Norwich

Norwich is the administrative centre of Norfolk, set on the River Wensum where the water forms a pronounced loop through the city. The district contains a medieval core around Norwich Castle and the Cathedral, with streets such as Elm Hill and the area known as Tombland, a name that comes from Old Norse for an open space. Norwich Market sits in the centre and has traded on its site for centuries; the castle’s Norman keep and the cathedral precinct are focal points for the urban layout rather than additions to it.

The district supports education and research with the University of East Anglia, Norwich University of the Arts and the Norwich Research Park within its boundary. A local economy built on insurance, public services, retail and creative firms continues alongside manufacturing and food processing in outer parts of the district. Transport links include Norwich railway station and the regional airport to the north-west. Parks, riverside walks and conservation areas are woven into suburbs and industrial zones, so built and natural elements remain closely connected across the district.