Brighton to Norwich

[Bigskydreamer]

We are hoping to relocate from Brighton to Norwich (well, rurally but within 15 mins of Norwich). We are a same sex family and adore Norwich and the big Norfolk skies. We know it will be different to Brighton but wondered if anyone has done a similar move? We are moving because we would like more space, to live more rurally, have access to fab beaches and love Norwich city as a base to shop / for leisure. AIBU to ask for some reassurance that this will all be ok and we aren't making a huge mistake?! I should add I have (diagnosed) anxiety so things do tend to spiral into endless worries with me! Thanks.

Wow! That Wymondham one is lovely and it's a lovely village. Probably about 20mins to Norwich in traffic, but if you wfh then you wouldn't need to do it in rush hour. If you do it can I be your friend and come appreciate your garden?!

You'd be very welcome. Be sure to bring all your gay friends

My brother and his partner? is there any particular reason you've thought about Wymondham?

Check about Wymondham school places. When we enquired about school places there for a possible move a couple of years ago the council told us forget it.

It'll be very different. Norwich is sleepy compared to Brighton. But I know of lots of same sex families in Norwich so don't let that worry you!

My friend has just moved to Wymondham and her daughter got into school. Y6 I think

We have just considered places that are within 10 - 20 mins from Norwich that offer the lifestyle we want I.e. countryside, peace, nice primary schools and easy access to things to do with kids. We don't want to be right in the middle of a village, as we are self sufficient and not very sociable!

Oh and as you seem to have a big budget, you'll get an amazing property

Thanks everyone! In terms of schools, a nurturing and inclusive environment is top of the list above Ofsted etc. We will go private for secondary.

Norwich is amazing, we are seriously considering a move from the South Coast (not far from Brighton). Go for it, property prices are really attractive. DH & I and our teens love Norwich.

I was born in Norwich and have lived here all my life. I think you’ll be fine here.
I lived further out as a child/teen although not rurally. We had awful public transport so my parents spent a lot of time taxing. As a result I moved ‘further in’ as an adult but I’m not central to Norwich. Dd is a way off going alone but she can hop on buses extremely easily where we are now.
Good luck with your move.

Thank you! We really do love Norwich. For anyone in the know, do those properties strike you as being 'close enough' to Norwich in terms of what those are saying about being a taxi service (which I wouldn't mind anyway). Are they nice areas? From what I can remember from my visits they are and wouldn't be deep dark rural Norfolk as some posters have warned us about!!

Do it OP, you won’t regret it.

Norfolk is an amazing place to bring up children in and for your budget, you could get an amazing property that can be a lovely little haven for you.

Honestly Norwich is very liberal with a big LGBT community, you’d absolutely be accepted. It’s a gorgeous city.

Sorry but I don’t fully agree with the while the more rural and Tory you go, the less likely you’ll be accepted.’ I’ve lived in different areas of rural Norfolk my whole life there have been people from all walks of life in every village and they’ve been accepted. Generally, the more Tory and affluent the village, the more educated people are and therefore more liberal/ accepting.

I live in a in affluent, rural village 20 mins from norwich with a population of only 600 people and there are 2 gay families and a black family. I mean you’d have to speak to them all personally to get their exact feelings obviously but I do frequently see/ chat to them all when walking the dogs and they’re always getting involved with village life and seem to know and be friendly with everyone.

And if you want to buy a big property that’s more isolated and not in a village then you’ll never really see anyone anyway. Do a good load of research on schools local to wear you want to live (Your children wouldn’t have any worries in any of the Wymondham schools for instance IMO) and go from there. Honestly though, it’s very easy for me to say this but I really would go for it. I know I’m biased but it’s such a safe, beautiful place to live and there’s so much for children to do as the city, broads and beaches are all accessible fairly easily from most places.

Good luck and I’m green with envy if you get either of those places

I am from Norwich and lived there for 20 years. Moved away for work and in process of moving back. I'm black, single mum, with gay brother who lives in Norwich and we love it!

OP, both those locations are about a 20-25 min drive into the centre of Norwich, which may sound a lot but in Norfolk terms is nothing (this is a very big county and everything is spread out so it’s likely at least a 15-20 min drive for most things)

You could also look at Bawburgh, about a 15 min drive, house prices are high (though not a worry for you as all within budget) and things don’t tend to come up often.

You could also look at places like Horsford, Weston Longville, Honingham. All these also about a 20 min drive. There are loads of places really but I guess if you wanted to be closer to the city than that limits the search area somewhat.

10 mins out of the city isn’t remote, and honestly Norfolk isn’t as bad as people are making out!

I’m Norfolk born and bred, apart from a few years living in Bristol. I adore Norwich so much. It’s got some of the best indy restaurants in the country, and the city itself is really geared up towards small businesses and shopping locally. Also the best covered market in the UK (they got an award and everything!)

Also have a look at Old Catton, and Eaton. Both have a really lovely village feel but are super close to the city with excellent transport links so you don’t always need to drive/park.

Where* not wear

You won’t have the facilities in Norwich that you do in Brighton

I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised about that. Norwich has way more facilities than it should for its size because it takes so bloody long to get anywhere else.

I’m worried you are drastically underestimating how long it takes to get into Norwich city centre though from the outskirts so that is definitely something you’d want to check out before committing.

@Teddyisahe yes to eaton!

I moved from Brighton to Norwich 25 years ago and honestly I hated it. I stayed for a couple of years.

I've never been back.

On the surface it seems like Brighton. It really isn't.

I think the thing that does it it is that it is not really on the way to anything. So you only ever go there if you are actually GOING there. This gives it a very provincial feel.

Having said that, it was 25 years ago. Maybe things have changed. Brighton certainly has.

I don't know shotesham but the Wymondham place is in the middle of nowhere from what I can work out, although cycling distance to the town I think. I think you'd find Eaton and old Catton too suburban. I don't know about schools but you could look at Wroxham and Salhouse. A bit further out but the new bypass has improved transport links. Norwich is quite sprawling and the traffic can be terrible. I'd stay south if you want to be near the A11 to escape and North if you want to be closer to the coast.

Somebody I used to work with relocated from Brighton to rural Norwich for the exact same reasons as yourself. We're still FB friends and they do not regret the move whatsover - pace of life is far better, a beautiful home etc, etc. I live just outside of Brighton (work there) and I would never live there - I find it over-rated and pretentious and stupidly priced.

bloody hell, you've got a huge budget. I guess that goes with private schooling, too. How can you keep such a high income and live anywhere?

Maybe you can hire chaffeurs to deal with the taxi service years? :)

Some of the posh kids, their families have party flats in the city; so family has a main family home wherever but 1-2 bed flat for dossing/clubbing teens in city & other entertainment.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-92281019.html this? I'm living vicariously with your budget on rightmove. I'm looking to buy too but at a slightly more modest level...

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-69148473.html wow! Okay, I'm going to stop looking now...dd just said can we buy it!