To leave London for North Norfolk (not the posh bit)..?

[Londonisnotcalling]

That’s it really?

Fully fed up of the London life, am not particularly wealthy, live in a fairly drab and deprived area of London, but have a 3 bed flat (mortgaged) and 1 DC (primary) - flat would sell quickly and would be able to get more space, garden etc in Norfolk and I do love it there (lots of holidays in that area so know it a bit). Work isn’t an issue as I WFH and it’s secure and DC’s father isn’t in the picture and my family are all abroad so doesn’t really make much difference to them.

Looking at Sheringham, Cromer and Mundesley. Can’t afford more west and want to live in an actual community rather than land of second homes.

AIBU to just go for it? Anyone else done it and really much happier now? (Hoping not to read loads of horror stories!)

Any coastal town if you are considering moving there, you should visit in winter to see what it is like off season.

I went to North Norfolk for the first time last year (I have no real experience of east Anglia) and it was lovely, windswept etc. But it felt really isolated, the nearest hospital was far. However I have been to Beccles a couple of times because I have in law's there. And it's really nice, I'd recommend that as a place to look at

I was dreaming about escaping to Norfolk today as my back garden was so noisy I swore and had to go inside

I really like my flat and garden and the area I live in London, but as I get older cuts become more busy/crowded, or I’ve become less tolerant!

I have a few family members who are doing this at the moment. Go for it.

I would also recommend taking a look at Beccles. I grew up there and would move back in a heartbeat if work allowed!

Hope I've done this quote thing alright, I'm not very used to Mumsnet, I just happened to be browsing when you asked a Norfolk question and as I've lived here for sixty years thought I could help a little bit.

So Sheringham, it's a smaller scale version of Cromer, slightly more arty vibe, can be absolute hell in the Summer when it gets swamped by visitors, lovely in the winter. My friends from outside of Norfolk who moved there liked it and found it easier to find friends in than the suburb of Norwich they orginally moved to....however they are now retired and have moved back to Norwich for better facilities and transport links. Personally I think I'd probably favour Cromer, but I might be biased because I love that Cromer /Overstrand stretch of coast so very much....if you haven't visited Overstrand do, it's just a lovely place.

I still think you should look at Aylsham as well. How do you feel about the Suffolk coast? I noticed somone suggest Beccles, and I think that's not a bad choice, slower pace of life, access to Southwold/Walberswick coastal region, and it's a bit more outsider friendly than North Norfolk. Bungay is nice as well, but smaller.

I grew up in north norfolk and went to high school in Cromer. Neither Cromer or Sheringham are posh- you're definitely talking Blakeney, Wells, Holt for the posh side 😂 I did really well at the school and disagree with the argument that having no grammar schools in Norfolk makes the education provision of a lesser quality! (I'm now a teacher myself) I do know property is sometimes hard to come by though although there are a lot of new builds going up in sheringham and Holt way at the moment. It is worth seeing the towns in both seasons though as people have said - it can be bitterly cold in winter and busy tourist wise in the summer but pros and cons to both!

Do you drive OP because you'll need to or you'll feel very isolated after London and public transport?

Hi OP I live in Norfolk. Firstly Norfolk villages are lovely and very welcoming. I moved here 12 years ago and have never been happier. In terms of geography the areas you are looking at are really nice, but if you are working I would consider access to Norwich which is where a lot of jobs are centred. South Norfolk where I am is nice but better connected. Most of Norfolk (including villages) has reasonable Broadband, but look carefully at schools for kids. Some good ones around, but it is not universal/

Thanks everyone, some really great advice so far and has given me so much to think about.

I’ve not considered Suffolk / coast that way, so will have to look into that.

Cromer seems to be getting the most thumbs up so far, which is good to hear as it’s my favourite too. I’ve been into Overstrand and that also seems cute, but not much there aside a pub and beach I think?

I love Holt, but I want to be by the sea and it is also a tad pricy for what you get, plus I get to visit my friend there, which gives a bit of variety. Friend drives and thinks I will want to have a car and i do drive, but don’t currently have a car. Could I realistically live without one in Cromer? I know there is a train to Norwich and assume some sort of local buses?😅

The secondary school in Cromer looks ok, but it’s so hard to tell. But I like to think it will be safer than the ones near us in SE London which have had all sorts of problems, like many state schools in the less fancy parts of London.

