nicest places around the southeast

[mydogsandme]

Still looking at areas around Kent and East Sussex with a view to moving in the future, everywhere I look up on the web it seems people are negative- high crime, nothing to do and so on. Which are your favourite parts around this sort of region and why?

[RogK]

I have a little holiday place in Bexhill, and I love the place. It's fairly full of oldies but it's a really nice clean town with a terrific promenade and sea views to die for - fantastic sunsets. Admittedly not a lot to do, but there's the magnificent de la Warr Pavilion (Google it) and The Waterfront Club, a very good drinking place by the sea. I originally found Bexhill on the Web, and have never regretted it. I may well end up there permanently. The Sussex countryside is just beautiful - look around Lewes and Hayward's Heath.

A very odd and interesting place is Hastings. Fascinating. Everyone seems to know everyone. Lots of pubs, fish 'n' chips and a fine independent cinema. Only miles from Bexhill but a very different feel.

 

Good luck, mydogs!

[maxi29]

Depends on what you're looking for: peace and quiet or an active social life? Sea or countryside? Ability to commute to London or not? Access by public transport?

As someone who's Sussex born and raised, I love this county but there are lots of different types of places here, that's the beauty of the place.

Eastbourne is a place that offers a nice balance. And as RogK, says, Bexhill and Hastings are nice contrasts (and very close). Rye is gorgeous but horrendously expensive and Lewes is an interesting place these days.

The one thing I don't understand is the reference to high crime, East Sussex is scarcely a criminal hotspot. Hastings has a bit of a drug problem and accompanying criminal activity but it's not a huge issue in the county.

[butter1]

My dad moved to Paddock Wood, in Kent.  Its set out in the country with horses all around him.  Lovely.  It's right next the Hop Farm and just down the road from Tunbridge Wells..

http://www.kenttourism.co.uk/en/view_of_kent/heart_of_kent.asp

[mydogsandme]

Well, as always with us, we want a bit of everything! Nice walk, countryside, sea and things to do! It just seems weird to me that whenever I go on messageboards people always seem to have nothing good to say about the place they live which seems a bit sad- why stay there? They seem to focus on trouble areas of a town so I never see the bigger picture. Makes it sound like everywhere's a den of vice! Great answers, more please!

[flaming]

When visiting Kent proper I like Broadstairs.  Don't know what people who come from round there think about it being a good place to live.  Unfortunately the little Dickens museum is to close, I am told, and the other place where he lived and was open to view has been sold into private hands.Also, there is a place near Folkestone called Sandgate.  Shouldn't think there's much too do but that's what makes it attractive.  I do like the coast.  You can see almost to France from there.  Folkestone is near if you want a choice of entertainments and of course handy to nip over the Channel.  The high-speed rail link should make a great difference to the time of journey into London from that region.

Fact re Paddock Wood:  That's where  live the horses who pull the coach for the Lord Mayor of the City of London.  They come up once a year for the Lord Mayor's show in November.  Much nicer for them than the stables they had near the Barbican, years back.

Eastbourne is a good idea if you want a bigger town, with all a town's facilities, more accessible to London.

[mydogsandme]

thanks flaming- Folkestone is more within our price range- Eastbourne is a bit too dear I think. We like the coast too and would like to be able to travel to London fairly quickly but not be in the commuter part of Kent really. I was looking at Broadstairs myself.