Moving to Lowestoft

[Mycatsgoldtooth]

Anyone live there? I know it’s not the loveliest town but it seems nice enough. Anyone live there and enjoy it? Is it as up and coming as people say. In London now but the cost of living is freaking me out and it seems like a place by the sea where I could find work and also afford a not too cramped house.

Have you got children , the schools are not brilliant. I live about 30 miles away and personally I’m not a fan of Lowestoft but maybe people will come on who live closer and can give you more info

Some areas are nice than others. North Lowestoft has some nice areas. Traffic is BAD! Nice beach :)

My dad lives in Lowestoft. We live a bit further out but are there most days. I love it there,the beach is beautiful. It is a bit run down in places though.

Traffic is horrendous! There isn't much character to it. The beach is nice but the town centre isn't. Has quite a good range of shops and supermarkets (big names not independent) if you can drive. I've never liked it much but there are worse places.

I lived there in my teenage years, it was not great then at least. School was really bad. Perhaps its improved since then, a lot of friends still live there and seem happy enough. I visited this summer and the seafront at least seems better than it used to be. Traffic is absolute hell but hopefully that will improve when the 3rd bridge is finished.

What third bridge?
OP, does it have to be Lowestoft? Belton, Hopton, Corton, Gorleston and Bradwell are all close by.

I wouldn't live there for love nor money.

They're building a fancy new one, the gull wing. Should open next year.

Thank you. Yes the schools don’t look great and I was a bit worried about the traffic.

What's your budget and requirements?

My Mum and grandparents were from there. I went back a few years ago and was shocked at how much it had deteriorated. Town centre just seemed to be kebab shops next to 'XXL' clothing shops or charity shops. Or empty shops.

No sand on the South Beach at all. North Beach still lovely though.

I would not want to move there.

The sand is all on the south beach now and the north beach is empty (which is nice, as my mum's beach hut is just where the sand is nicest and only a little down from where the lifeguards set up)

@Greengr four beds and a lot of space is what I’m looking for. Seemingly Lowestoft or Hull are the only places I can see what I need for a budget of 350000

I must say these posts are possibly what I needed. Seen the most lovely house but bad schools, terrible traffic and grim town centre outweighing the big house and low mortgage.

Do you need to be in the South East? Plenty of places up north where you can get four beds for £350k and be near the sea. My four bed is worth about £300k and I'm 2 miles from the beach.

Try gorleston - beautiful beach and if you can find a house near the clifftop / roads off marine parade its lovely. I dont know what type of job you need but that could be a problem. I was brought up there but moved to london in my 20s. You could work in norwich but it would be an hours commute.

weve retired to suffolk now, framlingham, which is lovely and not too far from ipswich in terms of jobs but public transport here is practically non-existent.

Whitley Bay?

I would avoid Lowestoft or Great Yarmouth Town centre, both are old Towns and looking dilapidated, most shops have closed down in the town centres as there are larger retail parks on the outskirts of both towns.

However, towns on the edges of both towns are lovely and you'll easily get a house meting your requirements.

Gorleston - residential town, large hospital lots of schools, huge sandy beach not plagued by traffic issues as not on tourists radar. Good public transport links.
Belton - nice river walks
Bradwell - large residential area
Hopton - smaller beach has a couple of holiday camps, riding stables.
These three areas have primary schools but older children tend to go to the Gorleston High schools.

Beccles - good sports facilities, quaint areas, river walks, has a lido.
Oulton Broad and Carlton Colville easy access to broads and water sports and a nature reserve. Oulton Broad often has a lot of traffic due to level crossing and tourism.

Another vote for Gorleston! Not far to drive into the city (Norwich) which is lovely or you can get a just regularly. Fantastic beach, nice places to eat and drink and good schools, with a excellent sixth form college. I think it's a great place to raise kids.

Missed the word bus out of that 🙈

My parents moved to Gorleston from London when I was a child, there's not a day goes by when I'm not thankful for that decision. Wherever you decide to move to doesn't need to be your last move. If the large house you've found will suit your needs then go for it, it will still give you a better quality of life than where you are now and you can always downsize to a slightly nicer area later.

Yesterday DD and I were on the beach eating breakfast at 8:00. We often go down for a swim after school and work it is a fantastic lifestyle. We avoid high traffic areas during the tourist season and shop in the retail parks avoiding the more rundown areas like everyone else.

Personally I have never struggled to find work. Tourist seasonal jobs in Great Yarmouth as a student. Big employers include a large hospital, lots of schools, supermarkets. Quangos like the environment agency, Cefas, job centre, Great Yarmouth council are all nearby, travelling to Norwich isn't arduous but you might need to keep rising fuel costs in mind if that is necessary.
There are high rates of unemployment in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft but in my experience this is more likely to be linked to higher than average levels of illiteracy and poor mental health than it is to do with a lack of jobs.

You can get what you want around Beccles and Bungay. Decent schools, cafes etc. 20/25 minutes to Southwold.

Thank you for all these suggestions! Off to look now. Gorlestone sounds great

I would second Beccles and Bungay and maybe Halesworth. Also Felixstowe if you want the coast , plenty of 4beds under £350k

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E508&minBedrooms=4&maxPrice=350000&propertyTypes=&mustHave=&dontShow=&furnishTypes=&keywords=

Just to add to the chorus of others avoid actually being in Lowestoft!

Beccles and Bungay are lovely. Short drive to the sea. Halesworth, Harleston or Saxmundham are good if you want a small market town with a strong community and affordable housing not too far from the sea.

I would always advise against living in a coastal town in Suffolk as most of them are either run down or overpriced or absolutely dead in winter when tourism winds down. They are also not for the faint hearted in the depths of winter when you factor in older houses, lack of gas mains so reliance on oil fired heating and harsh coastal winds.

We are in a village near Halesworth and can be at the beach in 15 mins, 10 mins if we go from school pick up but equally we are sheltered from the downsides of being completely coastal so it's best of both worlds.

Lots and lots of families have relocated to Suffolk since covid hit so you'd be in good company. It's a fantastic place to bring up kids and schools are small and have a real community feel.