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Original poster

Where to live in Brighton

69 replies

sunsearose · 04/10/2023 18:24

Hi!

My partner and I are looking to relocate to Brighton/Hove and would appreciate some advice on areas.

Our top budget is 450k and we’re first time buyers with no children. Likely to have children in the future.

We narrowly missed out on a great house in Preston Park which had room to grow earlier this year. We love the area but don’t want to buy leasehold so it’s nearly impossible to find anything in budget.

We’ve also looked at properties in Hanover but are less keen despite it being closer to the sea.

We’re looking at a property in Bolsover road, Hove which would normally be out of budget. I don’t think this part of Hove looks as nice as the area of the house we bid on in Preston Park but will reserve judgement until our actual viewing.

Has anyone got any advice on areas and where is nice to live or to avoid? We’re in our early 30s, like nice dinners, drinks out, green space and want to limit potential shitty neighbours/vicinity to crackheads. Outside space preferable but could deal with a small patio etc.

TIA

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YouJustDoYou · 04/10/2023 18:25

From memory Brighton is a shit show. Just avoid altogether.

Biscuitsandgravyforyou · 04/10/2023 18:27

Bolsover road is more Portslade than Hove, definitely not as “naice” as preston park area

Lovethatforyouhun · 04/10/2023 18:39

Hanover is in budget but lots of students around= noise and bins all over the place.

So students are mainly in Coldean, Lewes Road, Mouslcoomb, Hollingdean and bevendean.

Whitehawk has lots of social housing, and poverty, but the bit toward the marina is nice enough.

Woodingdean is a bit inbred and cut off.

Patcham suburbia.

Fiveways families nice houses.

Hollingbury bit shabby but you may find something in budget, likewise Portslade.

Crackheads will be concentrated mainly in the town centre, St James street kemptown and wherever there are hostels (some in central hove), needle exchanges and probation offices etc. So google a road for news stories and info before moving!

Original poster
sunsearose · 04/10/2023 18:50

Thank you! What would you say the cut off is for fiveways as our estate agent said the same when we lost the dream house in PP but it’s hard to actually work out where fiveways starts and ends.

We live somewhere a bit shit now so area is super important to us

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Helenahandkart · 04/10/2023 19:04

you should probably stay at the Preston Park/Blakers Park side of Fiveways. As you cross over Ditchling Road and head down towards Lewes Road the Five Ways area becomes less pleasant, though there are still nice roads. Avoid getting too close to Upper Hollingdean Road as there is a rubbish processing place there that makes the whole area stink in the summer.
Surrenden area is nice too. Lots of space and leafy. And close to the good secondary schools when the time comes.
I think that Brighton tends to be quite a mixed bag, with really nice roads right next to council estates, so we’re all mixed up together to some extent.
Wherever you buy will be terrible for parking.

Helenahandkart · 04/10/2023 19:05

As you head out of town on Ditchling Road there are lots of nice roads off there as well.

Original poster
sunsearose · 04/10/2023 19:24

I think we should try and focus on Preston Park and Fiveways (if possible) as I’m not sure Hanover would be what we’d like despite owning a cat.

would you say that either of PP/fiveways would be close enough to everything? I grew up very close to the beach (granted a much quieter area) and I wonder whether it would be a bit too far but I guess you realistically would generally go at a weekend and it’s only a 10 minute Uber to the seafront.

which ones are the good schools if you don’t mind me asking? Thanks for your advice so far

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Original poster
sunsearose · 04/10/2023 19:46

Also would people say Hanover is deffo a no go? The houses are obviously small but more in budget

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BackT · 04/10/2023 19:54

I think you are going to struggle to find a house in that budget anywhere decent.

Original poster
sunsearose · 04/10/2023 19:58

I get what’s you’re saying because we’ve been looking for a while but we very narrowly missed out on one which would have been perfect in the right area. I should say we’re not adverse to a proper project which is the only way it’s achievable

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Snorkers · 04/10/2023 20:00

I lived in a few parts of Brighton, best (and a well kept secret) is Bakers Bottom, near Queens Park. Quiet, great community feel with local pub that is excellent, good schools, beach 10 mins, queens park 5 mins with lots going on, Kemptown 10 mins walk, Hanover 10 mins walk and town itself about 20-25. Parking is not great but that's Brighton.

