A better life in Norfolk... really?

[LittleRobin112]

We have so many family members who have moved to Norfolk in the last 10 years and a few friends too. They have mostly gone there for a better way of life. Away from the hustle and bustle of the south east where we are.

We're constantly being told how amazing Norfolk is - the countryside, the villages, the coast, Norwich, etc. And some family members are very keen to tell us how crap it is where we live in comparison, knowing that we are settled where we are and wouldn't want to move. Nowhere is perfect (about from Norfolk apparently) but we like where we are. These family members have moved from where we live which although busy and a London commuter area, it's also fairly affluent in parts, a coastal place and with countryside/woodland still accessible nearby.

What is the attraction to Norfolk? Is it the most ideal place to live? Are people happier there? Are there no down sides to it at all?

I don't doubt some aspects of life quality could be better in Norfolk but I've been on holidays there and many family visits over the years and I can't see how it's as incredible as some family members are making out. Maybe they're just showing off or justifying their reasons for moving there? But to be really negative about where we live is just becoming annoying. It's almost like they're now better than us for living in Norfolk, it's so odd.

Any thoughts?

You can’t tell someone that they haven’t experienced something. My post is a reflection of my experiences after 10 years in this backwards place. My comments are not fiction. I find it amazing how, even now, locals lean towards getting angry at people that mention that the culture is awful as opposed to listening and understanding so that they can change things. I can’t give you a date and in some cases a time to back up what I’ve said. A lot of data when searched for will validate all of my comments. I spoke to a man yesterday who has a coffee truck near household. He mentioned that his wife had made him move here with their children, which is a comment theme for people moving to Norfolk. The coffee trucked looked out of place as it was colourful and fun and I knew because of this he had come from bristol. He was very sad and depressed and we discussed how isolated and depressing Norfolk is. Not a single person in my AirBnB said that they would live here because it’s boring and backwards. When searched for using the internet the data shows Norfolk to be far more depressed than 90% of the rest of the country and it goes on. So I have ten years of subjective and objective information. There’s no reasoning for me to lie.

Your experience is a valid one, as are your options.

But it doesn't mean the whole of Norfolk is totally backwards, racist, nsular and depressing . Many parts of the world are just as bad.

*opinions

10 years in this ignorant and inbred place.

Wow! Way to denigrate an entire county! YABVU with that comment, and sound so angry and resentful. You may be having a bad time in Norfolk but not everyone is, and it's appalling that you feel the need to so badly insult all those who live here. If you hate it that much, move.

Like anywhere, Norfolk has better and worse parts and also good and bad points.

Generally a slower pace of life - it's personal opinion whether that's a positive or not.

Some beautiful landscapes, especially North Norfolk coast. But seaside areas are either dated and struggling or viciously overpriced - sometimes a combination of both. There are some problems with County Lines as access to Londom via train is pretty easy.

Lovely place to bring up small children, but hideously boring for teens who will be desperate to leave. Career options are limited unless near Norwich or willing to commute to London or Cambridge. Distinct lack of opportunities for cultural experiences unless near Norwich or willing to travel to Cambridge. There's no buzz to speak of.

Transport links are not great unless in King's Lynn or Norwich where trains to London are easy. Buses vary hugely depending on the area but start with a working assumption that either there are none or the ones there are aimed at pensioners and useless for working people. Cars - mix of A and B roads, road surfaces tend not to be a priority, assume average speed of 30mph to get from A to B in order to account for randomly shut roads, flooding, tractors, etc.

Most towns and villages have a pretty low crime rate, so feel safe. Generally they are, but this can lead to complacency. Probably just as well crime rates are low as so are police numbers.

As for the people who live here...well, that depends on the individual. You can't call a whole county racist or ignorant based on a few people's experiences! It does tend to be quite white, but it seems that this is because a lot of people of colour are concerned about the lack of diversity and worry there will be problems and so don't move here. Diversity can't happen until more people do come to Norfolk. King's Lynn has thriving Polish, Eastern European and Portuguese communities. The area has also been very welcoming to Ukrainians, and people try hard to make them feel part of the community.

Some people do seem to have quite a limited world view, but I think that's due to lack of experiences and limited opportunities to broaden their horizons rather than innate narrow-mindedness. Like everywhere, there will be racists and generally horrible people - but also lovely, kind, openminded people with not an ounce of bigotry in them. It's individual people, not countrywide!

No, not angry at all. Again, I’ve just shared my experiences on how Norfolk is very backwards and insular and because I have an open and honest opinion you have chosen to ignore all of the suggestions on how to find data that have mentioned and tried to discredit me. It is my experience and many others on this page. Listen, learn and change so Norfolk is welcome for everyone not just families.

@Pappleapple what do you mean Norfolk only supports women and families? Please give some examples.

