AIBU to ask where in Suffolk you live and why you love it?

[Putmynewshoeson]

Had a thread yesterday about moving to a coastal part of the UK around the south ish and Suffolk kept cropping up. If you live there, can you tell me what you love about it?

Our criteria is 4 bedroom house, around 400-420k, by a coast preferably or water of some kind, quiet but with some amenities so a pub, shop, couple of restaurants at least, and an outdoorsy place for DS where he can play football, sports, water activities etc as he grows up.

DH thinks he might have to go into London occasionally for work but for the most part we work remotely. A few people mentioned Suffolk could get you to London in an hour but it looks like the trains take a fair bit longer.

Thank you!

Its an hour from Colchester so definitely longer. Its a very pretty county. Aldeburgh and Southwold are beautiful coastal towns but very pricey The Stour valley is gorgeous and there's lots more to find. Ipswich is nice with a couple of good theatres and there are very good schools about

Plan a weekend there and have a look.

There's a lot of Suffolk to choose from! I grew up at the north coastal end of the county. It's lovely, lots of beaches, the Broads, not too far from Norwich for shopping and activities. Most of the popular bits (Southwold, etc) are expensive but only about 30 minutes drive away.

This is in the next village: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-85330856.html

I have relatives in Suffolk, not coastal but they do live on a river estuary (Alde) It's absolutely stunning, when the tide goes out they have a 'beach', safe for SUPing etc.
Pricey though.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-95435783.html

Wrentham is lovely - on the A12, close to Southwold. If I could move back to the area, this is where I'd go:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-80841376.html

Just over the border into north Essex is also lovely. Dedham, Mistley, Manningtree (has some fast trains into London - 50 minutes), Great Bentley, Little Bentley, Thorpe le Soken (loads more lovely villages scattered around). They’d all involve a short drive to the coast (Frinton, Walton on the Naze etc), but you’d definitely find something nice in your budget. It’s what I did (moved from London) and really enjoy the peace & quiet living on the outskirts of a village, but being able to get to the coast in 10 minutes.

I live in South Suffolk: within 25 minutes of Bury St Edmunds. I love the space, the fields, the fact that I can see seasons changing around me. I like visiting the market towns and buying directly from farm shops and independent shops of market stalls (really not much more than the big chains, I know where the money is going).

Ipswich will get you into London in an hour by train, Colchester will do the same/ at the right time of day. You can use the branch lines to get in from other towns .

Melton, Waldringfield, Woodbridge would fit your brief. It’s not awash with houses in your price bracket, but that’s because they are popular places to live!

You won't get coastal Suffolk within an hour of London. It's more like two hours or so by train, as you kind of have to go via Bury St Edmunds to get there. There's no more direct route.

But if you're willing to go inland, Bury St Edmunds and surrounding villages, or Newmarket and surrounding areas should be fine - there are direct trains from Cambridge or Stowmarket to Kings Cross.

I live about a 10 min drive from Southwold. Prices are ridiculous there and it's bedlam in the summer. I love it here, nothings far away but there's so much space and the Suffolk skyline is amazing. I am 10 mins from the beach or heathland or forest or shopping but live out in the sticks overlooking fields.

Woodbridge is nice for a larger town and on the river deben, smaller villages like wickham market, Darsham etc have train stations to Ipswich where you change to London.

I second Manningtree - fast train into London, good little town with shops / pub and its right on the estuary

I live about 20 mins from aldebugh and close to Woodbridge.

I wood say Woodbridge would suit you. There are also smaller villages around here for you to choose from. I love living here. Like seriously love living here. I live in one of the smaller villages. And I’m never moving.
In Woodbridge you have farlingaye High school which is a outstanding rated school. Small town. Lots of lovely pubs. You also have the river which has lots of things going on there as well.
Your also close to places like Snape ( gorgeous place ) lovely shops, food and walking.
Also about half an hour from Southwold. Aldeburgh is just wonderful. Lots of things around here to do as well. Bury at Edmunds is also just down the road.

I grew up in Ipswich and have friends and a sister who live in Melton, Woodbridge and Waldringfield as mentioned by previous posters. Easy enough to get to Ipswich for trains to London and amenities but have the benefit of beautiful countryside and the river estuaries on your doorstep. Suffolk is beautiful although some areas can be pricey!

I grew up near Ipswich and on the few occasions I head back, I’m always pleased that I no longer live there!

That said, much of Suffolk is very pretty, and you get a real mix of both rural countryside and coastline. Can still get to London for work but it’s a schlep that wouldn’t be fun on a daily basis. It’s still lots cheaper than London so your money can go a long way.

@WhatWouldPennyDo I also grew up near Ipswich and feel the same-sex it's a shame because Ipswich has so much history and beautiful buildings but it's just been left to become a bit run down. The council are missing a trick not marketing the history aspect a la York or Winchester for example.

The rest of Suffolk is beautiful - as pp have said Woodbridge is lovely. Alderburgh is nice but pricey. Some bits of felixstowe are quite nice and you can get to Ipswich easily where it's an hour and ten to London by train.

Meant to type feel the same- not same-sex bloody autocorrect

@WhatWouldPennyDo same here. Nothing there anymore and I am glad I don’t live there. But I love being here. Forgot about Melton. That’s lovely as well albeit small

Hi Op, I remember your post yesterday and suggested a look into the Suffolk coast.
We actually live in South Norfolk and my DH is a frequent commuter to London. It takes him 1hr 20 on fast train from Diss (south Norfolk, so the train links from Suffolk would be Stowmarket, Ipswich and then into Colchester. Which vary from 1hr to 45mins.
All doable if he doesn’t mind these times.
We actually visited Southwold (harbour end) at the weekend and it’s simply stunning And lovely and quiet in the early evenings.,
Other beautiful coastal spots are Walberswick, Snape, Thorpeness, Aldburgh. They can be pricey, but a bit further in land will be far more cost effective.
I have an Aunty who has lived at Frinton in Essex and that too is beautiful with a lovely community. They’ve been there years, very quaint.
Norfolk beaches are beautiful too, but from a commuter point of view, probably wouldn’t fit your bill. Norwich is a minimum 1.40-1hr 45 by train at best. Although the city is fabulous.
I would avoid Ipswich, but constable county around Colchester in Essex, stunning also.
Good luck in your search, we live in a gorgeous part of the country, vast field views and the driest, sunniest part of the country too :-)).