Does anyone live either in the Suffolk or Colchester area?

[Toomuchwine89]

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.

Also recommend Sudbury or Bury St Edmunds.

Thanks everyone.

Yeh I've got kids, quite a few actually so it's proving almost impossible to be considered for a home. Feeling really despondent. (We're currently in refuge)

I second @teacosyapplepie
I've lived in stowmarket for almost 30 years
It is struggling like most small rural towns

Lawshall just south of Bury has a fab village primary school and isn't as expensive as Bury itself.

We are fairly close to Colchester and it is getting very busy and built up and traffic can be a problem. Schools are generally good with a couple of exceptions (avoid Col Academy and greenstead area) and town centre is poor now. Ipswich probably has a better town centre but has very little else going on. The villages in the area between Colchester, Ipswich and bury are all pretty good - Sudbury and hadleigh both nice if you want somewhere with more facilities.

Something like this in Sudbury that could be 5 beds - unlikely to get anything this size in Colchester
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/128523890

You won't get 4 bedrooms in Bury itself for £1400, but outlying towns are an option.

Avoid Mildenhall, rental prices there are hiked massively because of the presence of RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E11612&propertyTypes=&mustHave=&dontShow=&furnishTypes=&keywords=
4/5 bed in Hadleigh for 1200! Nice road near the river, short walk from High Street...

That's ones only 12 months 🙁

I grew up in Colchester and there are lots of nice areas there including Lexden, Prettygate, Maldon Road area. My mum still lives there and we love to visit but I agree, there has been so much development and building and a lot of traffic.

The Suffolk/Essex borders have a lot of lovely villages if you can drive so think about Bures, Maldon, West Bergholt, Wivenhoe, Assington (not too far from Sudbury) Boxsted, Stoke by Nayland, Fordham. Have a look at that area, it's lovely and some of the villages are cheaper. However, I personally do rate Colchester. I think there are good shops there and things to do.