Norfolk

Norfolk is a county in the East of England. The city of Norwich is the county town and largest settlement. Norfolk has a population of just under million inhabitants, making it one of the most populous counties in England’s Eastern region. If you’re looking for a place to live with your family, there are plenty of options available – from villages to towns and cities, Norfolk has something for everyone!

4.66
Average Location Score

Excellent

73%

Very Good

21%

Average

6%

Disappointing

0%

Very Poor

0%

Best places to live in Norfolk

HomeViews Top Rated Development ranking takes into account the Star Rating and HomeViews Transparency Rating of every development in the area

Ruins in Norfok

Where is Norfolk?

Norfolk is a county in the East of England, with an approximate population of 814,000. It borders Lincolnshire to its northwest and Suffolk to the southeast. Norfolk’s capital city is Norwich, which has a population of around 220,000 people.

The county is split into six districts: Breckland District Council, Broadland District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council (which includes King’s Lynn), North Norfolk District Council and South Norfolk District Council.

Areas in Norfolk

Some of the most popular areas for prospective homebuyers in Norfolk include:

The Broads – a large protected wetland area in the east of the county, the Broads is popular for its natural beauty and for its many outdoor activities

Norwich – the county’s capital city, with a lively cultural scene and plenty of amenities, Norwich is a popular place for those looking to buy property in the county. It has a thriving nightlife and plenty of high-end shops, as well as all the amenities you would expect to find in such an urban centre. It is also home to two universities

North Norfolk – an area of outstanding natural beauty, with very little light pollution and plenty of activities on hand such as golfing and walking around its beautiful coastline

The North Norfolk Coast – a picturesque stretch of coastline that is popular with holidaymakers and those looking for a seaside home

Gardens in Nowrich Norfolk

South Norfolk – an area that is more rural and agricultural, with market towns and villages dotting the landscape

Fakenham – a market town in the north of the county with good transport links, Fakenham is popular with commuters who work in Norwich or London

Cromer – a charming seaside town on the North Norfolk coast, Cromer is well known for its pier and the crabs that are caught in the surrounding waters

King’s Lynn: another coastal town, this one with a more rural feel King’s Lynn is known for its antiques and traditional festivals.

Universities in Norfolk

With two universities, Norwich is the largest city in Norfolk and offers a wide range of educational opportunities

The University of East Anglia – based in Norwich, the UEA is a prestigious university known for its research work and modern approach to education. It specialises in the arts, humanities, business and law.

The Norwich University of the Arts – a specialist arts university, the Norwich University of the Arts is also well regarded for its fine art and design courses. It has a reputation for being a friendly and informal university with strong connections to the local region.

Top Schools in Norfolk

Coast of Norfolk

Norfolk has some of the best schools in Britain, with many achieving excellent results at the GCSE level every year. Some of the standout schools include:

Royal Norwich School – an independent school, the Royal Norwich School is one of the leading co-educational boarding schools in England. The school has an outstanding academic reputation and offers a wide range of extracurricular activities to its pupils.

Gresham’s School – another independent school, Gresham’s School is located in Holt, a small town in the north of Norfolk. The school has an excellent academic record, with many pupils going on to study at some of the most prestigious universities in the world.

Thetford Grammar School – Thetford Grammar School is a state-funded secondary school with academy status. The school has an excellent reputation for providing high-quality education and boasts some of the best results in Norfolk.

Population of Norfolk

Where there are a fair number of people living in Norfolk, the county is very large, which means Norfolk is one of the most sparsely populated counties in England, with a population of 907,760 but a population density of just 55 people per square kilometre. This makes it a great place to live if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of a bigger city.

 

Reviews in Norfolk

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Nice place for summer but not winter

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Dec 2023

The good side
The location is good and the area is quiet.

The bad side
Bins are always not collected

Please review your development:

The hot water system is awful. It is not stable in winter. Always can only get water in room temperature. The management staff are friendly and polite but they can do nothing to fix the problems.
It’s a new build and not supposed to have so many repairs needed. This is disappointing.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I wish I had known the hot water issue (both inconsistent supply and high cost).

