Do you live in Heacham, Hunstanton, Sheringham or Cromer?

[KIPA69]

Hi, I am looking for frank and honest views on what it is like to live in one of the above locations. I am hoping to move after retiring later this year but have only visited briefly for holidays and so have little experience of what they are really like to live in long term. I would appreciate the opinion of anyone who lives there now or within the last few year.

In particular, with reference to Heacham - what is the general feeling in the village regarding coastal flooding.

For Hunstanton, does the noise from the fairground carry up towards the bungalow housing areas thst are on either side of Oasis Way.

In Cromer, is Compit Hills walkable distance to beach?

And in general terms what is living in a holiday location like, and are there any areas or roads to avoid. I am looking to live somewhere semi rural, nice and quiet but with essential service and beach within a mile or 2.

Thx in advance.

Have you considered Snettisham? Not on coast but close to beach and Sandringham woods. The village has various amenities.

I was literally about to say Snettisham too, I would rather live there than the other areas. (I’m not far from Snettisham area).

Hunstanton is not quiet during the summer season and the roads can be very difficult.
if it is a sunny day the road up from kings Lynn which is where the big superstores etc are gets totally jammed.

I live near Sheringham and visit regularly.

It’s popular with retirees: a bit old-fashioned, low-crime, nice community feel.

I think the beach area is ugly: lots of concrete and stones before you can get to the beach.

Residents do complain about the summer visitors parking inconsiderately and clogging up the town centre, but out of season, I think it’s a nice place to live.

I have friends who live in a village between Kings Lynn and Brancaster. They love it there, although it's taken time to get to know people. (I would imagine it would be easier with young children though)

Hunstanton and Heacham are absolutely bleak in the winter and crazy busy in the summer. And to my mind just too far to get to. I don't know Sheringham or Cromer.

Hunstanton is also absolutely packed with retired people who tell me there isn't a lot going on.

Personally I'd look at Dersingham or the villages around Sandringham. Also full of retired people but lovely countryside and not swamped with tourists or second home owners. In some places (Burnham) you can find yourself the only person in the street who actually lives there.

Another option would be the villages to the west of Lynn - Terrington St Clements, Clenchwarton, the Walpoles etc.

Traffic in Norfolk is generally rubbish. All roads in the north converge on Lynn, minimal dual carriageways and any journey plan should account for tractor time (and caravan in the summer).

I know this post is a few months old but since we are right in the thick of the season in the local area, I though it'd be helpful to OP to know how bad Heacham actually is right now. I moved to Snettisham to get away from Heacham and it far outweighs any of the other places you mention. Heacham I lived in for 20 years. It is positively becoming a refuse bin. Seems alright in the autumn and winter but come summer time, the influx of daytrippers from Kings Lynn, Wisbech and Peterborough make it an absolute hellhole.

There is an increase of settled irish travellers who buy up housing in the same streets - they don't outwardly pose a problem to anyone not in those same streets, just don't try and buy there if you aren't a family member! If you aren't kin, avoid streets with large numbers of caravans parked on the front drives.

Apart from the original locals who are friendly and long suffering, the rest of the population of the village is made up of prison (drug and sexual offence) releases put in places called the High Houses and Neville Court in Heacham, Northerners who think they own the place and people from Essex and North London who are extremely unfriendly and combative.

There are a few approved caravan temporary sites who set up next to housing and make so much mess and noise. There is only one playpark for children in an entire large village. There is a supposed duck pond which in winter is a black sludgy mess and in hot summers, it completely dries up and if it weren't for kind people providing water, you end up seeing dead ducks everywhere (you still see them where aholes run them over on purpose).
Talking of getting run over, the car drivers drive at 40 to 50mph whereever they can in the village. The roar of battered old 4wheel drive vehicles and motorbikes is all you'll hear all summer long.

There is a supposedly public playing field which was left to the people of Heacham to use, but that is mainly locked for the football teams to use and seasonal caravanners . The proper holiday parks aren't that tidy or well served and holidaymakers go between the park and the beach, mainly making South and North beach no go zones for locals. Increased traffic is a very big issue.

The other strange anomalies that happen in Heacham is the weird 'Owl Man' of Heacham who harrasses people with his owls so they pay him to take photos of his owls. There are MANY people who come down with banned breed dogs and other dogs subject to the dangerous dogs act and parade them or just plain have them offlead terrorising the public on the beach. Please google search dog attack Heacham for this year's dog attack problem.

The village is due to get a Mcdonalds if they win their planning application. You may or may not like this. Many people say it will ruin the character of the village. But I and many locals would say, it's character is beyond repair so have at it Mcdonalds!