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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Norwich is overrated?

124 replies

MissManda · 26/08/2021 22:25

I hope I don't cause offence to anyone with this post. However, I visited Norwich for the first time today after people telling me it was lovely and worth the visit. I expected it to be similar to York...but..it just wasn't. It seemed quite rundown and dirty, difficult to navigate, and literally the only nice bit was near the cathedral. However, even that was still not anywhere near as nice as somewhere like York...

I spent 6 hours there exploring. Am I missing something or is Norwich hugely overrated?

OP posts:
FrownedUpon · 26/08/2021 23:16

I agree. It’s quite dull.

itsnotmeitsu · 26/08/2021 23:44

We came back from Norwich today, after spending four days there, and had a great trip. We re-visited old haunts. We spent three years there, and that's where our son was born. So it was a nostalgia trip.

But I don't understand why Norwich is being compared to York, which is where we live now. York is a small, Viking, Roman walled city - there's no comparison to Norwich.

Snog · 26/08/2021 23:45

Norwich seems to have a very vibrant art scene and I find Norfolk people to be a generally friendly and hospitable bunch. There is a good smattering of independent shops and the castle is fab.

Traffic however seems pretty crap.

thepeopleversuswork · 26/08/2021 23:51

Well all I know about Norwich comes from Alan Partridge so on that basis alone it must be under-rated?

Misbeehived · 26/08/2021 23:52

I love it. Just “feels” nice.

One of the rare places outside my home I would consider living.

I don’t feel that affinity with York or Bath.

TwinsandTrifle · 26/08/2021 23:59

Norwich has a European feel? Behave yourself.

I worked on and off in Norwich for around 7 years. It's like a massive village. Everyone knows everyone. There's zero culture. Zero sophistication. But on the plus side, pretty much zero crime. The business practices and the people are frustratingly slow. Verging on backwards compared to "proper" cities like Manchester, or London. It's become a lot, sort of grubbier, over the past few years. Just more general litter and grime about. More graffiti and generally unkempt.

However. I know it like the back of my hand. It's quite endearing with it's simplicities. I always start my Christmas shopping here, and it has it's charm in it's own little way. The secret parking behind the theatre. The little shoe shop with the assistant who juggles whilst the DC get their feet measured.

Is it worth a specific visit? No, probably not. If you're in the area, is a worth a couple of hours wander one afternoon? Yes, why not.

Didiusfalco · 27/08/2021 00:00

@Pedalpushers

Who said it was like York? I've never heard the two compared.

York is pretty but incredibly dull. Most boring place I've ever visited.

I lived in Norwich and it was bloody brilliant, such an underrated gem. If you're not into pubs or walks though, it's not got huge amounts to do. There are two walking tours of the city that you can download online, I forget where but I think it's just the Norwich website, they show you all the sights.

I need to know where you’re going so I can go too, if you found York incredibly dull.
BrozTito · 27/08/2021 00:30

Ive seen the big eared boys on Norwich farms.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 27/08/2021 00:37

I wouldn't say it's overrated, because I don't think it is rated very highly - I've certainly never heard anyone speak highly of it, or suggest it's worth a visit. My impression would be that it's just another town, likely to have its good points and bad points just like most of the fairly ordinary places we live in.

Excelthetube · 27/08/2021 00:37

It’s not a town it’s a city
With 2 cathedrals
And a castle

TheYearOfSmallThings · 27/08/2021 00:45

A city is a large/significant town.

I just don't think a place can be called overrated if it has a pretty modest profile to start with.

Mammyloveswine · 27/08/2021 00:47

I love York, grew up in York..but I don't expect other cities to be the same!

I'm not a huge fan of Durham for example which you'd not expect as it is also a cathedral city!

I hope you still had a nice time op!

sadsack987 · 27/08/2021 03:06

I went to UEA
J

sadsack987 · 27/08/2021 04:27

Sorry pointless post I thought I didn't actually post there

Lessthanaballpark · 27/08/2021 04:37

This is great. I’m visiting Norwich for the first time soon and didn’t really know where to visit there. Now I do!

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 27/08/2021 04:39

I heard the pedestrianisation of the city centre was pretty nice.

clearsommespace · 27/08/2021 05:12

The plantation garden in Norwich is beautiful.

Somethingscoming · 27/08/2021 05:36

I went to the art school many years ago and thought it was a great place to study - interesting, quirky with lots to do (yes fab pubs!) but also friendly and safe.

I recently went back and I did feel it had changed a bit - the town centre, like many post Covid, felt quite scruffy and run down and although the shopping is much better than when I lived there I think I preferred it without the big malls.

Still a Fine City though.

Billandben444 · 27/08/2021 06:29

We visited for the first time a couple of weeks ago (a wet day in a caravan at Caister) and had a good wander round the centre. Pros were the market (great atmosphere and street food) and the Independent shops and cafes in the Lanes. These seem set up to appeal to locals rather than tourists - the Laines in Brighton are tacky in comparison. Everyone was very friendly and plenty of tourist information guides wandering around with maps, etc. Cons - well, none really, we'd been warned about being careful in the 20mph zones and sussed out the parking before we got there. We thought the city had a lot of slightly grubby charm and decided we'd do a city centre break in the winter. It wasn't overrated IMO as we hadn't seen it highly rated!

Mydogisagentleman · 27/08/2021 07:04

It’s got the dinosaur trail at the moment and dippy the dinosaur in the museum.

NautaOcts · 27/08/2021 07:08

Yabu
I don’t feel like generally it’s very ‘rated’ so can’t be ‘over rated’

Roselilly36 · 27/08/2021 07:20

Norwich is fab, cheap park & ride bus into the city, lots to see. Do your research before you visit to get the most of a visit to any city. Most people like Norwich and are positive about it, but if it’s not for you that’s ok.

LubaLuca · 27/08/2021 07:23

I just don't think a place can be called overrated if it has a pretty modest profile to start with.

This is the point here. Nobody has ever recommended Norwich to me as a destination, or in fact mentioned having been to Norwich or that they're planning to visit. It's not that sort of a place, I don't think.

I have been, years ago. I have very few memories of it. I don't think I've ever mentioned that I've been there when talking about things such as historic cities or destinations for weekend breaks.

Norwich: the city the never comes up in conversation. Great tourism tagline.

MindBodyChocolate · 27/08/2021 07:34

I went to Norwich for the first time this week and really enjoyed it! I thought it had some very charming and historical bits plus interesting independent shops. Cathedral was amazing.

Bath in my view is a theme park with an underlying current of hidden poverty… I don’t like it at all. I could however quite easily live in Norwich and will definitely return.

MrsMop1964 · 27/08/2021 07:57

I love it ; I went to UEA, got married and had my first child in Norwich. We only left because my then husband couldn't get a job in his field there.

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