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!

I find Cambridge quite up itself. Lots of posh people.

As a brash Northerner I expected to find this, but I was surprised how lovely people are there. Well spoken maybe, but polite, warm and friendly, it's one of my favourite places.

This is terrifying! Literally just about to move to Brighton from London and this thread makes the whole place sound awful - are there no hood things about the place?!

I live out the outskirts of Cambridge... hate it. Would not recommend it to anyone, frankly.

I lived and taught in Brighton in my 20s and 30s. Absolutely loved it - great social life, always something to see culturally; fab shopping; the sea and the Downs. An hour to London. Some decent state schools (v good 6th form college) and v good but v v pricey private schools. But, in places, it is dirty, unsafe and run down. I decided not to bring my own kids up there. Why? One of my lovely year 7 pupils got attacked on the way home from school as he walked through the Level and loads of my Year 7s had seen needles and other such paraphernalia around the city. It was normal for them. For me, it was/is too druggie. Kids grew up too early. I do desperately miss the Downs and the sea though and I do pop back occasionally. But I think the city itself is a young person’s city.
I know Cambridge has v good private schools (again v pricey) and a superb state 6th form college. In your situation I would think about the best place for my child. If they are happy and safe, you will be too. There are other cities/towns to consider in the UK. Some other good city suggestions on this thread.

OMG! Have been busy, just came back to my post, and there are so many kind friends who responded! Thank you so much guys!! xoxo!!

So much helpful info here for me!!!

It's not an exaggeration to say that literally I was 'living' on Google Map a few days ago🙃 I found out that there are so many places that can be easy reached around Brighton, like landscapes in Surrey and Kent. This really drives me excited! It seems living in Hove is much better Brighton? Anywhere else? How is Shoreham-By Sea or Lancing or Worthing?

Shoreham by sea is lovely, arty and a bit more trendy than Lancing which is much improved from years ago though with some lovely restaurants and good transport links but not consider trendy. Worthing is also lovely and much more sedate than Brighton but in a good way.

I lived in Brighton and then Hove years ago, we moved to West Sussex when ds1 was born and it has worked out really well.

I would say that local secondary schools around Worthing aren’t the best but at the risk of outing myself, one of my dses got to Oxford from the local very average comp in one of the aforementioned places. The other ds is going to UCL so also an excellent result.

Yes Yes to Shoreham by sea and Hove. They are different though. If you went to somewhere like Patcham or Westdene you can also walk straight on to the downs, further to the sea though. I've lived in the area for years and happy to answer any questions you have OP.

I wouldn't choose Lancing or Worthing personally. But only because they're a bit more conservative

You might prefer living near to Brighton in somewhere like Saltdean (quiet), Rottingdean (villagey) or Lewes (brewery, antiques).

Worthing is where people go to retire so its quite boring in comparison.

If you can afford it, Brighton is a wonderful place to live. You've got the beach, and the south downs countryside and London only an hour away. The people are lovely, there is loads to do and lots of culture as well as irreverent, quirky stuff.

@Puppylucky
Don't worry, I'm sure you'll love Brighton! I am in my 40s with two primary aged kids & live in the city about a 15 min walk from the centre. I don't disagree with previous posters' comments but still think it's a great city with loads going on. We are spoilt for choice for stuff to do, even in winter, and the countryside of the Downs is so close. I may feel more anxious about some of the issues others have raised when mine become teenagers though of course. I live in a little neighbourhood with a lovely community feel. If you want quiet suburbs you can can live in inland Hove and still be a short bus ride to the town centre. If money was no object I'd live by the sea in central Hove...quieter with a lovely range of independent shops and restaurants. But as Brighton & Hove are one city it's not a huge trek to get to the bits that suit your own interests & situation. I hope you enjoy living here!

@Teganandbarbs I have just seen your lovely message. Thank you so much for bothering to put my mind at rest! We will be living on the Brighton /Hove border so hopefully will get to enjoy the best of both worlds. Thanks again!

Both are overcrowded and expensive imo

Love Cambridge. Really compact city centre with lots going on but expensive. Brighton on the other hand - dirty, rundown, woke & full of homeless people. Not sure how you can compare the two.

Worthing went Labour in the local elections....a lot of comment about demographic change, people priced out of Brighton.
When ops are asking about a particular vibe, I often find MN quite out of date on the character of areas. "Oh don't....very very Tory...when in fact they voted remain and the Tories don't control the council.

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

Fast trains to London, fast trains out of St Pancras and Euston right nearby. I've left Cambridge Station at 10am and been in Penrith by 3.45pm. St Pancras means it's possible to go to Canterbury for lunch to meet my friend and get back home before the rush hour. We even have trains to Brighton now. We are near Stansted/Luton. Midlands by train is a bit rubbish by rail but ok by car.

Property prices are okish if you don't want to live centrally but are otherwise a bit steep.

Re social life - for me that would be lectures, concerts, films, access to London. All those boxes firmly tick. What's missing - well, it's not a big City and it's not a big City vibe. It's ok for young people, the universities bring that in, but don't make it too dominating because not all the students are here all of the time. I think that's about right. It's not hilly, I don't know if Brighton is or isn't. It's not by the sea, but watersports venues available and wild swimming is a trandy local pursuit. We have a Lido too.

I’d choose Cambridge any day, and I don’t even like Cambridge that much.

Brighton has some beautiful old houses and yes it’s kind of vibey but it’s such a dump. The state schools are not great. There are some reasonable private schools if you can afford them, but expensive.

It has all the problems of London without the pluses.

Hove might be better idk.

Everyone likes different areas so it is hard to answer but I have to go to Brighton a lot. I think it’s dirty and busy and when there are warm days everyone flocks there so it’s not as enjoyable. It’s coastal, obviously, so it gets cold and has strong winds often.