Norfolk is the safest place in the country
Statistics issued by the Home Office in 2012Norwich is one of the top 10 shopping destinations in the UK.
VENUESCORE - part of the Javelin Group 2011
"Norwich, a two-hour train ride northeast from London, has increasingly become a refuge for writers fleeing the hectic pace of the capital's publishing scene. At first glance it appears to be just another charming medieval town, with a fantastically preserved castle and a 900-year-old cathedral. But look a little deeper and you'll notice the wellspring of author readings and literary festivals, featuring recent talks by Booker Prize winners like John Banville and Penelope Lively."
New York Times 2011
"Norwich...has been voted one of the best small cities in the world."
The Times Good University Guide 2013
The most complete medieval city in Britain has everything you could desire of a vibrant regional capital.
The Guardian/Observer Travel Awards 2008
The Independent named Norwich as one of the top 10 "coolest" places to be a student in the UK, describing our Student Union gig roster as “like pop music’s roll of honour, with the biggest names performing each year and other students’ unions wondering how on earth they manage it”.
The Independent, 2006
"If there is another city in the United Kingdom with a school of painters named after it, a matchless modern art gallery, a university with a reputation for literary excellence which can boast Booker Prize-winning alumni, one of the grandest Romanesque cathedrals in the world, an extraordinary new state-of-the-art public library then I have yet to hear of it. Norwich is a fine city. None finer."
Stephen Fry, actor and writer
"[The Maddermarket Theatre] performs a repertory that would shame the National Theatre."
Simon Callow CBE, actor, writer and theatre director
"The north Norfolk coast is one of the great joys of the world."
Stephen Fry, Norfolk Magazine, Feb 2009
"I think Norfolk is the most beautiful and perfect place on Earth."
Stephen Fry, Norfolk Magazine, Feb 2009
"Norwich really does have everything. It has new areas like the Riverside and the university, but I love the way Norwich has kept the old part of the city and not stuck up new buildings all over the place. The city has everything from big modern shopping malls to proper old-fashioned shopping streets. There are not many cities anywhere in the country where you can be right in the city centre somewhere like the Forum, walk 100 yards and be in a beautitful park. In many respects Norwich should be a benchmark for what other cities can do. Architecturally, in particular, too many places go and spoil everything by putting up a load of new buildings next to a beautiful old Georgian house or something like that. But in Norwich you'll see some places where the insides are completely modern and renovated and they have kept the beautiful old facade, which is part of the city's charm. I think for people outside East Anglia, or even outside Norfolk, coming to the city is an eye opener. There is just so much here."
Rick Wakeman, musician, composer and songwriter
Supporting Norwich's bid to become City of Culture 2013
"There is a huge culture of copying at the moment in a lot of places, but Norwich is very much a culture of individuals - it's much more diverse and much more original. It has this cultural underground which you expect in Europe, in places like Madrid. You don't expect it over here, and people are really surprised when they find out about the music and the art and everything that goes on in Norwich."
Miranda Raison, actress (Spooks, Married Single Other, Dr Who)
Supporting Norwich's bid to become City of Culture 2013
"Norwich is a city with a long history and a distinguished one at that. But it is not a chocolate box town, rather a thriving, living city, a contemporary place which has consistently moved ahead in it's own distinctive, radical and independent way...The city of Norwich has many fans, of which I am one. It has a fantastic and historic urban fabric, a glorious rural hinterland and an unparalled coastline of which I am proud to be able to tell people. I support the football club here and applaud the initiatives which I see taking place all over the city, wrought by the many excellent cultural organisations who work together to ensure an excellent quality of life for the citizens and those who are lucky enough to visit or stay."
Stephen Fry
Supporting Norwich's bid to become City of Culture 2013
“I can think of no city in Britain better suited to be the City of Culture for 2013. In terms of physical beauty, of historical importance and of powerful atmosphere, it is second to none - to say nothing of its wonderful restaurants and pubs and excellent shops. It is a courteous and an efficient city, too. But more important than that, it embodies the great soul of British culture. The more than 50 superb churches spread across the city enshrine something profound in the British spirit - the desire of prosperous and enterprising citizens to beautify and glorify their community. Many of these same churches provide magnificent venues for performances of every kind, and at such times the city hums with greatness of spirit.”
Simon Callow CBE, actor, writer and theatre director
Supporting Norwich's bid to become City of Culture 2013
“I'm backing the City of Culture bid - Norwich have got to win. All those big prominent cities get everything, but there are a lot of cities in Britain that need to get recognition like this. Norwich is one of them and it could be an example to the others. It's a very gentle city, with great culture and great food - especially Delia, the queen of Norwich. She should put her weight behind it. When you think of food critics it's all about London but there is a lot of great food outside the capital. I have fond memories of a restaurant called Marco's in Norwich where I had some fantastic meals. I love all the castle turrets and little walls hanging around the city. You can walk around a corner and find history staring you in the face."
Marco Pierre White, chef and restaurateur
Supporting Norwich's bid to become City of Culture 2013
“If it wasn't for the diversity of culture in the city of Norwich, I would never of developed such an eclectic taste which I have been told is prevalent in my work.”
Cathy Dennis, pop star and songwriter
Supporting Norwich's bid to become City of Culture 2013
