To move to Norfolk although I’ve never been

[mioz]

Been thinking about moving for ages and ages, was made redundant last year so deciding to just go for it. I’m gravitating towards Norfolk but need some help narrowing down potential areas. Needs to be suitable for a young family (2 boys under 3), with parks/cafes/shops and maybe a high st within walking distance. Good travel links also if possible. Anyone have good knowledge of Norfolk and can help me?

I would definitely choose Ely over Norfolk but the price difference reflects this! Ely is very expensive.
I love in kings Lynn in Norfolk. I would not recommend it personally. North Norfolk is very nice but again, the price is quite high, especially near the coast or near Norwich

I think it's unfair to say all schools bad. Norfolk is a big county and have lots of good schools and bad schools as everywhere else does.
Transport links are okay if you in and around Norwich
I've lived in North Norfolk all my life. I love it.
Avoid Great Yarmouth area.

I live near Aylsham and I love it.

Omg, Wisbech. No. Most places are lovely or have redeeming features but I do stretch to find any in Wisbech. You can pick up a Georgian property for bugger all?

North Walsham isn't too bad and has cheaper properties as does Stalham
North Walsham has a train station.
Closer to Norwich Rackheath, Wroxham, Salhouse, Taverham,
In Norwich...Sprowston, old catton, Colney and Heathersett are just off the A11

Avoid Heartaease, Mile Cross

Wymondham Fantastic market town, beautiful Abbey and countryside walks. 10 miles to Norwich and on train line from Norwich to London. 30 mins to beautiful beaches . Airport to Canaries etc in Norwich. Excellent choice op, Norfolk is a beautiful friendly place to raise a family. Dualling of A11 past Thetford has cut journey times to M11. Norwich is a great city with a castle too. Thetford forest is great for kids, centre parks for nearby holidays. Wymondham has outstanding schools. Barnham zoo 20 mins away for fantastic days out .

@DestinyIsAll

I’ve lived in (east) Suffolk all my life.

Those saying the transport non existent and schools awful, it obviously depends where you are, it’s not as remote and cut off in Norfolk and Suffolk as some here are saying.

As far as Norfolk goes, I would happily live on the outskirts of Norwich. There’s plenty for dc (teens) to do imo, though it is easier once they’re old enough to drive.

I lived very near the east coast Suffolk/Norfolk border for a long time, near the heritage coast (AONB). Much prettier than Norfolk or Cambridgeshire (IMO 😀), but definitely sleepier, state school choices not so good in that area. Good community spirit though and there are e.g., market towns with nice selections of shops and better sports facilities.

I now live further south in the county, still east, a bit north of Ipswich, which is a much better location in terms of getting to places and things to do . We are very rural but can be in Ipswich in 20 minutes with all the facilities and leisure there. There is a bus service, not great but there is some provision, though I would say driving is an essential.

Dd goes to one of the two outstanding secondary schools nearby. It takes an hour and 10 mins into Liverpool St from Ipswich or by road, 20 mins to get on to the A12, e.g., to London or just over an hour to Norwich which is fine now and again for shopping.

Ipswich is nicer than people think and handy to have fairly nearby, I absolutely wouldn’t live there but really like where we are. It’s beautiful, I’m within easy reach of the coast, nice towns within 15-35 mins for shopping, beautiful walks, low crime, good house prices. We live in a ‘nice’ area 😊 and got a lot for our money property wise.

It’s not vibrant, it’s a different way of life and doesn’t appeal to all, (though it appeals a lot to London second home owners.)

One dc is still at school, the others are young adults at Uni or working they have absolutely loved growing up here and haven’t been keen to leave.

Would love to know where exactly you are?!

@Blabla81 @ExchangedCat @GrapesAreMyJam

Hello!!!! I’m super close to you lot too. In one of the villages which are all Something St Something ;)

Ely is expensive for what you get. Nice for a day trip out but full of rude people, expensive shops and I haven’t seen any community spirit.

I would think about what you want. With kids you can choose an area based on schools. Lots of lovely places to choose from

[quote Toomuchspinning]**@Blabla81* @ExchangedCat* @GrapesAreMyJam

Hello!!!! I’m super close to you lot too. In one of the villages which are all Something St Something ;)[/quote]
OH HI ME TOO!

Finally RTFT and find myself nodding along to a lot of things.

Wisbech is dire. You can get a 6 bedroom house for about 50p but everyone has been on Jeremy kyle and you feel dirty walking around the place.

The little villages dotted around are lovely. Someone mentioned Upwell previously in the thread which is nice but very quiet/lacking transport links.

Have a look at the train from Kings Cross to Kings Lynn and the stops along the way. Everything past Ely is nice - Littleport, Downham Market, Watlington and of course Kings Lynn. Houses get cheaper the further down the line you get. Watlington is a very sought after area now and houses don’t hang around for long.