This is a much more fair assessment of Norfolk than from @Pappleapple
My parents moved to Norfolk in the early 60s from the Newcastle area where many pits and shipyards were closing and unemployment was rising. They found it very insular and the people a bit 'doff cap, tug forelock' in general and tend to stare at you. However they stayed the rest of their lives and brought us children up there. My sister and her family still live there. DB and I left for university and haven't moved back to live there. I visit quite often and I think it has changed a great deal.
The issues are poor public transport away from Norwich, Gt Yarmouth and King's Lynn
Long distances to travel to hospital and Wells-next-the-Sea has worst ambulance response times in the country. However we personally didn't find that in Fakenham but we were close to the ambulance station.
Poorer than average job prospects in the past but that will have improved since covid with more hybrid working available. Lower salaries but that is common in coastal areas.
In the 70s our elderly neighbours had never been to a market town 11 miles from their home until my mum took them shopping there.
In the village we lives in (late 60s) a teenage girl we knew used to be held down and raped by her older brothers. The girls all had babies as teens, they weren't fed properly and kept coal in their bath. If this was repeated in other homes then this would contribute to the inbred issues. Not sure of social services were involved.
I would possibly consider moving to Norwich but not anywhere else especially as I'm now in my early 60s and I don't think village life is often practical for oldies.

It’s just her angry or resentful. It’s the truth. Amazing how so many women try to discredit. A man when he is sharing his experience. I don’t need to explain anymore.

My assessment is the truth. That’s why people are fighting against me. It pathetic and sad. Just change the culture to be more modern in thinking and more inclusive. : )

I grew up in Norfolk at a similar time to you @BatteryPowerGnat. My parents also moved for work - for them it was from the West Midlands - and they and I loved it from the start as did l. There were some different terminologies that I swiftly adapted to when I started school (mummy instead of mommy, plimsolls instead of pumps, for example) but we had friends from both local families who could trace their ancestors to the year dot and incomers like my family. My primary school was very, very good so I had an excellent start in education. I have not lived in Norfolk for many years but when I cross the county border it always feels like I have come home. I love the Norfolk accent, too.

@Pappleapple, I don’t recognise your Norfolk but accept that it is your experience. However, simply because it is your truth, please do not run down those of us for whom it is a different experience. There are good and bad people everywhere. I think you might be happier somewhere more cosmopolitan like Brighton. Is this the type of place you are hoping to move to?

Finally I am reminded of an anecdote from a memoir written by a doctor. I am not sure which doctor:

A newcomer to a town is asking a local man what the people were like in his new town. The local person asks him what the people in his previous town were like. The newcomer replies that they were lovely, friendly, warm people. The local man tells him that they are exactly the same in this town.

Another newcomer has arrived in the same town and asks a local man what the people are like in his new town. The local man again responds by asking what they were like in his previous town. The newcomer replies that they were very cold, unfriendly and unwelcoming. The local man tells him that they are exactly like this in the new town.

This 💯%. I lived in Norfolk for 28 years and loved it. I still have good friends there now. On the whole, I found the local people friendly and welcoming. I only ever had ONE person be nasty to me on account of not being local. I didn't notice any more racism there than anywhere else I have lived.

As said before, your experience is valid and accepted . It doesn't mean you need to discredit everyone else's. Just because you have had an unpleasant experience of the locals doesn't equate to it being the same for others.

You need to be more optimistic and open minded. Not everything in life is as bad as you say. Surely you are actively confirming the stereotype you are so unhappy with by being so angry and sad about the county.

Perhaps you should move if it's truly as dire as you say. 😳

It is neither "pathetic" nor "sad" that not everyone is of the same opinion as you. It would be most boring if everyone thought the same way.

It's your truth, and we all accept that is how you have experienced it, and it's a shame. But quite a lot of people are telling you they have had different experiences and you don't seem to want to accept that their experiences and opinions are equally valid. You want to keep fighting against them and insisting they are wrong - complete with insults. And noone cares whether you are a man or not - in fact, we wouldn't know if you didn't keep telling us.

We accept your experience and views, it's a shame you are so unwilling to accept those of others. Ironic really.

North Norfolk particularly is stunning in many places and is a designated AONB (area of outstanding natural beauty). It has some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe/ world. People also say Norfolk is flat which is simply wrong, the countryside is described as rolling. As for remote, for many that's a good thing, also transport links are good now. John Betjeman said in 1974 after a visit " I am still reeling from the majesty of north Norfolk". Its a stunning place to live , the air is clean and the vibe is good.

https://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/post/best-things-to-do-in-north-norfolk#:~:text=North%20Norfolk%20is%20renowned%20for,picturesque%20market%20towns%20and%20villages.

