Posted 31 October 2017 by
Helen ChristieOh we do like to be beside the seaside… Brighton is a seaside resort town on the south coast of England, part of the city of Brighton and Hove.
Known for its culture, shopping, good schools, universities and of course, the famous Brighton Pier, Brighton is a popular place to live for families, students and commuters.
A survey by YouGov found that Brighton residents are the proudest of where they live, with 91% saying they were either very or fairly proud of their home, with the culture, the people, the transport and the restaurants being the main reasons.
If you’re thinking of moving home, we’ve put together some of the top reasons about why you should consider moving to Brighton.
Seaside
Brighton has been voted one of the best city beach break destinations in the world. The beach, which is around 8 miles long, is a pebble beach with shallow waters, safe for swimming and perfect for families, and there are numerous restaurants, bars and cafes along the seafront. The iconic pier has all the popular seaside activities, with rides, an arcade and plenty of ice cream and treats. For a spectacular view over the sea, the British Airways i360, a 162m observation tower on the seafront, opened in August 2016. Nearby Hove is well-known for its colourful timber beach huts, and for those looking for other open spaces, Brighton is home to several beautiful parks, with Preston Park being the largest.
Jobs
There is often a misconception that the majority of Brighton’s population commute to London for work, but the digital industry is rapidly expanding in Brighton, with research from Brighton and Sussex universities finding that the digital sector is growing quicker in Brighton than anywhere else in the UK. There are also around 25,000 self-employed people living in Brighton, and a fifth of the roles in the area are in the creative industries.
Transport links
Around 50 miles from London via the A23/M23, Brighton and Hove are popular areas for commuters. Brighton has two railway stations, London Road (Brighton) and Brighton. Brighton can be reached in 54 minutes from London Victoria and just over an hour from London Bridge, making Brighton a popular choice with commuters. A weekly train ticket for Brighton to London (Zones 1-6) costs £104.30, and an annual season ticket cost £4,172. Hove also has its own train station, where London Victoria can be reached in just over an hour, and Hove to Brighton by train takes just 4 minutes, with trains running every 10 minutes or so.
House prices
According to Land Registry data, as of August 2017, the average house price in Brighton and Hove is £365,60, which is considerably lower than the London average of £484,362. House prices have steadily increased over the years as the popularity of the area continues to grow. The average rental price for a two-bedroom property in Brighton is around £1,260 a month. For families looking to move to the area, Brighton is home to many good schools. In nearby Hove, Hove Park is one of the most popular areas for families, made up of a lot of Victorian and Edwardian properties, with several nearby schools, including some private schools and several further education establishments. Hove also has a selection of new build developments available.
View new homes available to buy in Hove
Culture
Brighton has the biggest arts festival in England, the Brighton Festival which is held every May, and Brighton Fringe runs alongside this, and is one of the largest fringe festivals in the world. Brighton Pride is the largest and oldest Pride festival in the country. Brighton is home to three theatres, three cinemas and several museums and art galleries, including Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Brighton Fishing Museum and Preston Manor. There are several notable landmarks and popular attractions including the Sealife Centre, The Brighton Dome and The Royal Pavilion, a former royal palace which is open to the public. Tourism is a big industry in Brighton, particularly during the summer months.
Brighton is also well-known as a popular shopping destination, with retail being another large industry in the area. The Brighton Lanes are in the city’s historic quarter, and the unique, winding alleys of shops features an impressive selection of independent shops and boutiques. Churchill Square is a huge shopping centre with high street stores, restaurants and health and beauty services. If you’re moving to Brighton as a student, Brighton has two universities - the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex, which is currently ranked 19th in the country. Kemptown is a popular area for students, it’s near the beach, has its own shopping area and several clubs, bars and cafes. Kemptown also has its own annual festival, the Kemptown Carnival.
There are so many reasons why you should consider moving to Brighton, and these are just a few of them. Brighton is an area where house prices are steadily rising, but properties on average are still cheaper than London prices. Brighton and Hove is the ideal location for families, professionals, students and downsizers. It is a place that is becoming ever more popular with people looking to relocate to an area with good transport links, that is filled with plenty of bars and cafes, good leisure and retail facilities and of course, the impressive stretch of beach.
If you are looking to relocate to a village and are ensure about Brighton, here are the best villages around the city of Oxford.