South Downs or the Cotswolds to live?

[Andreaoid]

I'm hoping to relocate next year. Unfortunately, my husband passed away last October and I feel like I can't stay in our home and county anymore. Too many memories.

I'm 34, no kids, a dog, and currently WFH. The office is in Oxford (or Bognor) but my industry is mostly in London. I don't plan to commute but if I start getting more senior, some presence in the office might be required in the future. The budget is around 350k which I know is not a lot but I only need a small two bed (a dinky cottage?).

Would you recommend South Downs (around Pulborough, Storrington, Petworth, Midhurst) or the Cotswolds (areas around Chipping Norton, Moreton-on-Marsh, etc.)? I'd love to be in the countryside, not adjacent to a big town or seaside. It seems like the Cotswolds has more housing on offer in my price range but I'm not sure about the potential commute and life in general. Up until now, I've preferred West Sussex/South Downs but I am happy to hear other people's stories.

If you could base yourself a bit further over so you can access the Portsmouth to London line via Petersfield, your commute would be much easier, so Liphook, Petersfield and those villages. Lovely villages just on that side of the Downs

This is super cute https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/160962263

South Downs. Arundel is lovely. Barnham trains are good for commuting into London.

What about the Chilterns, as an alternative to the Cotswolds? Marylebone to Oxford train line.

Arundel was lovely but is now overrun by Airbnbs and any sense of community has been utterly hollowed out. And the station is weirdly far out of town to be accessible for regular commuting. I’d look elsewhere.

Ah, that's a shame; guess I'm out of date. I'm fairly close but by the sea and Arundel was my first thought as an inland spot.

@friskybivalvesThere's nothing in Arundel, though. No supermarkets or stuff like that. The train station is a walk out of town.

Pulborough always floods, OP. And they always seem to have roadworks. The A29 is horrible. Midhurst is like Arundel, nothing there and very pricey.

The coastal plain is now one large, ever merging new build housing estate. All the towns seem to be stuck together with traffic cones, temporary traffic lights and constant traffic jams. The South Downs and villages are very spendy.

I know I sound negative, but I grew up near Bognor, moved away 6yrs ago (now 53) and I'm shocked everytime I go back to visit family and friends. I've moved somewhere not far away in crows miles but a world away in lifestyle.

That’s exactly what I mean. Hopeless for residents needing eggs or a hammer. Fine for knicky-knacky-noo shops selling linen cushions to weekend crew going to polo/festival of speed/cowdray/goodwood etc. Such a shame. It’s been going that way for the past 20 years but suddenly it’s gawn altogether. Plus the ever present threat from expanding the A27.

South Downs because you wouldn't be surrounded by 'celebrity' twats like Jeremy Clarkson. The Cotswolds are crawling with them.

I lived very happily in the Cotswolds for more than thirty years (maybe I’m a wannabe celebrity twat @RenoDakota ?) . Although it has got a LOT more housing in the past few years, it is still very attractive as a place to live.

The main downside I think is that it is chilly ( Chipping Norton and Stow are both several degrees colder than the surrounding lower places, you literally saw snow on the ground when there was none two miles away). It is also an advantage to be interested in ‘country ‘ things like gardening and horse based sports, the latter in particular opens a lot of doors.

I hope you find somewhere lovely.

Moreton in marsh in on a fast line into London so fairly commutable. It’s a has shops, coffee shops etc

@RenoDakota also lived in the Cotswolds for years and never once have I bumped into a celebrity wanker?!?? What an odd statement just because Jeremy clarkson has a home there?!?

I saw Dom Joly once at Cheltenham lido - does that count?

Area around Moreton-in-Marsh is nice. Also near to Cirencester/Kemble. Pricey though.

Thank you all for the suggestions. Keep them coming. I will be visiting both places in summer to have a clearer idea. However, it's best to hear from people who actually live there and sometimes commute for work.

@onyourway my colleague told me about villages around Petersfield. Apparently South Harding is lovely. Portsmouth is a bit too far for me. I have zero interest in sea and seaside overall.

@TeaandHobnobs that's also possible. Do you know any nice places in Chilterns? Any specific villages or market towns that are preferable and in my budget?

My experience of trains to London from the Cotswolds is pretty dire tbh if you need to commute regularly. You would be better off Oxfordshire way. South Downs is lovely.

@DinoLil what do you mean by flooding in Pulborough? Any areas I should avoid for housing?

I’d love to know about where you’ve moved to if you felt you could share.

They all add up 🙂 But I was thinking more the Clarkson / Beckham / Moss / Hurley / Holden / Llewelyn-Bowen (although I do love Laurence) vibe.

I live in the Cotswolds, it’s getting busy, more houses being built, more traffic - and it’s expensive. But it is lovely, lots to do and great transport links to London.

Sorry for your loss. South Downs feels quieter and less touristy, especially around Midhurst or Petworth, and still offers reasonable access to Bognor or London. The Cotswolds might stretch your budget further, though. Visiting both could help you decide.

I'm sorry for your loss @Ellis12.

I was actually driving through the South downs the other day and went through Pulborough. It's a beautiful part of the world and some stunning properties but I can't get over the lack of amenities & the fact that for most things you have to drive everywhere.

have you thought of going the other side of london? Suffolk?

For an occasional commute, would you be ok with a 20-30 min drive to the train station? That opens loads more opportunities.

If so, my first thought was the area of the Cotswolds/adjacent to the Cotswolds that is in North Oxfordshire. You'd drive to Banbury and then get on the train there to London/Oxford. I was thinking villages like Tysoe, Ratley, Warmington...

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/159240098

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/161745347

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/153863132