Why Norwich Has Become One of the Best Places to Live

If you ask anyone who hails from Norwich what makes this part of the UK so special, there is a good chance that they will have plenty to say.

Known for its history, bustling culture, and excellent quality of life, Norwich was named the ‘Best in the East’ in The Times’ Best Places to Live 2024, and now people are clamouring to buy property in the city.

In fact, an article published in The Telegraph highlights how Norwich has become a surprising property hotspot for many, describing the area as a “small city with a big personality”.

So, “what makes Norwich a nice place to live?”

In this article, we take a look at the great city of Norwich, from the history to the housing opportunities of today. Let’s jump in.

Short on time? Watch our quick video guide on why Norwich has become one of the best places to live:

History of Norwich

Norwich is a city with a lot of character and a rich history, spanning over 900 years. Norwich’s impressive cathedral is one of many examples of the stunning historic architecture.

In the 11th century, Norwich was arguably on a par with London, with a successful wool trade running out of the city, supplied by surrounding areas of Norfolk. Norwich Market was the largest open-air market in the country during the 11th century and the city still has a very popular market area.

Is Norwich A Good Place To Live?

Norwich is a safe, exciting and welcoming city to live in. The crime rates have been consistently low, and the city itself is saturated with culture – with theatre performances, three museums and sporting events. The Sunday Times has also named Norwich one of the best places to live in 2021.

The location of Norwich also makes it a very attractive place to live. Just a short drive to the coast, people living in Norwich can enjoy days at their choice of beach in the summer and there are many beaches within an hour’s drive to choose from! The scenic Norfolk countryside is also easy to explore from Norwich, with this part of the UK being quite rural for a city. East Anglia is fairly isolated from the rest of the UK, with no land north or south of it, therefore no busy motorways running through it.

While this appeals to many people, it does make Norwich a lot more difficult to commute from, so most people looking to buy a property in Norwich would work locally. Getting to London, for example, usually takes over 2 hours on the train, so it is not a realistic option to commute daily, if you are looking for any semblance of work life balance. Although with the current rise in remote working, even if your employer isn’t based in Norwich, living here is not out of the question.

Life in Norwich

The first city in England to be dubbed a UNESCO City of Literature, Norwich life offers a perfect mix of history, culture, and modern living.

Walking through the streets, you can feel the historical heartbeat of Norwich, from the Iron Age – showcased at the popular Iceni Gallery – through the Norman Conquest with the iconic Castle Museum, to the medieval era. With plenty of guided tours and scenic walks available, Norwich offers plenty of opportunities to showcase its fascinating evolution into one of the UK’s greatest cities.

In addition to its rich history, Norwich is also known for its vibrant food scene. From cozy cafés to fine-dining restaurants, the city provides a plethora of options for those wishing to dine out. And if you’re simply looking for the best pub food in Norwich, you’ll find plenty of contenders!

Looking for something more modern? Norwich city centre is bursting with creativity and adventure. Filled with entertainment establishments, from escape rooms to Boom Battle Bars, Norwich has established a unique modern philosophy that delivers ‘culture and coffee’ during the day, and an energy-fuelled nightlife for those seeking even more thrills.

City Centre

Living in the city centre of Norwich places everything at your front doors. As the culture hub of Norwich, the city centre is always filled with activities and shows. Whether you’re searching for a live performance at the Norwich Theatre Royal, or looking for a more spontaneous public event, the city of Norwich is the perfect place for those who wish to be at the heart of the action.

For shopping enthusiasts, there is no better place than the shopping mall in Norwich. Featuring Chantry Place and Castle Quarter, you will find a wide range of high-street brands and independent retailers ready to match your style. Most notably, however, the famous Norwich Market – one of the oldest and largest outdoor markets in the country – stands out as a must-visit for those looking for fresh produce and handmade crafts.

Whether it is activities and culture, food and drink, or shopping and retail, Norwich city centre has it all.

Local Shops and Restaurants

As we just touched upon, if you’re looking for an exciting shopping environment then the city of Norwich has all your bases covered.

While the city centre features the large shopping malls, filled with leading and popular brands, a quaint walk through the city streets will uncover an array of charming shops. From expert bakeries and boutique clothing stores to music shops and local art stalls, Norwich prides itself on supporting the independent businesses, helping to create a feel-good atmosphere for those looking for something special.

Luckily for the food lovers, Norwich equally offers a diverse restaurant scene. With international cuisines and fine-dining freely available, it really is up to you on what you fancy ‘in the moment’. Additionally, Norwich is famous for holding events like the Norfolk Food and Gift show, that specifically showcases different produce from a variety of different regions, allowing residents and visitors a tasting palette to experience the finest local flavours.

Schools and Universities

Schooling and higher education institutions, like university, might be an essential requirement for families looking to move to Norwich. So, “what are the schools and universities in Norwich like?”

The good news – families looking to move to the city will be delighted to learn that Norwich offers excellent education options. With a number of highly rated Norwich schools, ranging from primary schools through to secondary schools, you will have a selection both inside the city and in the surrounding areas.

For those looking to pursue a higher education, the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the Norwich University of the Arts provide a range of excellent courses. In fact, the UEA is consistently ranked among the UK’s top universities, and is proud to have a strong student-led community at its core.

