Kent Coast v Norfolk

TeeTotaller1 · 2021-11-07T12:58:16+00:00

Trying again as no response from an earlier post.... House on the market, DH retired, I can work anywhere, looking for a fab Community etc The old 'Coast v Country' dilemma Would appreciate any info as a bit undecided and as it's going to be our 'forever home' it needs to be the right decision [smile]

SethWho · 07/11/2021 12:59

Norfolk coast

Twizbe · 07/11/2021 13:04

Where are family? Do you need to get anywhere in particular?

Norfolk is beautiful and has some lovely towns BUT it can be hard to get to other places / be quite remote.

Kent coast is better served by public transport and is closer to London if needed.

Bigfathairyones · 07/11/2021 13:09

Have lived near to both (and currently live very close to one of them) but I would strongly advise you to visit both areas during off season and on season. You need to spend some time getting to know both areas as they're very different and each town in each place is very different too. Traffic is something to consider in each too, as although it's easy to put up with holiday traffic when on holiday, it's rather more annoying when you live there. What will you want in each area? What sort of community e.g. W.I. v church v golfers v bikers etc.

Original poster

TeeTotaller1 · 07/11/2021 13:15

@Twizbe

Where are family? Do you need to get anywhere in particular?

Norfolk is beautiful and has some lovely towns BUT it can be hard to get to other places / be quite remote.

Kent coast is better served by public transport and is closer to London if needed.

Parent in Middx and In Laws in Wiltshire, travelling not a problem but totally get your point re: remoteness. DC's are in 20's/early 30's with no kids so not bothered about where we go as will travel to see us

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Orangecrisp · 07/11/2021 13:18

Norfolk is incredibly difficult to get to and from if you need to travel to visit relatives or vice versa. Also the infrastructure isn’t ideal you could be an hour for a hospital for example. I’ve never lived in Kent so can’t compare!

Original poster

TeeTotaller1 · 07/11/2021 13:19

@Bigfathairyones

Have lived near to both (and currently live very close to one of them) but I would strongly advise you to visit both areas during off season and on season. You need to spend some time getting to know both areas as they're very different and each town in each place is very different too. Traffic is something to consider in each too, as although it's easy to put up with holiday traffic when on holiday, it's rather more annoying when you live there. What will you want in each area? What sort of community e.g. W.I. v church v golfers v bikers etc.

Lived in a coastal bit of Kent for about 3 years a few years ago so completely get what you're saying about holiday traffic etc Looking more toward the arts side of things, music, live gigs, pottery classes etc

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Original poster

TeeTotaller1 · 07/11/2021 13:19

@Orangecrisp

Norfolk is incredibly difficult to get to and from if you need to travel to visit relatives or vice versa. Also the infrastructure isn’t ideal you could be an hour for a hospital for example. I’ve never lived in Kent so can’t compare!

Good point !

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elQuintoConyo · 07/11/2021 13:29

Avoid Kent, that's where my mother is

Norfolk is a bugger for getting out and about, although it is lovely, it can feel a bit cut off.

Kent has more going on, but denser population.

Bigfathairyones · 07/11/2021 13:33

OP if you've already lived on the Kent coast I would try a Norfolk holiday next then. School holidays are always busy and the 'changeover days' (Fri/Sat) traffic travelling along the A47 up to the coast have to be experienced to be believed sometimes. Utterly beautiful and it wouldn't matter if you were up here as you'd just avoid going along it on those days.

Lightswitch123 · 07/11/2021 13:34

I'd avoid Norfolk unless you have family there. Its a nightmare to get to.

Original poster

TeeTotaller1 · 07/11/2021 13:48

@Bigfathairyones

OP if you've already lived on the Kent coast I would try a Norfolk holiday next then. School holidays are always busy and the 'changeover days' (Fri/Sat) traffic travelling along the A47 up to the coast have to be experienced to be believed sometimes. Utterly beautiful and it wouldn't matter if you were up here as you'd just avoid going along it on those days.

Fab idea thankyou

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Original poster

TeeTotaller1 · 07/11/2021 13:49

@elQuintoConyo

Avoid Kent, that's where my mother is

Norfolk is a bugger for getting out and about, although it is lovely, it can feel a bit cut off.

Kent has more going on, but denser population.

🤣

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Henlie · 07/11/2021 14:01

Op - from reading your posts the town that most comes to mind that might suit you (albeit not in either county you mention) is Lewes in East Sussex. I just think it might have the vibe you’re after, plus you get the best of both worlds in being surrounded by countryside but a 15min drive to the seaside. It’s also really accessible to Gatwick, Brighton, other major routes etc.

However, its quite a sort after town, which comes at a bit of a premium……not sure how much you were looking to spend as you don’t mention budget.

Roselilly36 · 07/11/2021 17:28

We relocated to Norfolk from East Sussex, best move we ever made.

aradicalnotion · 08/11/2021 08:39

We've recently moved to the Kent coast, but we have family in Norfolk so considered both. Decided on Kent in the end due to some of the issues raised here - Norfolk is beautiful but can feel very remote and cut off whilst Kent still feels 'connected'.

We moved to Thanet, which has its own issues for sure, but the housing stock is really good and varied, we are a 10-min stroll to gorgeous beaches and there's absolutely TONS going on here in terms of arty stuff - galleries, classes, gigs, exhibitions etc. Plus it's just over an hour into central London on the high-speed.

I do love Norfolk but this was definitely the right decision for us and I think I would have felt really isolated if we'd made that move.