Living in Norfolk
Whether you are coming to join through a new job, or are just visiting, Norfolk is a great place to live and work in.
With excellent transport links and reasonably priced homes, Norfolk is the perfect place to make a home.
The stunning local environment offers fabulous countryside, incredible beaches, and historic towns. And, you’ll find yourself within easy reach of Norwich, Peterborough, Cambridge, and London.
The best city
to work in
Norwich is a wonderful fusion of the modern and historic, as well as a city of science - hosting some of the leading centers for life science research in the world. As well as being the most complete medieval city in the UK, it has flourishing art, music and cultural scene, lively restaurants, bars and nightlife, and a heritage that is a delight to explore. It was also England's first UNESCO City of Literature – this is a city of stories!
Getting around is easy, with regular trains to Cambridge and London, city bus routes, and an international airport. Life in Norfolk is relaxed and exciting, whether you’re into the vibrant nightlife or the stunning natural beauty of the Norfolk Broads.
Getting a place
to stay
Coming to live here is easier than you might think, with both affordable housing and flexible rental costs to suit your budget. It will be cheaper to live further out from the city, but living within the city isn't as expensive as you might think.
Monthly rents on a medium-sized, two-bedroom apartment come in at between £450 and £700 per month.
Buying a house is another option many of our new starters choose. You can find information on local house prices easily on the internet through sites like Rightmove or Zoopla. They are usually affordable and significantly cheaper than those in cities like Cambridge. The average price for a home in Norwich is around £200,000, with a flat coming in at around £140,000.
There's Nowhere Like Norfolk
Norfolk has some stunning scenery, both on the coast and in the countryside. It has fabulous natural capital: beautiful coast and countryside, unique Broadland (the only National Park with a city in it!), space to kick back and relax. It is a city famous for shopping, culture, and history. And let's not forget that Norfolk is also the combined driest/sunniest county in the UK!
Cost of Living
Norfolk has a very reasonable cost of living, with average rent costs at around £650 for a 2 Bedrooms Flat.
Utility bills can be as low as £40 per month for 1 person in a rented flat but will increase if you choose to rent or buy a house.
Eating out can cost between £10 and £30 depending on where you eat, and a pint of lager costs £3-4. You can expect a weekly shop for one person to be around £30 and the price for an internet connection, average speeds being around 16mb/s, is £20-25 per month.
There are plenty of gyms and sporting facilities throughout the city and a monthly gym membership will cost around £30-40.
Family Life
Norfolk is a great place for families. Family fun, laughs and adventure are guaranteed in Norfolk – the children will love it! Not only has Norfolk got great countryside and coast, but also fantastic theme parks, zoos, and animal centers, gardens to visit, stately houses, and museums. There are parks and treehouse playgrounds, wildlife and nature reserves, steam railways and so much more.
Not only are there plenty of things to do, but there are also many excellent nurseries, schools, and colleges in the area.
Childcare costs are reasonable, varying between £90 and £120 per week, and there is a large range of schools to choose from all across the county, of varying sizes.
In terms of further education, there is an excellent network of high schools and colleges for 16-18-year-olds, as well as two universities, the University of East Anglia, and Norwich University of the Arts.
Things to do
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Go Hiking (Bacton Woods, Norfolk Coast Path, Peddar's Way, High Ash Farm, Marriott's Way, Norfolk Trails)
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Nature and Parks (Beaches, Gardens, Parks, Nature Reserves, Adventure Parks, Zoos, Farms, Theme Parks, Alpacas Farm)
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Architectural Buildings (Cathedrals, Castles, Churches, Gates and Towers, History Museums, Art Galleries, Historic Sites)
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Fun and Games (Escape Rooms, Climbing, Pottery, Adventure Golfs, Bowling, Stadiums, Paintball, Go-Karting, Cinemas, Cafes, Amusement Parks, Archery, Racecourse, Jurassic Journey, Mazes, Tilney Sports, Painting Pots, Airsoft, Aquariums, Antique Stores)
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Food and Drink (Visit Vineyards, Gin Experience, Whisky Company, Distilleries, Breweries, Artisan Chocolates, Markets, Bars and Restaurants)
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Concerts and Shows (Circus, Theatres, Halls)
TOP 5 THINGS THAT MADE NORFOLK FAMOUS
01
MUSTARD
When you mention Norfolk many will instantly think of Colman’s mustard that yellow spicy condiment really did put Norfolk on the map.
02
LOTUS CARS
Forget Jaguar, Ferrari or even Aston Martin, Lotus Cars are renowned for their sports and race cars and the Lotus Car factory resides in Hethel and actively put Norfolk on the map.
03
FOOTBALL CLUB
Whether it is for good reasons or bad, the infamous Norwich City Football Club really did put Norfolk on the map.
04
CROMER CRABS
One of Norfolk’s largest exports and known up and down the country to many as the best, Cromer Crabs certainly helped put Norfolk on the map.
05
NORFOLK BROADS
These man-made broads stretch for 125 miles across the region and not only did they put Norfolk on the map but they also appeared in a David Bowie song!