Lancing - 10 Great Reasons Why You Should Be Living Here

12 Jul, 2019

Lancing is a lovely extra-large village in West Sussex that nestles between Worthing and Shoreham-by-Sea with the gentle slopes of the South Downs as its backdrop and the English Channel in front, as far as the eye can see. There is a shingle and sand beach that stretches nearly ten miles that is perfect whether you are a walker, water sports enthusiast or simply enjoy relaxing with a good book listening to the waves.

So why do we think you should consider Lancing for your next move?

1 - A Great Location

With almost 20,000 residents, Lancing is a king-sized village. It is situated on the western edge of the Adur valley, 1.5 miles from East Worthing, less than three miles from Worthing, just 11 miles from Brighton, and 45 minutes’ drive from the beautiful cathedral city of Chichester. Although Lancing lies close to the towns of Worthing and Shoreham it retains its own character and has not grown too much as Shoreham Airport which occupies a large area of grassland near the west bank of the Adur acts as a natural boundary.

2 - An Easy Commute

If you are working up in London, just imagine being able to escape home on a summer's evening to grab your surfboard and head for the sea – it's possible if you live in Lancing.

The commute to London takes just over an hour. There is a good transport network within Lancing and the journey to Brighton takes just 20 minutes and it is 30 minutes to Worthing.

Other important travel facts is that Lancing is perfectly placed for the great getaway with London Gatwick situated just 24 miles away (about 40 minute's drive) and Heathrow 44 miles away.

3 - Housing Options for Everyone

Lancing covers an area of 3.65 sq miles 9.59 (sq km) and in and around the village there is a good range of properties with something to suit everyone's needs and budget. The most common types of houses are terrace and semi-detached properties which range in size from two and three beds in such areas as Greentrees Crescent, Third Avenue and Wembley Avenue to larger family five bed houses in Hamilton Road.

There are many spacious bungalows and a good selection of larger detached houses with 4 - 6 bedrooms, situated at the foot of the South Downs with lovely panoramic views. There are older properties in the village with plenty of character including some 18th century four bedroom flint houses that overlook the water front and bird sanctuary. The most sought after area is North Lancing which is situated on the lower slopes of the Downs.

The average property price in Lancing according to Zoopla's latest figures (June 2019) is £296,467. Flats cost on average £173,642, whilst terraced houses average £266,676. Zoopla also reports that prices in the village have increased 0.86% in the last three months (since March 2019) with an average rise of 0.15% in the last 12 months.

4 - Perfect for Retirees

Lancing has long been a much sought after area on the property front for retirees because of its close proximity to the coast. There are certainly many attractive housing options for retirees including some attractive and very spacious bungalows and semi-detached properties. There are also a number of attractive and well-designed apartment blocks within the village such as those in Elm Grove, Freshbrook Road and Seaview Court and they are all conveniently close to amenities.

Lancing also has some lovely sheltered accommodation for older people including Appletree Lodge which offers assisted living. Drumconner Homes and Mount Hermon are both residential care home and are situated on the Brighton Road in the village.

5 - Great for Families

Lancing is a good choice if you have a family – and not just because of its close proximity to the beach. Lancing has a good choice of schools including four primary/middle schools and an academy for older children. There are other secondary schools in the surrounding area. The village also a health centre and plenty of family-orientated activities and annual events which usually take place on Lancing Beach Green which is the large grassed area that leads directly onto the beach. For young sports enthusiasts there are football and cricket clubs amongst others and Wickers Gymnastic Club in Chartwell Road which takes children of all ages.

With children in mind (and adults too.) Coombes Farm Tours at the farm on the outskirts of the village are great fun – especially in lambing season when there is the chance to cuddle and feed the lambs. For young 'wannabe' farmers there are regular tractor rides too and it is interesting for all ages to learn about this busy working sheep farm and to visit during the different seasons.

6 - Good Amenities

Lancing certainly has a bustling community and is a fun place to live. In the centre of the village there is a good selection of shops including both well-known stores and independent retailers. There are two supermarkets – Asda and the Co-Op - plus a branch of Boots. There is a doctors' surgery and health centre. There are some good sports facilities and a variety of water sports with kite surfing being the big favourite.

If you enjoy a good pub there is the Miller & Carter in North Lancing and also The Farmers which offers live BT and Sky Sports. For dining out there is a lovely restaurant the Capis Italian in the village centre and the Perch Restaurant which is situated right on the beach with wonderful panoramic views. Those 'in the know' head for Royal Voluntary Service vintage tea room in Chesham House where the home made scones are heavenly.

7 - Excellent Leisure Opportunities

There is plenty to do in Lancing and South Lancing Beach is part of a ten mile stretch of sand and pebbles and is perfect for surfers, walkers and dreamers. Lancing Beach Green overlooks the beach and is an ideal place to stretch out with a good book or sit and watch the kite surfers in action. Lancing Sailing Club is popular with all ages and abilities not just for sailing – there is a good social side too. There is the local leisure centre which is on the A27 and there is Splash Point swimming pool in nearby Worthing.

Newly refurbished Brooklands Lake is ideal for those who enjoy playing around with boats. If you are a keen golfer, the great news is that there are 15 different golf courses in the area to really test your skills - and there is a golf academy if you need to improve them. There are lovely coastal walks to enjoy that are perfect on foot or two wheels and what better than being able to buy fresh fish straight from the fishermen on the beach?

8 - Interesting Places to Visit

Today, there are many attractive places of interest in the vicinity including a variety of walks that lead up onto the slopes of the South Downs. The best known place of interest is Lancing Ring which lies to the north of the village at 109 metres above sea level.

It is an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' and a designated nature reserve. Fragments of a Roman temple and shrine were discovered there in 1828. Excavations have revealed that the temple was part of a 12 acre Roman site in the vicinity. Lancing College Chapel is another popular place to visit and is situated on the western side of the Adur Valley.

9 - History to Delve Into

During the Middle Ages, there were actually there small separate communities in the area – North Lancing, South Lancing and Pende. Pende was a small port sitting on the banks of the Shoreham River (now known as the Adur) but during the 17th century the course of the river changed and almost all of the traces of Pende were lost and the two Lancings eventually grew into one large village.

Because of its pleasant situation on a narrow coastal plain with a large and long beach, in the 19th century, Lancing became a very fashionable coastal resort for the gentry and this is why many of the properties date from this period. The lower slopes of the Downs were also developed for horticulture and this continued until quite recently when the land became a national park.

Holiday makers still visit the area and there are a number of traditionally styled guest houses on the A259 coast road in the village. As well as this, the village has a caravan and campsite in Old Salts Farm Road and plenty of places to buy ice creams.

10 - And a Great Future Too

The future for Lancing is certainly looking very bright as Brighton & Hove Football Club has recently built its training facility there and IKEA has recently announced that it will be building a new store in the area, which will bring more employment opportunities. As the village already has nearly 2,000 residents, there are plans to create a new doctors' surgery, school and begin several new housing projects as Lancing will definitely be an even more attractive place to live.

With our thanks to Chris Stevens for this article.