Norfolk, Suffolk or Essex?

[Fave92xx]

Hi lovelies, all advice/ recommendations welcome! Me and my partner currently live in London (where we’re both from) and both work freelance in Essex / London.

Although London is our home, we’re both looking for somewhere else to put down some roots and start a family. We’ve been looking at Essex (Colchester mostly as it’s within our budget) but also looking at Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.

We’re looking for somewhere where life’s a bit slower and there’s more of a community feel. We want to get away from that city feeling and city people!

We love North Norfolk and love the idea of still being within 45 min of Norwich, however feel both our businesses will suffer being so far out (I’m a hairdresser and my partners a DJ) however we have considered the option of buying somewhere close to the beach (mundesley, Cromer etc) and building a cabin to rent out as an air bnb for additional income. Not sure if this is a crazy idea considering there’s so many holiday accommodation options in Norfolk, any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated!

We’re also considering;

Essex : Colchester
Cambridgeshire: Ely
Norfolk: Norwich, north Walsham, kings Lynn, fakenham
Suffolk: Lowestoft

Honesty we’ve gone back and forth so much I’ve frazzled my brain! Would love to get some input

Thanks so much! Xx

Lowestoft Rundown, poor and remote.
Otherwise your area is obviously huge so hard to know where to begin. Think you need to narrow things down a lot yourself

I know those areas fairly well, and you seem to have picked some of the worst spots over a large area, what's your budget and what kind of property are you looking for?

If I was going to live in Norfolk and run a business I would go to Norwich and not really anywhere else.

That’s a massive search area! And some of those towns are… not great?

I would have thought your areas of business would be pretty flexible in terms of location? People definitely have hair even in rural Norfolk And there are a fair few little village salons around me that seem to do well. So I would allow yourself a bit more flexibility with your areas 😊

Lowestoft?? Noooooooooo. Why?

We made the move from the SE to Norfolk last year and absolutely love it here, but have to say some of the places on your shortlist I wouldn’t touch with a barge pole!

Of all the places in North Norfolk, North Walsham, Kings Lynn & Fakenham would be low on my list. I’m assuming this is a budget issue. Fakenham’s probably the best bet: close to nicer places and not as rough as the other two.

You can do hairdressing anywhere (though you won’t be able to charge London prices) but I guess being a DJ needs a city for anything approximating a full-time income.

Have you done a Rightmove search within your budget and a 30 mile radius from Norwich? That might throw up some nice villages.

I don’t think you’d get planning permission to build a cabin to use as an air b&b.

Norfolk is lovely, so many nice places, personally I prefer it, Lowestoft, been once that was enough! Essex I don’t know areas to comment.

Norwich is a beautiful city, property is very reasonable compared to other parts of the UK. People are friendly. Beaches are amazing, sandy and just gorgeous. I would choose Norwich over the others on your list.

We have relocated to Norfolk from the South Coast, the best, and bravest thing we have ever done, still can’t believe we actually did it. Didn’t know a soul here, no friends no family.

We meet people all the time that have moved to Norfolk and love it too. From Norwich you can be on the coast in 30 or so mins, eating fish & chips on the sand. Coastal areas we love are, wells next the sea, sea Palling, Mundersley, Bacton, Sheringham. The north Norfolk coast is lovely, property is a bit pricier though.

Visit Norfolk and have a good look around, it’s a big decision. Wishing you luck with your move.

Along the A12 corridor / railway stations in Essex you have Chelmsford , Hatfield Peverel , Witham , and Colchester . If you want a quieter life , then Hatfield Peverel or Witham would be contenders in my book . Personally , I'd prefer Witham as it has shops , schools and all the expected facilities.

Not Lowestoft.

Norwich is lovely, obviously it has areas to avoid but don't most larger places?

Have you looked at Woodbridge?

North Norfolk is great, I think Fakenham is totally fine as a local town for amenities. There's also Holt which is a bit "nicer", Aylsham and the surrounding villages, with a not impossible commute into Norwich. I live in this sort of area in one of the bigger villages and really like it. Slower pace of life, but lots of community events going on. Just be aware some of the smaller fancy villages in north Norfolk can be a bit like a ghost town out of season as there are a lot of second homes.

@JurgensCakeBabyJesus

I know those areas fairly well, and you seem to have picked some of the worst spots over a large area, what's your budget and what kind of property are you looking for?

Exactly what i thought when I read the OP!

Essex - I'd have a look around some of the other towns to compare to Colchester if you are able to. Lived there and elsewhere in Essex. Colchester has seen quite rapid changes that may keep playing out (not all for either bad or good).

I'm from Suffolk (Bury St Edmunds), Lowestoft is known for being run down & poor.

I've also lived in Colchester for 3 years, it's a concrete jungle full of squaddies! The only good thing is the Zoo - however look at Mersea Island.

Do not go near Clacton.

Norfolk is nice and behind the times if I remember - Norwich was a good place to go shopping every now and again.

Have you been to Lowestoft

I don’t agree at all that Colchester is a concrete jungle full of squaddies. I live right by the garrison and hardly ever see them! Moved here 10 years ago from London and think it’s great. Three theatres, two arts centres, loads of cafes and restaurants. Lovely park, the zoo, woods and fields around for walks. Lots going on creatively, book groups etc. Lots of history. Easy access to London and the coast by train.

I’m near Ely. It’s definitely one of the more thriving market towns around here.

The main advantage is if you need to commute to London (and on to anywhere else) you’re pretty sorted. Ely to Kings Cross is about 1hr15 IIRC.

There are lots of nice villages in the area, though if you go to far north of Ely you are in Fen country and it can be very isolated and bleak.

Colchester is a town, not villagey at all. Traffic is a nightmare but they'll be lots of demand for your businesses. Dedham, East Bergholt, Kelvedon, Great Baddow, Wickham Bishops and Messing are all nice Villages. Stay away from the coast, Maldon & Heybridge as they'll be under water soon.

I love Norwich and would love to move back so that would get my vote.

For smaller towns I'd look at Holt.

Otherwise Woodbridge in Suffolk might fit the bill. Also Framingham.

Beccles, Suffolk - 35-40 minute drive to Norwich, on the Broads and a 15-20 minute drive from beaches. It’s only about 10 miles from Lowestoft but very different. The schools are quite good too. The transport links for the rest of the country aren’t great though, which is one of the main reasons that we don’t live there.

I like Ely too, it has improved a lot in recent years and as someone else has said has good transport links.

I wouldn’t recommend King’s Lynn, although I actually think that it’s underrated, as it has some lovely old buildings in the centre and nice surrounding countryside, and in 10-15 years could maybe become a desirable place to live.

Lowestoft is a dump, avoid.

Not Lowestoft but between Lowie and Great Yarmouth there are some nice towns. Oulton Broad, Hopton, Gorleston, Fritton, Bradwell and Belton much cheaper than North Norfolk can be in London in 1hr 30 on the train - I think its been a while. All within 5/10 minutes of a beach and Gorleston itself has a lovely sandy beach (the film Yesterday filmed the concert on it if you've seen that) but not touristy like GY. Plenty of work for hairdressers, and night clubs or holiday camps in GY and surrounding areas for DJing as well as private functions.

Forgot the link 3 bed semi

I moved from SE London to Colchester and I'm really glad I did. We're in Marks Tey (the West of Colchester). We have access to a train station and it's a really lovely village-y feel here.

i know NN well.

How do DJs make a living? I'm not being stupid, I just don't know if he could make enough money without driving an awful lot. Is that the lifestyle he wants? Hair cutters can make living almost anywhere.