Suggestions please

I visit Brighton frequently as I have friends there. It can get very noisy particularly hen / stag nights at weekends, but certainly it’s safe and fun . Hove -just along a bit maybe better to stay there if you want a bit of peace. Very good bus service into Brighton and the station . Worthing also nice .

We love Brighton definitely has a buzz with plenty to do and see. Certainly not unsafe can get a bit noisy at weekends but we are not night owls and are usually back to our hotel by 10pm So unless you are going clubing after 11pm you will be fine. We enjoying staying at The Old Ship Hotel very central and very often has good deals on. Jury's on the seafront is also nice but can be expensive.We never have a Seaview room unless the hotel has double glazing Brighton is certainly a city that never sleeps.
Eastbourne is also nice we tend to stay at The View hotel amazing Seaview rooms or the Landsdowne. Eastbourne is much quieter but easy to get the train into Brighton for the day.

Brighton is great, and very busy. My daughter was there for four years just a few years ago, at Uni so we’ve been there a lot. My SIL lives there as do both her adult daughters, each with young children.

Would suggest Kent, though Brighton is nearer to Gatwick. Canterbury, in Kent is lovely.

Brighton is great but if she cant be persuaded, Eastbourne is a good 2nd choice. Directcrain from Gatwich Rail station to Eastbourne

I live in Brighton and can definitely say that I have never felt unsafe.. It is really friendly and inclusive. How could you not want to visit the Royal Pavilion or the Laines or see a show at the Dome or Royal Theatres.. Maybe stay in Hove if you find Brighton a bit too crowded at night.
There is a railway station there so you could also visit Lewes or Eastbourne.. and London is only an hour away...and buses go up to the Downs.. it's a wonderful place to live

We’ve family who live in Brighton so we go there regularly and have never felt at all unsafe. Interestingly that same family visited Vancouver last summer and were shocked by some of the districts in that city. Most busy urban areas these days have parts that can feel a bit “edgy”.

If your sister is adamant that she won't go to Brighton, have a look at Arundel. It's a lovely oldtown with plenty of places to visit, both indoor and outdoor and there are frequent direct trains from Gatwick Airport.

Hastings and Rye.

Brighton a good choice as Thameslink go directly there from Gatwick. You might have to change in London stations otherwise.
My Brighton hotel is good.

Go to Hove - much nicer - plenty of lovely restaurants on Church Road -

Brighton and Hove are the 14th safest city on this University listing:
www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/student-advice/where-to-study/how-safe-is-your-city

If someone is refusing to go to Brighton, why is everyone keen to tell the OP what a wonderful place it is! 🙄
Eastbourne is quite a nice place to stay. I only visited for the day but my Mum and her partner went to collect their boat from there and were forced to stay for a fortnight when the boat had problems. They loved it.

Eastbourne is lovely and direct trains from Gatwick. We’re allegedly the Sunshine Coast! I love it here.

Jaxjacky

Hastings might suit you both, or Eastbourne.

Eastbourne is very run-down now, my daughter lives there and there is a lot of drug-taking. Many of the small hotels and B&Bs are hostels for the local authority.

Juniewoonie

Eastbourne is lovely and direct trains from Gatwick. We’re allegedly the Sunshine Coast! I love it here.

Oh dear. I spent five days in Eastbourne a couple of years ago and thought it a squalid, depressing mess. Perhaps I was just unlucky but I certainly couldn't recommend it.

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Juniewoonie

Eastbourne is lovely and direct trains from Gatwick. We’re allegedly the Sunshine Coast! I love it here.

Oh dear. I spent five days in Eastbourne a couple of years ago and thought it a squalid, depressing mess. Perhaps I was just unlucky but I certainly couldn't recommend it.

Absolutely agree with you.

It's worth googling the respective crime rates and statistics before arbitrarily choosing a town to visit if it's a really big issue for your friend.

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Juniewoonie

Eastbourne is lovely and direct trains from Gatwick. We’re allegedly the Sunshine Coast! I love it here.

