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Original poster

Tell me about West Sussex/South Downs

76 replies

Ypsilanti · 27/04/2022 21:12

DP and I currently live in East London and are thinking about moving out. For various reasons West Sussex and the South Downs works well for us as a broad area. We’re looking primarily for countryside (we’re both outdoorsy and keen walkers) but also to live somewhere that has a few amenities, and importantly, isn’t too far from an arty/cultural community (however small). We’d also like somewhere that is a little more multicultural if possible - DP is of South Asian heritage (I’m white) and it’s really important to us that we move somewhere that is welcoming to him.

I know all this screams somewhere close to Brighton, but aside from being too expensive, it is too much a party town for us. We’re in our 40s (no kids) and our partying days are largely over!

Our budget is £550k for a 3 bed house. We have been looking at Worthing but we’d like to be a bit more inland if possible, though we realise our budget rules out some of the better connected South Downs towns. I’ve recently been looking at Haselmere (which I know is in Surrey) but not sure if it has the cultural element we’re looking for. I will need to commute into London once or twice a week at most (London terminus not relevant at this point) so being closer to a station would be helpful.

Can anyone recommend areas to help us focus our search/investigate? Thanks!

OP posts:
ThatPosterIsSoRight · 27/04/2022 22:29

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/122840147#/?channel=RES_BUY

ThatPosterIsSoRight · 27/04/2022 22:31

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/122174867#/?channel=RES_BUY

AlphaAlpha · 27/04/2022 22:32

Forest Row could fit your bill.

Sits on the East/West Sussex border, close to the decent but fairly dull East Grinstead. Close to the Ashdown Forest.

ThatPosterIsSoRight · 27/04/2022 22:40

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/121995023#/?channel=RES_BUY

WhatsitWiggle · 27/04/2022 22:43

There are lovely villages around mid Sussex, but multicultural they aren't! That said, my experience is that they are welcoming, a lot of people relocate from London and Brighton.

Lindfield, Cuckfield, Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint are worth a look - houses in your budget will be on the smaller side though. Or west of Brighton you've got Henfield, Billingshurst, Southwater and Steyning.

I'd agree with others that Lewes is great for art and culture but it is East Sussex - not too far over though so depends how far west you need to be.

We moved from Brighton and spent a couple of weekends just driving round the villages to rule things in or out before then trying to find houses in budget.

SmallSoupcon · 27/04/2022 22:55

OP I've lived around West Sussex for 20 years. I'm now in Bognor Regis and I can say that the whole of the Arun District is pretty much white. Our multiculturalism comes from the Eastern European communities, and I believe there's also a Portuguese community in Littlehampton.

Chichester isn't that artsy - it's quite traditional and stuffy. The arts things it does tend to be very elite.

It seems to me the deeper you head into the downs, the more white and posh you get. The bigger county towns like Worthing and Crawley are more diverse and have more going on arts and community wise.

I used to live in East Grinstead which is a nice town but again not ethnically diverse.

However, the county is a beautiful place to live and I'd really recommend it. We need more diversity and artsy people so come on down!

Createabitofuntruenews · 28/04/2022 01:32

My brother lives in Lindfield,lovely village,you would get a nice 3bedroom house for your budget.

Original poster
Ypsilanti · 28/04/2022 13:40

Wow, I hadn’t expected so many responses, thank you so much! This is all really helpful - neither of us are Londoners by birth but after 20 years here, thinking about moving out, and where to move to, can feel a bit overwhelming. To add to it, we don’t know the area so all of this is so so helpful.

I’ve taken on board the comments about multiculturalism and do understand that the nature of more rural areas is to be less diverse (I’m from a small village in the SW originally). I guess it’s more about communities that are welcoming to all new arrivals.

Going to check out the rightmove links now - please keep them coming! We are not on the market yet so can keep our head in the sand a bit about how bonkers the market.

OP posts:
Lonelycrab · 28/04/2022 13:55

ano recommendation for Forest Row, I grew up there and for the surrounding countryside it’s really good. As a place it’s woo central, very alternative so although not ethnically hugely diverse, it’s not a run of the mill average village either.

