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Five Property Hotspots to Move to in East Anglia
As one of the top East Anglia removal companies, we know all about the delights of Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex – and it seems other people do too, with many of the region’s towns featuring among some of the most desirable places to live in surveys and house market analysis in the past 18 months.
Here are five towns and villages which have featured at or near the top of various property barometers – and how Hamiltons Removals can help you move to all of them.
Woodbridge, Suffolk
This town on the banks of the River Deben has scored highly in two surveys this year. It was named as the best place to live in the Eastern region in the Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide, which was revealed in March.
The judges commended Woodbridge for its thriving independent high street, its community vibe and its arts and culture, mentioning the Artspace and Gallery East galleries.
In November, the town was ranked the 13th happiest place to live in the whole of the UK according to the Happy at Home index compiled by leading property portal Rightmove.
‘Happiness’ was measured by friendliness and community spirit, the amount of green spaces as well as the number and quality of schools, restaurants, shops and sports facilities.
Halesworth, Suffolk
Property-related internet searches for this north Suffolk market town more than doubled in the 12 months to September last year according to leading property portal Rightmove. In purely statistical terms, there was a 102% rise in searches for a town which has a population of under 5,000.
Housing market analysts say part of the reason for the increase is the growing interest in rural living, with many employees working from home more and commuting less. However, Halesworth has plenty of individual features to commend itself – it’s close to the Suffolk Heritage Coast and also has excellent rail links to both Norwich and London.
There’s also a thriving arts scene which is centred around The Cut Arts Centre, while the main shopping street (The Thoroughfare) has a good mix of independent stores and national chains.
Buckhurst Hill, Essex
In the 12 months to September 2020, Buckhurst Hill saw a 164% increase in home sales according to Rightmove. This placed it third in the whole country, behind only Dartmouth in Devon and St Ives in Cornwall.
Why is it so popular? Local market analysts point to the town’s ‘villagey’ feel despite being technically part of the Greater London Urban Area, which means it is attractive to those who want to move out of the capital. For London-based workers, Buckhurst Hill is also on the Central Line of the Tube so getting into the capital is very easy.
The town also has the advantages of having plenty of tree-lined streets, independent shops and open spaces – not least Epping Forest, which is close by.
Dedham Vale, Essex
Like Woodbridge, Dedham Vale was placed highly in the Best Places to Live guide, being ranked behind the Suffolk town in the Eastern region category. Judges praised Dedham village for its ‘immaculate’ and ‘timeless’ appearance, and its network of cycle routes and footpaths which helped people to enjoy the beauty of a place which is in the heart of Constable Country.
Its location near the A12 also makes it an attractive place to live for those working in Ipswich, Colchester or London.
Norwich, Norfolk
Norfolk’s ‘capital’ was also one of the Best Places to Live in the East, according to the Sunday Times. It was praised for its arts venues – four theatres, an independent cinema (Cinema City) and the thriving Norwich Arts Centre – and the University of East Anglia has its own concerts and events.
Although the city is relatively isolated from the rest of the country (a direct rail service to London Liverpool Street notwithstanding), the nearby North Norfolk coast is some of the most attractive in the country. With an airport just 15 minutes from the city centre, flights to Europe and some UK destinations are both frequent and convenient.
Norwich’s property prices are also relatively low compared to other major cities in the UK, which has helped fuel demand.
Looking for East Anglia Removal Companies? Try Hamiltons Removals
Hamiltons Removals can help you with house removals to Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and across the UK. We offer free online removals quotes, which you can access via this link; we can then follow this up with a home visit and a more detailed estimate. We can conduct video surveys if you have a busy schedule.
We also provide a range of other services including packing and unpacking services, commercial moves, overseas removals and specialist moves (which includes pets, horses and vehicles). If you need to store items between moves, we have two Safe N Stored sites at Harleston and Aldeby on the Norfolk/Suffolk border.
For more information about any of our services, you can call us on 01379 855203 or email us at info@hamiltonsremovals.co.uk.
Image: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/ASHLEY DACE