What's the best place to live in East Sussex?

[lowrib]

We're moving to the South Coast. While Brighton is very cool of course, it's pretty pricey too! So we're open to ideas and have been exploring the south coast between Brighton and Hastings.

We'll be renting, and wherever we are, I'll need to get to Brighton by public transport in the mornings, and DP will be driving to Hastings.

I'd really appreciate any inside info on where might be good to look?

We liked the look of Seaford - but have only spent about an hour there.

Hastings is really cheap - but Brighton friends have warned us off - it can't be that bad surely?!

DS is really young. I have a nursery sorted in Brighton for him (we'll be commuting together ) but we'll probably move again in a few years so schools aren't a great consideration right now.

While I'd love to just go for Brighton, money is a consideration, and it would seem we can get much more for our money down the coast - or inland - a bit.

So, oh wise mnetters, what do you think?

TIA

[lowrib]

Hi Beasknees. DS will be 2 when he starts at nursery, and it's actually on the college campus, so we'll be going to school together. He'll be at nursery while I'm in lectures. DS will be able to say he went to university aged 2

Unfortunately I don't drive, so it's gotta be public transport for me and DS. I quite like travelling by trains though and have done quite a bit with DS, and 45 minutes doesn't sound bad to me. But then again I guess I have no idea what kind of 2 year old DS will morph into! Not very keen on the bus with DS regularly though.

DP says he would be up for the drive. It's mainly price that's making us look outside of Brighton - we can get a lot more for our money. Been doing my research this week and it looks like there's a fast train from Eastbourne to Brighton (37 minutes to Moulsecombe). So Seaford for example is much nearer but the train takes the same amount of time. So travelling wise we might as well be in Eastbourne so DP is nearer Hastings. But then Seaford is nicer! Oh dear decisions decisions!

All the advice people has given me here is really useful. I guess in the end it will come down to what actual places are available to rent at the time, and which we like best bearing in mind what I've learnt here.

Phew! An essay, sorry!

[lowrib]

Hi policygary. What was it about Coombe Road that you didn't like?

(I've never been there!)

[policygarry]

Hello - it's just a bit grubby and dull, and to be honest pretty much the least nice part of Brighton, with the exception of the estate nr Rottingdean (Whitehawk is it? I've fotgotten). If you need to be near the campuses, I'd go for Hollingdean/Fiveways, or go a bit further towards the sea and aim at Hanover/Queens Park - more £££ but nicer, and still on the bus route for Falmer.

Having said all that, I lived in CR for about four years and it was fine. I never quite got over the knowledge that Brighton's best-frequented brothel is at the bottom of the road. And the local shops aren't up to much, other than Sainsbury's. It's not awful, it's just not great.

[scarlotti]

lowrib - are you coming to the meet up tomorrow now? I know you were thinking of it? If so, I can give you my thoughts then - I moved to Brighton to go to Uni when DD was 1 so know all about commuting with a smallie on the train as we didn't move to Brighton until a term after my course had started. I've moved up through the housing ranks in Brighton/Hove too so know which areas are nice and prices. Started in Bevendean (right by Uni) and then have moved via Hollingbury and Patcham and now live in Hove.
Dh works in Eastbourne sometimes and the train is ok but Hastings would be further out again.

Coombe Road is very studenty. Whitehawk is the roughest bit, followed by Moulsecoomb then Coldean probably.

[paisleyleaf]

I'm not that far from Eastbourne. I like it - nice to be near the Downs and the sea.
I thought Seaford was pretty rough - friends of mine who work on the ambulances seem to spend a lot of time there weekend nights anyway.

[lowrib]

Ooh scarlotti I'd love to pick your brains! I'm moving to Brighton to go to uni too, DS will by 18 months when I start. I bet you know lots of stuff which would be really useful. Are you still at Uni? Hopefully I'll get a chance to meet you at another Brighton meet up in the future.

Paisleyleaf that's interesting to hear. In my ignorance I had imagined it to be an ideal place!

[scarlotti]

lowrib - not at uni anymore, was a long time ago Was there for 4 years and DD was at the nursery there. We lived in Worthing for the first term or two which was much tougher than living in Brighton. 40 mins on the train/car with a 2 year old isn't fun - trying to keep them relatively quiet so as not to annoy the other commuters is interesting!
It's a long day for the little ones if you're commuting as well as Uni/working. I used to do a work day at Uni and get the coursework done there so that home life was family time.
Is it worth thinking of renting nearer to Uni whilst you're there and then reassessing when your DS is nearer school age and your course is finished? Your DH would have a longer trip but could probably handle it easier than a 2 year old. Tantrums from hunger/over tiredness on the train are not fun!

