Norfolk/Suffolk nice towns and villages

[korawick12345]

Looking for some tips on locations in Norfolk/Suffolk.

My husband and I are looking at splitting our time between London and somewhere far more rural.

Normally we would be able to spend weekends going and scoping out different areas but lockdown has put paid to that! So I am looking for some info about nice areas in Suffolk and Norfolk.

Ideally we are looking for a rural property but it would be nice if our nearest town/large village was a lovely place to visit.

I know Aldeburgh and Orford quite well and am aware that Southwold is also nice in a 'holiday' kind of way. But I am interested in places that are perhaps similar but not so 'holiday' maybe further inland.

We don't need, good schools, easy public transport links, theatre/cinema/leisure centre, clothes shopping etc. But a community type of hub is always nice.

What we would like is nice/gastro pubs, poncey farm shops/delis/bakeries, somewhere that might have a gallery or interiors type shops!

I am fully aware that lots of these types of places are considered pretentious but I like nothing more than a good bakery, butcher and cheese shop, so shoot me!

Also looking for nice scenery and walks etc.

Places that have come up are Eye, Diss, Sudbury and Lavenham, so any views on these places would also be welcome.

Thanks

Lavenham is nice Sudbury has nice parts.

Woodbridge is beautiful.

Holt in North Norfolk would fit your description.

Norwich has a lot of the things you are looking for and there’s plenty of pretty villages around there with a very short drive into the city.

Hadleigh in Suffolk?

Maybe Harleston, Bungay, Burnham Market (if you’ve got cash to splash)?

I live in Diss. There are some fantastic local farm shops, deli's and pubs serving great food.
Surrounding Diss is Stuston, Palgrave, Shelfanger and Burston where you'll find spacious character properties.
The local countryside is fab for walks and Norwich, Ipswich and Bury St Edmund's are nearby and offer great shopping.
I love living here and there is great community spirit.

If you go for too small a place, the locals won't take to the fancy London couple who only come over at weekends. Rightly so. Walberswick is probably what you want; it's full of Londoners second homes already.

@RosesforMama

If you go for too small a place, the locals won't take to the fancy London couple who only come over at weekends. Rightly so. Walberswick is probably what you want; it's full of Londoners second homes already.

There's always one isn't there! So interesting you assume that we would be only going for weekends, not the case actually.

I have no doubt that there will be a mixture of friendly and unfriendly people anywhere, same as on Mumsnet!

Thanks for all the suggestions! An afternoon of rightmove beckons!

Little bump to see if anyone else has any ideas.
Thanks

I didn’t see anyth8g nasty about pointing out the frustration that locals feel when I comers arrive.
I live quite near to Kings Lynn and house prices have rocketed recently.
Nice areas locally are Great Massingham, Dersingham and Heacham.

Don’t know it massively up there but I did like Woodbridge, that had a nice feel. Framingham also springs to mind as interesting but not overly tourist/weekender filled.

mydogisagentleman - genuine question, why would it be acceptable to be frustrated that people move to your area? Our intention is to likely build or renovate a house, therefore using local tradesmen and supporting the local economy. We will then live there, spend money with local businesses, pay our council tax but also need to spend some time in London for work. Which of these things are worthy of hostility?

Korawick - in the pretty village where I grew up, "incomers" have driven up house prices to a level where local working people can no longer afford to buy and live in the place they grew up. Obviously this may happen in suburbs of London, say, but there is a whole transport infrastructure enabling people to travel more easily between where they would have chosen to live but can't afford, and where they can live. If you are forced to live in the nearby town because you can't afford to buy in your village, there might be one bus a week. Or none. This causes resentment, and it causes particular resentment when the people aren't really living there - their kids aren't at the school, they don't join the parish council, they aren't working nearby. They are seen as net takers in the community. You have more money and more choices than they do. One of them probably would have loved their son or daughter to buy that house, do it up, and live in their local area. But they don't have that financial clout.
My mum moved into the village where I grew up in 1985, and worked in a school 3 villages along. The locals have probably accepted her fully within the last 10 years or so.
It's better to buy somewhere that already has lots of "incomers" to avoid this scenario.

