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Moving to Wroxham with Hamiltons Removals

Wroxham is known as the ‘Heart of the Norfolk Broads’, but that might be wrong on two counts. Here East Anglia removal company Hamiltons Removals, who can help if you are interested in moving to Wroxham, explain why.

The Norfolk (and Suffolk) Broads

The whole area of The Broads National Park covers a network of mostly navigable rivers and lakes which extends into Suffolk. For instance, the River Waveney, which also forms part of the county border, and Lake Lothing in Lowestoft. Therefore, it’s technically the ‘Norfolk and Suffolk Broads’.  However, when people refer to the Norfolk Broads it essentially covers both counties.

Wroxham or Hoveton?

People often refer to Wroxham when they might actually mean Hoveton, or Hoveton St John, to give it its full title. This is because they are two neighbouring villages split by the River Bure. The bridge over the two is one of the lowest, and can be tricky to pass under for some boats. Despite the fact that most of the facilities are actually in Hoveton, the Wroxham name is the one that has stuck and is often used to refer to both of the two villages.

The Facilities

Whatever the official Broads title, and whichever village you are referring to, what cannot be disputed is that it truly is the heart of an extremely popular tourist area. It’s the heartbeat of the county’s tourism industry, particularly when it comes to hiring boats.

John Loynes was the first person to realise that money could be made from this type of holiday back in 1878. The industry continues to this day, although visitor numbers have fallen since Victorian times.

A whole network of facilities have grown up around the bridge. The Hotel Wroxham, the Wherryman’s restaurant, café and bar, and the new Bridge American Restaurant or ‘Liberty’, are all within a stone’s throw of the bridge. There are also plenty of other places to eat and drink in both Wroxham and Hoveton.

There are also waterside cottages, lodges and chalets if you don’t want to spend your entire holiday on the water.

Away from the Water

Roys of Wroxham is a name famous throughout East Anglia, not just in Wroxham. (You can see it from the bridge too). Founded in 1895 by brothers Arnold and Alfred in Coltishall, the Wroxham store was built four years later, it continues to thrive today, and has been split into separate departments, including a garden centre, toy shop and supermarket.

There’s plenty of other stores too, including a small precinct, as well as specialist shops such as a jewellers’, butchers’, estate agents, and post office.

The Hoveton side of the river has a primary school (St John’s) and a high school (Broadland High Ormiston Academy). Hoveton also has two churches, St Peter and St John, and the historic Hoveton Hall, a 19th-century building that has gardens that are open to the public.

And Wroxham has not one but two railway stations. The Hoveton and Wroxham station, which is on the Bittern Line between Norwich, Cromer and Sheringham. The other is the narrow-gauge Bure Valley Railway, which is for tourists and runs to Aylsham.

Moving to Wroxham with Hamiltons Removals

If you are interested in moving to Wroxham or Hoveton then we offer a comprehensive removals service.

Apart from the core package, we can also offer optional extras such as a packing and unpacking service, insurance, and cleaning services. We have plenty of local expertise too, so we will know the best route to get your belongings to your new home. Also, don’t worry if you have any large or unusual items, at Hamiltons we have almost certainly moved it before.

And, we make it easy to kick-start the whole process with video surveys and online quotations. You can also call us on 01379 855203 if you have any questions.


The Best Cities to Move to In Portugal

The warm climate, low crime rate, rich history and the excellent cuisine all mean that Portugal has long been one of the most popular countries to move to, particularly from the UK. Here Hamiltons Removals, who can help if you are considering moving house to Portugal, identify the attractions of some of the country’s biggest cities.

Lisbon

The country’s capital always was a trade hub, as it’s situated at the mouth of the River Tagus, and it has a sheltered and spacious natural harbour. Its history can still be seen today, with the 11th century Sao Jorge castle (which offers a great view over the rest of the city, above) and the 16th century Belem Tower, which acts as a ceremonial gateway into the city.

Many people are interested in removals to Lisbon for work reasons. The year-round tourist industry, coupled with the number of students based in the city, mean there will usually be a demand for English speakers, although to fully integrate you are advised to learn Portuguese. There are currently vacancies in certain employment sectors, including medical and healthcare, IT and service industries such as call centres. Holiday jobs can be a good stepping-stone to more permanent employment.

Porto

It’s famous for its fortified wine (although port is made throughout the Douro region, and not just the city itself). Porto, or Oporto as it is known to the natives, was named as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996; this is due in no small part to the Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar and other historic features in the city centre.

The cost of living is lower than Lisbon or London, and there should be plenty of green spaces and beaches to enjoy (the city is on the mouth of the Douro River). However, the weather tends to be wetter than in many other parts of Portugal.

Albufeira

If you want somewhere warm to move to, then Albufeira, in the heart of the Algarve, is a better bet. Here, temperatures regularly hit 30C in the summer months, and the winters are relatively mild too.

Albufeira, along with many other places in southern Portugal, has a thriving expat community, and English is widely spoken. It’s particularly popular with people looking for somewhere to retire to; if you are looking for work, many of the jobs rely on the region’s summer tourist industry.

Aveiro

This city is just to the north of Lisbon, and it is a good base from which to explore the rest of the country. It’s also not a tourist trap, which can be good news if you want to settle down; this particularly applies if you are looking for a family-friendly environment with little traffic, even in the summer months.

Aveiro is also popular with retirees; this may be partly due to its Blue Flag beach. However, due to the cold temperatures and the waves rolling in from the Atlantic, the water’s more suitable for paddling in than swimming. The city is also relatively flat, so it’s much easier to get around on foot or by bike than many other Portuguese places.

Evora

This is in the capital of Portugal’s Alentejo region, and it is in the heart of the country. This city boasts a population of just over 50,000 residents, but only around 4% of these are expats. So many people who move here are looking for some peace and quiet, away from the hustle and bustle of the western ports and resorts.

Other reasons to move here include its cuisine – many of the restaurants serve traditional Portuguese dishes which aren’t often made elsewhere – and its history. Like Porto, Evora is a UNESCO World Heritage site (it received the designation in 1986). The city’s rich past dates back to Roman times and includes a Roman temple, a 13th century cathedral, and a bone chapel in Saint Francis Church (warning – this is not for the squeamish!). 

Moving House to Portugal with Hamiltons Removals

Hamiltons Removals can help if you are considering removals to Lisbon, Porto, Albufeira, Aveiro, Evora – or any other destination in Portugal. We can pack and unpack your items and send them in a dedicated container, on include them as part of a shared consignment. Don’t worry if you have any large or unusual items, as we have usually packed them before.

If you’d like to know more, call us on 01379 855203 or follow this link for an online quotation.