You will want a car!

Oh I have just saw your post on second read through of the updates.

Did you enjoy growing up in Cromer as a teen? Was the secondary school a positive experience? Do you mind me asking how long ago you were at school? It’s so valuable getting an insiders POV

Also not too worried about cold weather in winter, I’m not a sun worshipper and burn easily so hopefully will cope with that.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor I think you’re probably right - I suppose I could look for a small car once up there.

North Norfolk will be a real shock after London. It takes forever to get to Norwich and then you are still nearly an hour away from Cromer. It is really bleak in winter. I would think about Norwich, where there is more going on, it’s a little more culturally diverse and still really cheap compared to London.

Go for it! It's such a liberating thing to do!

Don't assume the towns have better broadband. The government pledge to improve rural broadband means even the most remote homes have amazing full fibre connections now. Even if the home owner hasn't actually taken up a contract with the company that has laid the cable, find out if the cable has been laid. A lot has been laid in the last couple of years, so there's a cable underground in front of many homes, just waiting for the homeowner to sign up.

But further south but why not Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk - not as close to the beach but close to Cambridge, relatively civilised area, choice of decent schools of all stages, can still get village life, broadband decent, lots to do for kids of all ages.

There is also lots of river access and wild swimming around Norwich for lovely walks.

Public transport throughout East Anglia but particularly the nice villagey parts of Norfolk and Suffolk is practically non-existent and the councils seem intent on killing off whatever bus services may be remaining. London it ain't!

OP, I grew up and still live in Norfolk (after brief stints in London) used to spend a lot of time in Cromer. It’s quite a nice little town but there are areas of deprivation like with most towns. Sheringham is ‘cuter’ IMO. The surrounding countryside and walks outside the towns are beautiful! Not sure re the school, how good it is etc.

I think it’s really important when you live in Norfolk to get your child into as many extra curricular activities that you can afford and facilitate. This stops the boredom hanging about the streets and potentially drinking/ getting into drugs/ up to no good (not so much of a problem in small villages as nowhere to hang 😂 but can definitely be a problem in the towns IME)

I do echo other posters though in that I would definitely consider Aylsham, such a pretty little town and only 20 mins from Cromer/ the coast. School is good.

I’m afraid though, any notion of living in Norfolk (if it’s not Norwich) without a car just won’t work. You will 100% need a car, unless you never want to leave Cromer/ wherever you choose to settle and you’ll want to be able to drive your child to activities etc which you will inevitably have to do. Public transport in Norfolk really isn’t great but is particularly dire in North Norfolk but it’s fine as locals know this so drive

I absolutely don’t think you’ll regret it at all, it’s SUCH a lovely place to bring up children, a good, safe life but I’d try and ‘embrace’ norfolk as much as you can. If you move expecting it to be like a mini London you’ll be miserable, I think that’s the mistake a lot of people make. It sounds like you have spent enough time here though to know what it’s like. Good luck!

My nephew is in Bury St Edmunds and there is a huge teenage drug issue there. Avoid.

Oh and I live in a remote, North Norfolk village and have full fibre optic broadband so definitely not true that broadband is dire either. It depends on the village/ town.

@ChickensandCows
Drugs are rife with teenagers everywhere thoughout the entire country. Rural drug use amongst teenagers is particularly high, given that often there's naff all else to do and no public transport. Bury St Eds has in fact less of a drug problem than other places in Suffolk/Norfolk (I know this as it's my line of work).

I moved to Gorleston to raise my daughter. Love it here!

Be aware that there are only three hospitals in Norfolk, Norfolk and Norwich in Norwich, Queen Elizabeth in Kings Lynn and James Paget in Gorleston. There is a minor injuries unit in Cromer. I know this formed part of my parents reasoning on moving to Gorleston when we were younger plus my mum didn't drive and Gorleston has a really good bus service to Norwich, Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth. We moved from London and it made the journey back to visit family much easier, travelling from Cromer would have added an extra hour at least.