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Original poster

Moving to Suffolk

88 replies

Kirstyg82 · 31/01/2021 18:54

Hi all,
We were meant to relocate from Essex to Suffolk last year, but due to Covid and my husbands business, it just wasn’t on the cards.
We are now looking at getting our house on the market at the end of the year and moving as soon as we sell.

We have based the area we move to on chosen schools, so it’s a half hour radius from either Great Finborough or Southwold.
Would like to nearest city/large town to have a fair amount to do, feel safe and just a nice place to visit/shop/run errands etc.

We’d like a rural property or just outside a village.
There are many areas that seem nice to us, but I know from local areas where I live that it isn’t always the case so I’d love some local recommendations.

Ideally we would like a period property with a very large garden/some land.

Thank you in advance

OP posts:

petalpower · 31/01/2021 20:20

Woodbridge is a lovely area. Straight into the A12 so good for getting around more quickly when you need to.

SoMuchToBits · 31/01/2021 20:22

Yes, and Woodbridge has a lovely river, great for sailing if you're into that.

Original poster

Kirstyg82 · 31/01/2021 20:24

Oh that’s good to hear about the state schools too. I had heard positive things about them from
other posts.
It’s just such a juggle to move at the right time for applications as eldest son starts year 7 next year and I’m not sure we’d be in the area ready for applications. I imagine they’re oversubscribed too if we were late in applying?
My boys are super close too so I thought to ease the transition and upset of moving it would be nice for them to be together.

So my consensus is to not be too close to Saxmundham or Stowmarket (sorry no offence to anyone that lives there) so where would you recommend as your closest town if we’re in a rural/village location?

OP posts:

petalpower · 31/01/2021 20:24

Waves back to SoMuch!

bloodywhitecat · 31/01/2021 20:27

Norwich (I know it's Norfolk but it has a lovely vibe to it and lots going on) or Bury St. Edmunds, I live equidistant between Ipswich, Norwich and BSE and much prefer Norwich for shopping and things to do.

petalpower · 31/01/2021 20:28

It depends how big a town you are after? In my opinion Bury St Edmunds is nicer than Ipswich. Woodbridge and Framlingham are nice small towns with independent shops etc.

SoMuchToBits · 31/01/2021 20:31

Wood bridge or Framligham would both be good, and both still relatively close to Ipswich and to the coast (Aldeburgh etc).

What sort of facilities are you looking for in your nearest town? Concert venues, theatres, sports facilities etc?

Bagelsandbrie · 31/01/2021 20:32

Yes Bury St Ed’s is much nicer than Ipswich. I’m not a fan of Ipswich at all (sorry if I offend anyone). We are between Ipswich and Norwich and will always travel to Norwich to do any major shopping.

SoMuchToBits · 31/01/2021 20:34

Ipswich is rubbish for shopping! I live here because I need to (work at Ipswich Hospital) and the area I'm in is ok, but I don't rate the town centre!

tryingtorun · 31/01/2021 20:36

Have a look around the halesworth area, it's not to far from southwold. Also closer to Norwich for decent shopping.

Original poster

Kirstyg82 · 31/01/2021 20:42

Thanks for your input about Ipswich & Bury. I know we will struggle a bit at first being close to some big towns with lots going on, but at the same time we’ve been looking to move further away from them for years!

Seems like Woodbridge is a well regarded place! Maybe I’ll give the school a call tomorrow and have a chat.
I feel a little anxious as we will be turning down a place for September at a local independent so almost want a guarantee of a place for next year as I know it’s a bit of a risk, and I just couldn’t say if he would pass the tests for Woodbridge...saying that I am used to very selective schools here in Essex so maybe I’m under selling him!

I suppose we could have a few areas in mind (Woodbridge included) and see which school we get offered a place at....

OP posts:

Bagelsandbrie · 31/01/2021 20:46

Completely different direction but Wymondham high school is very well thought of. Some of the surrounding areas that way are good. (Not Attleborough). Lots of people we know who would have gone private for their children’s schools chose Wymondham instead. I think they have a private / fee paying boarding option too - or they did. Might be worth a look.

SoMuchToBits · 31/01/2021 20:49

Do your ds's have any particular interests/hobbies? This might influence where you want to live/them to go to school.

