Living and Working in Lowestoft

Lowestoft offers an escape to the coast, the most easterly residential area in the UK. Soak up the sun on the beaches or enjoy the town. With easy access to the Norfolk Broads and gorgeous views, there is something for everyone in this seaside town.

Considering a role at East Point Academy? Want to get a feel for what life is like in Lowestoft and the surrounding villages? Here’s a quick guide to this coastal gem…

History

The town originated on Lowestoft Ness as a Danish settlement, making Lowestoft the most easterly point in the United Kingdom and a witness to nearly every historical and social movement. Some of the earliest signs of settlement in Britain have been found here, including flint tools that provide evidence of habitation dating back to the Neolithic age. 

In both World Wars, Lowestoft was bombarded - firstly by the German Navy as it was being used as a naval base at that time. Similarly, in World War II the German Luftwaffe heavily bombed the town due to its prolific engineering industry and its use as a naval base again. Currently, there is a war memorial in Sparrow’s Nest Park, located nearby to the Royal Naval Patrol Service Museum and Lowestoft Maritime Museum.

Located in Nicholas Everitt Park is the Lowestoft Museum. Dedicated to the history of Lowestoft you can follow the journey the town has made through artefacts such as Lowestoft porcelain, fossils and Roman displays. There are also sections in the museum about notable Lowestoft men, including Benjamin Britten and George Borrow. 

Britten was a composer in the 20th century and wrote 16 operas in his lifetime. Some of his most notable works are the community opera “Noye’s Fludde”, a one-act opera that recounts the story of Noah’s Ark, and a selection of songs for children “Friday Afternoons”, both of these works were used in Wes Anderson’s 2012 film “Moonrise Kingdom”. Borrow was an author and linguist with his most notable works being “The Bible in Spain” and “The Romany Rye”, writing in the 1800s he was known for his travel writing and journeys.

Lifestyle

Lowestoft has a range of green spaces and sea views that are a joy to behold, with hidden gems such as Kensington Gardens and Belle Vue Park harbouring lots of options for leisure with tennis courts, bowling greens and boating lakes available for use.

Along the seafront, you will find sandy beaches and a wide stretch situated between Claremont Pier and the South Pier (which is actually located North of Claremont Pier), both offering a range of restaurants, cafes and amusement arcades. East Point Pavillion is also close by which offers further street food vendors, a bar and cafe, as well as a developing music and events calendar with space for community events and private hire.

Lowestoft and adjacent Oulton Broad provide a gateway to The Norfolk Broads and access to a whole host of watersports activities and is known for powerboat and speedboat racing, canoeing and a range of other walking and cycling options across The Broads. If you aren’t looking for a white knuckle ride then a Waveney river tour may be more up your stream, take a trip on the Waveney Princess and tour The Broads at a gentler pace.

Shopping in Lowestoft is enjoyable with a range of big-name brands and local stores lining the streets. The Britten Centre is the shopping centre in the middle of town with a selection of shops. 

There are also retail parks within a 30-minute drive of Lowestoft, towards Great Yarmouth with Gapton Hall Retail Park and Pasteur Retail Park just off the A47. Or for thrill-seekers, Pleasurewood Hills is just a 10-minute drive from the centre of Lowestoft, a small family-fun theme park.

Travel and Transport Links

Lowestoft is the main town in its district, with a variety of handy transport links. If travelling from the south take the A12, a road that runs from London to Great Yarmouth, as it passes right through the town. Connecting Lowestoft to Norfolk and Suffolk are a myriad of A and B roads, offering routes to nearby towns such as Great Yarmouth and Beccles, and to larger cities such as Norwich.

The train station is located in the middle of town, with services running to Norwich and Ipswich every hour.  

House Prices (Rightmove - FEBRUARY 2024)

Lowestoft properties over the last year have had an average price of £241,682. 

The most common property type selling in Lowestoft are terraced houses, averaging a price of £171,440 in the past year. Detached and semi-detached properties are more expensive in general with prices on average of £332,899 and £237,624 respectively. 

Average house prices in Norfolk are £306,416, and Suffolk averages £333,226 for house prices. This makes Lowestoft on average cheaper than both Norfolk and Suffolk, with Beccles (£266,620) and Bungay (£277,417) also coming in cheaper than the average prices for the counties, albeit slightly more expensive than living in Lowestoft.

Want to know more about our school? We’re happy to have a chat - give us a call at 01502 525300. You can check our latest vacancies here.