Blog
Popular Resorts to Move to in East Anglia
People move to the coast for a variety of reasons, such as the healthy sea air, the social life and the scenery. These are all on offer in abundance in resorts along the East Anglian coastline.
If you are thinking about house removals to Suffolk, Norfolk or Essex, then Hamiltons Removals has compiled this guide to the most popular seaside towns and villages in the three counties.
Southwold
This charming North East Suffolk town, pictured above, scores consistently well in national surveys to find the most popular resort in the UK – including the latest report by consumer champions Which?
Southwold has plenty of traditional ingredients for those who do like to be beside the seaside, including a great sandy beach, a pier with plenty of attractions, and, for children, regular Punch and Judy shows in the summer months. Adults may prefer the thriving summer theatre programme which runs from May until September, with most of the regular performances taking place at St Edmunds Hall.
However, there’s plenty to offer all year round. A stroll down the High Street will reveal a host of quirky independent retailers. And residents can also enjoy a pint of locally-brewed Adnams beer, one of the county’s most iconic brands.
Aldeburgh
Its beach may consist of shingle rather than sand, but otherwise Aldeburgh – which has also been rated one of the best seaside towns in the UK by Which? – has a lot in common with its near-neighbour Southwold.
Aldeburgh also has a thriving arts scene, although this is more due to its independent cinema and its music than to its literary tradition. The Aldeburgh Festival (now known as Aldeburgh Music) was founded by composer Benjamin Britten in 1948 and every year it draws world-class performers to the nearby Snape Maltings concert hall and venues around the town.
The resort also has a wide range of local shops, and it is renowned for its food and drink offering. Fishermen sell their daily catches direct to the customer from huts by the town’s Yacht Club.
Blakeney
This North Norfolk village lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is most famous for its wildlife. A boat trip out to see the seals at Blakeney Point is regarded by many as a ‘must-do’. The area is also home to a wide variety of bird species, including oystercatchers, ringed plovers, Common Teal and Brent geese.
There are plenty of places to eat and art galleries to visit. Blakeney is rated one of the best resorts in the UK by Which?, which ranked it highest for its spectacular scenery and the peace and quiet it offered.
Cromer
This seaside resort, just along the coast from Blakeney, was first made popular by the Victorians, and many of its original features survive today. Foremost among these is Cromer Pier, whose Pavilion Theatre hosts an end-of-the-pier variety show every summer and winter – the only one to survive in the whole of the UK.
If you want to do something more energetic than sunbathe or make sandcastles, then the prevailing tides mean the coastline is usually an excellent place to try surfing or paddle boarding. And no mention of Cromer would be complete without referring to its crabs, a local delicacy which thrives on the chalk reefs found offshore. This keeps the water clean, giving the crustaceans their uniquely sweet flavour.
Frinton-on-Sea
The highest-placed Essex resort in the Which? report, Frinton-on-Sea scored highly for peace and quiet and value for money. When the town was built in the 1890s by the industrialist Richard Powell Cooper, he followed a number of rules – no pubs or boarding houses, no pier and no amusements on the seafront. (Many of these can be found in nearby Walton-on-the-Naze).
It’s only been in recent years that Frinton has made some concessions to modernity; the first fish and chip shop opened in 1992 and the first pub eight years later. For all its gentility, Frinton remains a popular resort to move to, and not just with the older generation. Many younger people have bought houses and flats in the town and commute to London.
House Removals to Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk with Hamiltons Removals
Hamiltons Removals have more than 25 years of expertise in house removals to Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk and to all parts of the UK. We are based on the Suffolk/Norfolk border and have a reputation for excellent customer service and competitive prices. If you would like to know more, follow this link or call us on 01379 855203.
While our main offices are currently closed, we are working remotely and are carrying out removal services whilst adhering to government guidelines. All our teams have been issued with the necessary PPE required.
