Move to Suffolk

[Redballoon79]

Hi all, I’m looking for help on area and schools advice in Suffolk please. We are moving our 2 small kids 2 and 4 and hoping to move closer to Dh sister in Bury St Edmunds. We need to be able to get to London a couple of times a week for work but my main concern is schools as dd will need a mid year reception place and I cannot fathom which schools are best in Bury at this stage.

We are also going to visit Woodbridge and Sudbury but don’t know those areas well enough yet but online via other mumsnet pages, they do look good. Happy to be in a village a few miles from a station too if the schools and area are nice.

Many thanks!!

Hi Redballoon79. I know this is an oldish thread but I wondered if, and what, you decided on where you'd move in the end, and hoped you could share your experience of the area? We are looking to move to Suffolk and don't know where to start! Looking for a good primary school (non-faith preferably) and somewhere not too busy but not isolated. Would like to be able to walk to school too. We were planning on a visit last summer but then the pandemic came! It's so hard to get a feel for the place without physically visiting!!!

@SlowMoves79 we are in the same position and not sure if we should look in Hertfordshire or Suffolk. I would love to hear how @Redballoon79 got on

We did a lot of looking in Hertfordshire and found some lovely areas and, like everywhere, some not so lovely areas!

@QueenOfCakeandCoffee. I forgot to add, happy to help with any questions about Herts!!

Woodbridge ticks so many boxes. Lots to do and not just a holiday area like some Suffolk coastal towns. Bury St Edmunds is lovely too but I always feel it’s more isolated. There are also lovely large villages like Long Melford.

Herts has great places like Tring and Berkhamsted in the West and St Albans and Hitchin and Harpenden further east. Plenty of villages around Hertford too. Anywhere close to a railway line with fast services to London costs more and places like Brookmans Park are swish!

It’s so hard if you don’t know an area and can’t get a proper feel with lockdown. We were due to visit hitchin just as the last lockdown started so i’m still wondering about it, It’s probably as far west as we will go.
We liked Hertford for its vibe but not sure what we want exists there, which is why I’ve started to think about Suffolk.
We too need that sweet spot of trains into kings cross, good schools, walking distance to shops/restaurants/cafes, 4 bed with a good size garden! I’ve started to think about applying for location, location, location i’m feeling so desperate!

@PresentingPercy Yes, Woodbridge sounds lovely. It's just a tad far from my MIL. Same goes for Bury St. Eds.

Yes, you really need to walk around to get an idea of how an area feels. The pandemic has interrupted everyone's plans. I've been to Hitchin a few times and I'd say it has all you need in terms of convenience. Nice market plaza with pubs, cafes, shops etc. Like lots of places, it has nice bits and not so nice bits. I only know it from a visitor's perspective so can't say much else. I have heard that there are some very good schools though if that helps. Hereford does have a nice vibe and even a theatre, but I just don't get feeling of "home" in Herts. Think I need more greenery!!!

Hertford, not Hereford 😀

Where is mil?

Mother in law. Sorry, it hurts less when I write it as 'mil' 😀

Yes I get mother in law - but where does she live?

Oh sorry, WHERE?! I should have worn my glasses! She's in the Borough of Brent. I like driving but not all day!! Wouldn't want to be more than about an hour and a half away though as don't want her to feel cut off from us. Also looking at Colchester but not getting the best vibe from what I've heard.

@EnglishRain sorry I know this post is really old but moving to Sudbury area and would love to hear your thoughts on what it's like for a young family. Thank you xxxx

@greyfox82 have sent you a PM