SuffolkbritinNZ

Considering moving back to UK from NZ, but not too sure where to go - can anyone give any advice on what it's like to live in Brighton, UK?

If anyone has left Brighton, to live in NZ - are you able to give any insight into what made you leave there in first place / or things you miss about the place...good / bad points about the city??

Trying to weigh up where would be a good place to be in UK for someone in their late 20's, who loves the outdoor life but also the vibe of a city....

I think it's going to be hard to match NZ to be honest but there's a lot of people on here that still think UK is amazing - so I'm welcome to any location tips! Brighton was a consideration as a few friends are there, and you at least have the sea and nearby countryside, plus a vibrant town / city feel. But open to offers!!!

Thanks

Stormer999

Can't help about living there but in the UK we do have a series about the policing of Brighton mainly at the weekends and the serious problems they have with young drunks. Some companies even running buses down from London for a binge drinking night out. Problem about finding out on this site is people are either trying to get away and no longer see the UK as a place to bring up children or if you go on the 'Returning to the UK' site people wear Rose tints and shout anyone down who says a bad word about 'their homeland'. You might be better off finding a Brighton & Hove forum....

bunnyphobia

That's a good question...

Actually, is there anywhere in the UK that comes close to the positive aspects of NZ (so the space, the attitude to work, the outside opportunities, good coffee)? Or is that like buying a dog and expecting it to be a monkey?

We're only in NZ for a year so we're having to think about moving back to the UK already. It's not filling me with as much light and joy as expected...

NZ4Now

Hi SuffolkbritinNZ

No idea what Brighton would be like to live in but it is always one place that me and my OH really loved in the UK I do know it is very pricey to buy in tho

So have you made you rmind up for sure to return? Did follow your other thread you previously posted.

Now the weather is warming up in CHCH I am a happier here but know it's not forever for us!!

SuffolkbritinNZ

Hmmm, if there are places of similar city vibe / outdoor lifestyle in UK, I'd love to know about them please!

Bunnyphobia - do you have to go back to UK? Sounds like your quite happy where you are!

SuffolkbritinNZ

I know, it's so expensive - one thing I have noticed. £700 for a studio apartment!!!?? Crazy...
And No, I certainly haven't decided to return to Blighty yet - just still in the thought process!
How long have you been in Christchurch? Do you mind me asking why it's not forever?

NZ4Now

Hiya

Will send you a PM

Expat Kiwi

It is possible to work in Brighton and live out in the beautiful countryside and have the best of both worlds.

I have friends who live near Hurstpierpoint and commute in every day. There are some really lovely villages and small communities up on the Sussex Downs.

londonescapee

First, have a look through the Returning to UK thread as there were posts on there in July about where to live in Brighton. Lots of us were reminiscing it is very cool there.

I'm 32, left Brighton just over 2 months ago to move to Mission Bay in Auckland. I adore Brighton but for us the commute was just a killer and even without travelling into London every day the salaries for both of us would have been much lower. It's also not that easy to find work in B either if you aren't in a specialist area (graphic design/new media seem to be the bigger employers particularly with American Express laying off loads of staff) or have your own company - we both tried looking for around a year. Rental prices were through the roof - we had a shoebox in Brighton for what we pay for a whole house with garden very close to the centre of Auckland. I was the one that pushed us to move earlier rather than my (Kiwi) husband. And I don't regret it one bit. I love Auckland.

I find it much more easier to be outdoorsy here than in Brighton - and both of us are very into our hiking and getting out and about. I see more people doing stuff here than I did in the UK. Although B is a great location, if you want to go anywhere north you have to add at least an hour onto your journey - the A23 gets very clogged up sometimes (but when it works it is fast to the M25). I feel much safer here than I did in London or Brighton, although coming home on the last train from London sometimes I never had any problems.

It is SO much cleaner here. They don't seem to have the problems with seagulls attacking rubbish that you get in Brighton which helps considerably (I could go on forever about the bins and seagulls it is DISGUSTING walking to the station some mornings!) but I always found Brighton dirty, despite the best efforts of the council - and it is pretty bad in summer. I can sit on the beach and not have to avoid all the rubbish that people leave, or the hyperdermic needles - oh and I can actually get onto the beach on a sunny day and have some space which you WON'T get in Brighton. The beach is always super busy.

There are no loud and annoying stag and hen do parties here (not in the areas I go to anyway). We have better jobs and more opportunities. The sheer noise volume of drunken people in Brighton is pretty bad both during a hot day and also at night - even with double glazing. Lots of the houses in the centre don't have front garden porch-y things so your front door opens right onto the street (and the ones that do are super expensive!). We lived in a relatively peaceful street in the North Laine and we sometimes had drunk people bashing on the window/door. Preston Park or somewhere like that would be much nicer.

