Norwich

[flipnflap]

friend of mine may be moving to Norwich but has never been there before - what's it like living there? good and bad points please

[boxtops]

I have rellies living near there - lovely countryside, very flat, it seems a long way from anywhere. Lots of horses.

[Maydup]

No the horses are in Newmarket Boxtops.

I live close by and work there every day. I came here 25 yrs ago from east Kent and never left as it has everything. A vibrant friendly city with enough to do but relaxing too. It has fabulous shopping, a premier league football team, a big theatre with west end shows, a river, parks and lovely heritage buildings. With a very low crime level and a manageable population, a short drive to the coast and surrounded by countryside, I can't think of many places to better it, but I am biased I realise!

[jno]

no motorways, which is why it can take a while to get to the rest of the world, should you want to. Also, I think the weather can be a bit parky, what with winds whipping straight down from the North Pole. These aren't deal breakers but it's as well to be prepared for them.

[woofgang]

no motorways, cool weather and empty beaches....heaven.

[Psybbo]

The Belgian Monk, great food and great beers, will visit son as often as we can

[Buenchico]

Shopping:
Norwich has one of the best covered markets in the country, which is amazingly cheap. (50p for a cup of tea, for example, or a fiver for a good-quality leather wallet).

There are also two big indoor shopping malls (Castle Mall and Chapelfield) right in the city centre, where you can spend lots of money. A walk along Magdalen Street, though, will take you to the 'cheapo' end of the city, where you'll find lots of 'discount stores' and plenty of charity shops.

The city centre generally seems to be thriving, with very few empty shops (unlike many other towns and cities).

Culture:
Norwich has three excellent theatres (the Theatre Royal, the Playhouse Theatre and the Maddermarket Theatre), together with loads of other centres for the performing arts. Norwich is a city where you can find something different to see every evening.

Pubs, restaurants, etc:
There's something for everyone. (The wonderful, if rather pricey, Belgian Monk has already been mentioned. Real ale fans should try the Kings Head on Magdalen Street).

Crime, etc:
Norwich has one of the lowest crime levels, for a city of its size, in the whole of the country. As with any fairly large city, there are a few 'rough' areas but overall it's a safe place to live.

Friendliness:
East Anglian people aren't as naturally friendly as many northerners (for example). It's often said that you need to live in a house for at least 20 years before the neighbours stop thinking of you as a stranger. However, despite that, it's probably far easier to get to know the locals than in, say, London (especially if you drink in the King's Head!).

The area:
Norwich is a good base for exploring. The beautiful North Norfolk coast is within easy reach and it's only a short hop on the train to places like Ipswich (which is also blossoming into a really nice place these days) and Cambridge.

House prices/rents:
Generally far, far cheaper than London and the South-East but still quite a bit higher than in much of northern England.

[shaneystar2]

I've not seen any horses in Norwich but they do have Gorillas atm .
Lovely for shopping ,castle cathedral,picturesque old parts ,Elm Hill etc .
Covered market .
There are a couple of dodgy housing estates though and The Prince of Wales Rd is a bit like vomit row on a Saturday night .
I live twenty miles away in an easterly direction on the coast .Personally I wouldn't want to live there but it's ok for a day out .

[cupotee]

I love it for all the reasons posted here. We intended to move there some years ago but sadly never got round to it. Always regretted it.

[Hopkirk]

Getting there is going to get easier, as they are finally upgrading the bottleneck on the A11 to be a dual carriageway.

[LoftyLottie]

Why do people all think that Norfolk is VERY flat. True we don't have high hills but we have lots of rolling countryside. SOME of Norfolk is very flat. Norfolk is the second largest county in the UK with diverse scenery.

I love it because it is quiet - no-one has to go through Norfolk to get to anywhere else. No motorways - heaven. I originate from London and have lived in other counties and travelled all over the UK, but Norfolk (and North Yorkshire) are the only places that have ever drawn me - hence why we upped and offed to North Norfolk 34 years ago. It is a wonderful county.

Norwich is wonderful!! No other City comes anywhere near it in my opinion.

[LoftyLottie]

Horses? Not that many around these parts.

[B00]

Can't believe no one's mentioned Alan Partridge :-(

[LoftyLottie]

Alan Patridge ;o)

[tonyav]

Or what soldiers used to write on the envelopes of letters to wife's and girlfriends.

[Octavius]

Norwich is a lovely place.

It even has its own airport. Admittedly you have to pedal the planes down the runway and wee out of the windows, but your friend will love it (assuming they are 75+).

[LoftyLottie]

Nickers off ready when I come home!

Wrongspellng though!!!

[tonyav]

Ah but you knew what it mean't though Lofty lol.

[LoftyLottie]

Watch it Octavius!!!

I was 31 when we moved here. Son has settled back here after exploring other alternatives.

The airport is expensive for airlines so unfortunately very few cheap flights now unless you want to go to Glasgow.

[Maydup]

75+ are mostly in Sheringham and Cromer rather than Norwich. Norfolk is a popular retirement destination but less so for Norwich.

[Octavius]

I suppose you are right Maydup, nothing quite like the daily mobility scooter rush hour in Fakenham High Street.