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?

Well yeah, it is one of the most well-preserved area of cobbled streets, shops and buildings from the Tudor area. There is also a lot of plague history in the area- there’s a big pit underneath. Fascinating and so pretty, they use it as a film location loads. Really odd you didn’t bother to see it.

*ERA.

Sounds great. I’ll definitely check it out next time I visit.

I think my family think we're odd for being happy to live in Essex, even though that's where they've come from. Would anyone else prefer Essex to Norfolk or is it just us?

I know Essex can have negative stereotyping too but I just don't think it's as bad as family are making out I comparison to Norfolk.

Well it's cheaper n quieter than southeast has amazing beaches but windy and too flat for my liking

You hear it all the time for a reason.

I have also, more than "tried it". I have lived in Norfolk for most of my life, and worked in Gt Yarmouth, 6 days a week for nearly 7 years. I stayed there a lot because of the crap commuting roads in the winter, and encountered, with no exaggeration, thousands of the residents. The people and their conduct/attitudes were nothing short of horrific. It's like the lovechild of Jeremy Kyle and the EDL.

A handful of people were not like this. Literally, a handful.

I'm glad you like it though. Gorleston beach is lovely, so there's that. And the schools are appalling, quite known to be, so for this to be an improvement on where you were is great to hear, but very uncommon.

OP I don't know that area at all but I'd a similar experience during the summer when I visited a friend who lives in the countryside (she married a local) and another person at the party who is originally from the same city as us started talking about how amazing life is where they live now and they can't comprehend anyone living back where the originally came from. I still live there and am very happy. We never need our cars we can walk everywhere. Lots of services nearby and for me personally absolutely lovely neighbours and community where I live. It wasn't even like "oh I never realised that I love the countryside so much it suits us much better as a family " but more a "why would anyone live in x or y place. You can't raise a family there" . I remember thinking it was really rude and odd.

I honestly think house prices reflect the desirability of a place to live, including Norfolk.

Where house prices are very low people find it hard to earn a living and public transport etc is crap.

Lucky are the NHS staff, teachers and everyone else on national pay scales in otherwise low income areas.

Yeah Yarmouth is a shit hole. I avoid it like the plague.

*Lived in Norfolk for most of my life.

It is backwards. It is slow. There is hardly any crime. There is zero glamour or sophistication or much culture/diversity. It's beautiful, especially northern coastal areas.

Career prospects are bugger all. Lovely place to raise younger children though**

Throw in dire public transport and a hospital with 4 of 7 operating theatres shut due to risk of the roof caving in - literally, it's currently held up by a gazillion props- and that's Norfolk to a tee.

Lots of good, but lots of negatives...much like everywhere else, really!

In terms of living no I wouldn’t prefer Essex (though that’s personal choice of course and I might never have been to your bit of Essex). For me it’s the fact that Norfolk is more wild, less populated, slower pace of life and for me personally more picturesque places to go for walks etc, and amazing wildlife like seals, rare birds etc. I also prefer Norwich to the Essex cities I’ve been. But I am sure there are lovely parts of Essex and as others on this thread have said you probably have convenience, job prospects, some better hospitals etc on your side in Essex. At the end of the day if you’re happy I wouldn’t worry.

We have friends there (outside Dereham). It’s lovely to visit for the weekend but no way in hell would I move there. It feels like you’re stepping into another century. Very slow, very insular. Impossible to do anything without a car. Can’t speak to the racism point but it isn’t diverse.

And their smoked chicken!

I am from Norfolk. I have not lived there for a long time but would go back in a heartbeat if it were possible (not Great Yarmouth, though). Norwich is a beautiful city and, in my opinion, has the loveliest cathedral in the country.

I find these threads so strange, first page and being born in Norfolk has strongly predisposed me to be a horrible person, racist and maybe even a cunt! 😮And yes those exact words were used, maybe very kindly with a classic ‘ well maybe not every single one of them’ tagged on.

Despite living such an insular, backward, inbred existence I could never imagine labelling entire regions of the country like that even if I had had a shitty/experience day there. I mean I get it if Norfolk’s not your cup of tea, too slow, transport links etc but some comments are pretty bloody vicious!

I love it for a holiday, not sure I'd want to live there.

What a strange thing to say.

I have spent most of my life here, and am not like the people being described on this thread. I don't pretend that they aren't in abundance around me though.

If you visited somewhere, and your experience was poor, due to either closed mindedness, racism, whatever it may be, why could you "never imagine" labelling that area as such? That's the experience you had, so why not state that?

If you have a different experience, then great. It doesn't make other's less valid.

Shhhhhh! Don't tell everyone!!!!

Those of you saying that Norfolk is flat need to visit the Fens.

We love Norwich/Norfolk, moved here 18mths ago from the SE, best decision we ever made.

So useful-Thank you!

I think @Sillybeagle has a point, compare to this recent thread about Aberdeen and there's a lot more offensive comments on this thread.

I’ve lived Norfolk, Suffolk all my life. People are fine. There’s arseholes everywhere in every county. It’s quiet and that’s ok. Yes you need to drive and getting about takes time. New bridges over rivers will help shortly. You have to drive around the broads to get places. Great Yarmouth isn’t the best but still not anything as bad as inner cities. Racism isn’t everywhere. The older generation all over the Uk can be like that and we have an older population but it’s not bad. In the 1970’s things were much more insular and new people especially POC were viewed with suspicion but there’s plenty of POC about now. Nobody is stopping and staring now. Yarmouth has a large Portuguese and Eastern European population. There’s a lot of poverty but rich areas too. It’s not perfect but when I go to London and then I come home I know I’m a country lass.

I 💗 Norfolk. We had some cracking holidays over the years when the kids were small. Love Winterton on sea for its beautiful sandy beach. Also some of the north coastal villages. Thought about it as a retirement destination In years to come. We always got chatting to many people who had moved from our area of NW London. I'm just wary of the isolation in the Winter months. We're also considering other coastal areas. I agree the Yorkshire coast is fabulous.

And Norwich is a lovely safe city.