Sheringham

Today we spent the morning walking around one of my favorite towns, Sheringham. If I have my way, this is the town which we’ll live in we decide to live in a “town” vs. a village.

It’s a seaside town with a combination of old people and families. I think it offers a lot and is about 3 miles from Soren’s primary school.

The Guardian Newspaper has a little section called LET’S MOVE TO… and they featured Sheringham in September of 2006 – here is what they said:

Onwards, onwards, the march of the north Norfolk rah-rahs spills from the epicentre at Burnham Mark-up, past Holt and Weybourne, and on, inevitably, inevitably, to Sheringham. Not quite reached Cromer, which still prefers the lovely coarse smack of (malt, not balsamic) vinegar on its chips. And certainly not Yarmouth (as if!). But be warned, tank-sized three-wheeled prams have been spotted in Sheringham, and cries of “Tilly!” and “Alfie!” are drowning out the seagulls. Which can mean only one thing. Buy now. And stock up on Maldon sea salt.

Ups Telltale signs: price rises. Doubled in the past five years (but then, hasn’t everywhere?). Though still decent value and, as yet, nicely unposhed-up: you can still buy fishing gear from crabby shacks. The town is genteel and perfectly happy with itself, without being yet, dread word, discovered. Great ice cream.

West Cliff

Downs The train. Still, at least it has one (quite a rarity around here). The realisation that some day soon all this will be candle shops.

Getting around A trek anywhere by car, but that’s Norfolk for you – and keep it out of the centre in summer. Blimey, that train’s slow: a very leisurely one hour to Norwich.

Time out Crab-eating. Fishing. Pretty countryside and cliff walks. Nice independent shops and a weekly market, though Tesco’s a-coming. The Sheringham Theatre.

Schools Sheringham Community Primary “very effective”, says Ofsted; the High School is “satisfactory”.

Property Bungalows a-go-go from £200,000. Flats in Edwardian/neat modern blocks: one-bed, £90,000-£120,000, two, £115,000-£160,000. Terraces, £160,000; semis from £170,000; four-bedroom detacheds £200,000-£400,000. It’s the old cottages and fishermen’s houses in the tight streets that are the find: £160,000-£250,000. Agents such as Brown & Co (01263 822488) on Station Road.

Bargain of the week Charming, three-bedroom, flint-fronted cottage, one street from the sea, £150,000 with Keys