggles? 😂

I am currently in overseas (left the UK a year ago), and I have a 6-years-old DS. I have been keeping in touch with independent schools in both cities for him, and all of them seem good. As well as the housing prices, equally expensive..😅
Does Brighton have more sunny days than Cambridge? Where is warmer? As I am getting older (40+), I would love to living in a warmer place. 😅

Thanks a lot guys!

Hm well it's currently two degrees warmer in Cambridge than Brighton. Not sure if it's that noticeable though some might say it's nice by the coast during the summer. But I've always found it more unpleasant by the coast in bad weather than inland - you're really exposed and the wind and rain can be brutal.

Property in Brighton is more expensive than Cambridge from what I can see. I live in Brighton, we get a lot of dry sunny days but there’s usually quite a chilly wind. Dad lives near Cambridge, we get similar weather but it’s less windy there.

You've made me start googling temperature!! So apparently it's four degrees warmer on average in June in Cambridge. But I'm not sure I'd let that sway my decision. Personally I love Brighton but as pp says it's expensive. Don't know if it's equally expensive in the nicest bits of Cambridge?

I would avoid Brighton, far more woke than Cambridge and noisier.

Is that your only two choices? It really depends on what you’re looking for. I lived in Cambridge for years and it’s nice but I found it quite boring. Brighton is definitely a bit more buzzy but on the last visit found it a bit more run down.

What a choice!
I love, love Cambridge - beautiful city, really lovely people. I don't feel any of those things about Brighton, but I also struggle with living away from the sea.

Re. The weather, seaside towns have far worse weather in winter, I live 5 mins from the sea now, in winter it's bleak, damp, misty and windy, the damp from the sea wind goes through you. Even on summer days there can be an unpleasant breeze. The other problem with the seaside, which isn't an issue for me as I'm in a remote area, but you put up with the awful winters, then find the beach and surrounding area packed with tourists when the decent weather comes.

I live in Cambridge but used to live in Brighton about 20 years ago. They are very different cities. Brighton is much younger, cooler and woke. Cambridge has very expensive houses, is a bit more staid, is massively culturally diverse ( over 40 languages spoken in my DC's 2 form entry primary), and has lots of things to do, but they are often "intellectual" activities (literary festival, theatres, university talks etc).as opposed to alternative / younger activities (eg all night raves).

Personally, I think Cambridge is a great place to bring up kids provided you have enough cash to live so centrally that you don't need to commute into the city with a car. Traffic is horrendous. It also helps if you are happy to cycle everywhere.

Property in Brighton is more expensive than Cambridge from what I can see.

Other way round, but not much between them. Cambridge prices are absolutely insane.

When Cambridge is hot it's really hot (by UK standards) but can feel very cold in the winter when the wind comes straight off the fens.

They're very different types of places OP, as I'm sure you know - what are you looking for apart from warmth and schools?

This.....Also, Brighton always feels like it's never grown up, it's like it's in perpetual teenager in party mode, I'd choose Cambridge any day.

I absolutely adore Cambridge - it’s a beautiful city. Would move there in a heartbeat if I could.

Used to live Brighton years ago....wouldnt bother now...teens pissed on cheap booze flat out...social issues....awful parking....

Cambridge because of the university's

I would choose Cambridge out of the two. Brighton is too busy, has quite a few social issues - not to mention all the detritus that summer holiday goers bring with them. Cambridge is more traditional. That said, Cambridge, whilst lovely in itself is somewhat isolated (Cambridgeshire not my favourite county) and I’d prefer to be closer to the coast. Both have good links to London though (as I’m sure you’re already aware)

I lived in Cambridge for a few years and while it's a beautiful city, I did not enjoy living there very much. It found it quite difficult to make friends, it's a pain trying to get past all the tourists to go to the bank, etc. Have also (briefly) lived in Brighton, though I was much younger, and enjoyed it a lot. Would enjoy living there more with a family (though I am 'woke' 🙄...) but not sure what the schools are like post-primary.

Ditto. I lived in Cambridge for a while too. I found it quite stifling, personally. And you feel oddly shut out of a lot of cultural events and activities if you’re not connected to the university.

Plus Cambridge feels quite disconnected from the rest of the country and it takes ages to get anywhere.

I much prefer Brighton, of the two. Brighton is a bit scruffier than Cambridge but personally I think it has a lot more heart.

I love Brighton but I would not live there. It can get sleazy and rowdy at times. I don't like how it is self consciously hip and progressive and the drugs problems are much worse than Cambridge. Cambridge is more accessible to London and has better schools. I would feel happier for older kids to walk around by themselves in the evening whereas I would always feel nervous about it in Brighton.

Why those two places? They are ridiculously expensive.

Why those two places? They are ridiculously expensive.

I’d say Brighton is warmer. The wind in Cambridge is freaking Arctic.

The Brighton sea front is very cold and windy 90% of the year, or even more than that! If you're a mile inland it's a lot warmer.

If money isn't an issue buy in the NW development and apply here (state)

universityprimaryschool.org.uk

The culture of the two is quite different. Cambridge has a lot of students but they havr short terms and it is a beautiful intellectual city with lots of interesting museums, talks, art theatre, craft market, folk music etc. Brighton is the capital of Britain’s gay scene and as a result is kinda obsessed with willies and booze. Willy shaped bollards, Brighton Emirates monument was supposed to be a ferris wheel but got changed to a tall tower with a ring sliding up and down it 😐 Also a lot of people for to Brighton for alcohol-based weekends. Anyway. Found it sleazy.

Are you able to consider Folkestone? Gets a lot of sun, something about a microclimate. Or if you need to be near Brighton I’d choose Eastbourne, very close, good weather, fewer drunks and not obsessed with booze and willies.

The NW development is soulless and that primary school has a poor reputation.
West Chesterton and Newnham are both nicer and closer to the city centre with better amenities and schools

That primary school doesnt have a poor reputation

I have met lots of great people from Brighton; very friendly and welcoming. Also lived there for several years when I was young. Expensive to live which is why we moved. Don’t know much about Cambridge.