Moved to Norfolk 15 years ago from Milton Keynes. Took about 12 months to get over the shock of the slower pace of life, but as soon as I realised I could actually feel safe walking around in the daytime as well as night, I realised this was for me.
It's very laid back and as long as you aren't being an arsehole, people leave you alone. King's Lynn locals are very friendly as are Norwich. It's absolute bollocks if people say otherwise. Some villages have people who are snobby but then so does anywhere. Who gives a fuck. You make of your life what you will. It's called adapting to your environment and if you can't adapt then you'll have to go back again. You can't expect people to change their culture around you as a PP expects. West/North Norfolk 'culture' is mostly just being chilled in a slow quieter place.

Second homes/holiday homes are being banned now in most villages thank goodness.

Initially, I did notice people do look you in the eye or seem to 'stare', but that is called human interaction and most of the time they are waiting for you to say hello or chat. Something that might get you stabbed where I came from!

No regrets here despite initial collywobbles.

*edited due to typos

I don't doubt some aspects of life quality could be better in Norfolk but I've been on holidays there and many family visits over the years and I can't see how it's as incredible as some family members are making out. Maybe they're just showing off or justifying their reasons for moving there?

Or maybe they just have different priorities from you. There is a significant small-minded, racist minority in most places. The trick is to hang out with the people who aren't like that. There are also towns and areas that are not very nice in pretty much all counties.

We moved from the SE to the rural NW about a decade ago. Yes, there are some people with very parochial views here, but there's also clean air, less traffic, no overcrowding, wide open spaces, mountains, marsh land, forest and a slightly different pace of life. It’s not for everyone though.

I have lived in Norfolk for over thirty years and was born there. I agree with everyone else slating the place. People are extremely backward, insular and racist. It is a fact. I went to uni in Brighton and it blew my mind how friendly and funny and interesting people were. I couldn't believe it. People were actually nice. In Norfolk all most people talk about is how much they hate someone else.

I can't believe the posters rounding upon the guy who said Norfolk is a horrible place. He is 100% correct. It is full of narrow minded, racist, homophobic horrible people. I think some of you are either in denial if you think that isn't true, or you a simply living in an extremely posh part of it and not mixing with the rest of it. Or maybe you are ''one of them'' and so can't see it.

Live in Norfolk for ten years and you will meet a handful of nice people, most of them are nasty and horrible. A was speaking to a guy from India the other day and he said it is the most racist place he has ever been to and I believe him 100%.

People are saying ''It is no worse than anywhere else'' I have lived in 5 different places in the UK and it is by a country mile the most racist, miserable and depressing. I hate the place and cannot wait to leave.

I just want to add I was a bit emotional when I was typing that last message. I don't hate the place as much as I did 25 years ago. It has gotten very slightly better simply because the country as a whole has gotten better, but the strong undercurrent racism, homophobia, suspicion, hatred is still undeniably there. Some of you newer to the area might be less in tune with it and maybe can't see it for whatever reason. It was a truly truly awful horrible horrible place to grow up. I am only there at the moment for family reasons and will move as soon as I can.

I like Norwich a lot and enjoy a day on a boat from Wroxham and some of the seaside places on north coast are nice for a few hours but I wouldn't pick it to live . Poorly connected and with the exception of Norwich not enough oomph for me

That's a bit strongly worded. I've lived in Bucks, Essex and now Norwich, and don't find Norfolk as insular and racisr as some make out it to be.

My grandparents lived here for many years (Fakenham) and yes, they could be slightly insular but they were good, kind people and I don't recall any bad times visiting as a child.

I had a university friend who was brought up in Dereham; she couldn't wait to leave apparently, but I also couldn't wait to leave the market town in Bucks where I grew up, so I don't think it's a unique feeling.

I'm sure parts of Norfolk have their bad points, and many villages do seem sleepy or dull, but equally there are areas of great natural beauty, and I love the vibe that Norwich has. The teaching hospital (NNUH) is excellent too..

Don’t know what it’s like these days, but lived just outside Norwich in the early 2000s. Back then, being a 21 yr old from west London, I was flabbergasted by the open racism! Especially from the older generation. I’ll never forget I got a deep tan one summer and someone said you’re as dark as a..you can imagine the rest. He’s only just met me and presumed that because I was white I would share his views. Disgusting. Sadly it wasn’t the first time I heard talk like that..it was also the whitest place I’d ever been to in my life. I hear it’s more diverse these days so hopefully the locals have learned to be a bit more open minded!

It is extremely white although has gotten less so in recent years. How white it is is the main reason it is so racist, people are not used to people of other races. As I said I grew up there and I think I was 12 the first time I ever saw a black person in real life.

Isn't that the same everywhere though?, Cambridge is an extremely rude and aggressive place among all races. It's pushy, arrogant and inconsiderate, London is the same.
I found people most friendly in Northumberland, Wale's is quite nice.Some East Anglian people can be stuck in their views, but people from all creeds and races can be intolerant.