Norwich, Norfolk, UK
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
<p>Norwich is a small medieval city in the East of England. The fact that Norwich is a city at all is a constant source of surprise to visitors and a constant irritation to the people of Ipswich town, the city's nearest neighbours. Norwich's status stems from it's charter which dates back to the days when it was an important centre for trade in East Anglia's agricultural produce. The onset of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th Century saw Norwich's status diminished, as did being targeted for a rather petty bombing campaign by the Luftwaffe during World War II.</p>
<p>Contemporary Norwich is a place slowly reinventing itself as a centre for commerce and service industries. All this is accompanied by the building of the Castle Mall complex, and the newly finished Riverside Development project. Also symptomatic of Norwich's 'modernisation' is the recent explosion of bars, cafes, clubs and general nightlife in a city where a good night out traditionally consisted of sitting in one of a few palatable pubs until closing, followed by flat, overpriced lager in one of three black holes that each announced itself to be 'The Best Night Out In Town.' </p>
<p>These days, Norwich is a great place to visit (or live) to appreciate it's eccentric 'old world' charms and laid back pace of life, but still offers little to compete with the experience of living somewhere genuinely exciting. Other notable features of the City include the University of East Anglia, the Cathedral and the inhabitants' violent opposition to a motorway link to anywhere else in the world.</p>
<p>Contemporary Norwich is a place slowly reinventing itself as a centre for commerce and service industries. All this is accompanied by the building of the Castle Mall complex, and the newly finished Riverside Development project. Also symptomatic of Norwich's 'modernisation' is the recent explosion of bars, cafes, clubs and general nightlife in a city where a good night out traditionally consisted of sitting in one of a few palatable pubs until closing, followed by flat, overpriced lager in one of three black holes that each announced itself to be 'The Best Night Out In Town.' </p>
<p>These days, Norwich is a great place to visit (or live) to appreciate it's eccentric 'old world' charms and laid back pace of life, but still offers little to compete with the experience of living somewhere genuinely exciting. Other notable features of the City include the University of East Anglia, the Cathedral and the inhabitants' violent opposition to a motorway link to anywhere else in the world.</p>