I headed to the charming and medieval metropolis named the very best place to stay within the UK – and one factor was immediately apparent
I spent the day in Norwich and spoke to locals about its title because the UK’s greatest place to stay (Picture: Amy Jones)
An neglected metropolis in Norfolk was topped because the ‘greatest place to stay within the UK’, and its residents all mentioned the identical factor.
Located alongside the River Wensum and simply over an hour’s practice journey from Cambridge, and fewer than two hours from London, is the medieval metropolis of Norwich. Often known as the ‘Metropolis of Tales’, it is characterised by its slender cobbled lanes, like these on Elm Hill, its medieval structure of timber-framed buildings, its Norman Twelfth-century fort, and two placing cathedrals.
Impressively, Norwich holds the standing of England’s first UNESCO Metropolis of Literature, has Dutch influences, and is called one of many best-preserved medieval cities in England. It is also famed for its thriving 900-year-old out of doors market and unbiased scene, with round 500 outlets, cafés, eating places, pubs, bars and venues across the metropolis, 300 of which line the courtyards and slender streets of the long-lasting Norwich Lanes.
But, regardless of its wealthy historical past, placing structure and extraordinary multitude of flourishing unbiased companies, locals say town may be ‘forgotten about’ and ‘folks miss it’. So it got here as welcoming information when Norwich topped The Sunday Instances Finest Locations to Dwell 2026 information, though its residents already knew that, regardless of feeling neglected.
Proprietor of Bookbugs and Dragon Tales, Leanne Fridd (Picture: Amy Jones)
‘It is cool, we now have a insurgent spirit – nobody’s in a rush’
Leanne Fridd, who owns the unbiased youngsters’s e-book store, Bookbugs and Dragon Tales, along with her husband, Dan Fridd, solely instructed the Specific: “Once we have been named as the very best place to stay within the UK, I might say most individuals in Norfolk went ‘properly yeah’. We already understand it. However we do get forgotten about due to our location.”
On what makes Norwich stand out, Leanne mentioned: “There are such a lot of unbiased companies in Norwich that it creates extra of a group really feel. So I do assume that is a big a part of it.
“Town is sort of vibrant, thrilling, and we now have unbelievable occasions from Norwich BID, a non-profit organisation. We now have wine week, Norwich Ebook Pageant, summer time festivals and ‘exit, not residence’, the place all alongside the pedestrian areas there are bands, performs and theatre, that are all free.”
Dan added: “There’s the Discussion board, we have a large library in the midst of town, which was constructed because the Millennium Library as a result of the previous one burnt down. That is unbelievable, and it is only a pretty area to be, it is a huge, open group space and has a stunning café in it.”
But, Leanne famous there’s rather more to town than first meets the attention. “It is not on the best way to something, and it isn’t attempting to be something. It additionally has an enormous historical past by lots of and lots of of years of riot, quiet dissent, being somewhat bit naughty, and it does it in a extremely Norfolk-y method,” she shared.
Dan added: “We stayed within the seventeenth century and we have been the second metropolis of England, the subsequent metropolis after London. Largely due to the wool commerce, after which we benefited massively from immigration, from the Walloons and the Dutch space, all of them introduced their abilities and information in.”
“There’s an actual melting pot of tradition, and due to the 2 universities, we now have lots of people transferring right here,” Leanne mentioned. Her husband additionally talked about: “One of many issues we’re well-known for is that individuals will come right here for college, or for another cause, and so they will not be capable to depart afterwards as a result of they simply like it a lot.”
Leanne additionally shared: “It wasn’t cool rising up, nevertheless it’s develop into cool and truly, I am extremely pleased with Norwich and being a part of it as a result of I feel we now have this actual insurgent spirit. However nobody’s in a rush – it’s the Norfolk method”.
Proprietor of For the Love of Norfolk, Karen Williams (Picture: Amy Jones)
‘Norwich is such a stunning place – however folks skip it’
Karen Williams, proprietor of For the Love of Norfolk, primarily based within the iconic Norwich market, could not agree extra with town’s title. “What makes Norwich such a stunning place is that we’re a bit off the crushed monitor, so we’re a bit more durable to get to, however when you’re right here, it is price it”, she instructed the Specific.
“We’re so near the coast, and we have the Broads Nationwide Park, so inside a matter of minutes, you may be out in nature. Norwich itself is sort of compact, so we have every part right here, nevertheless it’s all really inside a 10-minute stroll, and it is so historic as properly.”
Karen, who was accompanied by her beloved sausage canine, Reggie, added: “We’re a bit out on a limb, and we do get bypassed so much. Folks skip it as a result of when folks go north to south, they simply go straight up and straight down.
“I do assume locals take it without any consideration, however being right here [in her shop], I get to listen to every part from guests, and so they’re simply blown away by it. They are saying, ‘We want we had historical past like this’ or ‘I want our metropolis wasn’t so industrial’.”
She quipped: “And Norfolk is certainly higher than Suffolk!”
Norwich Metropolis Hosts, Fiona and Malcolm (Picture: Amy Jones)
‘Town is sensible’
Regardless of being a metropolis, its group really feel is obvious to anybody who wanders round Norwich. They actually have a devoted crew of volunteers, generally known as ‘Norwich Metropolis Hosts’, who’re located across the metropolis to help guests with data or instructions, and they’re equally as happy with their nationwide recognition.
Stopping for a chat, Metropolis Host, Fiona, instructed the Specific: “Norwich is compact and simple to get round, and it is obtained among the greatest preserved medieval buildings within the nation, a improbable market, an excellent artwork scene, not simply work however all types of stuff. We now have Norfolk & Norwich Pageant in Might, Norwich Summer time Periods, and it is inside simple attain of the coast.”
“We get quite a lot of vacationers coming into Norwich, and lots of people say they did not realise how good Norwich was and the way a lot there’s to see. There are two cathedrals, the fort and the river.
“There’s additionally the Britons Arms on Elm Hill, the oldest road, which is a espresso store. The constructing itself is without doubt one of the oldest buildings in Europe.”
“Town is sensible”, Metropolis Host, Malcolm added. “I’ve lived in Norfolk all my life. Lots of people go to and simply keep.”
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