To move to Bexhill-On-Sea?

[Movingoutoflondon]

Hi everyone,

We currently live in London and have spent the last few months debating on where to move to. We would like to be by the sea and close(ish) to London. We ideally wanted to live in Hove but unfortunately it's out of budget (we'll be renting).

We've stumbled across Bexhill-On-Sea and it looks ideal. Any pros/cons/advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Do you have children? If so, what ages?

The High school head has just left so there will be changes in SMT there or the Catholic St Richards for local senior schools

Lots of good primary schools

Lots of new roads have been built from London road, Ninfield road etc are they the ones you were thinking of?

I remember in the dim and distant past when we had a swimming pool in the park - it was nearly always chilly water but we enjoyed it as children/teenagers

I agree about Hastings and St Leonards being dodgy

I wish they hadn't put all the parking restrictions in the town centre as it makes people think before spending time there which also means the shops don't get customers which means the town loses the good shops due to high rents etc etc so vicious circle so people go to Ravenside or elsewhere.

I would say that Bexhill is a safe place to live 🙂🙂🙂

Hi @brassbells thank you for your reply! We don't have children (it's me and mum moving) so schools aren't a consideration for us. Definitely seems to be a consensus about Hastings and St Leonards so we've definitely ruled those areas out. Shame about the parking but good to know that there are shops in Ravenside. We're hoping to visit soon but it's so nice to hear from people that know the area 😊

The parking changes just mean you have to pay to park in and around the town centre. It always used to be free.

The homes around the centre have residents zones so you can park near your home with a sticker in your car but I don't know the exact details of them. Other people will be able to help with that or estate agents.

Little Common is quite a nice area I have friends that live there, a great Chinese restaurant in the mews.

Although there are lots of new housing being built to the west so the village atmosphere may change in the future, in Little Common.

I would avoid Cooden Drive as it is quite a straight road that cars wizz up and down too fast imho, although there are some lovely homes along there.

I would find out about a local GP surgery as part of your search for a home. As some are better than others but guess that is the same over whole of UK.

Bexhill tonight can't think of many places I'd rather be....

Beautiful 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

I used to live in West St Leonards and regularly went to all the nearby places including Bexhill. Do not rule out Hastings etc without seeing for yourself. You will be a very short drive away. There are nice areas and the town was looking decent (new art gallery, much quainter Old Town than Bexhill) last time I visited post-lockdown. Clambers softplay is good for younger children. Schools may be the weakest link, so check out the Ofsted ratings for any catchment you are considering.

Beautiful! Can't wait to be by the sea!

@hastings4me thank you for the info! We'll have a look around all areas when we visit 😊

I love Bexhill seafront.

How about Worthing?

Bexhill is famous for its charity vintage and
2nd hand shops.

@pilates we have been considering Worthing as an option but don't know too much about it. Any info you can share would be really appreciated!

Another East Sussex born and bred. Bexhill is rather boring but if you want a very quiet life it is pleasant. St Leonard's or Hastings Old Town are far more interesting. Hove is a totally different matter. If that's where you are drawn to then save up.

@purser25 fab, another big tick!

If you like Hove then please check out Worthing, safe and genteel and massively more interesting now than even a decade ago ( I have lived in Hove/Bri for 20 years)

a lot of friends from here have moved to Hastings. They seem really happy. My view is that if you move you want to move to a town that is a destination for you and right for your lifestyle. That will be different for all of us depending on priorities and interests. Good luck with your move and have fun choosing the right place.

also see uckfield, Horsham, forest row, tunbridge wells, hurstpierpoint … might be good fits for your priorities atm :)

@Movingoutoflondon see above :)

Watch out for the Phantom Batter Pudding Hurler!

Don’t rule out Hastings Old Town until you’ve looked around. I’ve got friends and family who have moved there from London over the last 20 years and all love it.
Some have just moved there with their dc after spending last few years visiting every school holiday!

Thank you so much for your message! We actually had to postpone the move a year last year so back to searching for the right location. This has been very helpful :)

Great, thanks! We've added it back to the list

Worthing is worth looking at. Good schools, lovely restaurants, cinema, beach and South Downs. Bits of the town centre are very run down but then you turn a corner and have a Michellin star restaurant on the pier. 20 mins on train to Brighton if you ever fancy more of a buzz and 1 hour 20 mins to London Victoria. Certainly not perfect but enough little gems to make it a contender….

I agree I wouldn’t rule out Hastings without seeing it for yourself.

The countryside round it is beautiful.

All Of these are good suggestions.

Worthing is slightly grim but it’s easy to get to London and some of the buildings are beautiful.

Hi looking for some views on moving to little common bexhill. We are currently selling our house and have seen one we like in little common. Our main concern is that we have been told the A259 is a nightmare to travel,towards Brighton. Also trains to and from London are not good. Could anyone give me their views/opinions on this please. Also any tips on living there. Many thanks