Anyone able to advise on the following areas in Norfolk/Norwich...

RedfordML

Wymondham
Long Stratton
Acle
Aylsham
Easton
Thorpe St Andrew

If anyone can give ideas of size (population - amminities), shops, house prices & schools (although we have done a little research regarding schools in all these areas) along with any other positives and negatives you feel may help.

We are due to be taking a few days in Norfolk very soon and will be looking at each of the above town/villages but any info we can get in advanced would be really helpful.

Many Thanks

:beer:

getmore4less

What are your objectives for a new place?

These are all very differnt and totaly different locations

I lived in Aylesham a long time ago,

Market town with a few housing estates around it
Some interesting older properties, nearby villages OK.
Bit of a trek into Norwich and to the Sea.
Still has three butchers also a smallish Tesco

The decent schools(Paston and girls high) were North Walsham don't know if that changed. Repham nearby school is supposed to be good.

How many days do you have to visit.

Can recomend the holiday inn express on the boundry road.
2-4-1 rates usualy the best around (£30-£35pn March)
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1535105

For something a bit smarter
Devere dunston hall usualy has a special
http://www.devere.co.uk/offers/leisure-offers/wrap-up-and-wind-down.html

RedfordML

Thanks for your reply.

The main objective is schools and being close enough to Norwich to make the most of everything the city has, although we would like some convienent stores or a few shops to be able to access.

So far the schools in the areas highlighted are some of the best in Norfolk (we believe), it is now a case of narrowing down on other factors including size, amminities for families and distance from Norwich etc etc.

We have family in Norfolk who we will be staying with and we aim to visit the above areas over a 3 day visit...

RedfordML

Bumping to the top again...

stokesley

Wymondham
Long Stratton
Acle
Aylsham
Easton
Thorpe St Andrew

OK, here we go: Wymondham/Long Stratton/Easton - not too familiar with so I'll leave those to others.

Acle - lovely place, lived there for years, would be back there if anything had come up during the year we were looking for a house; not much for sale here apart from at the lower end of the market. School has good reputation, shops pretty good, bang in between Norwich and Great Yarmouth for shopping, with good dual carriageway link to Norwich. It has one small EA, who seems to handle most of the local property sales http://www.property-shop.co.uk/. Some new building, but no vast estates, many old established houses. House prices higher than Yarmouth but lower than the Northern Broads area. Used to be cheap - no longer. Has a railway station.

Aylsham - again, lovely town. Good access to coast (I disagree with an earlier poster), particularly the North Norfolk coast. Three supermarkets, small-ish Tesco, small Somerfield, Budgens; lots of small independent shops. High school used to be iffy, but I think it's now improved. Three estate agents, some new building, mainly decent quality smaller developments.

Thorpe St Andrew - a sprawling suburb of Norwich - bit like the curate's egg; good in parts, but on this side of the city beware the NDR:
http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/Travel_and_transport/Transport_future_for_Norfolk/
currently on hold, decision to be made in December this year. Thorpe St A has a huge business park, some very busy roads going
through it, and no real centre. I'm not terribly keen, but that's subjective.

I would also look at Wroxham/Hoveton, Brundall, Blofield and Coltishall on the north side - all a bit more expensive than average, but all with good facilities and a decent range of houses.

If there's anything else I can help with, just shout...

sunshinetours

For population and general stats try using Wikipedia and entering the towns names and you will get some background including population etc.
Others will give you more personal type local info I am sure

RedfordML

Thats excellent stokesley - thanks so much for all the info!!

Of the ones you have suggested, which are the biggest areas etc??

I have been given a bit of info on wymondham from a poster with that name who has also been excellent...

Any more info from anyone would be great...

BeauBelle

Hi again!

I'm sure we have had a short discussion before about Norfolk! My inlaws live in Bunwell just south of Norwich.

