When God chose Chanctonbury Ring in Sussex to be the epicentre of The Garden of Eden; He/She knew a thing or two about a perfect location.
Yesterday's Sunday Times (the country's most trusted newspaper) has just revealed the very best place to live in the UK. Of course it came as no surprise to those of who live here that this was in East Sussex
East Sussex is one of those places that rarely rings its own praises. We don't have many things named after the county, because there is no need to claim that our things are the best; we leave that to others.
OK, we might have a very unpopular Prince and his pushy wife, who continue to use the 'Sussex' name, but otherwise we sit back in the knowledge that we live in a place that is 'happy in its own skin'.
Only places that are 'frankly' a bit iffy need to tell you how wonderful they are. We don't have a famous pudding, a hot pot, jacket, or cream teas; we just have contented residents, the best climate in the UK, and a pleasant coastline. London is just 60 mins away, and France about the same.
So, is there a 'down-side' to living in East Sussex? Well sadly, yes, there is. As it's well known for being civilised relaxed and enjoyable, it does attract people who come from places that are far less so. Combine the warmth of the sun with a free weekend, and half of London descends on us.
In case you're wondering where The Sunday Times perfect place to live can be found, it's called Wadhurst. That's it in the illustration (above). A very pleasant village.
In their survey of The South-East, Brighton only came 2nd (after Chichester). We don't mind that too much; we don't want the place to become totally over-run.
Cro, and as you say, once the story and publicity gets out, the peace and tranquility will decline with sudden curiosity and perhaps unwelcome tourism.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly another recent poll announced that St Ives in Cornwall is the happiest place to live in the U.K. I couldn't disagree with that.
Looking forward to returning there this Summer after these last horrible 3 yrs.
I'm not sure how they distinguish between 'best' and 'happiest', I would have thought the two go almost hand in hand.
DeleteSussex Pond Pudding. Wandering or wondering? Glad to hear you have found the perfect place to live. Presume you are now over Covid.
ReplyDeleteI did think of mentioning Sussex Pond, but very few have heard of it (or eaten it). No, not over Covid yet; you can tell by my speling.
DeleteI assumed it was the dreaded predictive text. Hope you are both feeling better soon.
DeleteNow you've done it. There'll be hordes of the great unwashed flocking down there as soon as the sun comes out.
ReplyDeleteMuch safer to be up here in the frozen North.
You wouldn't believe the hoards of people we see between the station and the sea when the sun shines at weekends. London must slowly empty!
DeleteI read the article in The Times too Cro. We didn't get a mention but the popularity of The Dales can be measured by the fact that - come the warm weather our car park is full to bursting by 9m - walkers gone off for the day - locals unable to get to the supermarket as there is nowhere to park! Tesco - a mile away must profit greatly from this.
ReplyDeleteI suppose they'll all escaping from big inner cities. Fresh air is very attractive!
DeleteI read that article about Wadhurst too.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, every social climber, influencer, "celebrity" and money-maker will be down there buying up property and ruining the place. It's the same when the "best-kept secret" beaches are acclaimed in the papers or on TV. The hoards arrive overnight to ruin things for the locals.
I do hope not. They'd need to be reasonably well-off to buy property there, it's very expensive.
DeleteWell, that's funny! In the northern edition of "The Sunday Times", Sussex doesn't get a mention. Out of the hundred places listed, eighty are in Yorkshire with two for each of these counties: Northumberland, Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Devon. Sorry Sussex! Better luck next time!
ReplyDeleteAre you talking of The Sunday Aye-up? Not the same at all.
DeleteThey may not have a pudding, but they have a delightful you.
ReplyDeleteYou old flatterer! You're right of course!!!
DeleteYou mean to tell us you have never heard of a Sussex Pond Pudding?
ReplyDeleteYes, but I didn't think many others would have. I've only eaten it once and it was far too sweet.
DeleteI will probably never live in any of the most sought after places. The crowds are a total and complete turn-off for me. Open space trumps all for me.
ReplyDeleteI agree, which is why we head for the woods in summer. Our summer home is as quiet as anywhere in the world.
DeleteI agree with Coppa's girl, I too cringe every time one of these 'best places to whatever' or 'best kept secret' surveys come out, goodness, look what happened to the North Coast 500 in Scotland, can't move on there for traffic now!
ReplyDeleteMy favourite holiday destination used to be the tiny island of Formentera, then suddenly the 'secret islands' people started talking about it, and it's now as touristy as Ibiza.
DeleteBecoming overrun is usually what happens when anywhere is pronounced "perfect". The hoi-polloi want that too, so they upsticks and move in and after several decades the place becomes rundown and tatty and no one want to go there. I hope this doesn't happen to Wadhurst.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it will, it's far too expensive for the roughnecks to move in.
DeleteThe 'best of' reviews simply spoil places, inflating prices and reducing the diversity of the demographic (my, that sounds grand!)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as if you may have 'long covid' so let it take its time .It will pass . . . eventually.