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?

When visiting Norfolk, I found getting information out of a local was like pulling hens teeth. Eg, saying to someone I was lost, did they know the place and could they give me directions, please? more than once I would get the response 'yes' and then silence. So I would then say 'great, can you give me directions please?' again 'yes'. so then I would repeat asking for them to give me the directions, which they proceeded to do in the most meticulous fashion that seemed to take ten times longer than I experienced anywhere else.

What, like the flint stones car? 🤣

No, I’m just remembering when I drove us all to Wales on holiday for a week and after driving in Norfolk it was such a shock - up and down mountains all the time. I was desperate to get back to flatlands so I didn’t have to panic I was going to fall off an edge!

Norfolk people are weird and I was born here. I think the only reason I turned out pretty normal is because I grew up in Norwich and was raised by parents from London.

PILS moved there 4 years ago and apparently love it.
They have a huge mansion style house with massive forest around them.
And They now turned into proper poshies wearing all Barbour clothing only when walking their 4 dogs.
Apparently thinking to get few horses now.

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Fil walking all in Barbourwax coat and Barbour cap and Hunter wellies.
Before he worn Primark only and now this huge change happened.
Is this what Norfolk does to you? I don’t understand.
Why pretend that you are part of RF?
Personally I hate it there and can’t wait to get out of there.

I’m planning on visiting Norfolk in a few years to see if it’s where I want to move to. I’ve never been but heard there’s some lovely parts at more affordable prices.

I've been to Norwich a few times and although the area in the immediate vicinity of the Cathedral is nice ... the rest of the town centre seems shabby and a bit like every other English town centre. Perhaps I'm missing something.

Went to apparently the nicest pub in the city centre - it was mediocre at the very most. I would say it was a bit crap actually tbh.

What pub @A580Hojas ?

You lot are putting me off now, I’ve honestly found it friendly and we’ve stayed all over, even in small villages.
what parts of Norfolk are you all talking about? Villages? Towns?

I've never known anywhere so flat and I mean flat, flat.

Having grown up in Norfolk that's made me feel a little homesick actually 😂

I like the slower pace. As pp said it's a big county. There are good and bad parts. But if you like the country and want more of an outdoorsy life it's lovely. Really pretty. There are things to do if you want them. I haven't experienced the insular attitude people have mentioned. Norwich is nice - if you look at the villages North of there you have the best of both worlds.

Having lived in a big city for all of my 20s and early 30s I still don't quite get what 'buzz' people talk about. Just seems to me there is more people! Restaurants, theatres etc all exist outside of London - just a little more characterful!

And some bad tempered and snobby Norfolkians...

My parents moved to a village near Wisbech after retirement, as it was the only way to buy a small place & escape from a Council flat in London.
They loved it, & had wonderful neighbours - who were all ex-pat Londoners !

I was a regular visitor; I liked the neighbours, but there was nothing else in favour of Norfolk in general

its not though 🤣

Norwich not much to see?! Tombland? The Lanes? colegate?? The golden triangle and the gorgeous pubs up that way? The castle? Lovely walk along the river?

What happened, did you all get stuck in the lift in the castle mall or something 🤣

Wisbeach is in Cambridgeshire, though…

Actually @Skinnermarink villages just outside Wisbech are technically in Norfolk. I should know because our bin men came in Norfolk CC trucks every week.

I went to norwich for university and had a lovely time - it’s a good uni city as there’s lots to do but it’s not too big. However my black friends there had a very different experience, some locals were openly racist and certain pubs would kick them out for ‘laughing too loudly’ or ‘looking at the barman funny’ - despite not doing anything differently to the white friends they would be out with. It was only certain corners but quite insidious. Obviously racism is everywhere but as they’d grown up in London and other cities it was quite shocking for it to be so blatant. This was a few years ago so hopefully it’s improved.

I live Norfolk. Go there a lot for the beaches and regularly holiday there. It's a bit of a pain to get to though.

Wasn't there a doctor who used to write in his patients notes "nfn" meaning Normal for Norfolk.

Apparently Norfolkonians use nfw (normal for Wisbech" in retaliation

Yep they are right. Norfolk is lovely. It’s got a brilliant combination of a beautiful and lively city (Norwich) but you can be out in fantastic countryside in about 20 mins. It also has a range of different areas (broads/ sea/ villages), a great university, loads of really pretty market towns like Holt etc and decent train links to London. I find the people largely kind and considerate and certain no worse than other areas I’ve lived (and much much better than SE London). In fact because so many people are moving there I generally find that it’s more diverse than commuter seaside parts closer to London. As a caveat though if you don’t enjoy beaches, walking and beautiful scenery then the compromise may not be worth it but for me it beats Kent/ Essex coastal areas hands down. I also though it had a pretty good sense of community largely (I don’t live there but relatives did), but maybe more aimed at older than younger people.

After years of wistfully dreaming of living in Norfolk we finally took the kids on holiday there.

I was so disappointed as it's all very flat, the people were not friendly and the tide was out all day so kids never got to swim in the sea for our week long holiday.

We travelled around quite a bit and although there were some beautiful places it put me off my dream of relocating there. Kings Lynn was very depressing (we stayed In Hunstanton).

I lived in South Norfolk for several years. I had no problems making friends with local people, the vast majority of which were very welcoming and friendly. In all the time I lived there I only had one person make a nasty comment about my not being local.
I didn't notice any more racism there than anywhere else I have lived. In my experience,sometimes it depends on the attitude of the 'incomer'. If you accept the area and the people who live there for who they are, they will be accepting of you.

This. I loved 20 years in norfolk. People are (depending on the area) related and there is a lot of money and a lot of poverty. Train links are poor, road links, internet and state schools even worse. A lot of the state schools in special measures and truly vile -bullying was rife, lots of drugs and smoking and low aspirations.

You have children you have to drive them everywhere.

hospitals are dire - Queen Elizabeth in kings Lynn is notorious at being horrendous

lots of kings Lynn, Downham Market schools are truly vile - shudder

holiday home yes, live there again never.

Oh yes and it is very very flat and most single carriage away - plan in norfolk time which is you sitting behind sugar beet lorries for hours on end

I have to be honest and say TombLand doesn’t sound much fun. Is like dead Disney Land?
Or is it Tom Bland? Still not really selling it to me.

Tombland is lovely. The cathedral is gorgeous and the love light festival in February is awesome. Gorgeous pubs in Norwich. The poster saying they went to the best pub in Norwich and it was shit can't have been in the right pub!

Me too. It will be a cold day in hell before I go back there.

Flat, dull, racist, insular... I could go on.