If you aren’t bothered about being on the train line then back to these little villages dotted around. All of the Something St Something are nice. Marshland St James you’ll find gorgeous one off new builds where the land is being sold off, but you might not get a bus to anywhere. Others to look at are Tilney St Lawrence, Terrington St James.

DS is at Uni in Norwich and is loving it. Lots to do within a manageable distance. He does say that there is very little outside the city though.

@Daisychaincarrot

Finally RTFT and find myself nodding along to a lot of things.

Wisbech is dire. You can get a 6 bedroom house for about 50p but everyone has been on Jeremy kyle and you feel dirty walking around the place.

The little villages dotted around are lovely. Someone mentioned Upwell previously in the thread which is nice but very quiet/lacking transport links.

Have a look at the train from Kings Cross to Kings Lynn and the stops along the way. Everything past Ely is nice - Littleport, Downham Market, Watlington and of course Kings Lynn. Houses get cheaper the further down the line you get. Watlington is a very sought after area now and houses don’t hang around for long.

If you aren’t bothered about being on the train line then back to these little villages dotted around. All of the Something St Something are nice. Marshland St James you’ll find gorgeous one off new builds where the land is being sold off, but you might not get a bus to anywhere. Others to look at are Tilney St Lawrence, Terrington St James.

Poor Wisbech. It certainly does have a unique reputation. It isn’t all bad though - I lived there for 10 years in one of the nicer areas near the Leverington end and I did actually love it there. Peckover House and the Elgoods gardens were always lovely to visit and the Tesco is good 😂. We moved out because of schools though … village primaries around the area are much better. We now have the dilemma of choosing a secondary school for our eldest. Not much great choice unfortunately.

Norwich is absolutely lovely.

Norfolk is beautiful.. we take canal boat holidays there frequently.. absolute stunning and heavenly architecture too..

good luck OP.. beautiful part of the world 🌸

@Daisychaincarrot @Blabla81 @Toomuchspinning @ExchangedCat

I've never been so excited about living in the fens before 😂

@GrapesAreMyJam

Me neither!! Hi all of you funny fenlanders. It’s a stunning day today; our hay is nearly ready to cut!

It’s not vibrant, it’s a different way of life and doesn’t appeal to all, (though it appeals a lot to London second home owners.)

By 'London' do you mean all the people from across the country, including Norfolk, who've been coming to London for years. And who very often keep or buy a secret home bolt hole in London?

I grew up in Suffolk and would really advise going to Norfolk before settling on it.
Norwich is lovely but the rest of Norfolk has had transport links and is relatively isolated. I imagine teenage years outside Norwich would also be difficult with them reliant on you to ferry them about. It would be a definite no from me but it is a beautiful county though.

We went to Norfolk on holiday in May and nothing is around. It was lovely don't get me wrong but we live in Manchester and are used to having access to shops, transport etc which we didn't get without driving miles in Norfolk.

PMSL at PP saying Norwich has 'an art gallery' Yep, just the one. That's as much culture as we're allowed up here. No wonder her arty mother doesn't like Norfolk if she's never bothered to look beyond the Sainsbury Centre

Actual proper Norwich resident here. Some schools are great, some not so much. Transport in Norwich is pretty good - and tbh, it's a tiny city, so you can walk/bike pretty much everywhere. Once you get to the outer ring road, it's not so great. I personally wouldn't consider living outside the Golden Triangle because everything's just so bloody convenient and I am a spoilt brat (not rich though, I live on a stonking great council estate).

It really depends what lifestyle you want OP. Rural, coastal, town, or the conveniences of a small city with the countryside within easy reach? Norwich really is in the middle of nowhere, but because of that, it has all the shops, culture etc. that larger places have because there isn't anywhere else nearby. It's got an incredibly strong independent streak, so chain stores are here, but there are hundreds of smaller shops that give it more of an identity. It is a great place to bring kids up in because of the parks everywhere, and the tons of family events that go on.

I survived living in the fens for a few years AND NEVER AGAIN IN MY LIFE WILL I GO BACK THERE.

@sadeyedladyofthelowlandsea

Well, we knew it was a marmite sort of place ;) my sister can barely even bare to visit …. And certainly not in winter.

@Toomuchspinning Fens are very definitely Marmite Mind you, I say the same about Norfolk - you either get it or you don't. I will say that sunrises, sunsets & thunderstorms in the Fens are incredible, because of that wide open sky. It's also a great place to live if you want to write ghost stories

@Pleatherandlace

I lived in Ely for a few years and have recently moved. I would NOT recommend the fens. There is nothing to do there for miles around and it really is ugly. Stamford on the other hand is a fantastic place to live. Loads of stuff for families and not at all remote or cut off, beautiful villages all around.

Agreed - I find the fens oppressive and depressing. I can actually feel my mood declining and a heaviness enveloping me when I visit (have relatives there - I like the relatives, just not the fens)