Moving to Norwich, maybe...

[AbsintheAndChips]

Hello, all. DH and I and DD (age 8, Y3) are thinking about moving to Norwich. We have always previously been tied to London for DH's job but changes in his work (he's now freelance and away from home about half the time) mean that we could live more or less anywhere in the UK as long as not terribly remote. Norwich is somewhere he has visited for work and liked very much and I have very fond childhood memories of Norfolk and Suffolk and so we are thinking about a move. We're planning to visit for a few days soon and have a good look round and maybe look at a few houses to see what we think. We don't need to rush into things - we would aim to move some time over the next year so DD would have a full Y5 and Y6 to make friends before secondary school. We want a university town because we like the idea of there being plenty of young people and interesting things going on and we would love to be nearer the sea. I work from home now so am able to work anywhere in the country. Plus if we moved, we could be mortgage free either immediately or very quickly which might mean I don't need to work unless I want to (I would really love this, and am quite interested in starting my own business instead of working for other people if I had the time).

Could any kind person point me at good areas to look at? I'm particularly interested in schools (both primary and secondary) which would be good to move close to. I don't require anything special but would ideally want a good, communicative, friendly, inclusive school not a SATS/exam factory. I don't care about Ofsted ratings as such - more interested in personal experience of schools that are happy places to learn in. We'd like to be able to walk as a minimum to basic amenities (park, newsagent, supermarket) and ideally to the city centre, though we do both drive.

Also, if anyone likes a good house conversation, tell me what's wrong with these ones! And the good points, if there are any! To give a point of comparison, we are currently in a smallish two up two down with a postage stamp sized garden, planes overhead, and a trainline beyond our garden fence, so you can see why we might want a bit more space to breathe.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52086998.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-34877571.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-51501008.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-33319626.html

www.primelocation.com/for-sale/details/35535352?search_identifier=975de4b3af8c4b9a29e88d9e039b3b99#Jvw3I3etEBffgwtj.97

Also, please tell me any pros and cons of Norwich that I might not have thought of. Anyone else moved from London? How did you find it?

Thank you so much to anyone who is prepared to share their wisdom!

Emley I suspect we might know each other in RL

Oh quite possibly suffolker - my husband is very tall...! We need a special handshake!

This is all very reassuring!

I am friendly and nice, I promise. But I am also a bit geeky and socially tentative/awkward and it takes me a long time to make friends and be able to ask for a favour, if you know what I mean. I have lots of friends where we are now including some friends from DD's school but it took me a long time to make those friends and I'm scared of starting from scratch. I also did not get in with the baby group crowd, but this was mainly (I think) to do with the fact that I was totally uninterested in all the bloody baby massage stuff and basically wanted to sit at home on my sofa eating biscuits and cuddling DD.

DD is anxious. I mean really properly diagnosed with anxiety anxious so any holiday club is not an option. She is 9 and can't cope if I go upstairs without telling her and will then follow me when I do tell her. That level of anxious. Sometimes it's worse than that. This is partly why we want to be mortgage free, so I can support her a bit more.

I am v v relaxed about primary schools as I do honestly believe that as long as you come out able to read and write and do basic arithmetic, anything else can be filled in later (she is pretty much there). But quite worried about secondary level, partly due to not having experienced state options at this level myself, I think.

It is great to hear about the music service for schools etc. I did google but didn't come up with much so maybe I need to do more research!

Thank you so much for your tips! DD totally not gifted in sport (in fact she may well have special educational needs in this area as still unable to reliably catch a ball, swim or ride a bike) but she is v v musical.

And I totally am not interested in a hothousey school at any level - just one where DD will be supported to reach whatever her goals turn out to be. As she is only 9, I can't really say what they might be!

You'd definitely want Colman then and not Avenues. It's very warm, encouraging and inclusive.

You all sound lovely and really helpful absinthe you pretty much want what I want, so I'm just going to lurk here for a while

Thanks, flighty! That is the impression I've got so far.

And yes, everyone sounds really lovely and super helpful, which is more encouraging than ever!

Hiya

Quick message- but if you do decide to move and find your way, get in touch with me. I can help you make the transition by managing things this side for you. I am a virtual assistant and big moves like this are a great way to use a VA.

Sorry- I hope you don't mind me commenting here. I know it's not an answer to your question.

Thanks
Nadia

Hi Abisynthe. We are also considering a move from London to Norwich. Did you make the move? Any tips? We are looking at the Thorpe St Andrew area. Any local info would be much appreciated especially activities for kids (girl aged 8.5 and boy 7)

Absintheandchips did you make the move? Just interested how it all panned out. We're making the move to Norwich this coming summer with 2 young children.

Hi @AbsintheAndChips Did you end up moving here, I hope that all is going well if so!

Hi!! I see your post was from 2015 but I just came across it as we’re looking to move to Norwich at some point next year, we’re heading over this weekend to have a proper feel and see how we get on, I’m quite curious on how things got on with you? Did you move? And if so, how’s are you finding it??