LIVING IN NORFOLK

[reddevilchris2018]

dear all,

im looking at moving by the coast in norfolk, have never been there before myself but have friends who have and loved it, for me this is a relocation permantley.

i'm looking to be near the coast and has to be near some kind of shopping facilities and medical facilities etc....

any recommendations would be very welcome and info on the surrounding area's?

thanks , chris

North Walsham is an OK small town. Has a train into Norwich but it is then a schlepp from the station to the N&N for hospital.

There is a bus from N Walsham to nearest coast once an hour/ every two hours, service finishes mid afternoon. There are nice beaches within 4 / 5 miles of N Walsham, but it isn’t really in picturesque countryside, IMO. Fields, light industrial estates. Bacton gas plant.

Definitely go and visit first - Norfolk can be a long drive/train to other parts of the country- have you got family/work elsewhere in the U.K.?

Rent an AirBnB in a couple of different suggested towns, check out reports of local schools/hospitals/GPs surgeries etc before you decide, and remember - coastal living can be bleak in winter. A lot of the towns by the sea have second homes, so be aware of living in a half deserted village in winter.

The countryside in Norfolk is also pretty flat; fine if that doesn’t bother you, but something to be aware of.

Norfolk is great for a holiday but I couldn't live there. OP, it depends on your lifestyle at the moment - if you're dependent on public transport and need hospitals, cinemas, shoe shops, take-aways, etc, then I'd think very carefully. There are some very pretty villages but apart from a corner shop are very short of facilities and amenities - we like Norwich but of course it's not on the coast. We've had some very relaxing beach holidays in Norfolk and love the feeling of isolation and relaxation but not to live there.

Just seen your update - if you don’t drive I’d have thought the only appropriate places would be Norwich or King’s Lynn. It is a very rural county and bus services outside the bigger towns will be poor.

Sorry OP but you sound rather naiive about this. You must go and look round in advance of any move.

That budget would get you v, v little in the parts of Norfolk it sounds like you would be wanting. Our village is throwing up new builds and/or barn conversions all over the place, not one priced less than 600k. The mid terrace just down the road (nothing special) just went for 515k. Marketing is v much aimed at proximity to North Norfolk coast.

And as other posters have said, not driving is a big problem unless you go for towns eg Hunstanton, King's Lynn or else Norwich.

I would really recommend thinking hard and thinking twice.

@Billandben444

Norfolk is great for a holiday but I couldn't live there. OP, it depends on your lifestyle at the moment - if you're dependent on public transport and need hospitals, cinemas, shoe shops, take-aways, etc, then I'd think very carefully. There are some very pretty villages but apart from a corner shop are very short of facilities and amenities - we like Norwich but of course it's not on the coast. We've had some very relaxing beach holidays in Norfolk and love the feeling of isolation and relaxation but not to live there.

I feel the same, BillandBen. Had some marvellous holidays in Norfolk, love it, but couldn't live there all the time.

"transport links are important" : why? Where do you need to go other than hospital?

Anyway, try Gorleston.

I love Norfolk, but I was born here and apart from a few years in Bristol have always lived here.

It’s true that outsiders (especially Londoners) are viewed poorly. My dad is from South London, has lived in Norfolk for over 35 years and still gets called an outsider 😂

I’d avoid the coast tbh. It’s very expensive and a pain in the arse to get anywhere. If you don’t drive you’ll feel very cut off from anywhere. Public transport is a nightmare in rural areas. I’m talking one bus a week and no return.

I’m in Norwich centre now and adore it after living in North Norfolk for a long time. But it’s definitely not for everyone, and you do have to have a certain mindset to love living in Norfolk I find. Either grow up here or have spent plenty of time here before moving.

Norfolk has positives and negatives.

Kings Lynn is dire, as are parts of Norwich, Downham Market.

Hospitals are pretty shocking as are secondary schools. The roads (most single roads) are dire as is traffic. Holiday home yes, live there again / not bloody likely. It’s hell for you to visit and train connections etc

Had to wait 3 years for orthopaedic surgery at N&N. Even then, patients were shipped down to Spire, Cambridge for the actual operation. DH, on the other hand, had amazing service when he had a suspected heart attack - N&N were efficiency personified.

"transport links are important" : why? Where do you need to go other than hospital?
I don't understand this comment. Is the OP expected to stay at home for the rest of her life? She might need a cinema or a library or a dentist. She might want to join a bridge club in the neighbouring village or take an evening class at the nearest college. If you don't drive then local transport links are quite important.

I'd skip Norfolk entirely. Suffolk coast is so much nicer.

