King's Lynn or Norwich?
Discussion
Given a completely free choice with no work/family commitments, I imagine most would say Norwich. Norfolk’s a big county, being based there you’re kind of in the middle to explore whichever coast or countryside takes your fancy as well as all that the city has to offer.
House prices might be that bit higher though? Or, to turn it round the other way, you could get more for your money if you go further west.
So many other factors to consider of course. Schools? Work? Need to get the train/drive regularly out of the area?
House prices might be that bit higher though? Or, to turn it round the other way, you could get more for your money if you go further west.
So many other factors to consider of course. Schools? Work? Need to get the train/drive regularly out of the area?
Thanks.
We're just at some early idea stages at the moment. We've spent time up on the North Coast and I have a friend who is a regular visitor who said Norwich is a good place to be near but we are going up again in a month or so to do more research. I'd love to be rural but would miss being near cultural stuff such as restaurants so trying to work out what to be near (ish) to.
Luckily we do not have to worry about kids or jobs so we really could go anywhere.
As I said, just some ideas at the moment. Getting itchy feet at 49 and looking for the adventure of pastures new
We're just at some early idea stages at the moment. We've spent time up on the North Coast and I have a friend who is a regular visitor who said Norwich is a good place to be near but we are going up again in a month or so to do more research. I'd love to be rural but would miss being near cultural stuff such as restaurants so trying to work out what to be near (ish) to.
Luckily we do not have to worry about kids or jobs so we really could go anywhere.
As I said, just some ideas at the moment. Getting itchy feet at 49 and looking for the adventure of pastures new
20 minutes from Norwich can see you anywhere from the Acle area in the East, Mattishall or even east of Dereham in the West, Aylsham in the North and Long Stratton in the South.
From King's Lynn, you are looking at Dersingham in the North, Swaffham in the East and Downham Market in the South. Any further West and you would no longer be in Norfolk
The reason I point this out is that what area you go for depends on what else you want from where you plan to live.
If it's isolation, then North West Norfolk would probably suit you better.
Great links to Cambridge and London and the South, then south of Norwich would probably be better.
If you wish to be near the broads, then it's East/North East of Norwich.
Decent shopping and restaurants can be found in both locations, however in my experience, Norwich has far more variety of both.
However, I have found that the best restaurants are those in the small villages or towns dotted all around Norfolk.
Norwich has more independant shops, and both places will have the mainstream highstreet stores.
As an example, I live in a village just West of Dereham. I am 30-35 minutes from the dead centre of Norwich, yet most of my daily requirements are taken care of by Dereham.
Norwich serves my bigger shopping requirements, yet I rarely go there specifically for a meal out. I take advantage of the pubs and restaurants in the countryside.
I am an hour from the North Norfolk coast and 20 minutes from the A11 meaning it's just an hour to Cambridge, and then easy access to the rest of the country. Also, the A47 is just 10-15 minutes away, to the Midlands are also within easy reach.
I am sure this post has probably raised more questions than it has answered, however hopefully it will mean you'll have more questions to ask yourself and you'll make the correct decision
All the best with your search and any more questions, then please ask us
Darren
From King's Lynn, you are looking at Dersingham in the North, Swaffham in the East and Downham Market in the South. Any further West and you would no longer be in Norfolk
The reason I point this out is that what area you go for depends on what else you want from where you plan to live.
If it's isolation, then North West Norfolk would probably suit you better.
Great links to Cambridge and London and the South, then south of Norwich would probably be better.
If you wish to be near the broads, then it's East/North East of Norwich.
Decent shopping and restaurants can be found in both locations, however in my experience, Norwich has far more variety of both.
However, I have found that the best restaurants are those in the small villages or towns dotted all around Norfolk.
Norwich has more independant shops, and both places will have the mainstream highstreet stores.
As an example, I live in a village just West of Dereham. I am 30-35 minutes from the dead centre of Norwich, yet most of my daily requirements are taken care of by Dereham.
