Norwich — the UK's #1 place to live, according to The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2026. And we've been saying it since 2012.
This is the book we made to prove it.
A beautifully designed coffee table guide to the very best of Norwich and Norfolk — curated by locals, fuelled by insider knowledge, and rooted in the independent spirit that makes this corner of England unlike anywhere else.
Inside you'll find handpicked recommendations for the finest independent restaurants, bars, cafés, and bakeries. The shops worth crossing the city for. Makers, artists, and creators doing remarkable work. Arts, culture, music, and things to do. Walks, beaches, gardens, and green spaces. Places to stay, from boutique hotels to hidden countryside retreats. And the kind of insider knowledge you won't find in any algorithm — the hidden gems, the quiet corners, the places the locals actually go.
Organised by section guides and location icons, with a full index and dedicated Insider Guides from the people who know Norwich and Norfolk best.
Norwich is a city of myths, folklore, and dragons. A UNESCO City of Literature — the first in England — with Booker Prize winners, indie bookshops, and stories on every corner. It's home to a 900-year-old market, medieval lanes full of independent shops and cafés, two cathedrals, a Norman castle, and the kind of pub culture that's been thriving since long before anyone thought to count. A city where you can spot otters and kingfishers on the river, then catch a gig, an exhibition, or an artisan cocktail made with one of three local gins — all within walking distance.
And it's the only city in the UK inside a national park — the world-famous Norfolk Broads.
Beyond the city, Norfolk stretches out into some of the most beautiful and unspoiled coastline in Britain. Big skies, salt marshes, market towns, and a pace of life that reminds you what matters.
This guide covers all of it.
Whether you're planning your first visit, already a regular, considering a move, studying at UEA, setting up a business, or you've lived here your whole life and want to rediscover what's on your doorstep — this is the book to have.
Compendia publishes carefully curated travel guides. Passionate about supporting independent businesses, creators, and makers, our authentic compendiums support and encourage a 'buy local' culture — helping our readers to live and travel more sustainably. We've been championing Norwich's independent spirit since 2012, and we believe the people and places inside this guide deserve to be celebrated properly.
Format: Printed coffee table guide
Pages: 400+
Printed by: Page Bros Limited, Norwich
Paper: G F Smith — Publisher: Compendia
Designed, curated, and printed in Norwich.
Norwich — the UK's #1 place to live, according to The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2026. And we've been saying it since 2012.
This is the book we made to prove it.
A beautifully designed coffee table guide to the very best of Norwich and Norfolk — curated by locals, fuelled by insider knowledge, and rooted in the independent spirit that makes this corner of England unlike anywhere else.
Inside you'll find handpicked recommendations for the finest independent restaurants, bars, cafés, and bakeries. The shops worth crossing the city for. Makers, artists, and creators doing remarkable work. Arts, culture, music, and things to do. Walks, beaches, gardens, and green spaces. Places to stay, from boutique hotels to hidden countryside retreats. And the kind of insider knowledge you won't find in any algorithm — the hidden gems, the quiet corners, the places the locals actually go.
Organised by section guides and location icons, with a full index and dedicated Insider Guides from the people who know Norwich and Norfolk best.
Norwich is a city of myths, folklore, and dragons. A UNESCO City of Literature — the first in England — with Booker Prize winners, indie bookshops, and stories on every corner. It's home to a 900-year-old market, medieval lanes full of independent shops and cafés, two cathedrals, a Norman castle, and the kind of pub culture that's been thriving since long before anyone thought to count. A city where you can spot otters and kingfishers on the river, then catch a gig, an exhibition, or an artisan cocktail made with one of three local gins — all within walking distance.
And it's the only city in the UK inside a national park — the world-famous Norfolk Broads.
Beyond the city, Norfolk stretches out into some of the most beautiful and unspoiled coastline in Britain. Big skies, salt marshes, market towns, and a pace of life that reminds you what matters.
This guide covers all of it.
Whether you're planning your first visit, already a regular, considering a move, studying at UEA, setting up a business, or you've lived here your whole life and want to rediscover what's on your doorstep — this is the book to have.
Compendia publishes carefully curated travel guides. Passionate about supporting independent businesses, creators, and makers, our authentic compendiums support and encourage a 'buy local' culture — helping our readers to live and travel more sustainably. We've been championing Norwich's independent spirit since 2012, and we believe the people and places inside this guide deserve to be celebrated properly.
Format: Printed coffee table guide
Pages: 400+
Printed by: Page Bros Limited, Norwich
Paper: G F Smith — Publisher: Compendia
Designed, curated, and printed in Norwich.
