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Five Popular Places to Move to in Norfolk
Norfolk is one of England’s largest counties, and it is also one of the most popular. Its population is forecast to hit the 1million mark within the next five years. As one of the top Norfolk removal companies, at Hamiltons we know all about the county – and here we spotlight five of the most popular places to move to.
Norwich
‘A Fine City’, according to the signs which welcome you on the way in, Norfolk’s county town is consistently ranked highly in the Sunday Times’ annual Best Places to Live list. It boasts two cathedrals (one Anglican, one Catholic), a Norman castle with a famous museum, and a host of narrow city centre streets which are rich in historical interest.
There are plenty of more modern attractions, too – a huge outdoor market and the biggest city centre Marks & Spencer outside London, plus new shopping and public exhibition hubs in Chapelfield and The Forum. Food-lovers visit the city’s Tombland area for a spot of alfresco dining, while beer-lovers should find one of the city’s many microbreweries has something to their taste.
Wymondham
This south Norfolk market town might not seem an obvious candidate as one of the most popular places in the county to move to, but it has plenty going for it. ‘Windham’, as it’s pronounced, benefits from good transport links – Norwich, around 10 miles to the north, is a short drive up the A11, while the town is also on the Cambridge-Norwich rail line. Wymondham station featured in the classic BBC TV comedy series ‘Dad’s Army’.
The town also has a 900-year-old abbey and a 15th century pub (The Green Dragon). Much of central Wymondham dates back to the 17th century, following a huge fire which destroyed large parts of the town. Shoppers come from far and wide for the weekly market, and Wymondham was one of the first towns in England to hold a regular farmers’ market as well.
Aylsham
This small town is just under 10 miles to the north of Norwich, meaning the north Norfolk coast is less than half an hour’s drive away. Aylsham boasts a good mix of independent shops and big-name stores, and the market operates every Monday and Friday. There isn’t a mainline railway station, but visitors can enjoy a trip on the Bure Valley Railway, a narrow-gauge steam railway which runs through to the Norfolk Broads.
The town’s marketplace is owned by the National Trust, and forms part of the Blickling Hall estate. This fine Jacobean home and its gardens are less than two miles from the town and are regularly open to the public. Aylsham is also one of five Cittaslow towns in the UK, which means it is internationally recognised for its high quality of life and community spirit.
Blakeney
When it put Blakeney on its list of popular places to move to, the Sunday Times pointed to its busy village hall as a good indicator of a thriving community. But this north Norfolk resort has plenty more going for it too. It’s in the heart of a national nature reserve and makes an ideal base from which to explore the rest of the county’s coastline. You can take a boat trip out to see the nearby seal colonies, or just enjoy a brisk walk along the seafront.
The village itself has lots of picture-postcard flint cottages, and there are plenty of pubs, gift shops and art galleries to visit.
Wells-next-the-Sea
This is just under 10 miles west of Blakeney, and it is also a great place for wildlife-spotters as bitterns, avocets, winter geese and marsh harriers can all be seen here. Its award-winning beach stretches for miles and miles, and the town is big enough to sustain its own fishing industry, with crabbing and commercial angling vessels operating out of the Quay and Harbour. You can always have a go at catching your own crabs, too.
The town has plenty of independent and traditional shops, most of which are located in Staithe Street. And every summer there’s a carnival, with a poetry festival in the autumn, while the North Norfolk triathlon also starts and finishes on in the town.
Moving to Norfolk with Hamiltons Removals
If you are thinking of moving to Norfolk, Hamiltons Removals can help. We are based in Harleston, and we have helped businesses as well as people relocate to all parts of the county, including Norwich, Diss, Wells-next-the-Sea, Blakeney, Aylsham and Wymondham. If you prefer, we can pack and unpack all your items for you. Also, if you need to transport any pets, horses, and large items such as vehicles, tractors and machinery, then we can come up with a competitively-priced removals package which will include them.
For more information about one of the leading Norfolk removal companies, follow this link and fill in the online form, or call us on 01379 855203.
(Photos: PIXABAY/TIM DRURY/AGENDUM/SUMMONEDBY FELLS/CHRIS WOOD)
Five Advantages of Hamiltons’ Safe N Stored Service
People need to use storage facilities for many different reasons. You may have bulky household items which you don’t use for half the year, you may be in the middle of a house move, or, if you own your own business, you may need somewhere to put excess stock or company records.
If you are looking for self storage companies in East Anglia, here are five key reasons to use Hamiltons Removals’ Safe N Stored service, which has been running for more than 20 years.
We Can Help You…
At Safe N Stored, we make it extremely easy to store your items. Thanks to our collection and delivery service, you don’t even need to bring the items in yourself – which is particularly useful if you have a lot of heavy boxes to put into storage. We also offer a porterage service, where we have someone on site who can help you move your items in and out of your storage unit.
Our Harleston site has a shop which sells a wide range of packaging materials, including bubble wrap, packing and tissue paper and tape. It also stocks a wide selection of packing cartons, including specialist varieties for storing pictures and clothes.
…Or You Can Do It Yourself
Safe N Stored also offers a van hire service. Our fleet of self-drive vans can be hire out for the day, giving you total control of your whole storage experience. You will need to be aged between 25 and 75, and have been driving for at least two years, in order to be eligible for this service.
Alternatively, we also offer a ‘man with a van’ service, where we also supply a driver who can also help you move your items in and out of your storage unit.
A Wide Choice of Storage Areas
Whatever you want to store, we have the right type of facility for you. Our Harleston site has a wide range of storage rooms, from 15 square feet to 200 sq ft. This makes it ideal if you only have a small number of items you want to put into storage – and it also means you only pay for the space that you need.
At Aldeby, we offer a wide variety of container rooms. Our smallest one is just under 5ft long and is around the same size as the average garden shed. Our largest is almost 20ft long and you should be able to store the contents of a three-bedroom house inside. Caravans, motorbikes and boats can all be kept secure in the containers during the winter ‘off-season’ when you are unlikely to be using them.
A High Level of Security
At both our Harleston and Aldeby sites, you can be sure your possessions will be well protected. Both facilities are covered by CCTV cameras, and our Harleston site also has a security alarm which is linked to Norfolk Constabulary. At Aldeby you are also given a high-security padlock for your storage container.
Easy Access
Our Harleston site is open from Mondays to Fridays from 8.30am to 5.30pm, and on Saturdays from 8am to 12noon, while our Aldeby facility is open seven days a week. Both locations use a simple secure key fob entry system.
Our sites are also ideally located for householders and businesses throughout south Norfolk and north Suffolk, including Diss, Beccles, Bungay and Lowestoft, as both depots are within easy reach of the A143.
Safe N Stored with Hamiltons Removals
To find out more about the Safe N Stored services offered by Hamiltons Removals, one of the top self storage companies in East Anglia, simply follow the link above or call us on 01379 855203.