EXCLUSIVE: The town is so good that a lot of its residents have returned to it to calm down after greater than a decade of residing in different international locations.
The town is full of quaint streets (Picture: Jonathan Buckmaster / Every day Specific)
Situated in Norfolk is a fairly metropolis that locals can’t get sufficient of, and it’s straightforward to see why. Norwich, which was topped the UK’s finest place to stay in 2026 by the Sunday Occasions, is solely beautiful, and it appears there’s not a nasty phrase to say about it. Within the sunshine, Norwich glows, with its scenic streets, thriving market and quaint buildings – all full of passionate locals who love their hometown. Strolling round, it’s harking back to a scene from Bridgerton.
The town is house to a thriving impartial scene – over 300 impartial retailers within the Norwich Lanes alone – with enterprise house owners singing town’s praises. Many have grown up in Norfolk earlier than leaving to journey the world – and but one thing about Norwich has pulled them again.
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George Wooden, Head Chef at Brix and Bones (Picture: Jonathan Buckmaster / Every day Specific)
Melanie March says Norwich is a singular metropolis (Picture: Jonathan Buckmaster / Every day Specific)
George Wooden is one one who returned to start out Brix and Bones, a critically acclaimed restaurant.
Head chef George gives seasonal menus which embrace the eclectic and daring flavours impressed by his world travels, with a concentrate on high quality of meals and high quality of expertise.
He tells Specific.co.uk: “Norwich has at all times been a vacationer vacation spot. I feel it is steeped in historical past, from the fortress to the cathedral. It is a metropolis that punches above its weight and I feel it is a hidden gem. It’s a very homely place. It is very nice.”
“Brix and Bones is an open-fire restaurant with a custom-built grill that is in an open kitchen, so you’ll be able to truly sit on the chef’s desk.
“The menu focuses on sustainable, natural and locally-sourced produce. The menu adjustments weekly, so it is tremendous seasonal. We use quite a lot of foraged elements, we use quite a lot of fermentation.
“We use solely uncommon breeds and that is one thing that is sort of like we have turn into recognized for – the restaurant as an entire is a really distinctive expertise in Norwich.”
George’s restaurant has turn into a well-liked spot for guests to Norwich, and it is no shock.
He says there’s an excellent sense of group between the independents in Norwich.
George was born and raised in Norfolk, however left at 21 and headed to Australia for 5 years, working predominantly in Queensland.
When he moved again, he lived in London for round six years earlier than transferring to Sri Lanka and Japan. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, he returned to Norfolk and fell in love with Norwich.
He says: “Individuals in Norwich are loyal – they assist the independents massively. Norwich has the appropriate mix of historical past and independence. It is not too massive, it is not too busy.
“You are very near the coast. You are very near the countryside and but solely an hour and a half away from London.”
The town has a shocking outside market (Picture: Jonathan Buckmaster / Every day Specific)
The town is s fairly it appears to be like like a movie set in components (Picture: Jonathan Buckmaster / Every day Specific)
Strolling by town, it is analogous to Tub or York – locations which seamlessly mix the outdated with the brand new.
Melanie March, from Go to Norwich, tells us she thinks town is “pretty” and “stunning”.
Strolling across the cathedral, she factors to the village inexperienced, which appears to be like virtually too pristine to be actual.
She says it’s typically described because the village inside the metropolis, because it transports guests to a quaint space with a very completely different really feel.
Melanie says she thinks town is just like Salisbury or Winchester – each recognized for his or her quintessentially British really feel.
She says one must-visit spot is Elm Hill. “It’s our most full medieval road – you by no means see crowds. Very often you go down, and it is actually quiet.”
Speaking concerning the metropolis, we wander into the cloister, which appears to be like like a scene you may see in Italy.
The blue skies are seen by the curved stonework, and it’s virtually utterly silent there – immediately enjoyable.
She says there’s an enormous quantity for vacationers to do within the metropolis.
Richard Bainbridge returned to Norwich after 15 years of residing away (Picture: Jonathan Buckmaster / Every day Specific)
“We’re the one metropolis inside a nationwide park which is a singular a part of Norwich. There’s now a extremely nice exercise that folks can do. There’s a spot known as Lion’s Den, which is on the river and it is acquired a riverside sauna, wood-fired sauna, and sauna backyard.
“There’s additionally stand-up paddleboarding obtainable to do on the river which is nice – I did it in my lunch break not too long ago.”
Norwich is the kind of place you need to make plans to go to once more earlier than you even depart.
Richard Bainbridge is the proprietor of Benedicts, and he’s one other one who has come again to town after a few years away.
“I’m a Norwich boy by and thru. It’s fairly a small place, so the very first thing you need to do once you’re younger is depart – however I at all times knew I’d come again.
“I went off to work in North Norfolk for a short while after which I went off to America, New Zealand, London and Dublin. I began my restaurant right here within the metropolis and I’ve settled down right here and I like flying the flag for Norwich.”
He says town is pleasant with a powerful sense of group – for locals, it feels extra like a village the place you’ll typically stumble upon folks you already know.
Benedicts has turn into a purpose for visiting town in its personal proper after it has caught the eye of foodies.
However impartial meals is just not the one factor drawing folks in – there’s additionally an enormous buying scene with a variety of vibrant and thrilling distinctive objects for buyers.
Jenny says Norwich has at all times been house for her (Picture: Jonathan Buckmaster / Every day Specific)
Rob says the impartial buying within the metropolis is a serious vacationer attraction (Picture: Jonathan Buckmaster / Every day Specific)
The Royal Arcade in Norwich is a spot you’ll need to go to should you’re within the space.
Jenny Bealey from Girl B Loves, which sells vintage-inspired clothes, says she has had her store for round 10 years.
She says folks from everywhere in the nation and the world go to her store, with vacationers having fun with the vary of outlets within the arcade.
Jenny says individuals are typically pleasantly stunned about what Norwich is like – they don’t anticipate it to be nearly as good.
The town has a college which brings in younger folks for open days and Jenny says one household even determined to return again for a day journey as they’d appreciated it a lot.
She says: “The town feels actually protected, individuals are very pleasant. I grew up right here and I’ve been all all over the world however I at all times knew Norwich could be my house.”
Rob Davies, who works alongside the companies within the arcade, says the realm is a “haven” of impartial buying.
He says the historic row of outlets has advanced over time, however that it’s at all times been a relentless for town and that it must be a must-visit for vacationers.
The town has a healthful really feel that leaves you wanting extra and it’s clear that loads of individuals who stay and work within the metropolis have been simply pulled in by its attraction.
Norwich is a spot that you would spend ceaselessly in – a weekend right here will depart you wanting extra. If you happen to go to, you may by no means need to depart.
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