Original poster

Kirstyg82 · 31/01/2021 20:50

Good to hear so many good things about Norwich - we’ve been a couple of times and I really got a nice feel for it. Would love it as our closest city.

Woodbridge to me would be the perfect closest town, I love all the independent shops there and has more than enough for what we’d need.

Not necessarily after tons of amenities super close, but a nice cafe/deli/tea room, a pub plus the obvious supermarkets etc is what we’d need in a town. I know we’d prob have to travel a bit further for cinema etc but that’s ok.

Does anyone have any info about the Norwich theatre royal? I adore the theatre (pre Covid 😢) and will really miss my frequent visits being only 40 mins direct on the train into Liverpool Street.
Does it often get many of the touring productions etc?

OP posts:

Bagelsandbrie · 31/01/2021 20:53

Norwich theatre is okay. It’s never going to be West End (that’s one of the things we missed when we moved but it’s not long on the train if you’re really desperate)! Norwich is a nice smaller theatre, they get a good mix of things but also check out Norwich Playhouse and the other local theatres if you like more out there type stuff. Norwich Theatre has just said they won’t be reopening until there are no social distancing measures. So will be shut for some time I think!

Original poster

Kirstyg82 · 31/01/2021 20:56

That’s good to know about Wymondham, thank you bagelsandbrie, I’ll add it to the list!

My eldest likes running and cross country, plus karate, but biggest interest is Art. Boys love the outdoors/forests etc. Youngest is only 6 and currently loves every sport going! We don’t live super close to the coast so neither really into watersports currently but love them when we go on holiday. They had a huge love for surfing when we went to Jersey in the summer!

OP posts:

SoMuchToBits · 31/01/2021 20:58

Woodbridge has several cafés and tearooms, and some small deli type shops. Also several good pubs (and many more in surrounding villages).

There is also a lovely small theatre/cinema in Woodbridge - the Riverside. Brilliant venue. There's also the Seckford theatre (in the grounds of Woodbridge School, my ds used to help with the theatre tech stuff there!). In Ipswich there's the Corn Exchange and Regent concert halls/theatres, and Bury St Edmunds has the Apex which is smallish but lovely.

There's also Snape concert hall near Aldeburgh.

I have been to the Theatre Royal in Norwich but not for years, so not sure what they get these days.

Original poster

Kirstyg82 · 31/01/2021 21:11

The west end will definitely be the thing i will miss most about the move as I go so often, but like you said, it’s not too far on the train, and I’m sure I can always stay at a friends if it’s a late one!

Good to hear there’s a lot of theatre and arts around the county so I’ll definitely be looking some things up post-Covid.

One more thing, I know I mentioned above but anyone familiar with the Beccles/Bungay area? My husband keen as he found a good running club there!
He’d also like to join a local tennis club (he’s currently spoiled as it’s at the end of our road), so good to hear if there’s anything like that around the towns?

OP posts:

PatsyKen · 31/01/2021 21:17

I lived in East Anglia for years and I would say Bury St Edmunds is the loveliest town of all those mentioned! Small but has lots going on and just a fab family vibe. There are lots of nice villages all around. The state schools are great but if not Finborough and Culford and near by.

PatsyKen · 31/01/2021 21:18

Also, if you live in Bury it’s an easy train ride to Cambridge for more culture/restaurants/bustle.

petalpower · 31/01/2021 21:19

Woodbridge definitely has a tennis club - SoMuch and I have enjoyed a takeaway lunch from the kiosk next to it! My husband’s relatives have also been members there for many years.

petalpower · 31/01/2021 21:20

I think Culford school has a good reputation for sport.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 31/01/2021 21:23

BSE is lovely. lots of lovely independent shops and restaurants. Have a look at Stoke school in Stoke By Clare. One of my friends had her children there and really rated it. It's less than 30.minutes from BSE

tryingtorun · 31/01/2021 21:31

Woodbridge has a running club, called Woodbridge shufflers and if he's into Parkrun there is one at sizewell. Quite a few people who are members of the running club in beccles are often there.

SoMuchToBits · 31/01/2021 22:34

Culford School may be good for sport, but haven't heard much else good. My ds had friends there they said the food was terrible and didn't enjoy the whole atmosphere.

Finborough though, I don't know much about, but have met one of the proprietors who seemed lovely!

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