Tuesday 4 March 2014

"I Heart Suffolk - that's my motto!"

Those of us born and bred in Suffolk have known about this county’s bewitching nature all our lives but the word is out. Recently described as a county “with apples in her cheeks”, our rural charm and undulating beauty now effortlessly blends with the sophisticate. London may be the cosmopolitan cocktail but Suffolk’s the cherry on top.

The attractions of Suffolk can easily be taken for granted by those who live and work here already but those new to the area will inevitably remark how colourful the houses are – an eclectic mix of charming painted cottages, elegant red brick and white brick Georgian houses and mansions, drunken timber framed houses in abundance, as well as pastel coloured beach huts.

We’re synonymous with pretty villages, rural hamlets, bustling market towns as well as the exceptional beauty of our unspoilt coastline and rugged, muddy rivers - bucolic scenes all perfectly captured by Constable and Gainsborough.

Suffolk was once a preferred destination for retirement – especially for those looking to move from the expensive Hertfordshire/Essex borders for a more peaceful way of life. Similarly, buyers migrated south from Scotland and Yorkshire to get that much closer to their family and friends in London. Quick research on the Internet will show we remain the most affordable county within that all-important 60 mile radius of London.

No motorway crosses our county yet we have excellent road and rail communication links to London and employment hot spots such as our hi-tech, high-powered, neighbour Cambridge. Added to which, Stansted Airport in Essex is a very accessible convenience whilst being far enough removed for noise pollution to be of no concern.

However, in the past five years, London has swivelled its searchlight north eastwards and hungrily shone its beam on Suffolk unveiling our hidden jewels.

We’re no longer the closely guarded secret we once were. Our high quality of life sees us top of the league in the UK’s longest life expectancy and, not only are we the driest county, we’re one of the sunniest in the UK too.

Niceties as these are, it is our top-rated schools and ease of commuting (under one hour to Liverpool Street) that seals the deal for our London buyers.

But we must definitely not forget Newmarket, the world famous home of British horseracing, which generates £208 million per annum and is also home to Frankel – universally known as the highest rated and most famous racehorse in the world. Since retiring from an unbeaten record of 14 wins out of 14 races and valued at £100 million, Frankel now stands as a stallion for Juddmonte Farms at Banstead Manor Stud commanding an impressive income of around £10-£12 million per year.

Maybe Frankel’s magic has rubbed off on the rest of us or maybe Suffolk’s new found celebrity put that extra heat into his heart and hooves as he raced to all his winning glories! Either way, a horse of such surprising and exceptional magnitude pretty much sums up Suffolk: stunning in all its discreet, yet unquestionable, splendour.

I heart Suffolk – that’s my motto!


Caroline Edwards
Partner
Residential Sales, Long Melford

T: 01787 888622
E: caroline.edwards@carterjonas.co.uk

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