7 Of The Best Villages To Live Near To Brighton

Brighton’s reputation for culture, education and amenities, as well as the fun of the coast and beauty of the sea and surrounding countryside, has made it a sought-after and expensive place to live – but there are some top alternatives not far away.

Lockdown has led to many people reassessing their priorities to find their best new home, including factors like less reliance on commuting and the value-for-money of places just a few miles away from the ‘big-name’ town that can secure a property with more space inside and out for the same budget.

There are a host of varied, top-class villages within just a few miles of Brighton which could provide the perfect solution for the search for your best new home in this popular area.

Pyecombe

Pyecombe is seven miles north of Brighton. There are no shops in the village, but its location on the main A23 London to Brighton road means retail and services are within easy reach by car. The Plough public house offers hospitality to locals and visitors to the area, while Pyecombe Golf Club and The Three Greys riding school provide outdoor activities.

Poynings

Poynings nestles in the Devils Dyke in the beautiful South Downs, just five miles from the centre of Brighton. The main feature of the village is the church, but there’s also a range of clubs to enjoy including the drumming and percussion group, cricket club and folk dancing group in nearby Newtimber. The village hall hosts cinema evening for the 300 villagers and those from the nearby areas of Fulking, Newtimer and Mayfield.

Ditchling

Ditchling is around nine miles north of Brighton Beach and it offers an excellent combination of beautiful surrounding scenery and a good range of shops, pubs and services of its own. There are plenty of groups and associations, including a film society and the Ditchling Singers. It has attracted numerous famous faces to live here, including Dame Vera Lynn, actor Sir Donald Sinden and TV presenter Jamie Theakston. The village is only a short drive from well-served Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath.

Southease

East of Brighton and close to the A26 Newhaven Road is the tiny village of Southease. Located within sight of the banks of the River Ouse, the village also has its own railway station offering direct services to Brighton taking 25 minutes, and less than 90 minutes to central London via Lewes. Despite its size, the village puts on a number of events each year, including a Spring Plants Fair, Open Gardens, Chilli Day and carol services at the village church, complete with its rare round tower.

Rodmell

One mile north-west of Southease is pretty Rodmell, once the home of author Virginia Woolf. This vibrant little community supports many activities including a book club, Womens' Institute, cricket club and parent and toddler group. The village hall and Abergavenny Arms pub provide places for villagers to meet and the church, allotments and village green are key to village life.

Hassocks

Hassocks is nine miles north of Brighton and three miles south of Burgess Hill. The village has a large centre with a numerous shops, cafés and restaurants, and its local railway station provides regular services to London and the coast, make this a highly popular place to live for commuters. There’s a sports pavilion and playing fields, infant school, tennis courts, squash club and golf course.

Saltdean

Around five miles east of Brighton on the coast is characterful Saltdean, best known for its Art Deco lido amongst a range of notable period buildings in different architectural styles, including some WhatHouse? Award-winning homes. With some decent shops and facilities of its own, including Saltdean Primary School having an Ofsted rating of ‘Good’, the village is within an easy drive of Lewes and Eastbourne, as well as Brighton.

Find out about current new homes for sale in and around Brighton.

If the Brighton area isn’t quite for you, why not take a look at Chichester and the villages around it, and the brand new homes for sale there?

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