Try Hendon Street (my old rd), Bute St, Rochester Street. Canning St houses are a bit bigger so may be over your budget, plus there's houses on Dawson terrace, Evelyn Terrace, Cuthbert rd, Sutherland Rd and Freshfield rd that may occasionally be within your budget.

Up the hill a bit along Sutherland Rd onto Queensway is an estate but it's fine, lots of bargains to be had there and it's literally a few mins up the hill. Also another estate at the top of Freshfield Rd which is also fine and better roads are around the perimeter.

Still miss that area but moved away in 2017 for a village which we love, Brighton was just too studenty and noisy for us in the end and we wanted (and got) a detached house with massive garden for virtually the same price as we sold in Brighton for.

Good luck!

Canibearsed · 04/10/2023 20:02

My daughter lived in Stanford Avenue just off five ways.It really is a lovely part of Brighton to live in and walking distance to the centre,beach and Old Stein . Great nursery at the top of Stanford Avenue,nice pubs ,cafes etc . A really nice community/ village feel to the area.

Snorkers · 04/10/2023 20:05

Stanford ave is nice but avoid the bottom which is very very noisy and polluted now - that part is the main rd into Brighton from London. Any of the roads off it like waldegrave etc are lovely and some are wide and lined with trees. May be over your 450k budget tho.

Karmatime · 04/10/2023 20:06

South of Bolsover Road near Wish Park is nice. Quite residential but a 10 minute walk to the beach and Hove Lagoon. Brilliant bus service and night buses into town.
For your budget it’s likely to be a garden flat rather than a house though in that area.

DepartureLounge · 04/10/2023 20:12

Woodingdean is a bit inbred and cut off.

I don't recognise this characterisation at all! Woodingdean is stuffed with artists and other interesting people, and the views over the downs and sea are to die for. It's well connected to central Brighton by what becomes Elm Grove. No idea about prices though.

And I think Hanover is really nice, OP, so if it's "all you can afford" then give thanks and go for it.

Original poster
sunsearose · 04/10/2023 20:43

Thank you everyone. I will have a look. What’s up and coming about Hangleton, as in what makes you say that and what makes it a nice place to live?

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Helenahandkart · 04/10/2023 20:47

Hangleton and Hove can feel a bit cut off if you want to go out drinking/eating etc.
Everywhere in Brighton is walkable to town/the seafront. As Pp said, Queens Pk area is nice and a bit closer than sone of the other areas.
The North Laine is a great place to live. You can fall out your front door into every pub/restaurant/venue, but it is quite lively.

Original poster
sunsearose · 04/10/2023 20:47

We’re looking at a potential very big project, but it’s a small house. I worry we will outgrow it and not be able to buy a suitable upgrade in 10 years time because the bigger houses around us will also have increased in value.

I have a good job so it’s likely my salary will have increased by then a generous amount but it’s hard to say whether we’d want to increase our mortgage to that extent at 40ish.

but as you say.. we might want to move somewhere a bit quieter at that point. I grew up in a village and it was lovely for children (not teens though!)

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Rocket1982 · 04/10/2023 21:05

Hollingbury or Hannover would be a good bet in the budget. In Preston Park/Fiveways/Seven Dials you would be looking at flats. Westdene is a nice residential area but further out like Patcham.

Createausernameargh · 04/10/2023 21:09

A new ‘flowerpot’ is opening soon, you can walk to portslade station (direct trains to London), it’s leafy, closer to the sea than PP, an extremely good new secondary school , very easy to get to b’ton. And It’s still fairly cheap!! 450 isn’t a lot for nice areas of b’ton / hove. Feels safe… I live in hove and have lived all over b’ton / hove
hth

Createausernameargh · 04/10/2023 21:12

You’re looking for potential- more potential in hangleton / west hove than hollingdean imo
more chance of a seat to London from portslade than pp!

Original poster
sunsearose · 04/10/2023 21:18

A flowerpot is deffo a sign of ‘up and coming’ haha

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