Where are the best places to live in Suffolk?

Whatever you include on your list of must-haves for a new home, you can find it in Suffolk. You could be looking for a bustling town with excellent transport links, a quiet country village, an idyllic coastal haven, or simply access to top-rated schools. Suffolk will not disappoint. This county has so much to offer, which is why it is an attractive option for all types of homebuyers. To help you find out where to move, take a look at our pick of the best places to live in Suffolk.

Ipswich

Ipswich has a station on the main Eastern line, with regular services into central London. It also boasts easy access by rail and road to one of the UK’s main ports at Felixstowe. The transport links offer convenience to anyone thinking of moving to Ipswich, though the wide choice of shopping, entertainment, and culinary options add plenty to the town itself.

Architecture in Ipswich is striking and with 650 listed buildings to see, a stroll through the town is never a dull moment. In fact, Ipswich is one of the oldest settlements in the UK and it has worked hard to retain many of its old buildings, choosing instead to either leave or tastefully adapt historically significant properties.

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Coddenham

Just eight miles north from Ipswich is Coddenham, a rural village bristling with character. Amenities include village shops, pubs, and a community and sports hall. It is celebrated for its exceptional countryside walks and lovers of green space will find plenty to adore here. As Coddenham is such a short distance from Ipswich, residents get the best of both worlds, making this a desirable location which is reflected in the higher-than-average house prices (compared to the Suffolk as a whole).

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Bury St Edmunds

Bury St Edmunds (shortened to Bury by the locals) is an historic town boastings beautiful cobbled streets and numerous period cottages. The town has its fair share of medieval buildings too, with a few stand-out churches dating way back to just after the Norman conquest. For education, Bury provides a decent selection of schools rated ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ by OfSted. Like Ipswich, Bury has excellent links to Cambridge, London, and the coast. Average house prices are a little lower than other popular areas, making it a more affordable place to live without sacrificing much in the way of quality of life.

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Woodbridge

As a former winner of the Sunday Times’ “Best Places to Live” award, Woodbridge remains an idyllic location to call home. Although it is technically located on a river estuary rather than by the sea, it maintains a coastal feel and locals can benefit from the many opportunities for sailing and other water-based activities. Sports, theatre, and music events are held all year round, and it is home to numerous independent shops, cafés, and restaurants.

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Dedham Vale

Designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Dedham Vale is a popular area to live in Suffolk. Located in ‘Constable Country’ (after the landscape painter John Constable), Dedham Vale provides blissful rural scenery that is a joy to explore for fans of the great outdoors. Dedham Vale’s namesake town has a varied selection of properties to choose from, such as thatched cottages, Georgian farmhouses, and timber-framed houses.

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Brandon

Brandon might not be as picturesque as some other Suffolk towns, but it is a more affordable option than many, which makes it appealing for young families and professionals alike. It is only half an hour’s drive from Bury St Edmunds and has its own station with direct trains to Cambridge. It is also near to Thetford Forest Park, which is not only a centre for outdoor activities, but a haven for top music acts who often play concerts there throughout the summer.

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Southwold

Southwold is a coastal town which with access to wide expanses of nature, lying within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of  Outstanding Natural Beauty. Being surrounded almost entirely by water, development in Southwold is limited and houses are in short supply. This makes it more expensive than other places as a result, but also means that it retains its original charm.

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How can OneDome help me move to Suffolk?

We are the first property website in the UK that can complete every step in your homebuying journey. From finding a home in Suffolk to getting a mortgage, through to completing all the legal stuff you need to buy a home. Our mortgage service for example, gives you access to 90+ mortgage lenders (including some of the UK’s best-known providers), and over 12,000 mortgage products. You’ll be assisted by our team of expert mortgage advisors, who will help you find the right mortgage for your needs. This service is free.

For the legal stuff, our conveyancing platform simplifies the necessities by keeping everything online and in one place. Home movers and estate agents can track the conveyancing in real time, so both parties get full visibility and can complete the process quicker than traditional methods. Take a look at our guide on conveyancing here for more information on what conveyancing is and why it is essential.

OneDome, everything you need to complete your move.