Blog
Norwich – A Fine City
Hamiltons Removals’ main office is located in Harleston, Norfolk. The ‘fine city’ of Norwich (as dubbed by the writer George Borrow in 1851) is our closest hub of activity and the go-to location for many of our employees.
There are a multitude of reasons to consider moving to Norwich. From the wide range of shops and restaurants to the extensive history and annual festivals, Norwich is a thriving and exciting city.
The city has a population of around 145,000 and attracts many students, with the University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich University College of the Arts and Norwich City College of Further and Higher Education based here. In fact, many students opt to stay on in the city after completing their further education course.
It is also a popular place to go for a city break and for some retail therapy – Norwich was identified in 2006 by the Javelin Group as one of the top places to shop in the UK. You will find many high street chains and independent stores here as well as interesting boutiques. In addition to the shops, Norwich also has a traditional outdoor covered market, one of the largest of its kind in the country.
Other popular places to go for a spot of retail therapy are the Castle Mall, which opened in 1993, and Chantry Place (formerly the Chapelfield Mall) which opened in 2005 and includes the department store House of Fraser. The city also boasts many cafés where you can relax and unwind with friends after pounding the streets with your bags.
Norwich hosts a vibrant, lively nightlife with many bars, pubs and nightclubs. These can principally be found on the Prince of Wales Road, Tombland and the Riverside area near Norwich railway station.
There is certainly no shortage of things to do in the city if you are relocating here. In addition to all the bars and clubs, there are several live music venues as well as eight theatres, including the Theatre Royal, Maddermarket Theatre, CCN Drama Centre, Norwich Puppet Theatre, Sewell Barn Theatre, Norwich Playhouse, The Garage and the Norwich Art Centre. The city also has a number of museums and art galleries including the Castle Museum, The Bridewell Museum in Bridewell Alley and the Dragon Hall in King Street. The city has also been recognised as a UNESCO City of Literature.
Norwich is a very beautiful city with many attractive old buildings including the majestic 11th century Norwich Cathedral, the 12th century Norman castle and Elm Street, a superb (and largely intact) medieval street. It is also home to 30 impressive medieval churches and the Cow Tower, a historic military tower which stands on the banks of the River Wensum.
House prices are quite reasonable in Norwich compared to other parts of the country, with average prices for a terraced property currently standing at around £250,000.
It has good access to London with hourly train services to London Liverpool Street and the journey time is around two hours. Norwich is linked to Cambridge via the A11, which leads on to the M11 motorway to London and the M25. It also has easy access to the neighbouring county of Suffolk via the A140. Norwich has an international airport which flies to selected UK and European destinations.
Moving to Norwich with Hamiltons Removals
Hamiltons Removals can help if you are interested in moving to Norwich – and that includes commercial and specialist moves, as well as domestic ones.
We can offer a comprehensive package which includes packing and unpacking, as well as removals insurance in the unlikely event of anything going wrong. You can fill in one of our online removals forms to receive a quote; we also offer video surveys so you can pick a time which suits you.
For us, removals to Norfolk means a move to any part of the county – not just Norwich but also Cringleford, Trowse, Wymondham, Taverham, Wroxham, Aylsham, Fakenham and all of the county’s many attractive towns and villages. Call us on 01379 855203 to find out more.
Moving to Burnham Market with Hamiltons Removals
Burnham Market is a picturesque and vibrant 17th century village in Norfolk. This historic village, known as Chelsea-on-Sea, is one of the Norfolk Burnhams, a group of adjacent villages on the north coast of Norfolk. The small but bustling village was additionally named as one of Britain’s most desirable spots in a Savills survey in the Daily Telegraph and was rated among the ’20 most beautiful villages in the UK and Ireland’ by Condé Nast Traveller in 2020. Here Hamiltons Removals take a closer look at this traditional Georgian village for those who are considering moving to Burnham Market.
The village is brimming with beautiful buildings, shops and eateries, as well as a lively market every Wednesday. There are a mixture of restaurants, cafes and bakeries, suitable for all occasions and moods. More formal dining venues include The Hoste Arms, a luxury hotel and pub, English tapas-style restaurant Socius, and No.Twenty9, a bar and restaurant recognised by The Sunday Times as one of the top 80 places to stay in Great Britain. Other more casual eating highpoints include the bakery and cafe No.Thirty3 and the Tuscan Farm Shop, a café, wine bar and deli.
Shopping wise, the village has a mixture of upmarket chains – Joules and Jack Wills both have branches here – as well as an eclectic mix of independent stores. These include gems such as The White House Bookshop, Barefoot Living, Little Sunshine Toys, Norfolk Living … the list could go on!
Similarly, there are plenty of places to stay; The White House is a gorgeous building available to book by room or in its entirety or choose The Nelson, a superb country inn first recorded as a pub in 1685. Additionally, Burnham Market has a Norfolk Hideaways branch, with 29 of their properties situated in the village. They offer all kinds of stays, from luxurious and romantic getaways to family and dog-friendly holidays. One of their properties even houses 31 people!
Not only is the little village buzzing with shops and restaurants, it also has a strong and welcoming sense of community. The Burnhams Tennis Club, for instance, describes itself as ‘your family- friendly club in the heart of beautiful Burnham Market’. With more than 200 members and junior tennis coaching laid on, the inclusive club has two floodlit hard courts and a clubhouse.
The village hall is, likewise, a centre for community spirit and activities, with activities such as Bridge Club, The Quilters and the Phoenix Ladies, a group set up 16 years ago and which meets each week.
Perhaps Burnham Market’s best feature, however, is its proximity to the North Norfolk coastline. The Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Beauty includes some of the most unspoilt beaches in the UK. The village is close to the beaches at Holkham, Brancaster and Burnham Overy Staithe, and is only six miles from Wells-next-the-Sea. The small paradise of Scolt Head Island, a National Trust Nature Reserve, is also close by. Pink-footed geese migrate here during the colder months.
The Royal estate of Sandringham, a favourite country retreat of Queen Elizabeth II, is only a stone’s throw away. The estate’s parkland, courtyard and gardens are open to the public.
Equally impressive is Holkham Hall, a magnificent 18th century Palladian style stately home with a beautiful walled garden and acres of stunning dog-friendly parkland. The hall itself is open to the public, as well as the surrounding grounds which offer a woodland play area, nature and bike trails, the beautiful St Withburga Church and a stunning fountain before the hall’s entrance.
Holkham, which was used for filming the movie The Duchess, has a Park Run every Saturday and well-being walks every third Tuesday of each month. This month you can also discover ‘Holkham Hall by Candlelight’; an opportunity to tour the hall in all its Christmas finery.
Holkham is known for its abundance of deer; the best time to catch the rutting season is usually late October to November.
Moving to Burnham Market with Hamiltons Removals
If you are interested in moving to Burnham Market, then Hamiltons Removals are the people to get you there. We are based on the Norfolk/Suffolk border and our local knowledge and expertise will make your move as smooth as possible, whether you are a domestic or commercial customer.
We can help with removals to all parts of Norfolk, including Wells next the Sea, Sheringham, Cromer and Long Stratton, as well as the county’s capital Norwich. If you would like to know more, call us on 01379 855203; you can also follow this link if you would like an online quote for your move.