[interstella71]

Hi there.
I have lived in east Sussex since 1991 (gulp) the majority of it I have spent in Brighton (central, hove and finally fiveways). I would also agree that commuting from brighton to Hastings would be hiddeous. We moved out of Brighton in april last year and spent alot of time researching our move, we looked ar seaford, Hastings, the Eastbourne area, mid Sussex, multiple villages etc. We thought seaford was ok and I have met people who are happy there but it just felt too provincial and small towney. I have lived in Eastbourne in the past (when a student) and have visited several times in the last year - there is a darkness there, you may not be aware of it at first but look beyond the manicured lawns and sculpted flowers and you'll see it. However, there are some beautiful areas including meads and old town. Lewes is terribly middle class but has an intetesing history of rebellion
(which continues today). The journey from lewes to hastings would be pretty bad. We moved to a biggish village near heathfield (you would struggle with public transport) and are blissfully happy (honeymoon still it is about 40 min drive to Hastings and 35 to uni Brighton (by car). Good luck!

[lowrib]

Thanks scarlotti, some interesting food for thought.

We've been looking at Brighton, I'd love to live there - but sadly it looks like the only thing we could afford is a tiny shoebox flat, wheareas if we go a bit further afield we can get a house with enough space to have our friends and family come and stay, so for the moment at least Brighton is out. We could afford it if we shared, and we might well do this further down the line, once we actually know a few people there.

I'll just have to become really good at entertaining a toddler on a train!

[EdgarAllenSnow]

hum - options -

there's some lovely countryside away from the coast between brighton and Hastings - RObertsbridge and area as already mentioned - i often camp at Bodiam and it is very England-land - oast houses etc...lovely place to live though out of the way. depends on the lifestle you're after.

we have old lady fiends (sic) in Saltdean - nice quiet bungalow area with downland to hand through the road to the A27 is a nightmare at peak times.

Hastings has been too long up and coming...it lacks the cool vibe that has propelled Brightons housing boom. Still, i note a 3 bed house in St Leonards On Sea for £150k, which is cheap as chips....

[EdgarAllenSnow]

ooh look at this period gem in hawkhurst (arse end of nowhere, but v. pretty)

3 bed beauty in St Leonards On Sea

money doesn't go far in Lewes

realy, i think you need to come down and tour the areas you can afford to live in, and get a feel for the place.

[interstella71]

Bloody hell you get so much for your money in ST Leonards!

What about the coast line to Brighton - Polegate, Berwick etc or lower/upper Dicker.

What kind of local amenities do you want?

[lowrib]

hiya Interstella71.

I think I wouldn't mind provincial and small towny for a while anyway. We're most likely going to move again - the next move will be to wherever DS goes to school, and where we want to settle for a decent period of time - that'll be a much bigger decision. This time round, the most important thing is to get a decent house, somewhere where I can get to Brighton easily by public transport, and DS to Hastings by car.

I'm not sure what local amenities I need apart from that. I'm used to living in London with everything on my doorstep and I'm not sure what I'll miss the most! As long as there's a station and it's a nice environment for DS they're the main things.

I'll have a look at coast line, that's a good idea, thanks.

[lowrib]

hiya EdgarAllenSnow we're going to get down for another look as soon as we can. We did the coast from Brighton to Seaford last time. This thread is so useful, it's giving us a much better idea of the area.

We're renting not buying, but the same kinds of price differences exist in the rental market too of course. St Leonards and Hastings do seem to be really cheap, but I think I'm leaning towards ruling them out because of the journey time to Brighton.

Based totally on one lovely afternoon in a pub in Lewes, I think it's a lovely place and would love to live there

[scarlotti]

A friend of mine lives in Lewes and Dh works there. It's a lovely place but the cost of housing is on a par with Brighton. Studio flat around £550pcm.

[lowrib]

I know, a shame isn't it!
It looks lovely.

[Hullygully]

Where are you Mr Snow?

