London vs Norwich — choosing between two very different lifestyles. How did you decide?

[JollyTeaScroller]

We’re currently renting in East London and have been seriously considering relocating to Norwich. We’ve visited several times and like the pace, the space, and the housing options. On our budget (£400–450k) we could get a good 3–4 bed there, whereas in London we’d be looking at a much smaller 3-bed in Ilford/Forest Gate and not in the areas we’d ideally choose (Leytonstone/Walthamstow). If budget weren’t an issue and we could afford a Walthamstow house, this wouldn’t even be a discussion.
Now that our children are 3 and 5, we’re getting back into London life — museums, theatres, general ease of days out. I’ve lived here all my adult life, so the city is familiar and practical.
Most of our friends have moved out of London or abroad, so our social circle is small either way. Starting again socially in our 40s is a consideration, but it’s already happening to some extent.
The decision basically comes down to two different lifestyles:
• smaller house but full access to London’s cultural/urban life, or
• more space, bigger garden, calmer pace, and countryside/coast access in Norwich.
For anyone who has made a similar move — either into London or out to a smaller city — I’d appreciate hearing your experiences:
• How and why did you decide which lifestyle suited your family?
• What were the biggest surprises after moving (good or bad)?
• If you moved in your 40s, how was rebuilding a social circle?
• Did your children seem to do better in one environment than the other?
Hearing real experiences from people who’ve faced this kind of choice would be really helpful.

Do you have family or friends there? Norwich is lovely but very isolated - it takes a long time to get anywhere else. We had the same dilemma but stuck with London (South Woodford), schools and opportunities for young people are few and far between in Norwich. I’m very glad we made our decision, our kids are thriving and schools are amazing round where we are.

We moved out of London to a small town when DD was 3 (we were tail end of 30s) We now have a second child. We have not one single regret. We have made loads of friends, mostly through the children. There is lots to do. We have a lovely big 4 bed house with a big garden, countryside on our doorstep for walks. We spent the top end of your house budget. We are on the train network though and can be in central London in an hour (though the cost is prohibitive to go in multiple times a month). There are options like ours which feel like almost no compromise at all as London is still within reach.

My partner lived in Walthamstow and we would not want to raise children there. Mainly the secondary schools but also the fact my partner was mugged twice as a teenager.

We left a brilliant part of zone two almost two years ago and moved to another city with our then 2yo and baby.

I’m so pleased we did it! I have tendencies towards “glass half empty” so I was sure I’d regret it, but I don’t. We couldn’t have moved to the edge of London and made jobs/childcare work, so were essentially priced out (nursery fees for one child were equal to my not especially poor salary). We now have a lovely home where we have space for the children and for family and friends to visit and stay, and a gorgeous garden. Life is good! Also, it turns out that other cities have loads going on and loads of likeminded people with children, whilst our friends with children have gradually left London too.

i still love to visit London and enjoy travelling occasionally for work, but have no regrets about leaving. I’d only return if someone dropped a few million pounds in my bank account and I could replicate the lifestyle and breathing space we have here in a central London village.

Where are your families? Norwich is really far from anything and can feel quite isolated, it'll be a big shock to the system after London and there might be better cities to try.

Do you want to get trapped in Norwich after they’ve grown? Because realistically you’re not going to be able to afford much in London in 15 years.

I moved into London after the last of my children left to have a more exciting life and have made loads of friends in my 50s.

Where will you be working? I love Norwich and areas are very family friendly like the golden triangle. However, I wouldn’t personally want to work in London and live in Norwich, even one day a week. The trains are very busy and slow.

If you are thinking of getting jobs in Norwich e.g. a teacher then go for it. If you have to commute into London, I’d look at Ely.