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

Consider Long Melford OP. Not far from Sudbury with a fast train to London. It's very pretty, options for eating out, nice pubs and a fair few antique shops!
I am from Suffolk and currently live in Surrey. I'm ashamed to say that Suffolk, unlike Surrey, is not very welcoming however. When it came to choose leaving London, I chose Surrey as I found Suffolk very unwelcoming despite the fact it is where I grew up. I would strongly urge renting first to make sure the fit is for you.

Sorry I’m not great with technology! Thanks for the info!

Thank you for that info! Good advice!

I only know these areas as a (braces self) tourist, but that north Norfolk coastline is obviously lovely - Holt (and nearby villages), Cley, Wells, Stiffkey, Sheringham, King's Lynn, and all the places in between. All foodie paradises, fabulous walking, great arts and music scene, wonderful architecture and landscapes. Also, my impression is that a lot of the business owners and residents are 'incomers' and have moved there for a better quality of life and the opportunities that remote working provides to bridge the gap between their former professional lives and the lives they are hoping to build in their new home. I'm sure you would find a network of people.

Woodbridge is lovely. It has a good greengrocers, butchers and 2 bakeries, also a fresh fish kiosk. Lovely walks along the river. A railway station, a small cinema/theatre and several pubs/cafes/restaurants. The shopping centre also has most things you need (small supermarket, pharmacy, Post Office, bookshop etc).

Some of the villages local to Woodbridge also have decent pubs.

it's not so much Londoners moving in (bearable) it's Londoners have second homes which should be clamped down on. whole villages are half empty because of this now and not only unaffordable to locals but there's nothing to buy!

We are staying in Woodbridge for a week to see if we want to move here. Been for the day before. So far it looks lovely 😊

The nice villages around here are eye wateringly expensive.

Diss (shithole, sorry) Eye.... shithole. Sudbury, massive shithole. This is why the property prices are such "good value". You can't be talking about aldeburgh in the same sentence. The same house, that would be 400k in Diss, would be £1.5m plus in aldeburgh. Not even joking.

Lavenham, pretty, and it's got a house from Harry Potter in it. Once the novelty of that's worn off (approx an hour) it's a tiny village, impossible to park, very cramped feeling, with some great pubs and a great butcher.

So, you really need to ascertain your budget. Out of London, to Norfolk/Suffolk isn't going to save you anything really, if you're looking at Burnham, Holt, Southwold and similar. The equivalent will buy you a huge house in Sudbury.

And before I get jumped on for merrily saying it how it is, I live in the area, in a really nice house. The reason we've got an affordable, really nice house, is that is on the borders of a town that is a massive shithole

What did you think of Woodbridge?

Thank you for all the comments, very helpful

@mollysdolly haha exactly. I think some people dont realise there are lots of deprived places in the "countryside", not just quaint villages

Woodbridge, is quite nice.

It was lovely. It's become a bit "we live in Woodbridge because it's nice and we like that image" and this influx has sort of barged out the very people who made it that place, the bijou businesses, and subtle sophistication. It's a bit characterless now. Pretty houses though. And it does have its less desirable parts.

I'd say all in all, it's not what it was, but it's not a bad place to live. The house prices are over inflated, still based on Woodbridge five/ten years ago. Because people moving into the area and don't know, think of it as old Woodbridge.

Did you try the other areas mentioned?