What are the differences between Colchester, Manningtree & Sudbury (choosing a new place to live)

[katymac]

What are the towns like to live in - what are the differences?

Do any of them have good cycle paths? What do they feel like?

Not too worried about schools - but tennis clubs of dance classes could be nice

Is it easier/harder to find jobs in any of them

tia

I really don't have a clue where to live!

Colchester is much bigger and so easier to find jobs in I'd say. It's about half an hour or so from Sudbury - ahve lived in both and much preferred the latter because it's smaller, calmer and friendlier but still has pretty much everything you need - town rather than village. There is a disused railway line that passes around it which makes an excellent cycle path - goes from the leisure centre past Ballingdon Hill and away to the North (??) and is part of a network. Not sure if Sudbury has tennis and dance etc.

Personally I didn't like living in Colch (too crowded, horrible High St at night etc) but loads and loads of people disagree with me!

That's interesting, thank you

I think I'm going to have to stay somewhere there centrally and use the train & our bikes to get around and look at houses

That way I'll know if they are suitable - I may buy an ordnance survey map and draw circles round each station to check 'where' property's are in relation to each other - I don't think I can use Google maps that we'll yet to do it on-line!!

Have to say I'm afraid the actual train station in sudbury linkd to colch via marks tey i think, rather than being direct. Buses are better i think. I loved it though 😀

I think we will start near Manningtree (found a cheap campsite) start looking round maybe spending a day in each town

Fortunately we have subsidised train travel

I moved from Colchester to Manningtree and grew up around Sudbury. Colchester is getting extremely built up now and the traffic can be a nightmare. There are cycle routes but I think many use the roads as well as parks etc. Both Colchester and Manningtree have good rail links to London/Ipswich/Norwich, if you need them. Sudbury is a much smaller town that Colchester; more of a market town. Manningtree is one of the smallest towns in England and there aren't many big name stores in the town, but some great pubs and restaurants plus boutique-type shops and a Co-op and Tesco Express for food shopping. There are also so many lovely walks along the river and out towards Dedham Vale.

Thanks great info!

So for jobs Colchester, then Manningtree (& other smaller towns) with Sudbury & smaller villages last

Hovering between getting a job first & then a house or vie versa!

Manningtree is smaller than Sudbury so potentially fewer jobs. Many people commute to London from Manningtree or work in the larger towns (Colchester or Ipswich, for example).

Commuting to London is unlikely as I have health issues I need a pt 2-4 mornings a week office jobs.....it'll be fine!! I hope

The University of Essex, in Colchester, often advertises part-time jobs. It's about a 20-minute drive from Manningtree. There are buses between the two towns, but not a direct route.

That's interesting - I'll have a look at their website

Colchester is looking more likely - I like Tiptree (great fabric shop there!!)

Ive lived in Colchester 13 years and am seriously considering moving out. There are about 1500 houses going up near where I live in the north part of town with very little extra infrastructure coming in. The High Street which uses to be charming and full of useful shops now has mainly fast food outlets and several clothes chains have moved out of the town (Oasis, Gap, Phase Eight). The High Street is also very different on a Friday or Saturday night, very aggressive sadly as I've really enjoyed living here up to now. Work here yes but I wouldn't move here.

Thanks Minicooper that's useful - where are you considering moving to?