Community and Culture

There is a lot going on in Norwich, when Covid-19 is not restricting activities. There are lots of festivals and there is a wealth of cultural activities, such as exhibitions, theatre performances and sporting events. There are three museums, four theatres and the impressive Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts.

Job Opportunities

In Norwich, a lot of employment is based in the financial services sector or food and drink, Aviva and Greene King PLC are the biggest employers in the area. Tourism is also quite a successful industry in Norwich, with the 2020 trend for staycations boosting the local tourism industry. At the end of 2019, unemployment rates in the East of England were lower than most other regions at 3.279, which compares favourably to the UK average of 3.819.

How Covid-19 Has Affected House Hunting Trends

One of the house hunting trends that has emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic is that people are increasingly searching for places to live that have more space and that are away from busy cities.

Due to lockdown, a lot of people have been looking to buy property in areas where they can enjoy exercising outdoors without travelling far. Norwich offers the amenities of a big city, without the noise and pollution. It is surrounded by countryside and coastal areas, so it is easy to see why more people are house hunting there.

For families or people looking to start families in the future, the quality of schools in the area will be important, as will looking for places with parks and other places for children to play. If you find a property you like, before you put an offer in, try and visit the street at different times of day. There might be more noise at night than you expected from your daytime viewing.

Property Value for Money

According to Zoopla, there is a stable rise in buyer demand for property in Norwich, with estate agents noting a pattern for increased interest in larger homes with gardens, particularly following lockdown.

Compared to the outer London suburbs, property prices in Norwich are significantly more affordable. While the average house prince in Norwich currently stands at £234,000, reflecting a 1.5% increase from the previous year. In fact, following the National Statistics and HM Land Registry, when compared to the rest of England, Norwich still stands out as one of the more affordable locations to buy property:

In addition, Norwich is placed amongst one of the most cost-effective places to live, with rent prices 120.5% lower than London (Numbeo, 2025) and the overall cost of living 76% cheaper (Expatistan, 2025).

Following the increase in both hybrid and remote work, many people who were based in London can now primarily work from home. This has incited the possibility of living outside the expense of the capital, allowing the choice for only occasional travel into London-based offices. As such, there has been a rise in home options in Norwich as the perfect commuting city, delivering a perfect home-work balance with a viable transport hub into London.

In regards to the buy-to-let property market, the University of East Anglia (UEA) houses around 15,000 students and plays a key role in the city’s overall rental market. The student demographic drives demand for buy-to-let properties, and has become a very successful attraction and opportunity for landlords to rent properties specifically to students for attractive   rental yields.

The most sought after area in Norwich, the Golden Triangle, spans between Unthank Road and Earlham Road – having great access to the city centre. Some other attractive areas are Old Catton to the North and Thorpe St Andrew to the East.

At the other end of the property scale, the properties are in the city’s Golden Triangle, where prices range from £250,000 for a Victorian terrace up to £1.5m for the grander properties.

Thorpe St Andrew and Thorpe are very popular with families, where properties are large enough to accommodate a growing family, while still remaining affordable.

What To Look For When Buying a Property

Whether you are looking at buying property in Norwich or anywhere else, there are a number of key factors you should consider when searching. As well as thinking about how much space you ideally want and whether the property comes with a good-sized garden, you should also consider whether the property is likely to hold its value. At the moment, house prices have been at an all-time high, but property experts are expecting a crash at some point in the near future.

If you were to buy a property in the current market, a crash could leave you in negative equity. So, rather than going for properties that are trending right now in terms of purchases, look for properties that have held their value well over time. You should do adequate research on Zoopla to make sure you are not paying over the odds for a property compared to other local properties.

Transport links can be important but only if you travel a lot. Somewhere like Norwich does not have great transport links but if you plan on working nearby and socialising in the area, transport will not be a priority for you, but you should consider whether your circumstances could change.

For families or people looking to start families in the future, the quality of schools in the area will be important, as will looking for places with parks and other places for children to play. If you find a property you like, before you put an offer in, try and visit the street at different times of day. There might be more noise at night than you expected from your daytime viewing.

Applying For a Mortgage

Before you start looking at properties, it is a good idea to search for a mortgage deal and get an agreement in principle, so that you know how much a lender will be prepared to loan to you. Otherwise, you could end up wasting time looking at properties outside of your price range. One of the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic is that many lenders have made their lending criteria stricter, which could leave many buyers in the position where they are unable to obtain a mortgage.

Using a mortgage broker helps people to find mortgage deals that are not available directly, so even if you have had a mortgage application turned down by a lender, you might still be able to get a mortgage through a broker.

If you are looking for a property in the Norfolk area, just like many other people are right now, using a mortgage broker will help you to find the best deal for your financial situation. Using a broker can also speed the mortgage application process up, which could be crucial if you are trying to buy before the stamp duty holiday ends. You might also want to use a broker to speed the process up to avoid missing out on finding and purchasing your dream property in Norwich or other parts of Norfolk, as so many people are currently trying to buy in this area.

Boon Brokers is based in Norwich and our mortgage team has expert knowledge of the local area and housing market, so we can help you to find the mortgage you need to buy your ideal property in this highly sought-after part of the UK.

Boon Brokers are different to most brokers as we do not charge client fees at any stage for mortgage services and our advisors have whole-of-market access to lenders in the UK. We are your hassle-free, no strings attached. Check out Mortgage Brokers Norwich .

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