What’s going for it? All media references to Norwich must, by some local bylaw, mention Alan Partridge, Delia Smith or Colman’s Mustard. So now that’s out of the way, let’s concentrate on this awfully pleasant part of town between the centre and the fabulous University of East Anglia campus, with its concrete ziggurats, shrinkwrapped Sainsbury gallery and cheerful air of 70s futurism, as if Margaret Thatcher, Britpop, the iPhone and al-Qaida had never happened (imagine!). This is where Malcolm Bradbury established his creative writing course, and I still fancy The History Man might live the retired lecturer’s life in one of west Norwich’s Victorian villas; or that I might bump into Peter Davison or Graham Crowden (RIP) at The Garden House pub (UEA was the inspiration for the brilliant campus comedy A Very Peculiar Practice). This is a bookish area of students, lecturers, craft breweries, yuppies and middle-class families; I expect the Guardian-reading dial is set to 67%.
The case against Lacks a focal point. The main roads are clogged in rush hour and on Saturdays; take the bus – the bus lanes are free-flowing.
Well connected? The centre is walkable from the east of the neighbourhood, UEA from the west; and buses ply between UEA and the station. You’re on the right side for escaping town; the coast at north Norfolk or Caister is a half-hour drive. Trains: half-hourly to Ipswich in 40 minutes, hourly to Cambridge in 80; London in just under two hours.
Schools Primaries: Colman Junior, St Francis of Assisi and Avenue Junior are all “good”, says Ofsted. Secondaries: City Academy is “good”. Plenty of independents, too.
Hang out at… Decent neighbourhood places such as The Garden House or The Last Brasserie. In the city centre you’ll find the lauded Roger Hickman’s.
Where to buy Estate agents dub this the Golden Triangle, in a fan from the catholic cathedral to UEA. Near the centre are dense terraces: from Mount Pleasant past Unthank Road to Earlham Road. Main roads Earlham and Newmarket for Victorian villas and semis. Judges Walk, Christchurch Road and Church Avenue have Edwardians and 1920s. Roomy, affordable 30s to 60s places on Bluebell Road or near Eaton Park. Pricier than other parts of the city. Detacheds, £400,000-£700,000. Semis, £190,000-£450,000. Terraces, £150,000-£400,000. Flats, £100,000-£300,000. Rentals: one-bed flat, £450-£600pcm; three-bed house, £650-£1,100pcm.
Bargain of the week Three-bed Victorian terrace house, close to Unthank Road, could do with an update, £160,000 with haart.co.uk.
From the streets
Sharon Matthews “My top haunts are The Fat Cat, a noted real-ale pub, and Torero, a Spanish cafe/deli. It’s also well placed for all the city centre offers.”
Mark Hood “My favourite way to escape the hustle of the city is to walk or cycle along Marriott’s Way, a secret slice of countryside that starts in the middle of the city. Perfect on a Sunday afternoon.”
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