Norwich has always been known as a fine city. Those exact words are on the city’s sign, welcoming visitors in.
But it’s finally being recognised as so much more than ‘fine’, having just been named the best place to live in the UK.
Norfolk’s capital has topped The Sunday Times list for 2026, being hailed as the nation’s ‘number one location to enjoy an exceptional life’.
And as someone who spent 18 years living 18 minutes from Norwich (by train), and six years living in the city itself, I can attest that it’s a pretty spectacular place.
In my younger years, I took the city for granted.
Growing up in Diss, Norwich was the nearest city, with all the major high street retailers, chain restaurants and decent nightclubs. It was somewhere I went to spend pocket money, and where my dad dragged me on Saturday afternoons to watch football at Carrow Road.
It wasn’t until I reached sixth form and was considering universities that I started to realise just how special Norwich actually is.
Win a city break for two in romantic Rome with our newsletter
Unlimited pasta, world-class shopping, thousands of years of history on every street corner… who wouldn’t want to be in Rome?
We’ve teamed up with Wowcher to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a city break for two in Rome, including return flights from your chosen UK airport (Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester, London Gatwick or London Stansted) and a stay in a four-star hotel walking distance of iconic spots such as the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain.
Armed with travel tips from our exclusive new newsletter The Getaway Expert, this is your chance to explore the Eternal City like a real Roman. Good luck!
Open to UK (excluding Northern Ireland) residents aged 18 or over. Closes 11:59pm on 29 March 2029. Full T&Cs apply.
I’d always wanted to escape Norfolk, so the University of East Anglia wasn’t exactly top of my list, but around the same time, Norwich was declared a UNESCO City of Literature, which really helped seal the deal. What better place could there be to study literature than in a city of it?
So off I went in 2012, and there I remained until 2018, graduating and working in local news, before deciding to try my luck in London. I’m still living in the capital, but I regularly have days where I want nothing more than to pack up and head back to Norwich.
So, what exactly is so great about Norwich?
First of all, it’s stunning. Have you seen the cathedral? The castle? The quaint cobbled streets of Elm Hill and the Lanes’ colourful, independent shops? How about Plantation Garden or the Quayside?
It’s also very walkable; you can see all of the above easily, without having to spend any money on an Uber.
And there’s sooooo much culture – Norwich hosts its own literary festival, a jazz festival, and the Norfolk & Norwich Festival.
There’s something to suit all tastes too: Theatre lovers can see top West End shows like Hamilton at the Theatre Royal, comedy fans can catch cracking jokes at The Playhouse, and artists have the Sainsbury’s Centre.
The UK’s kindest city
People also make a place, and the people here are lovely, so much so that just last year, Norwich was named the UK’s kindest city.
It’s very neighbourly, in an almost Gilmore Girls/Stars Hollow kind of sense; locals genuinely care about one another, and small businesses are championed in a way that’s rarely seen in London.
Everything feels a bit more laid back – there’s no rushing about, keeping your head down, and avoiding eye contact. In Norwich, you’ll befriend people without even really meaning to; it’s just the Norwich way.
It’s home to fantastic independent businesses
The shopping scene is also strong; sure, it’s got brands like Oliver Bonas, Primark, and Lucy & Yak, but it also has stores you won’t find anywhere else.
The city has its own department store, Jarrolds, which has a history spanning more than 200 years. Plus, the Royal Arcade is an exquisite Art Nouveau-style shopping arcade covered in pretty tiles and bathed in light from its glass roof.
And who could forget the 900-year-old rainbow-coloured market in the city centre, where you’ll find everything from fruit and veg and fresh fish, to pastries, coffee and even vintage fashion.
Speaking of vintage things, if you love antiques, this city is a real treasure trove, with three places you cannot miss.
Looses Emporium on Magdalen Street is a dream if you’re looking for quirky furniture. St Gregory’s Antiques and Collectables is housed inside an old church and has everything you could ever want, and Maddermarket Antiques has jaw-dropping jewellery.
And book lovers, be sure to swing by The Book Hive, this is a city of literature after all.
Do you agree that Norwich is the UK’s best city?
-
Absolutely
-
Definitely not
Where to eat in Norwich
Perhaps my favourite thing about Norwich (and I’m biased as a food writer) is the extraordinary food scene. It just keeps getting better. Every time I go back, some incredible new spot has cropped up.
Highlights include No.33 on Exchange Street, which has been popular for years thanks to its fluffy pancakes, boujee fry-ups, and a mean potato hash. They also offer some of the best cakes I’ve ever eaten in my life, with the white chocolate and mixed berry being a standout.
Newer spots like J.C. Pinto have delicious Turkish eggs and smashed avocado on toast, while Bread Source is the go-to for perfectly flaky pastries – but you’ll have to be quick, as the artisan bakery sells out fast.
For those who struggle to decide what to eat, the city recently opened its own food hall. Yalm is located in the arcade and spans two floors, featuring eight different kitchens and a bar.
Feel like something fancier? Swing by Benedicts, founded by chef Richard Bainbridge and his wife, Katja. You might recognise Richard from his many appearances on Saturday Kitchen Live, and he won the Great British Menu in 2015.
The restaurant has numerous AA rosettes under its belt, and is featured in the Michelin Guide, along with Benoli, an incredible Italian restaurant, and Bar Cerdita, an innovative Spanish tapas place.
In my opinion, no visit to Norwich is complete without stopping by Macarons & More, by MasterChef finalist Dr Tim Kinnaird.
Here, you’ll be greeted with beautiful window displays and an array of colourful macarons, jelly sweets, brownies and more.
The vanilla macaron is my go-to, which sounds basic, but is filled with the most glorious white chocolate ganache.
As you can probably tell, I adore Norwich, and the only reason I’m not there right now is that I’m unwilling to make the one-hour and 45-minute trip to London and back every day for work. If you’ve read my previous piece about trying commuter life in Kent, you’ll know I’m just not cut out for it.
That said, I’d never rule out moving back to Norwich, as it truly is the most marvellous place.
If you’ve never been, it’s ideal for a weekend getaway, with trains from London Liverpool Street.
I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I do, and as a bonus, you might even get to see polar bears on the way there. No, I’m not joking.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.