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Original poster

Does anyone live either in the Suffolk or Colchester area?

35 replies

Toomuchwine89 · 17/12/2022 14:50

Where to avoid? I'll be on a small budget so can't afford the most amazingly nice areas. I'll also be renting. Thanks.

OP posts:
Thenmydogsteptonabee · 17/12/2022 15:02

I live in Suffolk we moved here 18 years ago from Colchester. What budget do you have? What are you looking for? I wouldn’t move back to Colchester. Suffolk is lovely ( Woodbridge/ Suffolk coastal east) but can be pricey.

Original poster
Toomuchwine89 · 17/12/2022 15:18

Thank you.

Budget is around 1400 a month

OP posts:
Leakingtoilet · 17/12/2022 15:26

Whereabouts do you need to be for work etc? I'm on Suffolk coast, big difference between my location and Colchester.

Original poster
Toomuchwine89 · 17/12/2022 15:48

I don't work at the moment. I'm hoping to relocate (fleeing abuse)

OP posts:
Jewel7 · 17/12/2022 15:55

Suffolk is nice but depends what area you are looking at. Do you want a town or village? Colchester itself is quite built up. Nice villages near Colchester though. Bury st edmunds is nice as is Sudbury. I would avoid Haverhill/Stowmarket as I have heard mixed opinions.

Original poster
Toomuchwine89 · 17/12/2022 15:56

Jewel7 · 17/12/2022 15:55

Suffolk is nice but depends what area you are looking at. Do you want a town or village? Colchester itself is quite built up. Nice villages near Colchester though. Bury st edmunds is nice as is Sudbury. I would avoid Haverhill/Stowmarket as I have heard mixed opinions.

Thank you. I've heard the same about Haverhill. I'd rather a village but don't mind too much x

OP posts:
Jewel7 · 17/12/2022 15:59

I like Sudbury and the villages between Bury st Edmunds. Bury seems to have quite good work opportunities depending what you work as. Good luck.

thelobsterquadrille · 17/12/2022 16:01

Bury St Edmunds is lovely. I grew up there and it's a really safe, pretty town with plenty to do within walking distance of the town centre. Great place to raise kids IMO.

Frostine · 17/12/2022 16:02

Colchester can be gridlocked at peak times if you need to consider that.Don't discount Ispwich, some parts are nice.

SquigglyOne · 17/12/2022 16:03

Another vote for Bury St Edmunds! I grew up there and really miss it. Would agree it’s a lovely place to bring up a family.

Original poster
Toomuchwine89 · 17/12/2022 16:04

Ahh thank you! I will focus more on Bury St Edmunds then

OP posts:
SquigglyOne · 17/12/2022 16:04

I’ve also lived in Colchester and wouldn’t recommend as much

thelobsterquadrille · 17/12/2022 16:09

Toomuchwine89 · 17/12/2022 16:04

Ahh thank you! I will focus more on Bury St Edmunds then

If you drive, the surrounding villages are lovely too and may be a little bit cheaper than Bury itself.

Facecream · 17/12/2022 16:15

I live near Colchester (Wivenhoe). It’s also lovely but the nearest hospital is Colchester which is great in some respects but the city itself is overpopulated and not nice.
Id definitely try Suffolk first

Original poster
Toomuchwine89 · 17/12/2022 16:16

I do drive so I can consider villages too

OP posts:
Soproudoflionesses · 17/12/2022 16:22

Sudbury is nice with lots of facilities

Claudia84 · 17/12/2022 16:23

What about Ixworth? Near Bury St Edmunds.

PrancerandDancer · 17/12/2022 16:27

Suffolk tends to be cheaper than Colchester.

I'm the opposite side of town to the hospital and train station and its much quieter and you get more for your money. Stanway is getting very busy though. There's some lovely villages near by

TeaCosyApplePie · 17/12/2022 16:31

Stowmarket has an unfair reputation I think- the crime rates are worse in Sudbury and Bury St Ed's if you look at the stats. It's not a bad place. There are some lovely villages like Monks Eleigh and Lavenham if they fit the budget.

thelobsterquadrille · 17/12/2022 16:31

Do you have children/schools to consider?

usedtobeboss3 · 17/12/2022 16:34

Hadleigh might be worth a shot - 10 miles from both Ipswich and Sudbury (bus routes to both), and not too far from Colcehster (but not on bus route) and surrounded by other lovely villages. Town has pretty much everything you need - supermarkets, shops, petrol stations, schools, doctors, pubs and cafes, etc. Lots of new-ish, reasonably priced housing on the edge of town. Very nice small town, river, green spaces etc...

Leakingtoilet · 17/12/2022 16:36

In that case I would definitely go for Suffolk rather than Colchester. As already said, Bury is nice. Some areas of Ipswich are ok. East is better, plus Kesgrave and Martlesham. The town centre is really not great though. Ipswich hospital is better than Colchester hospital, although they are part of the same trust. Felixstowe is nice if you want to be on the coast

Travellingraspberry · 17/12/2022 16:48

Bury St Edmunds is lovely. Someone mentioned Ixworth which nice and worth looking at Stanton and Elmswell

bloodywhitecat · 17/12/2022 16:53

I would say £1400 a month is a fairly healthy budget for Suffolk. I rent in Suffolk, close to the border with Norfolk, I am 40 minutes from Bury, 40 minutes from Ipswich and around the same distance for Norwich and I pay half that for a 3 bed semi with huge outside space.

RainbowToes · 17/12/2022 16:54

Colchester can get really busy, there's been so many new houses built and the roads can't accommodate all the extra traffic. A mate bought a house in Felixstowe last summer, it's lovely there are the prices are reasonable.
I lived happily in East Ipswich for a while, the schools on thar side of town are good. I also lived in the countryside just to the West of Ipswich which was wonderful, beautiful and peaceful. A friend bought a house in Diss a few years ago, it's got great connections to London and Norwich, house was good value there, Diss is just over the Norfolk border.
Suffolk is a great place to live.