My work has taken me to New York, Amsterdam and London this year. Exciting places to sample, but it is to Norwich that I gratefully return to live. With the city recently judged the best place to live in the UK by the Sunday Times I feel vindicated. This is where my children have been educated, where my wife teaches and where I have based my business for the last 12 years.
Norwich is a compact city with a relaxed a ‘town’ feel. Easily walkable and relatively affordable it is a great place to explore. Retaining much of its medieval heritage it offers some serious history (sorry New York) including a castle constructed by conquering Normans in 1069 and the spectacular Cathedral built about 30 years later. As a centre for cloth and wool trade in the Middle Ages it progressed to being the wealthiest city beyond London before the industrial revolution pulled profit, people and attention elsewhere.
At least twice a week I walk or cycle down into the city crossing Fye Bridge (cover photo), make my way through the arched entrance into the Cathedral. I then climb the steps to the café to claim a bit of calm thinking time (above).
When Norwich City have a home game my cycle ride extends from Cathedral Close (above) via riverside walk to Carrow Road stadium. The football club has heritage too, claiming the oldest football ‘song’ in the world still in use. Dating back to at least 1902 you get a needed reminder of the words on the way to your seat. Away fans make it very clear they are not impressed by the chant which we embrace as jealously.
The challenge for Norwich is that a visit requires a plan. You need to travel to the eastern bottom bump of the UK. Unless you are heading to the Norfolk coast you won’t stumble on it on the way to somewhere else.
The Norfolk coast is an excellent reason to visit. We often make a 35 minute drive to Overstrand and walk into Cromer.
I warmly invite you to visit to my fine city. Here’s some directions to preempt any excuse.
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