Living in East Sussex: the best market towns for Londoners looking for good-value family homes and good schools

Market towns continue to draw Londoners away from the convenience of city life and into a seductive web of homes in pretty cobbled high streets with nearby wide-open countryside and wild coastal landscapes.

A move from south London to the south coast and East Sussex is not too much of a dramatic adjustment.

We’ve chosen three of the county’s traditional market towns, all offering an attractive family lifestyle and well-priced homes within 100 miles of London.

Not the fastest commute on earth, but many former London dwellers believe this lovely medieval hilltop town on the edge of the Weald is worth a few extra minutes on the train.

From its cobbled streets to its cafés, pubs, restaurants and antiques shops, Rye is a belter of a market town, and the seaside at Camber Sands is nearby for bucket-and-spade days out.

Rye Harbour is pretty, there are regular festivals devoted to everything from jazz to literature to scallops. A newish arrival is a Kino cinema and bar.

The most picturesque part of town is the Citadel, the historic centre, with its timber-frame houses. Its central location and good looks come at a price, however. The heart of town is thronged with tourists in the summer, and you will pay a premium to live there.

Jason Stubbs, sales manager at Phillips & Stubbs, estimates that buyers in the centre would need to find £750,000 to £800,000 for a Georgian-fronted townhouse, or from £400,000 for a two-bedroom cottage.

Beyond the centre there are streets of period houses at more reasonable prices.

A Victorian or Edwardian four-bedroom semi would cost £400,000 to £450,000, while a two-bedroom flat would be £250,000 to £300,000.

The market, this year, has been stable. “It is better than we expected,” says Stubbs. “It is not amazing, but I think people are just fed up with Brexit and want to get on with their lives.”

Rye’s commuter links would be speeded up by the arrival of High Speed 1, to create a new fast link between Rye and Ashford.

Although not a guarantee, this kind of rail upgrade would make the town more appealing to commuters, and thus has the potential to hike property values.

Market forces: Rye has regular farmers’ markets and there’s a general Thursday market by the station with food, clothes, homewares, gifts, books, and pretty much everything else.

Commuting: trains to St Pancras take from one hour and four minutes. An annual season ticket starts at £4,988.

Schools: rated “good” by Ofsted are St Michael’s CofE Primary School, St Thomas’ CofE Aided Primary School, and Peasmarsh CofE Primary School.

However, parents need to be careful with catchment areas. Rye Community Primary School and Rye College, for seniors, were both rated “inadequate” by the education watchdog last year. They are now under new leadership.

Perfect for lovers of the countryside, who don’t want to completely bury themselves in the sticks, Wadhurst sits within The Weald, and between the North and South Downs.

Bewl Water, a vast reservoir used for sailing, windsurfing, rowing, and canoeing, is just east of the town.

The historic, pretty high street has all the traditional shops you might expect — butcher, baker, post office — plus a couple of pubs, a tearoom or two, and some neighbourhood restaurants. For a wider choice Tunbridge Wells is seven miles away.

“Wadhurst has a buzzing, villagey atmosphere,” says Karen Joyes, a negotiator at Burnett’s estate agents.

“We’ve got a really lovely community and lots to do. There are drama clubs, a tennis club, a gym, golf clubs and some really nice pubs.”

Local residents include TV presenter Davina McCall, whose house in the village, has been on sale since last year for £3.2 million and Hollywood star Johnny Depp was spotted in January lunching at The Middle House pub in nearby Mayfield. Rumour has it that he’s considering buying the property.

London buyers tend to gravitate towards Durgates, near Wadhurst station. Property stock is a mixed bag.

You could buy a three-bedroom Grade II-listed country cottage for £370,000 to £450,000, or a five-bedroom executive home for about £760,000.

Market forces: there is a regular farmers’ and crafts market.

Commuting: trains to Charing Cross take from 65 minutes and an annual season ticket starts at £5,136.

Schools: Wadhurst and Stonegate CofE Primary Schools, and Uplands Community College (seniors) have “good” Ofsted reports.

With a population of less than 2,000 pretty Ditchling barely seems like a town, let alone a market town, but it is worth including for its sheer good looks, great location, excellent facilities, and lovely houses.

Buyers who can afford an average £673,000 are in for a treat.

At the base of the South Downs, Ditchling is handy for days out in Brighton but a million miles away in terms of vibe.

Local pubs, including the 12th-century White Horse Inn, are smashing, and there is a nearby golf club, riding school, plus the Ridgeview Wine Estate, a post office and shop, a couple of cafés, and a tennis club.

Market forces: in 1312 King Edward II granted Ditchling a weekly market. Nowadays you’d have to head to Brighton for a bit of a bargain hunt.

Commuting: trains from Hassocks, just over a mile away, take 54 minutes to Victoria. An annual season ticket costs from £3,940.

Schools: Ditchling (St Margaret’s) Church of England Primary School is rated “good” by Ofsted. The nearest senior school is Downlands Community School in Hassocks, which is rated “outstanding”.