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Original poster

Moving to Norwich

19 replies

star3011 · 08/10/2007 18:48

Hi everyone, I have a nearly 5 year old boy and a 4 month old girl, and we currently live in Berlin. However, we will be re-locating to Norwich in February 08. We lived in London before moving out to Berlin and we don't know Norwich at all. I would be VERY grateful for any advice for those of you from Norfolk as to family-friendly areas in the West and South of Norwich with affordable property, and any schools that you can recommend. Thanks for your help! Liz x

OP posts:
Spagblog · 08/10/2007 18:52

Hello!

We live in Norwich and like the South of the City very much.
We like Keswick, Mulbarton, Swardeston, Wymondham, Cringleford and Hethersett.
Good school in Mulbarton that our 5yr old DD attends and it feeds to a good high school in Hethersett.

Look on primelocation.com for those areas.
Hope that helped!

mumfor1standfinaltime · 08/10/2007 19:03

Hi, Live in the centre of Norwich, so can help for City locations!
Property in Norwich can vary on price depending on where you are. I can certainly tell you areas to avoid.

Spagblog · 08/10/2007 19:08

Yes, don't live near me...Hideous part of Norwich.
LOL

(Lakenham)

mumfor1standfinaltime · 08/10/2007 19:09

Have a look on www.rightmove.co.uk for property prices in Norwich.
Postcodes to try are NR2, NR3, NR1 for city locations.

Also check out the Norwich City Council website which will give you info on local amenities such as libraries, schools, shops etc.
www.norwich.gov.uk/

mumfor1standfinaltime · 08/10/2007 19:10

Not all Lakenham is bad lol!

chipmonkeyPumpkinNorks · 08/10/2007 19:37

cod, is that you?

Original poster
star3011 · 24/10/2007 11:25

Thanks v much for all these responses. Sorry for the delay - we were away and I didn't go on-line. I think we're going to look in the golden triange and fingers crossed, we'll find something that we can afford to rent. I'll keep you posted! Liz x

OP posts:
Fimbo · 25/10/2007 14:15

I live in Hethersett, one of Spagblog's fav's!

I am from Scotland and moved here about 6 years ago after an intital period of renting in the city centre.

Hethersett is near a park & ride, only about 5 miles from the city, yet 1/2 mile the other way you are in the middle of the countryside. Waitrose is near by and there is a Tesco Express in the village.

Fab schools, lots for children to do, m & t, playgroup etc etc.

We are finally getting the keys tomorrow for our new build tomorrow! We are moving out of our rented place shortly (we sold our house in June) - it's in a nice quiet part of Hethersett, 3 beds (well 2 & a boxroom) but would be fine for 6 months or so. Rent is reasonable.

erniecrackles · 25/10/2007 14:45

Hi star3011. We moved to Norwich in the summer and live in the 'Golden Triangle'. If you are working at the University or hospital it is very easy, plus nice parks, lots of shops etc. Loads of babies as well, so probably nice place with a 4 month old. Schools are good too ... but we didn't have a very easy time getting our DSs into the local schools as very oversubscribed. You may well be best off checking with the council about what the situation would be if you are moving into the area. Other posters might be able to tell you if the situation with schools is better in their area.
I'm really enjoying living here so far, so hope it works out well for your family too!

Spagblog · 25/10/2007 14:49

There are lots of places I don't "rate" in the golden triangle. Hethersett is nice and has a fab mother and toddler group

However, if you prefer to be in walking distance from the city center then it is a good choice.

Hassled · 25/10/2007 14:50

I responded on your Mumsnet Local thread - and you said afterwards about trying to rent unfurnished in the GT. Most of the rental market around here is student terraces, so you're going to have to look hard but some unfurnished do come up occasionally. Ernie Crackles - does RRIS mean anything? Do we pass each other in Somerfield?

Fimbo · 25/10/2007 14:51

Most of the Norwich schools in decent areas seem to be oversubscribed. If you settle in a village you are more likely to get the school of your choice.

Another good choice would be Little Melton.

Some schools are infant schools then feed to junior schools (school at Hethersett is this set up) and then others are primary schools which Little Melton is. Both end up at Hethersett High School along with Mulbarton, Swardeston and parts of Cringleford.

There is a new housing development at Cringleford, where there is a new school to be built, which is actually not really that far from bits of the Golden Triangle.

erniecrackles · 25/10/2007 15:14

Hi Hassled -- yes my DS2 is at RRSI! And I'm often wondering round Somerfield looking blank (and feeling guilty for not being in trendy organic shop!).

We are (fingers crossed) moving out of our unfurnished rented house in January -- don't know if that will be of any use to star3011??

I'm curious as to what Spagblog doesn't rate in GT? Like I say, we haven't been here that long, so just grabbed first rented house we could and took it from there in terms of schools etc. ... might be useful to star3011 to have more insider info?

erniecrackles · 25/10/2007 15:15

sorry -- that should be 'wandering'. Though I'm often 'wondering' too!

Hassled · 25/10/2007 15:19

Star3011 has started the same thread on the Mumsnet Local site - where I gave her a bit more info about Norwich. Have a look and see if I was fair . I think she wants her rented unfurnished house a bit later in the New Year but as I said, they do seem to be few and far between...
Are you buying in the area then? I've often wondered if other GT mothers (but not those who do their weekly shop in the GGs - how do they afford it???) are MNers, and am delighted to meet one. My DS3 is at RRIS - the older 3 all went through it in its previous incarnation.

Hassled · 25/10/2007 15:20

So does this mean you have a DS1 in AJS? I have DS2 there.

erniecrackles · 25/10/2007 15:34

Yep -- DS1 is AJS (Y5). What year are yours? Really pleased with it so far. Though having 4 you would know a lot more about it than me!! Didn't know there were other mumsnetters in the playground!

Are folk a bit sniffy about the GT? I will have to look on mumsnet local to find out the gossip! We are hoping to buy a house quite close to AJS but it has all gone a bit quiet! Think I'm just anxious to be properly settled.

Hassled · 25/10/2007 15:59

There's no gossip but the Mumsnet Local site needs more things added - am one of the Tsarinas but am a rubbish one, mainly because I spend time on the main site when I should be adding stuff to the Local site.
Re GT - there are some very "precious" children around and I think it is seen as all a bit too middle class/Boden wearing/organic eating/pushy parents. As I have been known to wear Boden I can't really comment but given that DS3 has now been watching Scooby Doo for some considerable time I'm in the "benign neglect" camp .
Younger kids are Yr5 and Yr1. Probably just broken some rules by quizzing DS2 about a new boy in Yr 5 and got a disinterested "Yeah, he's alright" - they're not in the same class. We'll have to arrange some signal - if you see someone with a red carnation in their Boden coat, it might be me!
Must go and pay attention to offspring at this stage.

Spagblog · 25/10/2007 18:01

Parts of the GT that I don't like are near the top end of the Unthank Road and closer to the university. Lots of nice houses have been converted to student flats and can be noisy and uncared for.
Bottom of Unthank and all of Newmarket Road are the true golden bits IMHO! LOL

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