Thinking of moving to Eastbourne

[Addison123]

Hi Everyone, anyone here living in Eastbourne? I currently live in Bromley with my partner and we are looking to move to a safer, cleaner and friendlier area with some diversity. I have never spent longer periods in Eastbourne and I was wondering how people who live(d) there find it?

From what I saw, it’s an aging population but I don’t mind that. We always have the best time there but again, the longest we stayed was 3 days!

For me personally it would be important to feel safe (eg I can walk the dog at 10pm) and be fairly close to the center. My partner sadly experienced racism where we live now so we hope to move to somewhere better in that sense (I know it’s tricky). Any areas to avoid?

ps.: we have no kids, just a dog.

Thank you 🙂

Eastbourne has a younger than average population, despite its outdated image. Also the second sunniest town in the country.

Eastbourne centre is rough in the evening. Maybe look at Lewes.

Quite rough 😵‍💫

Nonsense to all these posts!

Re age, it IS an older population... from the most recent census:
Between the last two censuses, the average (median) age of Eastbourne increased by two years, from 43 to 45 years of age.This area had a higher average (median) age than the South East as a whole in 2021 (41 years) and a higher average (median) age than England (40 years). The number of people aged 65 to 74 years rose by just over 2,200 (an increase of 22.1%), while the number of residents between 35 and 49 years fell by just under 1,200 (6.0% decrease).Re rough - I really don't think so at all - it depends a bit on the area - if you were looking at Meads, Old Town or Upperton you are absolutely fine. If you are looking Seaside, out to Langley, there's more deprivation and associated challenges. Every town has its problem areas; by and large I think Eastbourne as a safe place I'm always happy in - I'd be fine out at 10pm walking a dog. Honestly, no worse than Bromley!The main thing I think in your context though is diversity (or lack thereof). I'm white so can't speak about experience of racism - I've never witnessed any but this is not enough to say anything about it - but it is a really quite white demographic. Within non-British people, Polish is the most dominant origin. In terms of ethnicity, it's 91% white, 3.5% Asian, 1.3% Black, 2.8% mixed, 1.7% other (abbreviating categories). So it's just really how you'd feel about that - I guess there's more chance of being treated as different because the society is quite white-dominated, but tbh I think this is the case in most town-sized places rather than cities which are much more diverse.

Does anybody know the Hampden Park area? Nice or no?

Hampden Park isn't great either. If it's at the top end nearer to kings road it's a lot nicer than by the train station. I was born in Bromley and now live in Eastbourne.

Eastbourne has the beaches which are lovely but also has a lot of deprivation and there is a lot of anti social behaviour in the evenings as proven by the volume of drunk and aggressive people that fight daily outside my house. So I don't feel safe walking just off of the seafront at 10pm.

The meads/saffrons is nicer than the centre.

Have you looked at Seaford?

Eastbourne isn't a really diverse place. That said, it is fairly safe, but it often gets rowdy at night around the pubs.

Eastbourne has it's good and bad areas, like everywhere else. I live here and feel safe. In regard to elderly population, I think it is fairly mixed

I like Eastbourne but it does have some drawbacks. It does suffer from a fair amount of deprivation and in my experience there's a lot of people with drink problems. I don't think you'll find it diverse in paticular, because quite simply it isn't. I wouldn't feel unsafe at night but perhaps keep your eye open a bit

From what I have heard that’s the rough part. I was told the Meads, Old town areas are recommended but someone correct me if I am wrong

Thank you that’s very helpful

The 'rougher' parts are no more rough than Bromley. It's like anywhere - nice and less nice areas.

Agree with previous posters that it's not that ethnically diverse. It's certainly not full of old people as some might think, times have changed and it's not quite thriving with young families.

I live on outskirts and am 30, moved here a few years ago and love it.

*now quite thriving with young families!

Lewes can be rough too! Eastbourne no worse!

I sometimes work in Eastbourne and always feel like the only black person for miles. That said I worked with an Asian family who said they never experienced any problems - not a comprehensive survey, granted.
Someone suggested Seaford. I'd strongly advice against. Eastbourne had a bit more diversity. My opinion though of course. Good luck op.

@MrsU2022 really? I had no idea! Scratch that idea then.

You wouldn't think so when visiting the centre, but lots of drug problems and has a lot of social housing estates that have issues in the outskirts! But again, most places do these days so probably no worse than anywhere else!

NOT SAYING I EXPERIENCED RACISM

I've been a few times and loved the place, but I said, "scuse me please" once in a shop and smiled and the bloke frowned at me and then called me "a scouse cunt".
I've had people shout at me in pubs in another large northern city about Hillsborough which was awful, but the "scouse cunt" really caught me off guard. Much older man too, say 50s, I was late teens.
I'm sure that he was just one particularly miserable arse, but if young white women are getting that for being polite, I'm not sure I'd be confident a person of colour is going to feel massively included with the local community.

The place is beautiful though, I get the appeal.

My granny lives in Eastbourne, moved from Bromley.

It is NOT diverse. It is an elderly population, GPs / hospital are stretched. The shopping centre is shit. parking is a nightmare.

We love visiting, but I wouldn't want to live there.

Each to their own. We’ve been in Eastbourne nearly 3 years and love it. I’ve never seen any trouble but then we don’t live in the town centre and tend not to go there in the evening. Several areas are lovely like Meads, Old Town, Ratton, Upperton, Willingdon etc. Anyone thinking of living here should come and visit several times though. We’ve lived in 9 different places since getting married 30 years ago, north and south England and twice overseas. What I’ve learned is that no place is perfect but most places are absolutely fine if you adopt the right attitude. Eastbourne suits us very well but of course, YMMV so DYOR. Agreed it’s not the most diverse of places. I’ve never actually noticed any hostility to non-white people but of course I’m not the best person to comment on that. I’ve no doubt a black person would pick up on things I don’t see or sense.

Full of both young and elderly needy people Most medical services stretched long before COVID and no one wants to work there so inexperienced staff More problems associated with a city yet no real amenities eg museums apart from Towner Gallery Uni closing Long train journey to London

Eastbourne is not really diverse, but much less racism than places like Bromley 100%
Some of the most diverse places are the most racist in my experience. Unfortunately diversity doesn’t equal people living in peaceful harmony!

Eastbourne is ok, bit dull and has the standard seaside town issues- drugs, poverty and anti social stuff.

I’d pick a quiet suburb of Brighton, yes the town centre has issues with begging, crime etc but at least you have easy access to culture, events, shopping, restaurants etc and quicker train to London and much more easy going inclusive attitudes than frumpy Eastbourne. Somewhere near a park for the dogs.

Frumpy and dull is an excellent description

As a PP said I would definitely choose a suburb of Brighton and Hove over Eastbourne. DH and I looked there just before moving from South London and found that although there are some lovely areas (like Meads and a pretty seafront) there is a lot of poverty and down at heel areas. DH is mixed race so that was a consideration of sorts I guess, but we feel much more at home in Brighton: Hove, Preston Park, Hangleton and Patcham (if you don't mind being a bit out of the way). I am really grateful we didn't end up in Eastbourne.

Hey @Addison123 did you make the move and how are you finding it? We’re in Bromley and thinking about moving to Eastbourne too. Also looking around Lewes area but Eastbourne providing a few more options in our budget at the moment.