Oh dear. I spent five days in Eastbourne a couple of years ago and thought it a squalid, depressing mess. Perhaps I was just unlucky but I certainly couldn't recommend it.

Absolutely agree with you.

There are some nice areas around the Towner Art Gallery but I agree that the centre is rather unprepossessing

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Jaxjacky

Hastings might suit you both, or Eastbourne.

Eastbourne is very run-down now, my daughter lives there and there is a lot of drug-taking. Many of the small hotels and B&Bs are hostels for the local authority.

same could be said for Hastings apart from the Old Town..

Lewes though is pretty lovely and unspoilt, though lots of steep hills

Lewes is lovely so you could stay there but then so is Brighton, tho Brighton can get very busy but it is interesting. She would find the Pavilion fascinating I'm sure.

I often visit Brighton and love it. An alternative is Chichester. Direct train from Gatwick. Cathedral, canal, city walls, gallery, theatre, Bishop's Palace
gardens, museum, shops, restaurants, etc. Nearby you can visit Arundel and Petworth.

I lived in Brighton for over 25 years and the only time it was thought unsafe was when the Grand Hotel was bombed. Mrs Thatcher was staying there for the Tory Conference.

I think it has lost a lot of its character over the years, like so many other places but it is still well worth a visit.

Worthing, Littlehampton and Bogner Regis are quieter and quite close.

I think the travel from Gatwick is a bit of a red herring. The obvious place to go from Gatwick is probably London!

If she's staying at St Leonards, surely she would like a couple of days in/around London! You could do days out from London to places that aren't just seaside.

Not all of Eastbourne is lovely but the promenade is the most unspoilt one that I have ever visited - absolutely stunning with well-planted and tended banks of shrubs and perennials. It is sheltered from road noise and is an absolute sun-trap especially at the Holywell end. The area around the Towner Gallery and much of the front is very elegant particularly west of the pier. The Towner is a great place to visit with an excellent Ravilious collection and a cosy cinema and restaurant.
I really dislike it when people make sweeping and rather rude generalisations about places especially when they are wide of the mark! I can only imagine that they managed to miss all the lovely areas, what a shame.

Hello Parky, I’ve lived in Brighton all my life and can safely say whoever told you Brighton is dangerous is talking rubbish. There are a couple of places on the very outskirts of Brighton that are ‘rough’ council estates but you wouldn’t be anywhere near them if you stay in central Brighton, they would only be considered not to walk through after dark which you wouldn’t!
All City’s are dangerous if you know where to go after dark, but during the day you will be fine. Just as you would anywhere else keep your wits about you, preferably use an over body handbag and stay central. The Gatwick to Brighton express train takes about 50 minutes with only a few stops (used to be 8 minutes past the hour) as you come out of the station there will be loads of taxis, might I suggest getting in a saloon taxi if you’re mobility is impaired like mine, do find London cabs difficult! The Hotel DuVin is pleasant as is the Old Ship (think it’s called that, google will tell you, as is the Grand. Hotel DuVin is almost on the seafront and central to the Lanes, the old ship is more or less overlooking the Brighton Pier. The Lanes are lovely and both the hotels back on to them and the North Lanes are eclectic, full of students and interesting if that’s what floats your boat (personally I prefer The Lanes). Maybe get a bus along to Rottingdean Village for a little stroll and cuppa or an ice cream or get the bus to Eastbourne for the day if you fancy a little ride out one day and some shopping.
My advice would be not to go to Brighton first week of August as its Pride week and absolutely heaving of people. Another nice place is a bus to Hove, (Portland Road) there’s plenty of shops and restaurants and in Hove seafront there’s the BA flight, Brighton & Hove’s answer to the London Eye. On the seafront towards Hove on the corner of Russell place (next to Preston street) is the best fish & chip restaurant in Brighton.
One last place the Royal Pavilion is worth a visit as it’s recently had a bit of a makeover.
I do hope you manage to persuade your sister to go to Brighton because if you haven’t been you will find it interesting.
Enjoy your break.