Wymondham I like, MIL used to work at an estate agents in the town. Good facilities and transport links and excellent schools in the area but the downside for me is that there has been a lot of building there over the last few years and parts of the outskirts are modern estates, not my cup of tea. Property is a bit dearer due to the schools and facilities but it depends on what you are looking for. If I were looking to buy in the Wymondham area I would choose Bunwell, Spooner Row, Besthorpe, Morley or Wicklewood. Close to Wymondham but with a rural feel still.

Long Stratton - Would not ever buy there (IMO). Its on one of the main roads into Norwich (A140) and during the busy periods it is chocka block with traffic, however the facilities are good but again lots of modern houses. FIL avoids it like the plague, hates the place as its far too busy!

Thorpe St Andrew - Agree with Stokesley, there are good and bad bits. In laws friends live there and are quite happy with the part they live in. Facilities are good, proximity to Norwich is good but again busy at rush hour and schools seem to be really good too.

Don't know anything about the other areas really but have been told by various Norfolk folk that south of the city is better for access to Norwich and value for money than the north. But its whatever suits you and your family thats important.

Anything else just ask

BB

BOBBIs_MUMMY

RedfordML wrote: »

Wymondham
Long Stratton
Acle
Aylsham
Easton
Thorpe St Andrew

If anyone can give ideas of size (population - amminities), shops, house prices & schools (although we have done a little research regarding schools in all these areas) along with any other positives and negatives you feel may help.

We are due to be taking a few days in Norfolk very soon and will be looking at each of the above town/villages but any info we can get in advanced would be really helpful.

Many Thanks

:beer:

Hi!!

Wymondham - Lovely town, good selection of shops.
Long Stratton - My husband hales from there and wouldn't go back for all the tea in china!! just really a commuter place and as the other poster pointed out normally noise to tail with traffic heading to Norwich or Ipswich.
Acle - Bit in the middle of nowhere but handy if you are working in either Norwich or Yarmouth (try not to fall asleep though on the Acle straight - one of the most boring pieces of straight road ever!!)
Aylsham - Fairly rural, few shops quite a quiet place
Easton - Not really sure on that one - near to the Norfolk Showground
Thorpe St Andrew - expensive but close to Norwich good bus links, huge Sainsburys!! quite a few housing estates (well known one being Dussindale!!) We both think its a nice area and have a friend living there

Wymondham would get our vote for all round amenities, or any of the surrounding villages ie Silfield

Good luck with your search

stokesley

BOBBIs_MUMMY wrote: »

Hi!!
(well known one being Dussindale!!)
Good luck with your search

I live very close to Dussindale - like all the vast estates, good value for money and the part that I drive down to Sainsbury's appears much nicer than I thought it would. What lurks within, I know not...

OP, depends what you mean by the 'biggest area' - population-wise, Thorpe St Andrew is the largest; decent facilities-wise, probably Aylsham. But both Acle and Aylsham have doctors, schools and a good range of shops. Acle is actually a very easy drive to Norwich - one of the rare Norfolk dual carriageways on the doorstep.

You do know that evolution will conspire to bestow upon your descendants six toes, I hope:rotfl:

rachaelv_2

RedfordML wrote: »

Wymondham
Long Stratton
Acle
Aylsham
Easton
Thorpe St Andrew

If anyone can give ideas of size (population - amminities), shops, house prices & schools (although we have done a little research regarding schools in all these areas) along with any other positives and negatives you feel may help.

We are due to be taking a few days in Norfolk very soon and will be looking at each of the above town/villages but any info we can get in advanced would be really helpful.

Many Thanks

:beer:

Out of all of these I think Thorpe St Andrew is the most populated. Its quite built up but it is close to the city.

Easton and Wymondham are close to the A47 dual carriage-way which is handy, and they are not right on top of it to cause traffic noise problems.

Easton is near the longwater shopping park, which has quite a lot on now.....there is sainsburys, argos, next@home, the range, McDonalds, Pizza hut.......

Aylsham is the closest to the coast, it takes about 20 minutes to drive to Cromer from there.

As someone else said, Reepham is a really good high School. It got basically Excellents in the Ofstead report, it has a six form too. None of the places listed are in the catchment area of that school though.