Property, Houses and Flats for Sale in Norfolk, England

The county of Norfolk

Norfolk is a large county that stretches over 60 miles east to west from Great Yarmouth to King's Lynn, and is home to more than 800,000 people. The feature that makes Norfolk different from other counties is the unique series of inland lakes called The Broads, dug for peat in the Middle Ages and afterwards flooded by rising sea levels. Norfolk is the regional, national and international base for thousands of businesses - Norwich Union, Lotus Cars, Virgin Money, a science park that is a world-leader in areas like food and climatic research. The administration centre for Norfolk is Norwich, which is the largest city in the east of England. Beyond Norwich there are relaxed towns and pretty villages around every corner. Great Yarmouth is a busy seaside town close to the Broads National Park, and in the west of the county is King's Lynn, a town with a medieval heritage. In the north of the county lies Sandringham Estate, a private residence of The Queen. Admiral Lord Nelson, famed for his victories against the French in the Napoleonic Wars and his love affair with Lady Hamilton, was born in Burnham Thorpe.

Historical information

The origin of the county name of Norfolk is Anglo- Saxon, meaning 'the place of the North folk'. The nuclei of its present villages and towns date back at least to Saxon times, while, beneath some of its fields, aerial photography reveals the outline of Roman as well as medieval cultivation.

By the New Stone Age Norfolk had assumed something like its modern shape and during this period, in about 2000 BC, mining for high quality flint began at Grimes Graves near Brandon. Intensive farming and huge flocks of sheep became the basis of the area's economy, and from the 14th century the manufacture of cloth, particularly Worsted, developed in the Norfolk villages before it became important in Norwich. The cloth, which took its name from Worstead, was made from the long coarse wool of the sheep of west Norfolk. Worstead itself was known for cloth before Edward III brought his Flemings over to "exercise their mysteries" but its importance dwindled with the passing of the woollen trades to the north of England. Once a railway system was established in the county, local enterprise saw the beginnings of tourism, with coastal resorts and the fragile environment of the Broads being 'discovered'. Environmentally, however, it was World War II that proved the important watershed, not only because some 30 airfields were laid out, but because it dramatically revived local farming. Newcomers are still coming into the area, the population is rising, and the county is still evolving.

Living in Norfolk

People in search of a slower and quieter pace and of life might like to consider looking at Norfolk property. The county of Norfolk was recently discovered to be one of the most tranquil counties in the UK (according to a map created by the Campaign to protect Rural England). The five components the CPRE looked for whilst compiling the map were: seeing natural landscape, hearing birdsong, hearing peace and quiet, seeing natural looking woodland and seeing the stars at night.

Whether you have always wanted to live by the sea in a traditional cottage built from local flint, or in a busy town, you will find somewhere to suit you in Norfolk. You can choose from the county town of Norwich, which is a lively and diverse city with over 120,000 residents. Or you might prefer life on the coast and look at Great Yarmouth property - a busy seaside resort with famous beaches and close to the Broads National Park. Alternatively you might like to look at property advertised by the estate agents in King's Lynn, a town with a thriving commercial heart and an extensive pedestrianised shopping area. Or there are numerous smaller villages and towns such as Cromer, Sheringham and Blakeney, Burnham, Salthouse and Cley, all on the North Norfolk coast and situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

If you are relocating from London but still want to feel like you are living close to the action, then the provincial city of Norwich could be the place for you - local residents consider Norwich to be friendly, safe, clean and cosmopolitan. People looking to buy property in Norwich will find the housing market continues to perform well, and was marginally more buoyant in 2006 than in 2005. The city centre has seen a number of high-density new developments, with plenty of opportunities for first-time buyers. The centre is a mix of picturesque ruins and modern amenities, with two cathedrals, and the University of East Anglia, giving the city an intellectual edge. Norwich shops are plentiful, with high street names including John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and Next, together with specialist shops and an open-air market. When it comes to entertainment the Theatre Royal has a varied programme, and the Cinema City claims to be one of the best art houses in the country. There is also a multi-cinema complex and a good selection of restaurants, cafés and bars in the city centre. Families with children who are searching for houses for sale in Norwich will discover a wide selection of schools, both state and independent, together with a large hospital and leisure activities to suit every age and culture. Many of the best addresses in the city are considered to be in the 'Golden Triangle', south of the city centre, between Ipswich Road and Newmarket Road, where there are detached Victorian houses on tree-lined streets. People searching for flats for sale in Norwich will find a number of new developments of contemporary apartments in the city centre. Other types of properties for sale include modern townhouses, Victorian terraced houses and Edwardian properties.

People who are researching the employment market will find major employers around the Norwich area include Aviva, Norwich Union, Norwich City Council, Norwich Community NHS, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, Archant Ltd, University of East Anglia, Bowater Windows Ltd., Oasis Healthcare Plc. and Jarrold and Sons Ltd. In South Norfolk, significant employers include Group Lotus owned by Proton, Syfer Technology Ltd, Hamlin Electronics and several engineering companies.

Travel and transport links in the county of Norfolk

Norfolk is easy to reach by road and rail. By rail, One Anglia run a number of routes into and around the county. From London Liverpool Street via Ipswich, to Norwich the journey is just under two hours. Wagn run a number of routes into Norfolk - from London (usually King's Cross station) via Cambridge, Ely and Downham Market to King's Lynn. Central Trains run routes to Norwich from Liverpool, Cambridge and Peterborough. By air Norwich Airport is the most central airport, with regular flights to and from Aberdeen, Amsterdam, and Edinburgh, Manchester and Paris and international connections to 200 cities worldwide through regular direct flights to and from Schipol Airport in Amsterdam. By road Norfolk is accessible from London via the M11/A11, and from the North and the Midlands via the A47 and the new A14. National Express operates coaches from around the UK to Norfolk - the service includes airport shuttles from London Luton, London Stanstead, London Gatwick and Heathrow.