Welcome to Norwich

A Guide to Norwich

A cathedral and university city, Norwich lies in the heart of Norfolk on the banks of the river Wensum. Once England’s second city, Norwich can boast the claim of being the most complete medieval city in the UK.

The city is home to cobbled streets such as Elm Hill, Timber Hill and Tombland. Ancient buildings which include the Cathedral built in the 11th Century, the Norman Castle, Cow Tower, Pulls Ferry, St Andrew's Hall, Dragon Hall, The Guildhall and Strangers' Hall. More modern architecture includes the Royal Arcade, built in 1899 and the Sainsbury Centre, designed by Norman Foster and is home to the prestigious art collection of Robert and Lisa Sainsbury.

City of literature, arts, and culture

The city has a thriving theatre and arts scene and has several venues which can accommodate 100 to 1,300 people, offering a diverse variety of programmes, from comedy to opera. The venues include the Theatre Royal, the Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich Puppet Theatre, the Octagon Studio, Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich Playhouse, and the Garage Studio to name but a few.

The Forum in the city centre is home to the Norwich library and has a large open-air amphitheater for performances of many types throughout the year.

In 2012 Norwich became England’s first UNESCO City of Literature and holds the oldest city arts festival in the country - the Norfolk & Norwich Festival. For over 900 years, Norwich has been a literary city, with many well-known writers making the city their home. One such writer was Julian of Norwich whose Revelations of Divine Love, published in 1395, was the first book written in the English language by a woman. To this day many poets, novelists, biographers, playwrights, translators, literary critics, historians, and environmentalists have made Norwich their home.

Norwich, the best place to live

In 2022, the Sunday Times named Norwich as the best place to live in the East of England. With a range of independent shops, excellent restaurants, and cafes, Norwich is a great place to live, work and relax.

The University of East Anglia (UEA) is a public research university based on the eastern edge of the city. The postgraduate Master of Arts in creative writing is regarded as the most respected in the United Kingdom and they are one of the country’s top climate change research organisations.

Norwich City Football Club’s ground, Carrow Road, is located to the southeast of the city, about a 10-minute walk from the train station. Melanie Estates is proud to be a Community Partner of the club.

The property market in Norwich

Norwich has a vibrant residential property market both in sales and lettings. Being home to a large university, there are a number of student lets around the university and surrounding area – perfect for property investors. The golden triangle in Norwich, dubbed Norwich’s Notting Hill, is an area of the city close to both the city centre and the UEA. It is one of the most sought-after locations in the city for families and professionals.

The northern part of the city is popular with those that want to have easy access to the Norfolk Broads and the North Norfolk Coast.

To the west of Norwich are various suburbs, villages, and towns which are a short drive or quick bus ride from the city centre. 

If you live in Norwich, Melanie Estates can help you sell your home. Our extensive knowledge of this area and the housing developments, together with over 30 years’ experience in the housing sector, gives us an advantage over other agencies in Norwich and the surrounding area. For more information, or a free, no-obligation valuation, get in touch with us today.