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?

This thread is from 2022 so I'm sure OP has made a decision by now. Stop resurrecting old threads!

You know you come across as a bit of an incel right? You originally said you came here hoping to find someone and settle down and I'm guessing that didn't happen and then the majority of your attack on Norfolk after that is aimed at women. You're language is obsessive and your response of someone pointing out, in a thread asking specifically about whether or not Norfolk is a nice place to live, that they disagree with your assessment is to attack them personally and call them ignorant and selfish. I'm not invalidating your experience, I even agree that it has its issues I just don't agree that they are disproportionately larger issues than anywhere else. I'm disagreeing with you from my own perspective which you're using to add to your argument by calling me ignorant for having that view, which demonstrates a complete lack of authenticity to the argument in the first place because you're too clouded by your own narrative to accept an alternative view. You hate Norfolk, fine. You think it's a horrible place with horrible women people and you want to leave. Okay, crack on, good luck with that. If you let me know exactly where you are I can help you find a train out of here.

@PocketSand we've recently moved to Woodbridge! We love it here. But we waited until the dc were adults and living independently.

I think that you are the one attacking. Please leave me alone. It’s my experience after 10 years here and if you go to the coffee shops here and it’s women that are complaining about men in nearly everyone, me mentioning isn’t an attack on women. I’m simply sharing my experience. Yet, you continue to try and discredit men when 80% of this thread is highlighting what an awful place Norfolk is. The county does have its good points such as being safe, ok beaches and great for families but without a decent, inclusive and non-ignorant culture this things are irrelevant. I’ve not shared half of my awful experiences here a won’t share anymore due to you continually trying to discredit me. Please leave me alone. Enjoy your county. Thank you.

Just to add. If people see what I’ve written which is a true and honest 10 year account of the culture and experiences in Norfolk then put your comments against mine it clearly shows what happens to anyone in Norfolk that dare challenge the toxic and very backwards culture. Come to Norfolk at your peril. It’s an awful place with an awful culture. It has a few nice beaches, great!

Your experience is not shared by me. I lived and worked in Norfolk for 13 years and had a wonderful experience. My DH is Indian yet we never knowingly experienced any racism or ignorance. We left 16 years ago and still go back once or twice a year. We still have many good friends there and would happily move back.

Can you imagine if people came to a place, had very bad experiences, highlighted in detail what those experience were like then was attacked by local people who refused to acknowledge what an awful culture it was. The culture would never change and only those with the same negative behaviours would be welcome, creating an even more awful culture as the years go by. That, is Norfolk in a Nutshell. People don’t travel through it, so there is no new thinking. There are only people who have bred with those around them and most of those people have barely travelled. You then have the wealthy from London gentrifying the place, making a society that is one of the most divided I’ve ever known. If I am the horrible person you seem to try and convey, why does Norfolk have higher anxiety, depression and suicide rates in comparison to England and east Anglia as a whole? It’s an awful isolated place. It takes 3 hours to get to London and in comparison Bristol that is exactly the same distance to London takes 1 hour and 15. The whole place is centred around families and families only, which is great for families that want a sheltered life or small group of the same types of people to be around but for anyone that wants a diverse group of people to speak to then they will be found lacking. There are so many sad things about Norfolk that could be changed if people did not get angry but sought to understand other people’s points of view. I’m not going to comment any further as typically any honest and open points of view are always met with hate as I’ve mentioned in my first message. I will be gone soon and it will more than likely be one of the most impactful and positive experiences from the last 10 years.

Well done. I have some Indian friends here who are leaving because of the racism experienced in Thorpe St Andre School and I still to this day talk to people with very backward mindsets. There is a huge gap here between those with wealth and families and those without. It’s good to hear you have had a positive experience though.

There's a lot of bullying in general at that school at the minute.

Yes, there is. There’s also racism but nothing that I don’t see from the culture outside the school. Some of the conversations I’ve had with locals blow my mind!

I’m absolutely mortified th things you have said literally about the place the people what it’s like to live there, I know people that he lived there years and people living there 2 years, the love it, how can this be if what you say is true

I've lived here my whole life and love it. You couldn't pay me to move away.

Local people and people who like living in Norfolk condemned by man who can't stand opinions other than his own and for whom generalisation is no stranger shocker.

Think both Norfolk and you will be improved by your departure. Maybe less anti depressants consumed in Thorpe.

This thread is wild! From people visiting twice to seaside towns overloaded with tourists complaining about unfriendly attitudes (think it might be erm, tourists whom are being unfriendly?) to a misery using the parable of a person complaining in Eaton Park as a stick to beat locals with. Given the surrounding population around Eaton Park is diverse, upper middle class and rich, and has a high proportion of incomers into to the county seems a bit weird to extrapolate.