DoctorMarten · 28/04/2022 14:59

Lewes is very white. Try Hove. More spacious, bigger gardens and so on.

DoctorMarten · 28/04/2022 15:00

Lewes is lovely, though. Just not very multicultural.

TeeBee · 28/04/2022 15:12

Be careful regarding Arundel/Walberton...they're about to build a dirty great bypass through Walberton so you will see some very reasonably priced houses for sale (with very good reason). There's a long and drawn-out battle about this bypass and people are still fighting against it but be careful if you're buying property there.

Veralil · 28/04/2022 15:31

I think Petersfield may be a good spot or Midhurst. They are both very nice towns , Petersfield is on the London Waterloo line and is also about 20 mins or so down to the coast at Langstone. There are some fantastic walks in the South downs and both Petersfield and Midhurst have lots of nice little shops and plenty of places to eat. No station at Midhurst though. It is a fabulous area.

TheDogsMother · 28/04/2022 16:33

Billingshurst, Chichester and Haywards Heath are just outside the South Downs National Park and all have loads of building going on around the outskirts. This might be great for you if you are after a new build but it is adding to the traffic in those areas. Pulborough is just outside and a bit sprawling with no real village centre. Within the National Park building is much more restricted. Petworth and Midhurst are pretty little towns but not diverse at all. The whole of the South Downs National Park is very beautiful countryside though.

PamDenick · 28/04/2022 19:14

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/122829185#/?channel=RES_BUY

Be careful with some of the train connections if you want to frequently acces London. Some of the nearer places (Billingshurst) have less late return trains than some further away places such as Worthing and Littlehampton due to the train lines they are on.

PamDenick · 28/04/2022 19:23

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/27/labour-tory-strongholds-worthing-johnson

Also, Worthing is about to turn red (not sure if that's a pro or a con for you but Worthing's politicians will be changing before mid susses villages.

satelliteheart · 28/04/2022 20:16

I don't know how ethnically diverse you need an area to be but horsham isn't as all-white as many are making out. Southwater also has a mixture of ethnicities, although no station so you'd need to travel into horsham to commute into London. Certainly all the villages around horsham are welcoming of new people. As mentioned, horsham has a small theatre/arts venue and a lot of bars and restaurants and is a fairly busy market town. Haywards heath is probably a busier town if that's what you're after. When we moved to Sussex we drove down every Saturday for a few weeks, looked at a couple of houses and wandered around the villages, ate in the pubs and tried to get a feel for the place. We didn't particularly like Pulborough but liked Billingshurst, Southwater and Horsham

stuntbubbles · 28/04/2022 20:43

Petworth is very pretty but I’ve lost half a dozen wing mirrors driving through it, the streets are tiny. Is Eastbourne too far east for you? You can still get a 3-bed for your budget there and old town is chef’s kiss

Kochicoo · 28/04/2022 20:53

I think Haywards Heath is now too busy as they've just built far too many houses without the necessary infrastructure. Compared to just a few years ago, traffic is awful. Lindfield and Cuckfield are the two villages either side of Haywards Heath and despite maybe seeming welcoming, my (South Asian heritage) friend and her white (but not from the UK) husband would tell a very different story after their experience of living in both villages. I don't think Mid Sussex was on your list anyway but just something to consider.

bare · 28/04/2022 21:18

Petersfield is in the National Park and easy to get to London.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/120401129

bare · 28/04/2022 21:24

Or by the harbour in Emsworth ?

bare · 28/04/2022 21:24

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/120154655

nocutsnobuttsnococonuts · 28/04/2022 21:29

How about Shoreham? Has the best of all worlds, close to the downs, lovely walks along the river and nice beaches.

Trains direct to London, has buses into Brighton all night if you do go out.

Despite being a town it has that welcoming village feel. Lots of things going on. We lived there for years and I still miss our flat on the beach. We are now closer to Brighton.

Annexlife · 28/04/2022 22:00

We live near Haslemere and love it for the access to beautiful countryside, especially if you don't mind a hill or two. Close proximity to Guildford gives us access to more culture and the theatre in Woking is great. If you are outdoorsy it's worth considering, and as relatively new people to the area, locals have been so welcoming.