Rottingdean

[Spillerey]

Please can anyone tell me anything about living here - good and bad?

Im widowed with adult dc so the pros are I don't have to worry about schools, the cons are I won't know anyone.

Thanks in advance.

Where would you be moving from OP? There isn’t a lot going on in Rottingdean, although it’s a nice village, pubs, restaurants, small shops, Tesco Express etc Marina close by for a bigger choice of restaurants, large supermarket Asda the drawbacks would be no railway station, Brighton would be nearest place for your adult children to have nights out/shopping etc. Seaford isn’t far too away has more shops, Morrisons & Railway Station. Good luck with your move.

Thanks a lot for your reply @Roselilly36. I'm moving from near Windsor but I can't decide where to move to! None of my dc are settled anywhere so no point basing where I move on where they currently are. I'm currently considering various places but now need to bite the bullet and firm up my plans.

Rottingdean is a lovely village with the basic amenities, but it is very busy with through traffic. If you can get away from the main road though it'll be better.

Lovely houses and country side on both sides and nice pebble beaches.

It's on the number 2 bus route which goes straight to Brighton all the way to Shoreham which is handy. And if your driving it's an easy road up to Woodingdean and straight onto the A27 (and A23 M23)

I don't really know much about crime but that's easily found on the internet.

Very expensive but if I could afford it, I would live there.

If you want to be near the sea I would do Hove tbh rather than Rottingdean. A bit quieter than Brighton but easy access to everywhere. Rottingdean to me was always a bit meh but I haven't lived there.

I love Rottingdean. I nearly bought a house there years ago but it fell through. Characterful place, several shops and amenities, the bus service is good, sea nearby, handy for Brighton. I disagree with pp and think it’s much nicer than Hove actually.

Rottingdean and Hove are complete opposites, coastal location aside. Much smaller, historical and a community in itself rather than urban.

Rottingdean is my happy place . I take myself off there once or twice a year for a couple of nights to recharge .
Beach very accessible, a pretty high street ,tescos express and very close to Brighton.
Good luck with your move 💐

Rottingdean is very nice, the traffic can be bad. You can walk the Undercliff walk to Brighton Marina where there is a cinema and lots of restaurants and then even into Brighton itself if you like walking. It’s also on a good bus route.

I get Rottingdean and Saltdean mixed up, which is the one with the outdoor swimming pool and a very busy small road through the main village, has a nice little pond.

Saltdean has the lido, Rottingdean a pond

Thanks so much for further posts.

I'm going to view a house there on Wednesday so it's good to get a bit more info. It's also heartening that mostly the comments are positive.

My main worry now is whether or not it'll be easy to meet people and make friends - think that's difficult at my stage of line (late 50's).

Thanks again, I do appreciate people taking time to post :)

We have friends who moved there after their kids left home. They got involved with the local community and now have met many interesting new friends.
OP - seems like it’s a small enough place to get to know people quite quickly if you are able to volunteer or have a particular interest/hobby.

Horrible name! I don't think I could live in a place called Rottingdean, however nice it was.

Join the Village Fair committee. They always need volunteers and it’s a great way to get to know people. There’ll be other groups and societies needing helping hands too.

My Rottingdean fact - Tudor Close was the inspiration for Cleudo (and is allegedly haunted).

I half grew up there, in that my grandparents retired there and my siblings and cousins spent many, many weekends and holidays there as children. We all went back last year for a weekend trip down Memory Lane and it had barely changed at all since the 70s - Windmill, pond, museum, promenade, Kipling's house. There used to be an outdoor pool under the cliff on the eastern side of the slope down to the beach but it was filled in years ago. Easy to get to Brighton. We parked at Ovingdean and got the bus.
Have very fond memories of it.

If you want seaside and the house you’re seeing doesn’t suit, try a bit further west. Rustington is by the sea, has a thriving centre and access to the A27 and everything further west. Or the Chichester area has some lovely villages around.

My PiLs live not far from there. I have only ever been for shorter visits, but I really like the fact that you have both the beach and the Downs within walking distance.

DH is from there. It is very nice. Nicest bit of Brighton imo.

More good reviews - thank you :).

@Bluevelvetsofa (I'd love one of those!) do you have any particular suggestions for villages surrounding Chichester please?

Rustington is good and has amenities.
The Witterings are lovely, but expensive,
Aldwick, Birdham, Elmer, Middleton on Sea, Felpham,, Itchenor, Pagham, Duncton, Ferring, East Preston.

My favourite place is Bosham, but property rarely comes up and is mega bucks.

Emsworth is just into Hampshire, as is Denvilles.
Funtington, Fishbourne, etc etc

@Bluevelvetsofa Thank you, that's all really helpful.

You can walk or bike from Saltdean into Rottingdean. Traffic is better in Saltdean and you have good bus routes. I like it there.

Have you looked at Lewes Op? It’s not cheap, but it’s a lovely small town with quite a bit going on. It has a station too, so easy to get to other places.