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

Some lovely villages around Reepham, Salle, Holkham and so close to Norwich and not too far from the coast.

Lavenham is stunning. Woodbridge is beautiful and lively.

One not mentioned so far - Wickham Market. Picturesque and has enough going on to keep it interesting (disclaimer; haven't been there for years).

Thank you all so much. On a slightly different note is there anywhere that I might want to give a wide berth😀?

Give Thetford and Haverhill a miss. Bardwell and Ixworth in Suffolk are lovely and quite good at accepting new residents as long as you want to be part of the community.

I love North Norfolk, cromer and Holt.

Bury St Edmunds used to be lovely but has changed so much and isn't quite the quaint market town it once was

My folks live in Beccles. It’s a lovely town, some poncy delis and coffee shops. And a fabulous annual music festival.

Great Yarmouth? Joking as it’s presumably not what you’re looking for but although it’s down at heel now, you can see from some of the buildings that it was lovely once.

Beccles is nice. I grew up there and it has definitely become more poncy, due to the Southwold overspill effect but if you don’t need to commute to London regularly, it has a lot going for it.

Posted too soon, also meant to say that there are lots of nice little villages around Beccles if that’s more what you’re looking for.

South Norfolk has a number of lovely villages with Wymondham/Attleborough as the local train stop for the route into Liverpool St. i would say that most villages don’t have what you’re after - they’re mostly small collections of houses, with a primary school and a small shop (probably a mccolls / nisa local type), maybe a few independent shops and eateries but not many. Those will be found in towns like those mentioned above. Norwich however has aalll of the things you are looking for, and if you’re willing to drive 30-45 mins in most directions you’ll find lots of places to visit across lots of areas if you know what I mean? I grew up in Wymondham, had friends in Hethersett, Old Buckenham, Wicklewood, Wreningham, Mulbarton etc. so know that area very well.

Dedham

Do you need to consider train links? Bury St Edmunds isn't great for getting to London, Sudbury has a very small train that connects to a Liverpool Street train.

I wouldn't go to orford for a 2nd home as the locals hate it.

I think Rendlesham.
Few miles to Orford and Aldeburgh for day out but not the house prices.

Rendlesham is one of the only places I know that has the real community feel, community events.
Plus only 10mins to Woodbridge.

Catchment to Farlingaye and excellent primary too.

Thank you all.

Don’t need to worry about trains or schools so that does make things a bit easier.

Interesting what you say about Orford as I have family there who haven’t experienced any hostility as ‘incomers’

Lavenham is lovely. I don't know Woodbridge but I only ever hear wonderful things about it. Bury is nice but definitely not as chocolate boxy as it used to be. It's a sod for getting into London from, Sudbury has a Marks Tey change but it's actually fine especially if you're not doing it every day. I also don't like how Bury has the mass of new housing on one side that's so far from the town centre, and I can't bear the smell of the factory..!

I don't know the east it's mainly mid and west Suffolk that I know. People are very nice round here I would say. Some of the smaller villages could be worth looking into especially as you don't need public transport.

We stayed in Woodbridge, it is a lovely area, pretty with a lot to do, great high street, many 2nd home owners from London, so that might suit you, I didn’t find it a friendly place if I am being truly honest though. Good luck in your search OP.

South Norfolk does have some lovely villages - I live in one. It has a great community that really pulls together in hard times - the pandemic (out volunteers group has covered several surrounding villages as well as ours) and recent floods, where the whole village turned out to help those affected. If you’re going to muck in, get involved and actually become a part of the community, you should be fine. If you’re just going to rock up every so often, you won’t be abused in the street or anything, but you probably won’t feel quite such a part of the place. And it can take a few years to bed in too.

All us locals use local tradespeople as well and all of that, so please don’t take that sort of Lady Muck attitude... we aren’t all living in dilapidated hovels waiting for a saviour to arrive from London you know. Hopefully that post was just a bit of defensiveness on your part and not indicative of how you actually are IRL.

We're originally from the Midlands and moved to Woodbridge three years ago. I'd say it's the friendliest place I've ever lived in and neither has ever experienced any hostility as non-locals. I have heard that people can find Southwold and Aldeburgh difficult as outsiders though.

To me it's the perfect place to call home - beautiful walks, lots of nice shops, cinema and cafes (usually), train station and close to the sea.

Diss and the other South Norfolk villages are great places to live as pp has said. Mostly there is a lovely community spirit.

Diss to London is commutable and is a lovely little market town, which is fine for basic shopping. Norwich is 45 mins away by car.

If you go to a rural village you will need a reliable car and be able to drive because public transport in most parts of South Norfolk is abysmal.

I am originally from roughest South London (- Norbury) and moved to South Norfolk 12 years ago. I love it. I won’t say the exact village as too outing but basically any along the Norfolk / Suffolk border are pretty much the same. The only place I’d say to avoid is Thetford. And perhaps Attleborough. Both are a bit dodgy round the edges, but good for a browse for the shops.

Meant to add - you definitely need to drive. Lots. Where we are it’s about a 60 mile round trip to Norwich. When we first moved here it seemed like an epic journey but you get used to it (I used to jump on a bus outside my house in London and be in Croydon in 20 mins)! Don’t rely on trains for jobs etc as they’re horrible unreliable and crap. When I first moved I thought I’d get the train for work and it was so exhausting and annoying never knowing if it was going to be cancelled or late I gave up on that idea.

@korawick12345

Thank you all.

Don’t need to worry about trains or schools so that does make things a bit easier.

Interesting what you say about Orford as I have family there who haven’t experienced any hostility as ‘incomers’

Do they live there full time? I recently moved out of Orford. So many family there and everyone knows everything the second you step out of your house lol but they mean we'll. The hostility is worse when people came against lockdown to 2nd homes. If no one is rule breaking people didn't mind so much.

That said although Farlingaye is still catchment, it won't be from next year, they no longer fund the school bus. This is why we moved (mostly).

Woodbridge is nice, but too big to feel like a proper community. Saxmundham is nice but can be a bit down run.

Friston, snape and rendlesham are good. Rendlesham only tops it for me because of the catchment schools.

Korawick12345, We are looking to retire to Norfolk or Suffolk and looking for similar location and amenities to what you mentioned! I was wondering if you found anywhere suitable?

Aldeburgh is gorgeous but they are very precious there to outsiders. It’s well known that Roy Keane was forced out of the area and had to move to Woodbridge because the locals didn’t want him there. You have to remember, these are villages and people are fed up of Londoners driving prices up, it’s causing a significant impact on our economy because there is a “brain drain”. if young people can’t afford to live in our region, they move out and take their skills with them. This is a real issue, and you need to be mindful of it.

Framingham is gorgeous as well, as is southwold. Bury is probably your best bet for a picturesque place with easy access, without impacting on local people .

Woodbridge 100% you will not get any hostility.

Also in Woodbridge postcode is Rendlesham/Sutton/Orford/Hosselley

I live in ip12.

Thank you both for that info. We are newly retired like walking in the countryside, being within a drive of the coast, an active community with things going on and I’m just wondering if Norfolk or Suffolk would be best?

This is a zombie thread, and @Margar12345 if you want the OP to respond, you need to tag her!