Norwich serves my bigger shopping requirements, yet I rarely go there specifically for a meal out. I take advantage of the pubs and restaurants in the countryside.
I am an hour from the North Norfolk coast and 20 minutes from the A11 meaning it's just an hour to Cambridge, and then easy access to the rest of the country. Also, the A47 is just 10-15 minutes away, to the Midlands are also within easy reach.
I am sure this post has probably raised more questions than it has answered, however hopefully it will mean you'll have more questions to ask yourself and you'll make the correct decision
All the best with your search and any more questions, then please ask us
Darren
Edited by iluvmercs on Wednesday 11th July 13:43
Thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed reply Darren. You are right in that it may lead to more questions, but I see that as a good thing in our quest to find our next home. It's certainly given me some things to consider when we're up.
I may well be back with more questions in due course
I may well be back with more questions in due course
When I used to live roughly equi-distant between the two (just outside Fakenham) we used to always go to Norwich for everything except to get a train that went to Kings Cross instead of Liverpool St. Kings Lynn didn't have much going for it at the time (10 years ago), don't know what it's like now as I live in Dereham so Norwich is the natural choice for things that aren't in Dereham.
Garyhun, I live in King's Lynn, it's an absolutely gorgeous town, with historic roots, lovely people, lots to d.... Who am I kidding, avoid King's Lynn like the plague mate, the history that you can explore is quite interesting, but apart from that all we have is a man that wears a worn out santa hat and juggles in town whilst playing a broken guitar...
Moving to a city admitedly would cost a bit more, but there are a lot more oppourtunities there for someone who doesn't currently have, this is an assumption of course, a job in place around Norfolk...
Moving to a city admitedly would cost a bit more, but there are a lot more oppourtunities there for someone who doesn't currently have, this is an assumption of course, a job in place around Norfolk...
EdBarrett said:
Garyhun, I live in King's Lynn, it's an absolutely gorgeous town, with historic roots, lovely people, lots to d.... Who am I kidding, avoid King's Lynn like the plague mate, the history that you can explore is quite interesting, but apart from that all we have is a man that wears a worn out santa hat and juggles in town whilst playing a broken guitar...
Moving to a city admitedly would cost a bit more, but there are a lot more oppourtunities there for someone who doesn't currently have, this is an assumption of course, a job in place around Norfolk...
Avoid it like the plague? I see what you did there Moving to a city admitedly would cost a bit more, but there are a lot more oppourtunities there for someone who doesn't currently have, this is an assumption of course, a job in place around Norfolk...
Thanks for this and to you too Nige. This information is all very helpful and much appreciated.
As a Glaswegian who moved to Norfolk in 1999 here is my input!
Kings Lynn has always came across to me as a bit like Thetford. Too many immigrants for my liking.
Norwich on the other hand I cannot fault (apart from McDs at the airport, FNAAR FNAAR!!!!).
Love it here, great place for kids and the actual city has changed so much in the past 10 years!!!!
If you are looking for rural then there are plenty of self sufficient villages to look for!
Best of luck
Kings Lynn has always came across to me as a bit like Thetford. Too many immigrants for my liking.
Norwich on the other hand I cannot fault (apart from McDs at the airport, FNAAR FNAAR!!!!).
Love it here, great place for kids and the actual city has changed so much in the past 10 years!!!!
If you are looking for rural then there are plenty of self sufficient villages to look for!
Best of luck
I was born in King's Lynn, then (after Uni in Hull) lived in East Rudham, and now am in Stoke-Holy-Cross just south of Norwich.
Of the three, East Rudham was by far the place I enjoyed the most. Not (too) far from the coast, not (too) far from the city and pleasant people. I only moved because the commute to Norwich was taking up too much of my day. Fakenham had most things we needed, and we would trip to Norwich maybe once a fortnight (before I worked there).
Having said that, Stoke is really rather nice.
King's Lynn hasn't got a whole lot to offer IMO. Or maybe that's cos I spent a large chunk of my life there and so tried virtually everything there was to do!