@FedNlanders

I'd skip Norfolk entirely. Suffolk coast is so much nicer.

That's a bit of a sweeping statement!

Yes, a bit lol but the coast from Aldeburgh-bawdsey is beautiful and lovely places to live

Yabu for putting this in Aibu

@FedNlanders

Yes, a bit lol but the coast from Aldeburgh-bawdsey is beautiful and lovely places to live

Yes, it is lovely.

Same issues, though, for someone who doesn’t drive and needs regular access to a hospital.

My parents live in Gorleston and I think it probably meets all your needs. It is a medium sized town, neither rural nor touristy and if you watch the film Yesterday a lot of it was shot in Gorleston.

You can walk from one end to the other in 30 mins. The High Street has a fairly large library, cinema, a wilko, a Morrisons, Iceland and Farm foods, a mixture of different pubs, restaurants and cafes as well as some more boutique shops. There is a night club, pub, small theatre and amusement arcade on the beach front but it isn't hectic or touristy like Yarmouth. If you prefer countryside you can walk (or get the bus) to Burgh Castle and do the Riverside walk next to Breydon Water.

There are several gyms in Gorleston and then a 25 m pool in nearby Bradwell and a brand new sports centre with pools and flumes being built in GY at the moment.

The James Paget hospital has a bus station and my parents have always had quick and brilliant care there and waiting times at A & E are normally under 2 hours (not at the moment due to Covid).

Buses run every 10 minutes towards Gt Yarmouth or every 30 mins to Lowestoft and Norwich, where you can get another bus to Norwich Airport. You can get National Express coaches to London or other coach holidays from the High Street too. Or get the train from Gt Yarmouth and connect to national services in Norwich.

Housing goes from under £100k for a small terrace house to more than £1,000,000 so plenty of choice.

Broadband and phone signal are great, the same cannot be said for more rural areas of Norfolk, my parents have friends who only get signal in one area of their house etc. Also when we get heavy snowfall it's not unusual for some of the more remote villages and smaller coastal areas to get cut off due to the snow.

I think I've addressed every possible point but any questions just ask. My parents moved from London 30 years ago and don't regret it.

Be prepared. It is an unusual place as there is no passing through traffic, it is the end of the line. And very insular. That is okay later in life but if you are young at heart take some care before leaping in. There is a reason young people move away

I live in Norfolk. All the naice costal places are vair vair posh and expensive and you can't move in summer. Think anything from Cromer upwards.

Personally I think areas around holt are lovely. Not slap bang on the coast but close enough to get to the beach in under 30 mins if you want.

The weather can be a bit odd around Cromer and Sherringham in that it can be a lovely sunny day in Norwich so you decide to go to the coast and as soon as you hit Cromer it's dull, misty and cold.

NO NEED TO SHOUT

@chocolateorangeinhaler

I live in Norfolk. All the naice costal places are vair vair posh and expensive and you can't move in summer. Think anything from Cromer upwards.

Personally I think areas around holt are lovely. Not slap bang on the coast but close enough to get to the beach in under 30 mins if you want.

The weather can be a bit odd around Cromer and Sherringham in that it can be a lovely sunny day in Norwich so you decide to go to the coast and as soon as you hit Cromer it's dull, misty and cold.

How will the non-driving OP get to the beach from near Holt? And to the hospital she needs to access regularly?

There is a great bus service along the coast road (in that once an hour at peak times sort of way) but not to inland villages.

@DroopyClematis

We're thinking about it ourselves.

Swaffham is a lovely town near the coast.
Cromer is always popular as is Wells-next-the-Sea.

No idea about schools as we're of retirement age.

I'll be watching this thread.

Swaffham is not near the coast, and it certainly is not lovely. I'm in a mixed race marriage and DH does not find Norfolk racist at all, he loves it there.

Hospitals are a good point, the QE2 at Lynn is falling to bit, the N&N is fairly new and is becomes a center for all medical stuff in the area. Getting onto a Drs or Dentists list is pretty much impossible in many areas.

Please ignore the negative comments about Norfolk. It's a gorgeous place to live and not driving is no problem as long as you pick carefully.

I'd suggest you look at Dersingham, Snettisham and Heacham. All on excellent bus routes to King's Lynn and Hunstanton so you'd easily get to beach at Hunstanton and hospital at King's Lynn.

Good luck OP. I hope you make the move to Norfolk - I'm sure you'll love it. It's a wonderful place to live.

I love Norfolk.. my family enjoy the canal boating and spent many trips down this way.. so beautiful 🌸

My best holidays have been in Norfolk.