Moving to Norfolk with older children

[MoomaFish]

Hi all!

I'm looking to move to back to Norfolk, uk and we have a teenager, and a 11 year old.

I grew up there but its changed SO much
that I'm really not sure what its really like anymore.

Schools are the most important thing, followed by proximity to Norwich so said teenager can get there on public transport.

We love the great outdoors, the coast, cycling, walking, we have pets ....

I keep searching in and around Hoveton and Wroxham. Please can I have some HONEST opinions about what its like please! Nice, friendly or chavvy or rough ??😄

Thank you!

You might get more helpful responses if you post in the property section 🙂

There are lots of threads about moving to Norfolk if you use the search function.

I don't know Hoveton and Wroxham well unfortunately. They come across as rural and touristy more than rough.
The key thing to be mindful of is a need for transport links, double check public transport frequency as some villages still aren't served or are one bus am and 1 pm.
Also access to hospital as there are only 3 in the County they are a fair distance apart: Norfolk and Norwich, King's Lynn, and James Paget in Gorleston with a minor injuries in Cromer.
I hear good things about Broadland High School which I think those areas are in the catchment for.

Hi There,

I am looking for advice on how to help my 2 children ideally.
I have 2 boys 8 and 12 - both are lazy, dislike going out,,traveling in cars, doing sports or socializing. We have tried many clubs which neither of them stick to. They don’t have a thirst for anything except gaming and staying in. As a kid I was similar but mainly because I wasn’t given the opportunities due to finances and had a father who never left the house. This week it’s half term and we have 1 thing planned. My husband and I have suggested Chester Zoo, the seaside for the day and all are met with moaning and moaning and moaning. They don’t like eating out so we can’t even do that, this morning my husband and I went out for breakfast because the whole thing would have just been spoilt if we’d have taken them. I don’t know what is wrong with them but I’m at my wits end. I don’t know what to do apart from taking electronics away which I have done this evening following some really bad behaviour. They literally don’t know how to function without electronics. We have no family living near us and only 1 family of friends close by so we only have one another 99% of the time which I think makes things harder. Tonight my eldest son asked to go outside in the garden and play football and my husband having removed all electronics said no because it was muddy and he didn’t want the mess. I’m constantly up against a wall, he’s like this all the time even not letting the children step across stones on the stream because he doesn’t want them to get their walking shoes wet! I fear he is contributing to making them like they are and robbing them of a fun childhood for fear of dirt etc……..at home everything is cleaned constantly and we have white tiled floors and walls. We recently got a kitten and with the change in weather he’s constantly getting the floor dirty. I spend my life cleaning the floor. I grew up with nothing and my kids have everything I never had, they don’t know how lucky they are, it’s so frustrating and I don’t know how to change it.

@Avh260 you need to start your own thread.

However whilst you say your children have everything you didn't have and don't know how lucky they are. They don't. They have stressed and anxious parents who want a perfect house, they probably learnt years ago that arts and crafts were frowned upon because of mess, that leaving cars or legs out was met with moaning parents and to put their stuff away. Far easier for them to be on electronics and not be moaned at for the mess.

Your child asked to play outside, you could have both said yes, gone outside as a family had a fun evening together then taken shoes off as you came in, had showers and a hot chocolate before bed. Instead of quality time they got rejected instead.

I'd just move to Norwich. Great place for teens. Hoveton and Wroxham have nothing to offer them and can be a bit rough around the edges, whilst being ridiculously expensive. You'll forever be in the car driving them into Norwich!
If you don't want to be central, then look at Thorpe St Andrew. Good schools and really easy to get into the City. Wymondham isn't bad either actually and has good bus and train links to Norwich. Neither are as pretty as the Broads, but are much more convenient and close to pretty places.

ILoveAn Owl: Thanks that was really helpful! x