What is the best feature of your home:

The living room is spacious. The equipment in kitchen is very good and user-friendly.

3
Facilities
4
Design
4
Location
3
Value
3
Management
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AVOID Persimmon at all costs

Review Date Oct 2023

Still no shops after a couple of years. Broken trees, bad pathways and dimly lit area when trying to walk at night. Houses crowded in. Lack of parking in some areas.

Please review your development:

There is a nice design with lots of paths and walking areas. However, these are badly kept. There is waste and rubbish from the builders everywhere. The pathways are a nightmare and very uneven making them a potential trip hazard. Already been dug up in some areas so looks like a used estate now.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

How awful Persimmon build their houses. AVOID PERSIMMON AT ALL COSTS.

What is the best feature of your home:

The layout. We like the design which is why we purchased our style home.

2
Facilities
3
Design
4
Location
2
Value
2
Management
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Love my new home

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Oct 2023

Quiet area, don’t get anyone knocking on the door or driving/ walking past. Pub/restaurant round the corner is lovely.

Please review your development:

Design is just what we wanted. The house is big and spacious with a lot of space in hallways and rooms. The finish is to a high standard with modern, square wood architraves and skirting. Lovell’s have been really helpful both before buying and after. We are really pleased with the aftercare and felt valued as a Customer.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

The nearest show home was an hours drive from us. It was handy to have the website where you could walk around the house and measure walls but it would have been much better if it was interactive. Being able to change the design would have been really beneficial.

What is the best feature of your home:

The garden. And the road leading down the road is very lovely

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
5
Value
5
Management
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Manager Response

Thank you very much for leaving a 5* review of your experience purchasing a new Lovell Home at Bowler’s Green.

We’re so pleased to hear that you are happy in your new home, and have taken your feedback and comments on board to be shared with the wider team for future improvements.

Thank you again.

Happy in Hopton

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Oct 2023

Hopton is very easily accessed from both Gorleston to the North and Lowestoft to the south. A lovely village with a petrol station come small daily shop and another daily shop very close by and within walking distance from the development. The beach is within 15 mins walking distance it has a local primary school, drs and dentist in the village. A Chinese which delivers is very good. 2 pubs on Station Road, the white hart specialising in food. Good bus routes every hour.

Please review your development:

We were the first to move into our house in the close, and it’s been interesting to see new neighbours arriving steadily. Because of the nearness to a large a hospital there seem to be many hospital workers that commute the short distance.
We have not lived in a new build before but we are very pleased with the layout and having 3 loos – one downstairs is an added bonus. The house was super clean on moving in and all the fittings ie door handles, doors, windows, taps etc are of good quality.
We have found the site manager and his team all friendly and approachable, which is very helpful when everything is new to us and we unsure of how Tom open the letterbox fully for example 🙄 on this note, the few snagging issues were dealt with quickly and the after sales system works and communication is excellent. We have only ever had a positive response to any queries or advice.
Another bonus is the installation of plenty of insulation, keeping bills down in these times which is very beneficial. New neighbours are not heard through the walls which is massive in our eyes or ears, after previously living in a 1930’s home where we could hear neighbours scraping their dining room chairs ….
We love living here, we are pleased with our choices, and we always look forward to returning to our Home 🏡

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Wasn’t aware at first, but not having to pay for bins, saving over £70 odd pounds, availability of skips if needed, again money saving. Dual heating system ie. Upstairs/ downstairs. Being kept informed, ie road preparation, finishing off.

What is the best feature of your home:

3 toilets, great quality fittings throughout, the back up of the guarantees, approachable workers and site team. Friendly staff.

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
5
Value
5
Management
User submitted image of  Bowlers Green, NR31
User submitted image of  Bowlers Green, NR31
User submitted image of  Bowlers Green, NR31
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Manager Response

Thank you for your 5* review of your new Lovell Home at Bowlers Green in Hopton on Sea.

We are so pleased to hear about your experience and that you are enjoying both your new home and the surrounding location. It’s hard not to with such a beautiful beach nearby!

We have passed your comments on to the team, who we know will be really pleased to read them.

Thank you again and we hope that you continue to be very happy in your new home!