Brighton or Cambridge?

[carolineofcanton]

Hi. I am a mum of two from Hong Kong. DH and I are planning to relocate the family to Britain. We are grateful to the BN(O) scheme for giving us this opportunity.

We've narrowed down to Brighton and Cambridge as likely locations and within our budget. DH knows Britain as he studied in the U.K. as an undergraduate and then again as a Master's student in the 1990s. He has warm feelings to the U.K. However, he is not familiar with Brighton or Cambridge.

We want our children to have a laid back upbringing and an escape from Hong Kong's competitive schooling system. While we have heard great things about Cambridge, we worry that the city might have an overabudance of an 'academic' atmosphere. That said, we also want decent state schools. We've heard great things about Brighton. Because it is near the seaside, my oldest might have an easier time adjusting as Hong Kong also has nice beaches :)

To me, Cambridge seems idyllic while Brighton has more going on. Can anyone give a broader overview of the two cities?

I have friends who have lived and are fully integrated into the Brighton scene for the last 20 years.

They live in a beautiful million, plus close to the seafront house, but want to leave. Reason, the obvious drugs problem that is getting worse and fear of getting mugged in their own street. They're streetwise people, so not the types to over react.

Out of the two options, definitely Cambridge. Brightons beaches are all pebbles. Property prices in both locations are high. Good luck for your relocation OP

Cambridge is kind of boring and cut off from the rest of the country. I’d generally avoid east Anglia tbh! Where do you need to get to in London?

what about Folkestone in Kent?

Folkestone is very pretty, an arty town and has lovely beaches. Good schools and close to London.

As someone who didn't grow up in the UK and first lived in Cambridge, then Brighton and then Hove (where I still am) I fully agree.

Does it have to be or the other? I strongly suggest you go to London first (North London is nice) because HK to the UK is a huge adjustment and honestly London is the best place to make that adjustment. After a few months when they’re used to UK culture you could then move them to a substantially smaller city.

I didn’t like Cambridge when I lived there but the schools I think may be better than Brighton’s state schools.

if I was moving as a family that would be the deciding factor for me. Choose a good state school and find somewhere to live in its catchment.

Brighton is more fun than Cambridge but definitely quite seedy feeling in parts.

I have spent quite a bit of time in Brighton and Hove visiting friends over the years and wouldn’t want to live there. Yes it’s lively, laid back and friendly - but there are a lot of downsides . I always find it a bit dirty - probably because it’s full of tourists etc, but I hear that schools are over subscribed so that could be an issue. Each visit I notice more homeless people. Hove end is a bit nicer but still very densely populated .

l have only been to Cambridge a few times as a tourist but did feel very comfortable there .

Have you researched any other towns or cities ? There may be other places which could suit too.

I am mystified as to how anyone would start with every town and city in the UK and come down to these two. @carolineofcanton do you have jobs lined up? Are there any geographical constraints to your choices within the uk?

Is it a priority to be able to explore the rest of the country? Both cities are pretty well connected to London but quite far from the rest of the UK. There is a thriving HK community in my affluent Midlands town but it might not suit if access to London is a priority. Can you give us an idea of your budget and any work-related commitments?

Incidentally, your written English is excellent and I would hardly have known you weren’t a native speaker had you not said.

It really depends on your budget but you might be happier with London. Still much more spacious than Hong Kong. If you want somewhere really lovely and laid back then you’ll want to be further from London but it depends how far? Let us know and we’ll help you find somewhere. Also how diverse and international would you like it?

Cambridge is AWFUL. Dad lives there, went to uni there, but long enough ago not to fall into the category I detail later. Brother lives there. Whole side of that family lives there. DH worked there for years (commute from the 45mins away we live) and I've worked approx 20 mins away. What I'm saying, is I know it well, and have done for 40yrs.

The vast majority of Cambridge people, I'm sorry to say, are twats. Not bad people, not thieves and gangsters. But you have the "Cambridge sounds pretentious and the houses are quite expensive, so I'll live here and name drop thinking it sounds impressive to people who don't know any better" crowd. There are the "We're at the Uni, and are verging on God complex, because we think we're the brightest people on earth, but don't worry we'll tolerate you cute little plebs with your inferior brains" crowd. (FYI, I have no doubt some of these people are genius level, but it's rare to find one who can hold an interesting conversation.) Then there's their groupies, who are frankly embarrassing. You have the people who live in the slums on the outskirts. You have the "My clothes are all made of hemp, I'm the most committed vegan on earth, you are all ruining the planet, except me and my husband, I drink my own urine and all of the above makes me better than you, and don't worry, I'll make sure you know about my lifestyle, and how poor your life choices are" crowd - almost as self proclaimed elitist attitude as the uni bunch. And the cyclists. Who believe they own the city. And will deliberately clip into people and shout abuse, dinging their bells at anyone in their way, whether they should be cycling there or not.

On the plus side, the restaurants are really good. Lots of Asian, African, Oriental supermarkets and food shopping is good. Shopping for anything else is beyond terrible. You literally couldn't pay me to live in the place. And the reason for that is 95% of the people there.