Having lived in London, Kent, Wales, Hampshire, France, Poughkeepsie, Austin, and travelled a lot I can't say Norfolk has more vices than those places, and has many virtues.

I've encountered more xenophobia in Suffolk than Norfolk.

Maybe if you don't start out by calling people a pack of inbred, racist, ignorant unfriendly thickos or interpolating your localised experiences to an entire "culture" or project that you are some kind of incoming colonialist who expects the locals to curtsy maybe you wouldn't, I dunno, get the odd angry remark back. Or are the people who like where they live just expect to be force fed this bile?

I also couldn't help laugh at blaming the people who live there for chronic underfunding and poor Tory local planning.

The deprivation might, you think, drive the depression?

Pretty much the only thing you can pin on the general population is its inability, in the main, to get the tories out.

Still, I challenge anyone to moan about Great Yarnouth or even King's Lynn who has Leigh on Sea in their county. Or Sheppey.

You can't help but read back and look at some of the commenters on here and think it's almost as if Norfolk has an idiot filter in play, that weeds out at least some of the obnoxious potential incomers, but sadly like everywhere can't encourage enough of the homegrown obnoxious to go somewhere more suitable, like .... Essex 😉 Or Gillingham.

Im left somewhat confused as to whether Norfolk is a good move or not, I know it’s quieter, if I wanted full on entertainment surely I would move to Norwich, im a lady in my 60s and just want to chill and be on the coast, no dramas, let’s face it there are strange people everywhere it’s the world isn’t it 🤷‍♀️

Like everywhere there are good parts and bad parts, good infrastructure and bad. Expensive and cheap.

You are right though, there are weirdos everywhere, but sounds like Thorpe might be worth a miss for a few years even if you are tempted to live near the Rushcutters for a water view.

In your position I'd rent a holiday cottage in each area you are interested in, take the temperature of it and check out the facilities.

But only you know what you need, like and can afford.

Again, your passive aggressive comments and lack of evidence to back up anything that you’ve responded with highlights how awful the culture is in Norwich and Norfolk. I have merely shared my experiences here and it’s an awful place to live for a lot of people.

Have you considered Felixstowe? I've heard great things about it.

I love Norfolk. Yes, there are issues, but (slowly!) they are changing. Norwich is becoming more diverse, and there are some incredible restaurants. Excellent vegan food. It's leafy compared to many cities, and beautiful in parts. There's a great art scene. UEA obviously brings in people from all over.

The one negative comment on this thread that did ring true for me was about the lack of glamour. Generally I like the down to earth vibe, but sometimes I miss sophistication and style. Even in wealthier areas it's all a bit Barbour jacket.

The range of opinions on this thread is completely understandable - we all want different things out of where we live. And Norfolk is not just one homogenous place.

Please don't be put off by one batshit, angry, confrontational poster. You will get what you are looking for in Norfolk (calm, chilled life on the coast).

This is an old thread and I may have commented already!!
Adore Norfolk,would move there in a heartbeat if I could afford it. Though even if I could, it would be difficult to disrupt dc. I hope one day we will be in a position to move there.
I only holiday there, so can't comment on whether it's insular or there's a lot of racism.
It can't be any worse than living in the big city I live. Everyone lives in their own cultural group and are reluctant to mix. There are some parts of my city where I feel uncomfortable. I'm white British.
There are not many positives to where I live that's for sure.
Norfolk has beautiful unspoilt beaches, lovely sunny weather. I get a great vibe but I appreciate its different when you live somewhere permanently.

Many people come to atheism by actually reading the bible. In the same way, reading your comments as you have written them, including your last is the ultimate rebuttal to them.

I'm reminded of the lines of King Gama in G&S's Princess Ida. He couldn't think why either.

Ok

@TreesWelliesKnees we looked at moving to Felixstowe and decided it wasn't right for us, so moved to Woodbridge instead. However, people who live in Felixstowe love it.

I remember reading a study based on anonymised 23andme data a few years ago that noted Norfolk has the highest rates(by a huge margin) of children produced from consanguineal union (ie close relatives). Never been but the inbred stereotype is accurate!

I actually went for a coffee in North Walsham while I was looking around, I met a guy from nesr where I live now, he moved to Norfolk over 20years ago, loves it! Said just “Do it” you will never regret it

I'm sure you won't mind providing a link to said published and peer reviewed study?

Those of us that understand statistics and tests for significance will I'm sure enjoy it.

How you get from a higher rate of 23andme data (which is self selecting in the main) and describing a county of over a million as inbred escapes me.