Suggestions please

Brighton is a great place to visit for either a day or a holiday. You might consider Rottingdean, just along the road from Brighton, instead as it is away from the hustle and bustle of Brighton itself and has nice cafés and restaurants should you want to chat over a cuppa or a meal.

I am so sorry to hear of your bad news, Parky. At least you know that Brighton is perfectly safe now. 🤣🤣

How about Eastbourne.

I was born and bred in Brighton but not living there now ! However I did a pilgrimage last year and at 73 really enjoyed my stay! It is busy like any city so avoid if you don’t like crowds! Eastbourne is more gentile as is Bexhill or Worthing ! Chichester is delightful too as is Arundel Enjoy!

If you do decide to go to Brighton, and I wouldn't personally dismiss it as being unsafe, I recommend a walk round Brighton Pavilion and perhaps lunch in one of the seafront hotels. Hove tends to be quieter than Brighton so maybe take a look at that too.
You could also consider Eastbourne, which isn't too far from Brighton and which, from my experience, is a more traditional and quieter resort. The beach and pier are lovely and there are some good gift shops and cafes.

Oh no Parky

So sorry to hear that.

😮 oh dear

Brighton is fine. Tunbridge wells say yo get to by train from both Gatwick and st leanards. Hasting. Rye (but no train) Lewes.

Thank you for all suggestions. My sister is flying from Vancouver to see her son and grandson. They have only just moved from London where she used to visit. I was going to fly in to see her.

However she has decided not to come as son is splitting from his wife!!

Church road not Portland 🙄

If she is already spending time ag St Leonards wouldn't it be better to not look for more seaside?

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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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

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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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.