Norfolk good bad ugly

There are some lovely villages around Swaffham. We lived there for two very happy years in the seventies and I was sorry to have to leave when DH's contract was up.

Moving to Cambridgeshire was a shock. Very unfriendly, boring countryside and the schools had even lower expectations than Norfolk.

We stuck it out though and we're still here

Quite like Hunstanton, too.

Best bet is to have a holiday in Norfolk and explore! I am lucky enough to have a holiday house in Wells next the Sea, rented out as a self catering property most of the time, but would live there permanently like a shot if circumstances allowed. Mind you, compared with where I actually live in South Lincs, it’s an easy act to follow!
I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t like Wells - obviously, the summer holiday season is busy, but off season, it’s wonderful! A real self-contained community with lots of great independent shops and excellent pubs and restaurants (if a bit over-priced). Property is silly money but investigate inland a couple of miles and prices are more sensible (Binham, for example).

We had eight years in Norfolk, just south of King's Lynn. I had a good life there, lots of friends, good environment for the children, but the schools were poor, with low expectations of the pupils. I loved going to Norwich for shopping and browsing. In fact, we were equidistant from Norwich, Cambridge and Peterborough - plenty of choice there. I always said we were at the end of all the worst roads in the country - difficult for family and friends to visit.

GagaJo

Yes Maw. I still find it so. My whole family live there. I have no desire to go back. If I moved back to East Anglia, I’d go to Suffolk.

Yes, of course, Felixstowe is Suffolk merlotgran. Used to live there. I should know that.

Already addressed the Felixtowe issue BlueBelle.

I preferred Suffolk because it has a good combination of towns/cities as well as countryside and coastal. Norfolk is very cut off. Lovely for trips when I go back to see family but not for me.

I love the wildness of Northumberland. Love Cambois, I plan to retire there. Very remote yet only 30 mins into Newcastle.

There’s a lot of muddling round here Felixstowe is in Suffolk gagajo and Becckes is in Suffolk ilovecheese and so is Southwold
I m a Suffolk gal but Norfolk has some lovely places too and Norwich is a ‘very fine city indeed’
Before moving have some weekends away and see what you fancy everybody will have a totally different idea to you kissingate what is posh to one, is not to another what is crappy to one is a pleasure to another Only you can decide what suits you

North Norfolk coast is lovely but I think housing is expensive. There are many nice villages if you don't want to be coastal. Norfolk and Suffolk are beautiful counties with coast, Broads, quiet countryside. Snape, Aldeburgh, Thorpeness all interesting places.

Of course Yorkshire is God's own county.

We visited Norfolk for the first time a few years ago thought it was very nice, particularly remember Wells by the Sea, Holkham Beach, Holt and Burnham Market awash with posh Londoners when we were there, I thought they were all down in Cornwall, but obviously not! Did a tour of Sandringham, particularly remember the stately motor cars from a bygone era. We stayed in Hunstanton, didn't seem too hoity toity or down at heel either.

Also visited Northumberland more recently, yes once again lovely, stayed in Alnwick, great town fab castle and that wonderful Barter Books, what a place that is! I could have spent all day there and it had a lovely cafe and lots of nooks and crannies to sit and eat their cakes and scones. Also loved Seahouses nearby and remember a spectacular beach over looked by Bamburgh Castle, I think? To top it all Lindisfarne, well worth a visit.

Never let it be said of me that I slag off anyone else's county

GagaJo <Off-topic post warning>
I wouldn’t call Northumberland posh. A point in its favour
There are definitely pockets of poshness. I belong to a group which is currently opposing Lord Devonport’s proposal to erect a monument called ‘Ascendant‘ on the Wannies- the land is part of the Ray Estate which he owns.
If you want to join, there’s a Facebook Group called Keep the Wannies Wild, which has organised opposition through the planning system.
All support is welcome ?

As you were!

Kissngate, Suffolk is my specialised subject!

