Norwich has seen a huge transition over the past 20 years to develop into one of the UK’s most desirable cities to live, largely due to the charm of its cobbled streets, independent businesses and welcoming atmosphere. Here are our 10 reasons why we love Norwich.
The City’s Heritage & Culture
Norwich has a deeply ingrained heritage and culture which you can see all over the place. Many of the buildings have plaques attached to denote different historical events that have occurred in the city, and not to mention, Norwich is also home to a 900-year-old Norman Castle and two cathedrals. Norwich also hosts one of the oldest surviving arts festivals in the UK.
The Location
Being located in the centre of Norfolk means that Norwich is within distance to a number of fantastic locations. An hour East you will find Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. Two of the best beaches and seaside towns in the UK. If you were to head North you would find the North Norfolk’s coastline, famous for its stunning beaches, great food and beautiful scenery.
Just under 2 hours west you will find Cambridge which is easily accessible via train or car. Cambridge offers a number of great shopping locations, heritage landmarks and punting expeditions down the canals.
Finally, a direct train line to London. If you’re a commuter, or just someone who likes to head to the capital then you are in luck. You can arrive at London Liverpool Street in under 2 hours.
The Property
Norwich is blessed with an ever-growing property portfolio, with a number of new housing developments opening in some of the most popular areas. The area has seen a large demand for new housing due to migration to the area, which in turn has led to house price growth throughout Norwich.
If city centre living is your thing then you’re in luck. A number of large apartment blocks have been built right on the river in the centre of Norwich. Living in this location gives you great access to Norwich’s shopping malls, it’s thriving music scene, and the array of bars and restaurants the city has to offer.
If you like a more peaceful setting, then the villages surrounding Norwich offer fantastic homes and schools to raise a family.
The Market
Norwich boasts the largest covered market in Europe, a great accolade for such a small city. This market is a must-visit for foodies, as visitors are able to enjoy cuisines from all over the world, from Chinese to Italian, Jamaican to Moroccan. Alongside its great cuisines are its old school market roots, with fruit and veg stalls and watch fixers who have been there for decades.
Norwich’s market is an amazing place which is well worth exploring. At least you’ll be covered for lunch!
A City of Literature
Norwich is a city of Literature, and in 2012 this was officially confirmed as it became England’s first UNESCO City of Literature. Back in 1608 Norwich had the first library to be established in a commercial building outside of London.
If you want proof we are a city of literature our creative writing course at the UEA has already produced a Nobel Prize winner!
Great Food All Year Round
Alongside the market with all the amazing cuisines, we love Norwich because of its booming restaurant scene. The city centre has seen an increase in fine dining, with St Benedicts St at its core. Here you will find a number of independent restaurants all serving fantastic food and delivering excellent customer service. Our favourite restaurants include Benedicts, Haggle, Roger Hickman’s and Woolf & Social.
The Lanes in Norwich is also a great place to take a look if you are in the city centre, and are in need of a bite to eat.
The Great Coffee
If you love your coffee then you will love Norwich! Norwich has a number of the large coffee chains including Starbucks, Nero, Pret and Costa. But where Norwich is head and shoulders above other cities are its independent stores.
Strangers has become one of the city’s most well-known coffee companies with approximately 4 stores opening across the city. With all their coffee beans packaged in their central Norwich store, you can see your coffee from all over the world bagged in front of your eyes. Our other favourites include Artel on London Street and Bread Source on Upper St Giles St. If you love coffee as much as we do then remember to check these places out.
Football!
Love it or hate it, Norwich has a huge football following and it brings lots of attention to the city. On match day you’ll see the city swarming with fans, all there to cheer on their beloved Canaries. Fan or not, you can’t help but love the vibrant atmosphere the football following brings to the city.
Check out some of the pubs surrounding Carrow Road stadium when there’s a game on and take it all in. With Norwich currently playing at such a high level, it helps showcase what a great city Norwich really is.
It Isn’t All Medieval
Though Norwich has a vast amount of history, it has also seen a large amount of modernisation occur in recent years. Since the start of the 20th Century, a number of modern buildings have taken shape across various locations. The UEA has been a big driver in this due to its student culture.
In 2001 the Forum opened which is now home to a large convention centre, public library and the BBC news studio. Another large modern building to open was the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts. This has really modernised the UEA for Visual arts to put as one of the top regions in the UK.
Pubs in Abundance
The last of our 10 reasons why we love Norwich is its pub scene. This definitely makes it one of the best cities to visit in the UK. Even if you’re not a big drinker, there’s a huge array of pubs that all have something unique to offer. Whether you’re looking for a beer garden in the summer, a specialist in craft beers or just a place to watch the football on a weekend, Norwich has something for everyone.
There are enough pubs in Norwich to try a different pub every single day of the year (even Christmas day)! We could spend hours talking about all of our favourite pubs in Norwich, but a few that stand to us are the Belgian Monk on Pottergate, The Murderers on Timber Hill and The Georgian Townhouse on Unthank Road.
Summary
There are more than 10 reasons why we love Norwich and we cannot speak highly enough of it. It’s great for all generations and has a lot to offer to anyone who is looking to relocate. If you are looking for a property in Norwich then give Norwich Home Buyers a call today on 01603 851837.