If I had a choice of anywhere in Norfolk, personally I'd go for the north coast, Wells-next-the-sea ish. Maybe Burnham Market.
My 2p.
Of the three, East Rudham was by far the place I enjoyed the most. Not (too) far from the coast, not (too) far from the city and pleasant people. I only moved because the commute to Norwich was taking up too much of my day. Fakenham had most things we needed, and we would trip to Norwich maybe once a fortnight (before I worked there).
Having said that, Stoke is really rather nice.
King's Lynn hasn't got a whole lot to offer IMO. Or maybe that's cos I spent a large chunk of my life there and so tried virtually everything there was to do!
If I had a choice of anywhere in Norfolk, personally I'd go for the north coast, Wells-next-the-sea ish. Maybe Burnham Market.
My 2p.
EdBarrett said:
Garyhun, I live in King's Lynn, it's an absolutely gorgeous town, with historic roots, lovely people, lots to d.... Who am I kidding, avoid King's Lynn like the plague mate, the history that you can explore is quite interesting, but apart from that all we have is a man that wears a worn out santa hat and juggles in town whilst playing a broken guitar...
He is awesome though. I find it particularly funny when he sings or has a water pistol and chases people who get too close. My wife is petrified of him!!I know which area id pic out of the two mate. Kings Lynn is still a pretty small town in comparison with Norwich. It has 'what you need' but if you are used to proper retain outlets that you find in cities then forget it. Lynn is ok for a day visit every now and again but I wouldnt live there. Also it may or may not bother you but there is a massive eastern european migrant community. I mean massive. Added culture or too different. Your call.
Why no consider somewhere around Ely? Easy access to Cambridge, Norwich, Lynn, Peterborough and the coasts (all about and hour apart from Cambridge which is 20 mins). Ely is a stunning place too. Around there you can be as rural as you want as well. Its a case of take your pick. I live 20 mins north of Ely but have a fairly active village so it ticks both boxes.
Im from Wales though so miss the rain and hills.
King's Lynn has improved in the last 8-10yrs, but it's still nowhere near as good as Norwich.
If you didn't want to live in the city itself, you could choose one of the suburb towns/villages such as Costessey, Drayton or Thorpe St Andrew which are a about a 15 minute drive or bus ride to the city centre, but have their own supermarket(s), pubs etc and are generally "quieter", if that's what you're looking for.
If you didn't want to live in the city itself, you could choose one of the suburb towns/villages such as Costessey, Drayton or Thorpe St Andrew which are a about a 15 minute drive or bus ride to the city centre, but have their own supermarket(s), pubs etc and are generally "quieter", if that's what you're looking for.
Def Norwich over KL from what i've seen of them. Norwich really surprised me, its a pretty decent place. North Norfolk coast is lovely, as lots have said the best places to eat tend to be in the small villages/countryside.
Agree with the Ely suggestion - or what about Cambridge itself? Great city and only an hour and a bit away from lovely parts of Norfolk.
Agree with the Ely suggestion - or what about Cambridge itself? Great city and only an hour and a bit away from lovely parts of Norfolk.
I would definately say Norwich too, but because of this you do pay a premium for it, but if you can afford it that would be my choice, but don't be kidded its not all so nice with some areas I would prefer not to live still. WYmondham area is good for road connections to A11 and A47 and some nice out of town properties I would look hard first at what village has to offer regarding shops pubs etc as a lot village life on demise but some still going strong
Kings lynn suits me fine thankyou. East europeons are everywhere so no problem there if you want nightlife theres a thing called a train goes to london and back. If you want peace and quiet then find a village its that simple.
Norwich has one big problem transport the road network is one of the worst in the country i can get back to kings lynn (45 miles) before some of the guys i work with get 10 miles home into norwich from horsford where i work sometimes.
Norwich has one big problem transport the road network is one of the worst in the country i can get back to kings lynn (45 miles) before some of the guys i work with get 10 miles home into norwich from horsford where i work sometimes.
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