When people think about the coastline of the South-East many will picture the likes of the White Cliffs of Dover or Brighton beach, but take a stroll west and you’ll still be in one of the sunniest destinations in the UK. Welcome to Worthing. With less of the hustle and bustle of some of the seaside towns, Worthing offers the same air, sky, and seagulls – but at a fraction of the cost.
Even The Times has dubbed Worthing as the ‘posh Hackey’, with much of the county becoming unaffordable, this one coastal hotspot has been picked out as the ‘up-and-coming’ alternative.
So, what’s great about Worthing? Here, Jacobs Steel harnesses its years of experience as local estate agents to help you know more about the seaside town.
1. Educate
No matter what stage of education or care your child needs, Worthing has a plethora of establishments to meet their requirements. From nurseries to colleges, single sex, co-ed and religious, there’s a setting that will be perfect for your child’s next move.
Current ratings of all the primary schools show strong proficiency in maths and English, and secondary faculties demonstrate high numbers of teenagers leaving education with at least five GCSEs at Grade 5+.
2. Employment
With established road and rail links to neighbouring towns and cities, Worthing offers a tranquil setting to live within a strong commuter belt. According to local council statistics, the town‘s employment rate is higher than the averages for both West Sussex and the South-East. This is not surprising as the town is home to many multi-national companies across various industries including pharmaceutical, retail, and financial to name a few.
3. Culture
If you enjoy architecture and history then Worthing has a few treasures for you. These include:
- Worthing Pier – dating back to 1862, the pier is nearly 300 metres long and miraculously it still has its pavilions. Worthing Pier has had a lot of refurbishments over the years after being battered by a storm in 1913, and later a fire in 1933, but today it continues to jut out beautifully to sea, waiting for people to adore its continued magnificence.
- The Dome Cinema – film buffs and historians gather for the pearl (and Dean) of Worthing. Dating back to 1911, the Dome is one of the oldest working cinemas in England. This Edwardian building became a cinema in 1918 and, following a complete restoration in the late 1900s, it now hosts three digital screens showing the latest releases.
- Places of worship – there are 49 churches in the district that offer a variety of stunning stonework, stained glass and artifacts that really take you back to the past. One site not to be missed is the English Martyrs Catholic Church, which has the only known handpainted replica of the Sistine Chapel ceiling in the world.
4. Space
Living in a coastal town of Worthing not only means that you’re a stone’s throw from the beach, but also that you’re surrounded by many places to stretch the legs and explore. A short car or bike journey will take you to the finest of English countryside in Sussex – the South Downs. Popular with walkers, ramblers, and cyclists, you can experience delights such as Chanctonbury and Cissbury Ring. The South Downs is steeped in settlement history, is home to some wonderful wildlife and offers the most stunning views. There’s no better reason to get outside and back to nature.
5. Celebrities
If you choose to move to Worthing, you’re in great company as many famous people in history have had a connection to the town including author Jane Austin, actress Gwendoline Christie and suffragette Emily Davidson. More recently, Harry Styles was spotted filming in Worthing for his latest film My Policeman.