Looking to move to Norfolk

[alena001]

Hi all

We are looking to relocate to Norfolk soon and as neither my husband or i are local I was after some advice.

I am wondering what are the areas that we should really avoid. We have two young daughters (7 and 4) and are really looking for a nice slower pace of like that London with some goof local schools. I am originally from a small town outside Portsmouth.

Thanks for any help.

Alena

[lljkk]

Sleepy small town, Portugal

[Portugal1963]

Hi can anyone give me some advice about Loddon in Norfolk' is like please.

[Mattheguineapig]

Well we'be been here a week so far, and so far so good 😆 The kids have settled into school really well, we have a great bus service into Norwich, everyone has been lovely and friendly ( even the scary school secretary has been helpful) We are both doing remnants of work in London and have taken the train and coach in quite easily. We didn't want a village life though, just something a bit slower paced but with facilities within easy reach, which we have.

[stevethegardener]

Hi Alena
You'll love Norfolk - not many dodgy bits. You need to think about your life and what facilities you need; most things revolve around Norwich and public transport isn't brilliant from the villages. As the kids grow, they'll want more facilities. There are some great small towns/villages. Please look at them at different times of day and on different days as a beautiful village green on a Monday afternoon can turn into a noisy young person's hang out on a Friday night. Happy looking.

[Jak1e]

Well that's certainly better than 4. Thank you MatriarchalDictatorship

[TheHetSetter]

As my name suggests, I'm in Hethersett. Perfect location for me - halfway between Norwich and Wymondham, easy access to A11/A47. Good amenities (2 pubs, Tesco Express, library, nice parks) but still a village community feel.

And I just tested my broadband speed and got 14mbps.

Also know Wymondham v.well if you have any questions.

[MatriarchalDictatorship]

My mum gets 20mbps with talk talk, but how close you are to the exchange makes a massive difference.

[Jak1e]

It's about 4mbps apparantly

[MatriarchalDictatorship]

What speed do you class as poor?

[Jak1e]

We've just found a really nice place in Wymondham. Advised broadband speed is very poor. That would be a deal breaker for us. However, the speeds were taken in 2014. Have things improved there at all in the last two years?

[charleylarlie]

Have you thought of Diss or one of the surrounding villages? Good transport links (on the Norwich/London line), amenities, and primary schools. If you do learn to drive then it's 30 mins by car to Norwich, Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich. Cambridge about an hour away, as is the coast (nearest beach probably Southwold). Thetford Forest about 20 mins.

[Suffolker]

Hello! We live in Norwich and love it here. If you are looking for somewhere smaller, Wymondham is lovely but house prices artificially inflated due to the popularity of the schools (Wymondham College specifically). If you are happy to look north of Norwich, can I suggest Aylsham? I have a friend who lives there and it has a lovely community feel. Schools are very good too (primary and secondary) and it has good access to the beautiful north Norfolk coast.

[MatriarchalDictatorship]

school admissions info for Norfolk there is also info somewhere on there about secondary school places and waiting lists and spare capacity. If you get allocated a school too far away for primary then your dcs would be entitled to a taxi run to and from school anyway. There are good schools in villages all round Wymondham.

[Mattheguineapig]

Quirky Its fine. Ill just send DH drag myself the 200 yards to the shop round the corner

[lljkk]

State school places can be extremely hard to get in Wymondham (why we didn't move there). Look carefully.

[quirkychick]

Mattheguineapig we have The Times delivered via a newsagents in Norwich.

I originally came from Hampshire, OP, between Southampton and Winchester. I have also lived in London before here, but Norwich is much smaller and provincial than London! Wymondham is south of Norwich, so a bit closer to London and has a very big Waitrose (to make up for the Ocado). Local produce is usually very good here, but obviously not quite so international as London...

North Norfolk is very beautiful, the beaches are quite unspoilt, Bungay and Beccles are pretty to the south. Suffolk coast is very lovely too. Lots of great countryside, Thetford Forest is lovely, lots of nature reserves. I'm in Norwich and the local school are all very good.

For culture we have just had the Norfolk and Norwich Festival with lots of events on, the Sainsbury's Centre has good exhibitions on, there is a food festival soon.

[Jak1e]

Thank you MatriarchalDictatorship and AcornToOak for your response. I will take in Wymondham (I even know how to pronounce it now 😀) and Bungay in my search (Beccles seems a bit too big and towny)
Never used Ocado (always been a Tesco girl) and don't read the Times, so I don't think I'll be missing much. 😀 Thanks again xx

[Mattheguineapig]

The Times doesn't deliver in Norwich either, as we found

[MasterSplinter]

I live in Norfolk and I don't know what Ocado is so clearly we all survive without it!

Norfolk is everything you need imho. Beaches, countryside, a lovely city, heritage, culture, community. It has everything. Plus no motorways or um, direct routes but easy enough to get to That London on a train.

Wymondham is lovely. Not a lot happening for young people but Norwich is near enough. It's pronounced Windum btw...

[alena001]

Well as long as the turkey is good then that's all that matter.

[MatriarchalDictatorship]

I feel it is my MN duty though to tell you that....



...there is no Ocado in Norfolk.


You will get the world's best turkey for your Christmas dinner though.

[MatriarchalDictatorship]

It is. There is a mix of older people and young, plenty of children and a vibrant community feel. My mum moved there a few years ago and its my nearest market town.

I'm sure there are other lovely market towns that would fit the bill but I know Wymondham best :)

[AcornToOak]

Im a born and bred Norfolker to be honest there isnt many of the smaller towns or larger village's that would need avoiding, depending on your budgets there are some absolutely stunning areas, it really depends what you are looking for

Loddon is a stunning area, maybe worth looking at Beccles and Bungay too, also may be a little bit further that 10 miles but Acle is a lovely little town with its own train station which can take you to Norwich and has its own shops etc

[alena001]

Thank you MatriarchalDictatorship. This is exactly the kinda information I need. Sounds like a good area.

[MatriarchalDictatorship]

Sorry Jake I don't know the Loddon area well enough :)