[SpringHeeledJack]

just an opinion about Seaford-

dp's from there, and he reckons it might as well be a million miles away from Brighton...it is a bit , and the beach isn't all that

(mind you I compare every "resort" [ahem] unfavourably to Sunny Southend On Sea, so what do I know)

...plus everyone I know there drives everywhere, so I don't know how great public transport is

Lewes, otoh, is keeewl (if you can ignore the sectarian stuff, which I found a bit )

[CuppaTeaJanice]

Well I live in Hastings and I love it! A lot of my friends have moved down from London, so it's not too 'boring' for Londoners!!! There's plenty to do here and because it's supposedly a 'deprived' area there is lots of funding for kids stuff, so we have loads and loads of FREE events. For example, there is a fun day in Alexandra park every wednesday in the summer, groups, clubs and activities every day of the week, free courses for parents, six very active childrens centres etc. A soft play centre, tumblegym and swimming pool. A few good schools in the town too.

For you, there is a huge range of bars, restaurants etc (one has an ex-Ivy chef!), great (and cheap) sports facilities and gyms, museums, art galleries, a thriving arts community, two theatres, two cinemas (one independent that shows really cool films), a new university (part of Brighton) and college, crazy golf, a sealife centre, smugglers caves, a castle, pretty good shops (although not London's variety, still some pretty funky boutiques particularly in the old town). And some fabulous Victorian parks, the largest of which has had over £3 million lottery funding over the past 10 years. Plus the sea and beach of course!!

If you do decide to move here then the areas I would recommend are...
Old Town - old character houses, parking can be a problem though
The Green - huge Victorian houses
Blacklands - convenient for the park and town centre, good school
Clive Vale

Areas to avoid (apologies if anybody lives there)
Hollington
Central Ore
Malvern Way estate
Farley Bank
Central St Leonards/Warrior Square
Bexhill Road (nice houses but always congested)

Other areas have good parts and bad parts, which can be literally two streets away from each other. You're welcome to contact me if you see any interesting properties to get more info on a particular area.

[ShePeeTeePee]

I agree about the beach at Seaford. It has a very steep shelf making it difficult/dangerous with children. The shingle is also piled so high as a sea defence that you can't even see the sea from the promenade. The beach at Eastbourne is much better (bearing in mind all the beaches in this area are predominantly shingle), or going west from Hove onwards. Rottingdean has a very small bit of beach which is okay, but east towards Peacehaven and Saltdean is a sort of chalk rock scree which leaves the beach largely unusable for anything other than a walk on the shingle or rockpooling.

[EdgarAllenSnow]

come to torment with your icy beauty and your cool regard, Ms hully?

Fie!

My humble abode is but a hovel in the South downs, blessed by the beauties of the blessed Sussex countryside, whilst still banished from the beau monde of Brighton, and the pleasant hinterlands of Shoreham.

Though not as far as Worthing....

[Hullygully]

You are quite a comely wench for a lugubrious old man, dear Edgar.

[EdgarAllenSnow]

and yes, once you're properly outside brighton, it may as well be a million miles...

the increased difficulty in parking there has all but put paid to days out in town.

[Haylo]

Lowrib, l just had to add my thoughts. l live in Eastbourne and have done for 10 years. In my view a bit unfairly it has been branded as 'god's waiting room' and fails to get a mention whenever anyone in the media bigs up the south coast resorts.

For a family with young children l think it is fab. Where else can you live right by the sea and downs. Don't get me wrong its not as art culture rich as Brighton, Lewes or Hastings, but you can get to both and dip into their atmosphere within 30 mins from Eastbourne, without paying their hefty property prices.

The town centre is a bit crap, but hopefully will we redeveloped in the next 5 years. The station is fairly well located, but if you cannot drive l would suggest you look at Meads Village or Old Town, nicer period homes and better access to the station.

Goodluck

[IWillNotNeverEatATomato]

I live in Eastbourne and the official demographic is that young families are the largest group of residents

I live in the old town and love it and am surrounded by lovely families, my neighbours are all so nice and friendly.

If you want to be close to the station (within a mile) then you should look at the Upperton area and an area called Motcombe (in the Old Town) the amenities around this area are so good - a post office, Waitrose, a small swimming pool, a good community centre, a small park (with a duck pond) and another much larger one (with play equipment, tennis courts, large playing field), numerous really good toddler groups as well as childminders, and nurseries.

We moved here because Brighton was too expensive, we got so much more for our money, and I am so glad that we did.

Commuting to Brighton or Hastings is easy as the trains are every half an hour, and it is also exactly half way between the two.