If you’re dreaming of a home by the sea but Brighton’s high prices are making you think twice, there’s another option. Shoreham-by-Sea, a lesser-known seaside town in West Sussex, is just a short hop from Brighton and offers much cheaper properties.
Despite being only 6.9 miles away from Brighton and offering equally beautiful views of the English Channel, homes in Shoreham-by-Sea are far more affordable. According to property website Rightmove, houses in Shoreham sold for an average of £445,731 over the past year, compared to £503,073 in Brighton.
What’s more, your money goes further in Shoreham. Most of the properties sold in Brighton were flats, whereas in Shoreham, they were semi-detached houses. Flats in Brighton cost an average of £355,776, while in Shoreham, they were a more reasonable £272,185. Terraced houses were also cheaper, costing £418,330 in Shoreham compared to £615,423 in Brighton.
And if that wasn’t enough, Shoreham-by-Sea sees fewer tourists than Brighton, so you can enjoy a quieter life by the sea.
Shoreham is a great place to stay if you need to travel to London or Brighton. It has its own train station, so you can get to London in less than two hours on a direct train. And because it’s right next to Brighton, it’s only a 21-minute car journey away. In fact, it’s even closer to Brighton City Airport than Brighton itself – just a seven-minute drive.
But there’s more to this underrated seaside town than just good transport links. It’s right next door to the beautiful South Downs National Park, perfect for nature lovers and walkers who want to explore the heathland, river valleys, and rolling hills. The trail for the 11.9km, moderately-rated Shoreham-by-Sea and the Downs Link Circular Walk runs from beside the town.
The town’s historic harbour is home to Shoreham Beach, a large stretch of shingle and sand that’s popular with windsurfers and kite surfers. It’s also a Local Nature Reserve and has won a Green Flag Award for being so clean.
There are also a load of National Trust sites nearby. Such beauty spots include Devil’s Dyke, Saddlescombe Farm and Newtimber Hill, Cissbury Ring, Ditchling Beacon and Blackcap.
Among the top spots to eat is Into The Blue, a family-run restaurant near Shoreham Beach that’s known for its fresh local seafood and homemade desserts. It has won a TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award after earning an impressive four-and-a-half star rating from 954 reviews.
Other places to eat include Fete N Lime for a yummy Sunday roast and American-style favourites, Tides Pizzeria for real pizzas, and Ropetackle Fish and Chips. As for pubs, Suter’s Yard and The Buckingham Arms have received top marks from TripAdvisor reviewers.