Southwold and Aldeburgh - dead posh.

Woodbridge - quite posh

Framlingham and villages surrounding - lovely and affordable.

Stowmarket area nice but not posh.

Felixstowe is lovely but it's a major shipping port so not for everyone. However, the villages surrounding are decent.

Personally I would avoid living near Kings Lynn. The wind is really bitter there, just down from the Wash.

Wherever you choose. consider what it will be like living there in winter, when the tourists have gone and some shops shut for winter. It can be quite isolated.

I love the hillier countryside around the coast near Sheringham and Weybourne. ,

Norwich is a lovely city. So much going on. I would choose somewhere about 45 mins max from there myself. I agree, Beccles is nice, on the broads, not far from Norwich. Easy to get to the Suffolk coast, Southwold etc.

Winterton on sea.

Have a look on tournorfolk website, the Facebook page and a look at Loomes Village store ?

I love the North Norfolk coast as a tourist. (As a resident, isn't it a long journey to anywhere?)
Another vote for Wells, been there several times. Spent a pleasant time in Sheringham. Love Beccles, I'd like to go back there.

Thanks everyone for replies so far. We have had holidays on the broads but that's all. Interested in same thoughts for Suffolk as well. Doesnt need to be coastal although I would prefer it, a village would be fine particularly if it had a butchers bakers etc.

Beccles is lovely.

I am from Suffolk but spent a lot of time in Norfolk. Holt is wonderful but property is pricey. Cromer and Sheringham are delightful. Typical seaside towns but they still have a lot to offer. It really does depend on your budget. The quaint villages such as Stiffkey are magical but property is expensive.
Interestingly, we have just moved to Northumberland for no other reason than we fancied a change! Still finding our feet and Covid 19 hasn't helped but so far so good.

Absolutely love North Norfolk. I’d love to upsticks and go live there, but then I’d be leaving all my lovely family behind. I don’t think I could do that. I’ll just have to make do with holidaying there.

Me too Illte, from Norwich.

I come from Norfolk originally. I would be back there in a shot if only one of my children would move there or within driving distance. I think flat is beautiful. Those big skies and the black trees silhouetted in the sunset. And beaches that go on for ever.

Publicity always seems to focus on North Norfolk but personally I would go South to the Broads and closer to Norwich. A fine city indeed!

The pace is slower, people tend not to get riled up about much, life is still tied to the seasons. If you like things done in a hurry it's not for you.

It's a big county. There are no motorways. It'll take time to get anywhere else. There's a lot of fields and villages are small.

My other half gave it one of those County tags "Norfolk. A long way between places"

Everywhere from Kings Lynn round to Cromer is touristy. The traffic is a nightmare in the summer holidays. Brancaster used to be a favourite day out when our children were small but the last time we tried to get there we spent five hours in the car doing a journey which should only take one hour.

Not an experience we cared to repeat even though we have friends who retired to Brancaster and love it.

The pubs are good BTW

Yes Maw. I still find it so. My whole family live there. I have no desire to go back. If I moved back to East Anglia, I’d go to Suffolk.

Yes, of course, Felixstowe is Suffolk merlotgran. Used to live there. I should know that.

North Norfolk is more expensive than south but house prices in general are much more affordable than the south east. There are lovely sandy beaches and steam railways which means plenty of tourists and birdwatchers too.
Cromer is faded glory, sherringham is nice but busy.wells next the sea is nice as is Holt, just inland.
Many villages, some very sociable with lots of community stuff going on. A friend moved there 20 years ago and loves it but shopping other than the necessities would be Norwich.
No motorways, little traffic, but friend finds if they are travelling out of Norfolk it it takes a while to get out.
My friend has no regrets.

GagaJo, Felixstowe is in Suffolk and a long way from north Norfolk.

I have visited Norfolk a lot and it can be very windy as Noel Coward said 'Very flat, Norfolk'. or something similar to that.