Where would you move to in Norfolk with this budget?

[CheeseMeltCracker]

We are looking to move to Norfolk area, currently no children but planning to TTC in the next 2 years. Top budget 380k. Any suggestions please?

Are you sure you want to live in Norfolk? It's an absolute arse to get to, it's the most dull countryside in the UK and the people are really strange or unfriendly or both, ime.

Tbh no, can’t say I’m 100% sure. Currently in a lovely small market town but can’t get what we want house-wise for the money we have. We can both work anywhere and Norfolk looks like a good balance in terms of house prices, countryside and not moving a million miles away. Currently SE.

I’m grateful for your comment though, not the first I’ve seen of that nature about that part of the country!

I live in a small market town and Norfolk seems like the back of beyond to me. I absolutely love it there and spend a lot of time there and would love a holiday home there but not sure I could move there permanently. Have you spent any serious time there?

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor Not really. I know it sounds a bit nuts, but I think once we narrow it down to a couple of areas, we’ll be looking at doing this and lots more research.

Think very carefully about where you move to if you're planning on staying into any future children's school years.
For example; Norwich is lovely with many excellent schools, Kings Lynn not so much!!

I lived near Sandringham for a decade. It was much too isolated for a life without tons of driving.

Agree near Norwich or Wymondham is lovely - I worked in Norwich for years before commuting to Wymondham for a couple of years. Good schools and good access from both of those places.

I’m from Norfolk. I left. Flat, boring and windswept.

however, there are some nice pockets - Broadland villages near Norwich Bramerton or Surlingham, 15 mins drive into Norwich and both on nice river settings.
holt near the north coast is a nice size town.
South of Norwich has some good villages.
Avoid west Norfolk and anywhere near Kings Lynn.

Well this makes me really sad. I’m from Norfolk and I’ve always lived here, so have never known any different. I think Norfolk is lovely. A lot quieter and slower than more central (and probably northern) England, but a lovely place to bring up children. It’s not ridiculously expensive. Has some beautiful villages and countryside. Norwich is a wonderful city. Some great coastlines.

Consider east cambridgeshire or Suffolk perhaps?

What are you looking for? That budget would get a 3 bed semi in a nice village around Cambridge.

I have a number of relatives in North Norfolk. They live in villages about 5 miles from their nearest town and 12 miles from the coast. They spend a lot of time in the car. We've loved going for holidays over the years but I wouldn't want to live where they live. They're 28 miles from a large town and hospital. For the rest of the family it's at least a 4 hour boring drive and almost impossible to get to by train unless someone can collect you from the stations 28 miles away (either Norwich or Kings Lynn). If I was moving there I think I'd choose somewhere near to Norwich.
I also live in a rural county but feel that things are much more accessible here than they are in Norfolk.

We’d like a detached house with 3 or 4 bedrooms.

I knew Kings Lynn wasn’t desirable, but thanks nonetheless.

Flat, windswept and boring sounds absolutely fine to me!

I live in a small market town about 10 miles from the north Norfolk coast and I absolutely love it here.

I too am flat, windswept and boring though which helps

@ChickenRat 😆

I love Norfolk and Suffolk for being flat, perfect for my Dutch bike.

It's beautiful, hence the Royal family have holiday homes there.

I had colleagues who happily lived in Downham Market when I would in King’s Lynn. It’s got a train station. Perhaps someone here could say what the schools are like?

Ely is an option if you don’t mind a semi-detached. It’s surrounded by flat but you’re still not far from Cambridge and London.

Came to uni in the 80's and settled here for a few years in the city. Then moved away to Buckinghamshire for work but couldn't wait to return especially as a lovely place to bring up DcReturned when they were 18 mths and 7 years at the time. Now been here 18 years and live in a lovely village in Breckland. We love Norfolk!!

Norfolk is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. So funny some people think its landscape is boring. I find it breathtaking. Each to their own.

I love the Norfolk landscape so much, with those skies that go on for days. Far preferable to rolling hills or mountains imo. I’d look for somewhere outside Norwich, OP.

Suffolk is perhaps a better option

The good thing about Norwich is that it's not that big, which means you can libel rurally but with access to the city in a fifteen-min drive.

It's the main centre of everything in this area, which might not say loads, but does mean it has a fair range of things to do/eat etc. and there are some outstanding schools here. You just have to plan carefully. I agree with Wymondham and surrounds - plus it has a train line to Cambridge and is on the road back to London

I know you've said Norfolk but have you considered Wiltshire or Somerset? You'd get a 3 bed detached at sub £400k in a number of towns away from the M4 corridor. Lovely countryside and a bit less isolated than Norfolk.

I live on the north Norfolk coast (in between Hunstanton and Wells). House prices are ridiculously expensive and it’s mostly second home owners, although to be fair we started off as one and then decided to move their full time.

They have just closed the ONLY full time nursery provision within 10 miles which has caused huge issues for working parents. I have older children but logistically being that remote is the main reason we didn’t move earlier.

Wymondham and Dereham inland have good schools, cheaper house prices and good travel connections. The areas around Norwich and Ely are also worth a look.

The village of Docking is nice, 4 miles from the coast. Good primary school and village shop but no bus routes. Prices are also rapidly increasing so not far how your budget will go.

I personally love Sheringham. Seaside town with lots of amenities, train to Norwich etc. Parking can be a problem in the summer season though so chose location wisely!!!

As for comments on unfriendly people - my village is full of wealthy second home owners who can be rather snooty and you literally only see them in the summer. Norfolk people are lovely. They work at a slower pace of life and community is everything. They like to talk and build relationships, particularly in the villages. If you are there to integrate into their little bubble and pay an active part in local life then you will be accepted.

We love it here.

I would recommend Norwich, great value for money property, low crime, good weather. Friendly people.

It is not being flat that you will notice about Norfolk, much more it is horizontal.