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?

[quote Toomuchspinning]**@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![/quote]
@toomuchspinning Really lovely but soooo hot! The roses growing in the field behind our house are ready to cut 🌹🌹🌹

Just to chip in here:
I lived in the Cambridgeshire Fens for 22 years. Where I was (two different villages), the public transport was dire. It was a 20 minute drive to get to my doctor or the nearest supermarket. But, the huge upside was the massive skies and open views. Truly impressive. I could post some fabulous pictures of views, sunsets and hot-air balloons flying over my house.
There were downsides too - winters could be brutal, as was the wind in my part (not so much where there are more trees) - I actually got lifted off my feet once, nothing to stop the wind for miles. What people call fog is only mist in the fens.... true fog is when you almost need to cut through it with a machete!

I now live in Norfolk so can contribute there too. I think public transport here is great in comparison. I live on the outskirts of a town south of Norwich (just under a thirty-five minute drive). The busses here link well to other towns mostly; the nearest train station (mainline) is a twenty minute drive.
I have supermarkets, doctors etc all within a five minute drive.
It's horses for courses. You're never going to get the same as if you live in a big city (except if you live in Norwich itself, but there is a cost to that), but it's a beautiful county, just less well-served if you need to travel any distance regularly by motorway.

@itsasin77

Diss all the way! Most of the primaries in the villages surrounding it are fantastic and diss high consistently gets good results. The town is beautiful and such an amazing amount of independent shops, loads of cafes and pubs and the mere with the play park. Such a lovely community. Busses daily to Norwich and Bury and of course you’ve got the train station with direct trains to London and Norwich. Suffolk coast not too far to visit either: Really can’t go wrong. We love it here and a lot of people are moving up here from the South for the reasons I mention above.

I’m so pleased I’ve found this thread. We’re moving from down south to Diss, it’s taking ages to get through conveyancing but hoping it happens very soon. We only saw Diss at the end of January, house viewing during lockdown and the towns were obviously very quiet but we liked what we saw and research since, especially this thread has reassured us that we’re making the right choice.

I have experience of the fens/west Norfolk. As with anywhere, there are positives and negatives.
Negatives - poor transport links, low educational attainment, lack of job opportunities, closed minded communities, patchy broadband. Positives - lower crime rates, close to countryside and the coast

I was going to suggest Kings Lynn. It's an interesting place and the train to Kings X takes under two hours. Maybe nit so good for road travel though

I agree with you about closed minded communities, ReadySalt. Very much so. Almost inbred, lots of Brexit-ers (not that there's a law against that).

Norfolk is marvellous - magical even - for a holiday but not to live if you are not used to that sort of place.

Hi there I know this post was sometime ago now but my family and I are considering a move to Suffolk/Norfolk within a 2.5 hour drive to Milton Keynes my husband will have to make once a week. We are currently in a village just outside of Leighton Buzzard. Could you give any advice about good places to live with things going on and good schools for our three children aged 5, 9 and 11. Would like to be near the coast (within 30 minutes) and in a village/small town location. TIA, Michelle