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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:
247SylviaPlath · 31/01/2021 22:38

BSE not quite as lovely as it used to be...would be careful re current views vs those who know it from a few years back.

PatsyKen · 31/01/2021 22:40

@247SylviaPlath that’s sad to hear - what’s happened to BSE?

SoMuchToBits · 31/01/2021 22:41

Yes, BSE still nice, but a lot of the good shops have closed recently (and this was before Covid).

PatsyKen · 31/01/2021 22:47

Sadly I think that’s the way of so many towns that size.

Original poster
Kirstyg82 · 01/02/2021 11:13

That’s a shame about a lot of the shops in BSE. We’ve actually never visited so may take a trip once Covid allows and we view the schools again.

Good to hear about a running & tennis club in Woodbridge. Definitely going to consider it now once we’ve spoken to the schools. Will also look at catchment for the good state secondary’s some of you mentioned.
Going to do some research on Framlingham, Halesworth & around Beccles too.

I suppose it also depends on what area a house comes up. We don’t mind renting for a bit to time the move with school, but ideally would like to buy as soon as possible from when our house is sold.

OP posts:
KeflavikAirport · 01/02/2021 12:09

Framlingham has a park run.

Original poster
Kirstyg82 · 01/02/2021 12:25

Great, thank you!

OP posts:
bilbodog · 01/02/2021 12:36

We moved to fram 18 months ago and love it but i think if my budget allowed i would look at woodbridge which is more expensive as it has more to do and you will want the kids to be able to do things on their own as they get older. We are just retired so looking for a quieter life and due to lockdown still havent been able to fully explore the area! Good luck!

Original poster
Kirstyg82 · 01/02/2021 12:47

@bilbodog oh that’s a shame, but fingers crossed things look a little brighter over the next couple of months and you can finally explore the beautiful area.
Woodbridge really seems to be coming up top...we’re quite dependent on school but if not there then hopefully we won’t be too far to visit.
We definitely would like to be rural, so not in the centre of a town anyway, but brilliant if our closest town is a good one!

To those who were not fans of Ipswich but love Woodbridge...does it matter than Ipswich is your nearest large town centre rather than the more regarded Norwich or BSE? Just thinking for when boys are teens and out and about alone? 😬

OP posts:
MarciaDidia · 01/02/2021 13:44

I will PM you.

Learningtobehappier · 01/02/2021 13:49

Halesworth? Its a lovely little town, not far from Southwold. And close enough to Norwich. There's some lovely little villages around there, Rumburgh for example.

Original poster
Kirstyg82 · 01/02/2021 14:22

@Learningtobehappier Oh yes I’ve got Halesworth on my list and rented a beautiful barn close to there a few years ago on holiday.
Good to hear a few people recommending it. It’ll definitely be on my right move search!

If anyone has any recommendations or lovely places to live on the other side of Suffolk (30 mins south or out from Finborough) then that would be appreciated too as most people have been more familiar with east Suffolk.
We were looking around Long Melford/Lavenham/Clare...

OP posts:
Original poster
Kirstyg82 · 01/02/2021 14:26

@EmmaGrundyForPM That’s good to hear as Stoke College is another school I’m looking at over that side of Suffolk. My only concern was the year groups seemed extremely small but maybe are filling up a bit more now as the school is planning on lots of improvement works...

OP posts:
CottonSock · 01/02/2021 17:53

I know lavenham etc well. I find it a bit posh Grin but I'm a city girl now. Beautiful villages around there like kersey are plentiful. Sudbury is not great to be honest, but has supermarkets and a small theatre if it survives. Bury st Edmunds is not too far and I much prefer it.

petalpower · 01/02/2021 18:04

Long Milford/Lavenham/Clare are very pretty and chocolate boxy but I always think it takes ages to get anywhere from them - the roads aren’t great. Sudbury doesn’t have a great reputation.

myusernamewastakenbyme · 01/02/2021 18:15

Bury St Edmunds is a town not a city.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 01/02/2021 18:17

I love Lavenham but wouldn't want to live there - too many tourists.

I've got friends in Long Melford and they love it. Not too difficult to get to BSE from there.

bloodywhitecat · 01/02/2021 18:55

@myusernamewastakenbyme

Bury St Edmunds is a town not a city.
We've already established Suffolk has no cities.
Worryworker · 01/02/2021 19:20

I live in the Beccles area OP. Lovely, safe town and only half hour drive from Norwich for better shopping, nights out if wanted. I belong to a great running club there too. Overall a friendly, safe area with a great community vibe. It has a lovely common and quay area for walks along the river.

mouldyhouse101 · 01/02/2021 19:28

Definitely Bury St Edmunds.
Easy to get into Cambridge, still a small town feel but everything you need.
Clare/Long Melford/Lavenham just don't have the basics (bank etc)

Avoid Culford. Very (very) poor reputation. Finborough also isn't top of the list always.

Always heard rave reviews about Stoke. And South Lees in Bury.

Ipswich School and Ipswich High School are also both fantastic independent, and often come near top of the tables

Framingham also gets good reviews

Stowmarket is very good value, but a bit rough round the edges. But you definitely get more for your money

Ipswich is lovely in some areas, not so lovely in others. Stay near the Marina and you'll be ok

Original poster
Kirstyg82 · 01/02/2021 19:46

Good to hear all the feedback, thank you. They all sound like lovely villages - I’ll be sure to avoid too close to Sudbury.

@Worryworker ooh thank you. I’d not heard too much about Beccles so nice to hear from someone who lives there.
Husband keen on the running club and also being so close to Norwich.

I now have a good few places shortlisted on both sides of Suffolk so thank you all for the help!

OP posts:
petalpower · 01/02/2021 19:53

Let us know how you get on. (Feel slightly over invested in this now!)
Suffolk is beautiful and I’m sure you’ll love it here.

Bagelsandbrie · 01/02/2021 20:55

The teen thing.... I’ve got a 17 year old dd and actually they just all tend to hang out at each other’s houses or mooch around costa (!) Transport is so rubbish and taxis so expensive that they don’t bother heading into Norwich (30 mins from us on the train but last train is 11pm!) so I wouldn’t worry too much about them heading into Ipswich or Norwich for a night out. They all seem to learn to drive as soon as they turn 17 and then pile into their cars and hang out in their cars and then head for a McDonald’s drive through on the way home...! (Yes it is terrifying when they’re driving about but thankfully none of them seem interested in drinking etc).

Original poster
Kirstyg82 · 02/02/2021 15:01

Thank you @mouldyhouse101 - I like the straight talking as need to know the more shady areas!!
Good to hear about Stoke, as again, I can’t find too much online about it and can’t even go and visit right now.
Ipswich not the schools for us but look and sound fab.

@petalpower haha I shall do a follow up of where we actually move to! As soon as know the school then we can narrow it down so much more.

@Bagelsandbrie that is good to know, and honestly would rather that then heading out and not knowing what they’re doing. I have boys so obviously terrified at every aspect of their lives 😂
I cannot even think about the driving right now...I don’t even drive on motorways myself as it scares the life out of me!! Give me all the Suffolk country roads any day

OP posts:
petalpower · 02/02/2021 15:25

No motorways in Suffolk! The A14 is exciting as it gets!