Five Top Reasons to Move to East Anglia
The East of England’s population has been rising steadily in recent years, as more and more people discover the advantages of one of the most unspoilt parts of the country. Here, Hamiltons Removals highlight five key reasons why moving to East Anglia – and particularly the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire – is a popular choice for people of all ages.
The Job Prospects
The East of England has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the whole of the UK, while Cambridge, above, has one of the fastest growing economies. This is largely because the city has become a hub for the high-tech industries and scientific research.
The outlook for Suffolk is also bright, as it is an integral part of the country’s food supply chain with a high area of land devoted to agriculture and arable farming. In the south-east of the county lies Felixstowe, the UK’s largest container port, whilst Newmarket in west Suffolk is the home of British horse racing.
In Norfolk, farming and fishing are key industries but the county also has a thriving energy sector, with renewable sources such as off-shore wind farms becoming increasingly important.
The Tourist Attractions
If you are thinking of house removals to Suffolk, Norfolk or Cambridgeshire, all three counties offer a wealth of different tourist attractions to suit all tastes. Suffolk boasts the medieval charms of the ‘wool towns’ of Lavenham and Long Melford, and the picturesque resorts of Aldeburgh and Southwold. St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds is one of the most popular free places to visit in the East of England, according to a survey by industry group VisitBritain.
Cambridge also featured strongly in the survey, with its museums and art galleries such as the Fitzwilliam, a hit with thousands of visitors. The county also has one of the most popular paid-for attractions in the region – the Imperial War Museum at Duxford.
Norfolk’s biggest draws include the natural beauty of the Broads National Park, and the history and splendour of the Castle Museum and art gallery in the centre of Norwich. If you want something more family-friendly, you could try Banham Zoo to the south of the county or The Poppy Line, the heritage rail line which runs between Sheringham and Holt in north Norfolk.
The House Prices
While there are some hotspots which are best avoided, such as Cambridge city centre and the North Norfolk and Suffolk Heritage Coast, there are plenty of homes in the region which are more realistic propositions for house-hunters.
The most affordable house prices in Norfolk are to be found in Norwich itself, as well as North Walsham and King’s Lynn. Further south, the picturesque market towns of Diss and Fakenham are also worth looking at.
In Suffolk, parts of Ipswich, Mildenhall, Saxmundham, Lowestoft and Felixstowe still offer good value for money in the housing market. Homes in market towns such as Woodbridge, Sudbury and Hadleigh may also be within many household budgets. In Cambridgeshire, the towns of March, Ely, Wisbech and Soham are all worth considering, particularly if you are looking for a three-bedroomed home.
The Transport Links
Many people commute from East Anglia to London as well as to other parts of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Norwich to London is just under two hours by train and Ipswich and Cambridge take around an hour.
The region also has airports at Norwich and Cambridge, while Stansted, in nearby Essex, is London’s third airport. If you want to travel by road then the A14, which links large parts of the region with the Midlands, has been undergoing an extensive programme of improvements recently. The A12 in Suffolk heads all the way into East London, via Stratford, and connects with the M25.
The Overall Quality of Life
One of the great advantages of East Anglia is that it is not too crowded, with parts of Norfolk in particular enjoying some of the lowest population densities in England. In all three counties there are plenty of attractive villages to choose from if you prefer the rural life; and in Suffolk and Norfolk you can enjoy some of the most beautiful and unspoilt coastlines in the UK. Crime levels, particularly in Suffolk and Norfolk, are among the lowest in England.
Moving to East Anglia with Hamiltons Removals
Hamiltons Removals have more than 25 years of helping people move to East Anglia – either from one part of the region to another, or from elsewhere in the UK or abroad. We are based on the Norfolk-Suffolk border and so have plenty of local knowledge and expertise.
We can also offer a range of associated services, including packing and unpacking, cleaning, insurance and help with specialist moves involving animals, pets and heavy equipment. If you would like an online quote for your move just follow this link. Alternatively you can call us on 01379 855203 or email us at info@hamiltonsremovals.co.uk.