Living and Working in Norwich

Named as the 'best place to live in the East 2022’ by The Times, Norwich is a city and district in the county of Norfolk, bursting with history, great food, arts and culture. 

Considering a role at Hewett Academy and thinking about living in the city or its surrounding areas? Here’s a little insight into what you can expect from a life in Norwich…  

History 

Norwich is the UK's most complete medieval city. Brimming with history, the city features cobblestone streets and ancient alleyways [Elm Hill, Timber Hill, Tombland], beautiful heritage sites and medieval half-timbered houses [St Andrew's Hall, Dragon Hall, Strangers' Hall], and an Art Nouveau Royal Arcade built in 1899. Norwich Guildhall is the largest surviving medieval civic building outside London and the city has one of the grandest Norman Cathedrals in Britain.

The Anglo Saxons originally settled beside the river Wensum in c.43 AD, naming it ‘Northwic’. The settlement grew and merged with others to become the largest walled town in medieval England. In 1066, the Normans conquered Norwich, constructing the hilltop stone castle over the following 20 years, which still stands proudly at the centre of the city. At this time, Norwich was one of the most important boroughs in the kingdom and in 1094, Norwich gained city status.

Today, Norwich Castle remains at the peak of the city and houses an art gallery hosting regular exhibitions, and a museum with internationally important collections in archaeology, natural history, and regimental history. Nearby, the Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell traces local history, including a re-created old pharmacy and exhibits on the textile industry.

Two imposing gates, St. Ethelbert’s and Erpingham, remain from the 13th century leading to the Tombland area, which was once a Saxon marketplace. 

Lifestyle

With a dedicated University of the Arts, several theatres [Norwich Theatre Royal, Playhouse, Maddermarket, Puppet Theatre], a variety of galleries [including Anteros Art Foundation, Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery, and the Sainsbury Centre to name a few], numerous music venues [Norwich Arts Centre, Waterfront, UEA], an independent cinema [Cinema City], libraries and a National Centre for Writing, and a jam-packed programme of arts festivals and events throughout the year, Norwich has secured a place on the map as a hub for creativity.

Norwich also has a 900-year-old legacy as being a literary city, becoming England's first UNESCO City of Literature in 2012 - one of only 20 in the world.

As well as the arts, Norwich has made a name for itself in the culinary world, offering a plethora of great food options of all cuisines and recognised as the most vegan-friendly city in UK. At the centre of a large farming county, Norwich benefits from the local produce on its doorstep, including cheese, meat, vegetables, and seafood from the nearby shores, all available to purchase at Norwich Market, one of the oldest and largest outdoor markets in the country. Whether you’re looking for restaurants, cafes and coffee shops or street-food, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Historically known as the “City of Ales” having once had more pubs than days of the year, Norwich offers a vast range of pubs and bars, including a number of micro-breweries and distilleries producing a variety of beers and gin. 

Across Norwich, you’ll find a large number of independent businesses, many selling handmade and second-hand items, from clothes, books and plants, to artisan coffee and vegan snacks, providing a genuinely unique shopping experience.

There are a number of gyms, sports facilities and leisure centres in and around Norwich including the University of East Anglia Sportspark, which is the UK's largest community sports venue. Football fans can enjoy home games with the Canaries at the Norwich City football stadium, famously supported by Delia Smith.

Travel and Transport Links

Living in Norfolk provides the perfect balance between busy urban living, and a more peaceful, community-based rural lifestyle. 

If city living isn’t for you, the surrounding towns benefit from great transport links to and from the centre, with regular and extensive bus routes, and access to several main roads including the A47, which runs from Suffolk to Birmingham, and the A11, which connects Norwich to London. The city’s train station provides direct train lines to King’s Lynn and  London in 1 hour 50 minutes, and a train to Cambridge takes under an hour. Norwich also has an international airport.

Norfolk benefits from 90 miles of unspoilt coastline and The Broads, only 20 miles from Norwich city centre, offering close-by days out in abundance. There’s nowhere better to achieve the perfect balance between work and life for you and your family. 

House Prices (Rightmove - Sept 2024)

Properties in Norwich had an overall average price of £278,553 over the last year.

The majority of sales in Norwich during the last year were terraced properties, selling for an average price of £262,210.. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £286,101, with flats fetching £165,017.