I visited beautiful ‘forgotten’ city less than 2 hours from London locals say is ‘now cool’

This UK city is undoubtedly a hidden gem, with around 500 independent businesses lining the cobbled lanes and medieval architecture – and it’s less than two hours from London

In just a short train journey from London, I was transported to a beautiful city that has often gone unnoticed, but it’s somewhere well worth noting for your next day out or weekend escape.

Less than two hours on a direct train from London, an hour from Cambridge, and just a 30-minute car journey from the picturesque Norfolk coast, is the charming city of Norwich. I spent the day wandering around the historic place, known as the ‘City of Stories’, characterised by its winding cobbled lanes, medieval architecture, timber-framed buildings, 900-year-old outdoor market, and a thriving independent scene of around 500 businesses.

Yet despite its convenient transport links and unique offerings, locals say the city is ‘forgotten about’ and ‘people miss it’, a view often attributed to its position in East Anglia. “We are a bit out on a limb, and we do get bypassed a lot. People skip it because when people go north to south, they just go straight up and straight down, ” Karen Williams, owner of For the Love of Norfolk, told me.

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Leanne Fridd, who owns the independent children’s book shop, Bookbugs and Dragon Tales, agrees: “We do get forgotten about because of our location,” she said. “It’s not on the way to anything”.

And after I visited the historic city myself, which was actually named the best place to live in the UK for 2026 by the Sunday Times, I was instantly amazed by how much there was to explore, and just how easy it was to get to. Just a short train journey and a 15-minute walk into the centre, and there I was in the heart of a city brimming with character and charm that felt as though I had stepped into a fairytale book.

I found that its most notable highlight was Norwich Lanes, a labyrinth of winding alleyways, courtyards, and cobbled streets, flanked by more than 300 independent shops, traditional tearooms, cosy bookshops, restaurants, pubs, and bars. The largely pedestrian-friendly area is also home to an independent cinema, galleries, a community theatre, music venues, and two museums.

Another standout feature of this underrated city is the iconic outdoor market, teeming with independent food vendors and shops in around 200 vibrant stalls. As one of the oldest and largest covered open-air markets in the UK, it boasts a remarkable array of food from every corner of the world, and by lunch is packed with locals.

Yet, a visit to Norwich isn’t complete without exploring the storybook setting of Elm Hill, with stone-laid streets and stunning medieval buildings. Elsewhere, I marvelled at the Norman 12th-century castle, their two striking cathedrals, and the colourful street art that adorns the city, confirming that it truly is the ‘City of Stories’.

And while residents feel overlooked and a little off the beaten track, they couldn’t be prouder to live in the city that topped The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2026 guide. And it seems, they didn’t need an accoldate to confirm that.

“When we were named as the best place to live in the UK, I would say most people in Norfolk went ‘well yeah’. We already know it,” Leanne said. “There are so many independent businesses in Norwich that it creates more of a community feel. So I do think that’s a large part of it.”

She added: “It wasn’t cool growing up, but it’s become cool and actually, I’m incredibly proud of Norwich and being part of it because I think we have this real rebel spirit. But no one’s in a rush – it’s the Norfolk way”.

Karen, whose shop is based in the 900-year-old Norwich market, also shared: “We’re so close to the coast, and we’ve got the Broads National Park, so within a matter of minutes, you can be out in nature. Norwich itself is quite compact, so we’ve got everything here, but it’s all actually within a 10-minute walk, and it’s so historical as well.”

So whether you’re looking for a day spent wandering around a medieval city steeped in history, browsing its flurry of independent businesses or savouring flavours from its flourishing outdoor market, I couldn’t recommend a trip to Norwich more. And with the coast a few miles away, it might just make the perfect weekend escape for a breath of sea air and city break all rolled into one.

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