What Are the Best Aspects of Living in Norwich, Norfolk, UK as a Young Adult?
By: Property Classifieds
Tags: Property Investment, Property, Property Management, United Kingdom News, United Kingdom

The accolades for Norwich are aplenty — ‘Best in the East’ in The Times’ Best Places to Live 2020; in the top 10 of Best Places to Live for the Sunday Times; and The Telegraph has recently published an article about why Norwich has become so popular, calling it “a small city with a big personality” . So, what are the best aspects of living in Norwich as a young adult?

Norwich, its culture and its community

You may be surprised to learn that Norwich’s history dates back to the 11th century, home to a successful wool and shoemaking trade as well as the largest open-air market in the country — and it’s still the biggest open-air market to this day. Much of the architecture around the city has its roots in the past, including the city’s impressive cathedral.

As well as the immense culture the city holds, from theatre and museums to sporting events. With four theatres and the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, there are always annual festivals, exhibitions, theatre performances, sporting events — in fact, the list of activities is quite extensive.

There is a very strong feeling of community in Norwich, despite it being a bustling city, with an abundance of bars, pubs, clubs, restaurants and cinemas to attract the young adult. Over the years Norwich has become known for being one of the safest places to live in England. It has even been named the safest place to live in the UK and with the lowest crime rates in the country, you can see why.

If you’re a lover of shopping — aren’t all young adults? — you’ll be pleased to hear that Norwich is one of the UK’s top 20 shopping locations. John Lewis, M&S, House of Fraser and Primark have flagship stores in the city. Coupled with two shopping centres — Chapelfield and Castle Mall — the only problem is going to be too much choice. But if you’re looking for more niche, unique fashion and home items on a budget, head over to Norwich’s fabulous markets in the Norwich Lanes, Magdalen Street and the Cathedral Quarter where you’ll find collectables, vintage, art, fashion and second-hand items, plus great bargains.

Its location and job opportunities

Whilst Norwich may not have any motorways running through it — part of its charm, some would say — and getting to London takes about two hours on the train, the rise of remote working has driven the city’s popularity with young adults working from home or combining home working with a couple of days in the office. So, if you’re looking for a great work-life balance where you can enjoy a reasonable commute with city amenities and a beautiful location, you’ve got it all in Norwich, Norfolk.

A lack of motorways, high speed trains or major link roads hasn’t stopped major companies locating their headquarters in the city either. Three industries are the mainstay of the employment sector in Norwich — financial/insurance services, led by Aviva (in fact, Norwich is one of the biggest insurance hubs in Europe ); food and drink, led by Greene King plc; and tourism, boosted by the recent rise in staycations.

In recent years, companies in the manufacturing, energy, agriculture and health sectors have also set up home in Norwich, drawing in young adults from all over the country. The Norwich Research Park has the largest food, environmental and health research centres in Europe. A major contributor to the local economy, it is predicted there will be around 5,000 more scientific-based jobs being created in Norwich over the next few years.

The nearby Norfolk Broads draws people in from across the UK and the popularity of staycations over the past couple years due to the coronavirus pandemic (which doesn’t look like its abating any time soon either) has given tourism in the area a new lease of life. Norwich is seeing a rise in the number of young adults investing in holiday home rentals in recent months.

You can’t talk about the best aspects of living in Norwich for young adults without mentioning the property market. Due to Covid-19 and the need to work from home, the interest in living in more rural areas, or cities that are nearby to opportunities for outdoor exercise has firmly put Norwich on the map. It offers all the amenities of a big city — less the pollution, noise, crime rates and lack of a community feel — combined with stunning countryside, beautiful beaches and a coastline to be explored almost on your doorstep.

Zoopla’s research found that demand for property in Norwich had risen 56% in July 2021 compared to July 2020; and it didn’t slow down in the following months. But with an average house price of just £221,000 — only a 2.6% increase year-on-year, says Zoopla, it is not an expensive place to buy a home. If you’re renting, it’s good news, too; rents are 63% lower than London . Add into the mix the cost of living, which is 57% cheaper than London , and you’re onto a winner for young adults.

The most sought-after areas of the Golden Triangle and ?? [1] are a haven for young adults, providing easy access to the city centre, with all its amenities and entertainment.

Norwich’s student population is around 15,000, with the majority attending the University of East Anglia (UEA) which was rated by the Guardian’s 2020 University League Table as the 30th best university in the UK.

The University of Arts (NUA) is also a popular choice for students — the Sunday Times University Guide ranked the university in 56 in 2021, up 21 places from the previous year. Indeed, around 40% of students stay in the area to live and work. This has led Norwich to having a young population with 26% of the city’s people in the 16 to 29 age bracket.

If you’re thinking of moving to Norwich and wondering what the best aspects of living in Norwich, Norfolk for a young adult are, these are all good reasons to make the move.

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