I know nothing about Brighton

You have the people who live in the slums on the outskirts. You have the "My clothes are all made of hemp, I'm the most committed vegan on earth, you are all ruining the planet, except me and my husband, I drink my own urine and all of the above makes me better than you, and don't worry, I'll make sure you know about my lifestyle, and how poor your life choices are" crowd - almost as self proclaimed elitist attitude as the uni bunch. And the cyclists. Who believe they own the city. And will deliberately clip into people and shout abuse, dinging their bells at anyone in their way, whether they should be cycling there or not.

That basically describes Brighton - slightly fewer cyclists and more vegans, but otherwise pretty spot on.

The students aren’t quite as intellectual as Cambridge, though.

Brighton for sure

I live north of Cambridge. My dd went to sixth form there. I like Cambridge a lot and there are nice villages in the surrounding areas. The state schools are mixed. It has a high proportion of private schools. There are nice villages surrounding it. Do you have an idea of budget? Houses are expensive in central Csmbridge.

There’s a saying about Brighton that it’s very diverse- a diverse range of white middle class people! I like Brighton & have friends that live there but I think it would be a massive culture shock after Hong Kong. Also it’s not great for jobs unless you’re working from home.
Cambridge gets very touristy but I find it quite a peaceful place & it’s pretty multicultural. Also much more of a range of jobs as pp said.
However I agree that there are many options between the two cities & it seems a bit random to have narrowed in on those two. I would look at London to be honest as depending on area its not much more expensive than Brighton or Cambridge.

I live near Cambridge. It's posh and expensive but I don't think it's as bad as PP's have made out. I'd be more worried about raising children in Brighton which has it's good points but is more white middle class than Cambridge in my opinion. Cambridge university employs academics from all over the world and I think it shows in the demographic of the school children. Your children would be at school with students from many different countries so it wouldn't be as much of a culture shock. There will be a lot of other students who are new to the country and not quite versed in the British way of living. That being said, both are very expensive. My DH sold his two bedroom house in central Cambridge for about 500k in 2017, we bought a house together 40 minutes away with no mortgage because of the price increase in houses there.

Independent day schools have a lot of families from other countries - in Brighton and I’m sure in Cambridge, if that’s an issue.

It really does depend on what your budget is and how big a house you want for it and where, if anywhere, you'd be commuting to for work. Also, how old are your kids?

But I suggest looking at nice suburbs of London. Might be less of a shock to the system coming from HK.

Cambridge is a great place for children with lots going on, lots of green space and some wonderful schools. It is incredibly diverse with families from all over the world (including many who have relocated from Hong Kong). Not posh or snobby (at all), and since it is under an hour from London, quite well connected.

Negatives of Cambridge are that the housing is expensive, and it is a long way from the sea... we do have a lovely river though.

Brighton

Are you able to work from home in your professions? If so, then there are plenty of choices in the UK. If you like the beach, perhaps Bournemouth is another option? I have also never heard that Cambridge is freezing? Is it? I've never found it to be cold.

I live in cambridge. I dint think cambridge is cold. Its same similar like london in the winter.

school are great. Good state school.
Lots of hong kong community.
lots of green space
great for family day out.
i feel safe living in cambridge.
i’m happy here as a family.

the cons :
many people said rent its expensive. I dont know about this as we have a house here. Better check rightmove website to check house price here.

the parking charge its absolutely expensive. Much more expensive than london.
lots and lots lots of roadwork and its never ending.

I left Brighton 7 years ago we live 10 minutes outside in Haywards Heath. There are excellent schools within the town and Burgess Hill Academy and Hurst as well. There is a nice Chinese Community albeit small. You can get to Brighton in 10 minutes by train , 20 in the car London bridge is 45 mins on the train and property is cheaper bigger and has better gardens than Brighton.

Canterbury

Cambridge most certainly is not posh. In the sense that Hyacinth Bucket isn't posh. But if you asked Hyacinth Bucket...

There are some pretty parts, but again these are frequently exaggerated, they're not that great, they're just the best bits in an otherwise not a particularly handsome place.

The Botanic Gardens... actually really small, nothing really to see or do, it's an ok place to eat a packed lunch.

The mathematical bridge. Is a non descript and again, very small bridge that you wouldn't even notice, and even if/when someone points it out, it's a bit "oh, ok, nice bridge?"

Parker's Piece, just a small bit of lawn between two very busy, full of traffic roads. In the summer it's dotted with shirtless sunbathers who for a reason I can't quite put my finger on, all look a bit soap dodger-esque and aforementioned students, posing, because again, everyone obviously must be so impressed by them in every sense.

There's The Cam (the river) which is romanticised with it's punts and gondolas. Truth is, you'll rarely see this anymore (it might be banned completely, or that may have been a rumour at the time) because so many people would go on them drunk that several fell in and drowned. It really honks in the summer months.

It's definitely multicultural. Very safe. Very diverse. Loads and loads of Chinese tourists for some reason, I never could work out what was the big draw to specifically Chinese people.

As a pp said, some of the surrounding areas are lovely. But it would still make Cambridge your default "big town".

Going on other posts, Brighton doesn't sound terrific for what you're looking for either, and like many others, I'd be looking at London if I were you.