Downham Market, Norfolk

RedfordML

Anyone able to give any reviews of this Norfolk town?

We know it has 2 primary and 1 upper schools but wanted to know what it might be like to live there?

Planning a visit soon - thankyou in advance!!!:beer:

rosyw

My daughter lives there. Hillcrest is the better of the 2 primary schools, the secondary school was a bit rough a few years back, not sure about it now though. There are smallish but adequate Tesco & Morrison's stores, it's on the main line King's Lynn to Kings Cross, so decent rail links, also easy to get to King's Lynn by road, but the A10 does get busy, there's also a few decent takeaways etc. a few pubs, but 1 or 2 get a bit rough in the evenings. Whilst it's not the best of places to live, it's certainly not one of the worst either.
I still think you'd be better of in Watlington!

RedfordML

What Watlington like?

Ideally not so close to Kings Lynn as I have heard negative things?

Thanks for your feedback...

rosyw

Watlington is mid way between Downham Market & King's Lynn, biggish village with primary school, secondary school kids usually go to Downham Market. It's also on the main rail line which is why it's popular. Nice village pub, shop with post office etc., if you have very young kids the pre school is also good. Also has it's own medical centre, so no travelling miles for a GP. Daughter lived there prior to Downham Market & preferred it, but as she works in DM and often has to start at 5am, it made sense to move. If I had to chose I'd pick Watlington every time. Definitely wouldn't want to live in King's Lynn now, it used to be nice but has changed a lot over the last few years.

RedfordML

The good thing about both Watlington and DM is the £££ of property!

Thanks again for the insight, we are not keen on Kings Lynn to live but it's an area of Norfolk new to our search...

MagicCats

Kings Lynn is not the best of places overall. Downham Market, Swaffham etc are quite attractive to people in the Forces due to the proximity of RAF Marham. They also suffer from noise due to aircraft. Having been based at Marham for 6 years I'd look towards Norwich or the costal towns.

Just my honest opinion. :beer:

RedfordML

Thanks Magic,

Some interesting points, just out of interest what towns would you choose Norwich way?

ty

rosyw

To be honest, I don't think the aircraft noise is an issue, it's not like being on an airport flight path! it's something you get used to quickly and ignore to a certain extent. As for moving closer to Norwich or the coast, it wouldn't make much difference, especially with Norwicxh which has it's own airport :whistle: also property prices near the coast are a fair bit higher.
Do you need to be very close to King's Lynn or rail links? if not have a look at Fakenham, nice quiet little town but with adequate shops etc., and handy for the north norfolk coast, easy to get to KL or Norwich and property is reasonable. the only drawback is lack of rail link, nearest is KL.

RedfordML

Just looking at options in Norfolk, have been for past 6 months - just don't want to miss somewhere that has everything we are looking for, ideally a town.

We have looked at Fakenham but you don't get much for your £££ there, at the moment have Dereham & Wymondham on short list!

ty for your suggestion though!

michele-p

Hi, I live in Costessey on the outskirts of Norwich. If you've not lived in Norfolk before, when you fist move here you can feel quite remote from the rest of the country!

Out of the places you mentioned I quite Wymondham, as it has a small market town feel, but you are only 10 mins away from Norwich, making it feel less remote. Wymondham has a very highly rated high school too, and good rail links. You can get to Cambridge direct in under an hour, or change at Ely to get to Kings Cross. The A11 runs tight passed making for good road links.

Personally I hate the A47 which runs past Kings Lynn to get anywhere West/North, as it's single track most of the way and blocked with Tractors and lorries. From Wymondham you have good access to the A14 to get North and dual carriage way, bonus!

When I first moved up from Brighton we lived in a village called Hingham, about 5 miles from Wymondham, but I did feel very much cut off. It depends what you are aiming for, a country get away/scenery/family life etc. I much prefer being on the edge of a big town (not that Norwich is huge), but that's just me!

Good luck hunting.

RedfordML

ty for your feedback!

Like you our original plan was somewhere on the edge of Norwich but we wanted to be within a town for shops, schools and pubs etc.

The new development at QHill was one of our first places we saw but it was very built up and unfor had a lot of negative press!

We have decided to look further afield and would consider most towns in Norfolk that why I asked at DM!