Anyone from Norfolk ??

[babbi]

Have also posted in chat as I couldn't think of the best home for this ! Trust that will be ok ?

Following on from thread re shocking weather in Scotland , DH is very keen to move south.
He has spent a lot of time holidaying in the past in Norfolk and really likes the idea of relocating there.
Is there anyone in that area can give me any info ? ie - climate , schools , places that you would recommend to live ? We are a family of three . DH and I and DD who is four.
Also I would love to hear from any Scots who have gone south (anywhere) . Was it a good move, any regrets ?? What do you miss most about up north if anything ?

Would be very grateful for any info !!
TIA

[willowstar]

Hello

I am a Scot transplanted in Norfolk. I came down to Cambridgeshire for work a few years ago and life took over and I am still here.

I PINE for Scotland...the air, the scenery, the people, my family etc...but this place has its upsides too, most noticeably the weather. we are often 5-10 degrees warmer than the east coast where I used to live and for me that counts for a lot. You are in easy travelling distance to London and the airports which makes holidays easier (well depends where in Scotland you are).

This is very personal, but I much prefer the Scottish coastline, far more rugged. and the hills, there is just nothing here if you like to go mountain biking, hill walking etc...so it really depends on your lifestyle I guess.

I never thought I would live here but it isn't such a bad spot.

[babbi]

Thanks Willowstar it was very kind of you to take the trouble to reply ! The plus points that you mention are exactly what we are looking for ! So thats good, regret that we don't do "hill stuff" in Scotland as Dh has a spinal injury - he would cope better on the flat so I suppose that is another plus for us !
thanks again . We are heading down next weekend for a look about !

[Fimbo]

Ha I am a Scot living in Norfolk and hate it.

[Fimbo]

It is a long way to get to anywhere, have you ever been on the A11 or the A47, stuck behind caravans on single carriageways? There is enough to do outdoors in the summer months but there is absolutely nothing and I mean nothing here if it rains. There is a limit to how many times you can go round Norwich Castle. Yes the North Norfolk coast is nice but again it is great in summer not in winter and it takes ages to get there.

Cambridge I could do though, lovely city, nice walks. Easier transport links into London. For me it wins hands down over Norfolk any day.

[babbi]

Thanks very much Fimbo ! I am visiting my uncle in Cambridge next weekend actually , so I will have a look around there and have a chat with him. He left Scotland 30 years ago and never returned.
Thanks again , it really is very useful to hear any opinions (good or bad) when we are considering such a big move.

[Rollmops]

Out of sheer curiosity (and inspired by the Sussex thread)could anyone please recommend good estate agents websites in the area. Would love to have a look what our money could buy there....[cuuuurious]
Which villages-towns would you recommend that are near good state primary/s and decent public secondary/s to add to the wish list.
Thank you!

[throckenholt]

Norfolk is a big place and varies quite a bit. Where would you be working ? Do you want city, town, village or country ? Near the coast ?

Lots of people come to Norwich/Norfolk as students and tend to stay - so it must have something going for it.

It is not on a through route to anywhere - so most people are here because they want to be.

It isn't great for commuting to anywhere to be honest - although some do commute to London (I think they are mad !!).

Give us a few more clues please

[throckenholt]

oh - you asked about climate. Tends to be warm and dryish in summer (with thunderstorms). And cold and windy in winter. If the wind turns north we often get snow when others further inland don't. As with the rest of the uk - we get periods of prolonged rain.

[Sidge]

My in-laws are in Norfolk, in a small village just outside of Norwich. I really like it there but obviously only visit, I don't live there year round!

I like the climate, landscape, we've always found plenty to do (but again it might be different to live there and we're not huge 'outdoorsy' people) and Norwich isn't bad as main cities go. There are some lovely little villages on the coast too.

Rollmops - Haarts are one of the local estate agents I think, I have seen their boards around. Otherwise RightMove will list all local properties if you know which area you want to search in.

[meltedmarsbars]

I'm a scot, have lived in London, Newport Pagnell, Hull and now Leicestershire. I go where the work is - you make friends anywhere, but it is easier to meet other parents when your kids are primary age. Once they move up there's no school gate conversation.

Southwold is a nice village - but full of tourists in summer.

[4andnotout]

I'm from norfolk, have lived all over the region, what sort of area are you looking for?

[Hassled]

Fimbo is right about there being very little to do when it's wet. And yes, I could get a job at this stage as a Norwich Castle guide without even revising.

And I don't like the poor transport links, I hate the A11 with a passion, and I do miss hills. It's getting more and more multi-cultural but still has a long way to go. But the coast is so beautiful, the people are friendly - I do like Norfolk.

[Pyrocanthus]

Southwold is very nice, but is in Suffolk.

My family is from North Suffolk - the climate is relatively dry and mild, though the wind will shiver your timbers on the coast. As someone has already said, road communications with the outside world are awful, though the mainline from Norwich to London used to work quite well in the days when I travelled up and down regularly on the train.

Norwich is lovely; there are beautiful, wild places and very dull, provincial places. It is not an area for the avid mountaineer, though there is plenty of natural beauty as well as an awful lot of arable farmland.

[willowstar]

good point, Norfolk is a big place...I live in West Norfolk and commute to work in Cambridge, know quite a few people round here who commute to London every day. We go to Norwich quite a lot, nice little city with some good restaurants...also we are onlyo 30-40 mins from the coast so our spot is pretty good. depends where in Norfolk you are thinkning of living I guess.