Best of all for me, we can be in the middle of nowhere in less than an hour and not see a soul on some of the most amazing hiking.

On the whole I find Auckland quieter and more laid back. I do love how tolerant Brighton is - but then I heard from an adult protection officer that the homophobic attacks there are so much more higher than anywhere else in the country which is really sad. As well as all the stag and hen parties that congregate every weekend (and there are loads of them!), you also have a problem with people coming out from not so nice towns around to go out as well - I won't list them in case I offend anyone Midnight round the station is a bit of a grim experience.

All that said, if I ever had to move back to the UK (and I really hope I don't!), I would move to Brighton again despite all I've said above because it is fab (or up to Scotland). If one has to live in the South East then that's where it would be for me. Just be prepared for it to be very, very, expensive. And also that many of the major employers in the area have made cuts. Oh, and if you have a car there is nowhere to park and you have to wait 7 months for a permit!

Good luck

SuffolkbritinNZ

Wo, what a helpful reply - thanks Londonescapee!

The more I read this, the more I think I'm better off in NZ!!!

Mission Bay is lovely, I can see why you would rather be there than Brighton I guess...! The beach doesn't even compare!!!

You say the commute was a killer in to London...but I would definitely not be doing that. I used to commute to London myself too and hated every second of it! I even passed out on the train one morning because it was so crowded!!
After swapping my morning train commute to a quick bike ride to work in NZ, I'd struggle to commute to London again! I would be looking at living and working in Brighton as I work in media...that's if I was to go back....

Interestingly, how long is your commute in Auckland now?

I hear what you say about the busy beach and the hen/stag do's...the idea of all those crowds certainly put me off. I'm used to these lovely secluded spots in NZ now too! Although saying that I do love the vibe of a busy city - but I guess thats nothing you don't get in Auckland....

Thanks very much for your post though - has been very insightful! Lots to think about....

londonescapee

It really is each to their own methinks I was very happy in Brighton but wanted to try living somewhere else in the world and I can't imagine going back now. I do think you'd struggle with employment at the moment as I have a few friends who work in media down there and it's pretty hard going right now. Wired Sussex has some great jobs on it though so you could try there for an idea if you haven't already.

And I must say I do prefer sitting on sand as opposed to pebbles

I have gone from about an hour and a half each way to a 20 minute bike ride and my husband has gone from a nearly 2 hour journey each way to 30 mins on his bike yippee In terms of quality of life, for us there is no comparison.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

SuffolkbritinNZ

Thanks for your advice. I guess, like I say, that commute you did sounds hell and theres no way I'd repeat that by working in London either. I didn't seem to mind all that rail travel at 7am in my early 20's but not soo keen to do it these days!
I don't think the commute would feel anywhere near as bad if I was to live and work in Brighton. Would be just the same, (if not better?!) than an Auckland commute I would guess?!!

Well still thinking about it all, but thanks for your help. If I head down there, I'll be sure to say a big hello for you!

londonescapee

Probably about the same in terms of seaside view but infinitely better here as the sea view is so much more interesting than what you get in Brighton!
But commute times, yep probably bout the same in Brighton. Loads of people cycle. There is no way on this planet that I would go back to those longs commutes - as you say, it's fine when you're young and have nothing better to do than go to the pub every evening....o those were the days....

bunnyphobia

T'is funny, this forum. You have this thread giving a hundred of reasons for why going back to the UK will never match the quality of life in NZ.

Then you have another arguing precisely the opposite.




(and I've never been to Brighton, but on the basis of this discussion I might well have a nosy when I'm back in the UK over Easter)

Mrbiker

Prob a bit late to post now.. but here goes...

Brighton is the GAY capital of the UK... it's comparable to San Fransisco in states...
Its a nice place to live if you've got money, and summer on the pebble only beach can't compare to anything in NZ

There are some very poorly run down area's such as morescombe and portslade..avoid at all costs.

Socially, there are 100's of bars, clubs, restaruants for you to try, prices vary but in general there ok.
There is a great group of lanes, these are cobbled streets that are old schol area's and very trendy with many boutique bars and restaurants in them... nice for an evening out.

Its can be cold and wet there and if you buy a car over 10 yrs old it will rust very quickly due to its proximity to the heavily salt water from the sea.

house prices, for a small flat in brighton, not so nice area your looking at an average price of 130-140K GBP
Rentals, prob 500 - 750 pcm for a small unit. if you want a house...then double it.
hope that helps..