I'm afraid that as a native of these parts, people do look quite negatively on second-home-owners just coming to their country home for a weekend now and again. Some grumbles are: they're not the ones spending money day-to-day in the local economy, it's another house that a local family cannot buy, as previous posters say, it pushes house prices up which can mean that first time buyers have to look elsewhere. We hear it all the time.

Sorry to be negative. Just, letting you know really. It's not the fault of any individual I just think the second home market here has surged lately and people are becoming more displeasing of it.

Just to add to Potterbore's list of Diss villages - Dickleburgh, Mellis and Wortham very nice. And I've always liked Redgrave. Easy drive to mainline station in Diss - although traffic can be slow depending on time of the day.

Worth checking which have pubs or a small shop. They do make a difference to getting to know people.

Woodbridge is really lovely- you can get a train to Ipswich to swop to mainline London trains but worth checking how regularly they run.

Also worth you looking at Debenham - although longer drive to mainline station.

And Dedham Vale.

Going further west Saffron Walden might fit your bill.

I miss East Anglia!

I totally understand all these points when it comes to holiday homes but it seemed that some PP seem to suggest that no one should be able to move anywhere rural lest they take a space that a ‘local’ could rightfully have! I suppose I just can’t understand that mindset. The alternative would seem to be that no one should be allowed to move anywhere which would be very odd! I have family who live somewhere very ‘holiday home’ and without the holiday businesses unemployment would skyrocket.

And I would love to have been able to buy my first home in the area of London I grew up in! Not a snowballs chance in hell . But I didn’t blame it on the fact that lots of people want to be in London so demand and prices are high!

I don't think anyone has said it's their own opinion, just pointing it out in order to help prepare you.

Names- it does feel as if one poster has some sort of an agenda but maybe that is just my perception!

Maybe I do have an agenda; I know what it's like to feel like an outcast in my home village.
I was a young teen when we moved and I was never made to feel welcome. I understand why but it wasn't very fair. That's why I am advising you buy somewhere that is already quite mixed. If you don't think it's even a possibility that "Londoners" can be viewed with hostility as having priced the locals out, then you are naive. I never said it was fair - but it's certainly something that a wise rural buyer who will be working in London should have some regard to.

Roses- I am very aware of the hostility that we might face. It is our intention to try to be members of the community rather than ‘takers’ but I know that can take time to establish. I just didn’t expect to have the hostility on Mumsnet 😂

Op you can get hostility on Mumsnet over where you place your handbag upon walking through your front door 😂and that was before a global pandemic! 🦠
Good luck to you
If I had the money I would buy in Lavenham or somewhere on the beach

Woodbridge, Lavenham, Framlingham...all already mentioned but the best of Suffolk (no offence to other places just on the basis of OPs requirements!)

Hostility against outsiders is real unfortunately even in larger, traditionally holiday home locations like Southwold. It'll be worse in a small village. This pandemic has highlighted the underlying resentments of the less affluent locals - common the world over. It would deter me!

@orchidsonabudget

Op you can get hostility on Mumsnet over where you place your handbag upon walking through your front door 😂and that was before a global pandemic! 🦠 Good luck to you If I had the money I would buy in Lavenham or somewhere on the beach

That made me laugh! You are absolutely right😀

@247SylviaPlath

Woodbridge, Lavenham, Framlingham...all already mentioned but the best of Suffolk (no offence to other places just on the basis of OPs requirements!)

This.

Lavenham is gorgeous, a nightmare in summer when people stand in the middle of the road to take photos or just walk out in front of cars. Good places to buy farm fresh food. Sudbury market has good local traders and the farmers’ markets in Sudbury, Lavenham and Long Melford have a good selection. Long Melford also has galleries, interior shops etc (not as pretty, but good community, good Indian restaurants and pubs, yoga studio, cricket club etc- could be with considering).

I live in a village in the area. Many villages here have a pub and shop, done have other clubs and things to join. I mainly use Long Melford.

Woodbridge also has good pubs and restaurants, great walks along the river. Gym/ pool in town, sailing club accepts social members. Lots of nice looking shops, but I haven’t visited many of them.