Moving to Suffolk

[Suffolkstarshine]

Hello all,Solo parent looking for opinions/lived experiences!I am planning a relocation to Suffolk, after several years of extensive research and trips.We both absolutely feel at home there, and have made some connections.Currently live in a busy part of the south, inaccessible to us in many ways, and could not afford to buy here.DC and I have whittled it down to either Beccles or Bungay. But now we are stuck! Beccles, I see there is certainly more houses that come up in budget, and bigger properties, however the new housing developments worry me, as it could become to busy for us.Bungay, we loved too, seems quieter, but smaller properties when they do come up. However, I would take location over property size. They are both lovely places!What do you think? Beccles or Bungay? Thanks in advance for your wisdom! 😊💓

I grew up in Bungay and then lived in Beccles. Bungay is lovely, smaller but a bit nicer in my opinion. Beccles is a nice town with more amenities but also a bit more urban degeneration, empty shops etc. Also recent reports of gangs of teenagers causing trouble. Big housing estates.

Both have good transport links, Bungay is on the bus route to Norwich and Beccles has a train station. Both only about half an hour from Norwich.

Beccles is bigger and has more supermarkets and businesses offering more chance of employment. Both are rural towns so a lot of agriculture and countryside pursuits.

Bungay has the castle, a thriving theatre, a lovely town centre, good schools and doctors surgery. Beccles schools are ok. Beccles has a fantastic open air lido which is open all year round. It also has a lovely public hall which hosts a lot of shows. The river is wider at Beccles and has a busy quay which is nice in the summer.

Property isn’t hugely expensive, probably slightly cheaper in Beccles.

That’s just off the top of my head. If there’s anything in particular you need let me know.

I looked at moving to those towns but when I visited them they seemed run down. Have you looked at Halesworth? Much nicer, no empty shops, seems very friendly and safe and more upmarket.

Beccles and Halesworth have train stations.. Bungay doesn't.

Thank you, this is very helpful. Yes, I have seen the groups you mentioned. Does Bungay have similar do you know?

I have not seen this in Bungay myself. Thanks again 😊

Thanks! Have been meaning to get to Halesworth, and plan to. 😊 Did you move to Halesworth in the end?

Bungay makes very good cheese

Thanks! Yes, noticed that, think the buses and car should be okay, all being well! 😊

Keep meaning to try that! 😋

Bungay purely because it has an amazing fabric shop Sew and Sos - heaven for patchworkers! (Sorry probably no help!)

Very helpful! It's a lovely place ☺️

Halesworth is also lovely, especially if you’re retired. Lots of coffee shops, charity shops and hairdressers. It also has a train station. Actually the town centre isn’t that bad, there are a few nice shops. There’s a fabulous arts centre called the New Cut that hosts a lot of films, shows and exhibitions. There’s three primary schools but no high school, you’d have to bus to another town. There’s no real sporting facilities but I believe there’s a rugby club and football club. The doctors surgery is quite busy. The hospital closed years ago; Halesworth is actually the town in England furthest from a hospital.

There’s only one rather expensive co-op supermarket but Beccles has a Morrisons, Lidl and Tesco and Saxmundham down the road has a Tesco and a Waitrose. There’s a good grocers and butchers and a good hardware store.

The surrounding villages are nice. Holton and Bramfield have their own primary schools. Very good selection of pubs and eateries.

It’s generally quite a nice area. Haven’t heard of any real trouble and it’s pretty quiet.

Three Primary Schools?

Beccles has a very popular LIDO. I don't know a huge amount more about it. Though near by Geldeston has a nice place to borrow a boat and go out onto the river to the local community pub.

no still not moved. Haven't even put my house on the market but will soon.

Thank you! What would you say regarding safety between Beccles and Bungay? Thanks!

Good luck! It's not easy making the right choice.

Thank you 😊

Yes. One in Halesworth and then Bramfield and Holton, two neighbouring villages that come under the Halesworth district.

Both pretty quiet to be honest. There were some instances of kids from the sinkhole estates in Lowestoft riding the train down to Beccles and causing trouble. Bungay isn’t on the train line so they probably wouldn’t have got as far as that. Otherwise they’re your average sleepy market towns.

Thanks so much, good to know! Apologies, another question ☺️ Do you know much about the area's around Throckmorton road bungay and Broad street bungay? Considering properties located there, have had a brief look and will look when we go again! Hoping for a quiet ish area x

Beccles was very much on the up pre Covid, loads of independent shops and bustling. I think it went down a bit then (lots of places did) but will return to that because it's a nice size, has good bones and the train connection is a plus (although it would be better if it went straight to Norwich again) The Barsham Vale development isn't huge.

As an incomer, although of multiple decades, I'm impartial enough to say that Bungay and Halesworth are also fine places (but Beccles has the edge 😂)

ETA the Lido is lovely! We even had a Jurassic World dinosaur lounging in it!

www.becclesandbungayjournal.co.uk/news/business/20708697.beccles-hollywood-town-became-part-jurassic-park-universe/

Wow always amazes me when I see my little old beccles mentioned on here, a national forum!

Hello from Beccles 👋 I have lived here since I was 3 years old (now mid 30s) and have always felt a fond connection with it....couldn't imagine living anywhere else!

Bungay's main positive is the sports centre and probably more small independent shops now and cafes....sadly Beccles has lost quite afew of its independent shops over the year and does have some empty ones at the moment.But still has some though. Beccles has the public hall, Quay and common with a small cafe, LIDO swimming pool in the summer, plentiful primary schools and two high schools....have heard some say Bungay high is better but seems matter of opinion.
Downside of Bungay is having to travel for a bigger supermarket (although there is a petrol station and reasonable size coop although obviously pricier than Tesco/morrisons/LIDL) but only about a 10min drive between the two places.
Lots of community events in beccles- Duck race, Carnival, circus, Soap box race, various clubs etc (although easily accessible if you lived in Bungay too)
LOTS of hairdressers and charity shops 😄
I have never felt unsafe here.
Beccles has the barsham Vale development which I've heard is extending back to barsham itself.....it is proposed that it will have a large development on the outskirts called the 'garden neighbourhood' with various facilities and lots of houses, but this is still in planning stages.

Throckmorton road in Bungay I think is quite a rough area....Broad street is one of the main streets through the town I beleive, very central.

Ah... Thought you meant three in Halesworth. I went to the PNEU school. In Halesworth years ago.

Ahh this is fantastic, looks like fun!
Yes, I agree, Beccles does have good bones!
Do you think the Barsham Vale will impact the town very much? Thanks again.

Wow! So much going on, thank you for that!
I must say, I have never been bored when visiting Beccles! My DS loves it there and prefers it to anywhere else! The only things that gave me reservations were the little bits of trouble from teenagers, and the new builds, but I'm thinking this is not just exclusive to Beccles!