City guides: Norwich

Surrounded by countryside in East Anglia, Norwich might seem off the beaten track. But over the past ten years this Norfolk city has banished any notion of being behind the times

Bars and clubs

University of East Anglia (UEA) itself has a huge, very modern and lively bar on campus that has been split into two venues: The Red Bar is for relaxing with friends, whereas the Blue Bar sponsors special events and themed nights throughout the week. The university also runs a famed club night twice a week on campus called the 'LCR'. These options are all especially convenient if you're living on campus but also perfect for reuniting with friends once you've moved out of halls. Just off Prince of Wales Road in the city, Lola Lo offers a Hawaiian cocktail experience with student nights on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Cocktails are as cheap as £2.95 with free entry, and they stay open until 3am.

As a general rule, you'll want to stick to Queen Street for high brow drinks, but you should aim for Prince of Wales for 'real' clubs. If you're looking for a quiet, historic pub, try the city's oldest drinking hole called The Adam and Eve, just behind the Anglican Cathedral, or The Murderers which dates from 1530 and is located centrally on Timberhill.

Shopping

Ten years ago if you wanted a particular brand of high-end clothing or cosmetics, you really had to travel down to London. Thankfully, this is no longer the case. There are four national department stores: John Lewis, House of Fraser, Debenhams and Marks & Spencer. There is also a slightly smaller local department store named Jarrold's, which offers designer clothing and high-end women's cosmetics, along with a bookstore highlighting works by Norfolk authors. The city has two malls, Chapelfield Mall and Castle Mall. Chapelfield is newer and more popular, but if you’re searching for bargains head to the TK Maxx in the basement of Castle Mall. Norwich also has a Primark, BHS, Next, Topshop and Dorothy Perkins. The Norwich Lanes offer a more local and historic shopping experience. This network of tiny, winding pedestrianised alleyways is where you'll find the city's most unique independent shops, cafes and hair salons, many of which are housed in beautiful medieval buildings.

Courtesy of www.visitnorwich.co.uk

Eating out

Norwich is the city that caters to every taste, and dining out will always be an adventure if you decide to come to university here. It's easy to spot the usual chain restaurants: Pizza Express, ASK, Wagamama's, Nando's, Zizis, Prezzo, Café Rouge, Giraffe, Yo! Sushi and many more abound. For a posh Italian experience, Jamie Oliver's Italian and Carluccios now have branches in Norwich. For independent cafes and coffee shops, these are four of the best: The Waffle House on St. Giles, Café 33 on Exchange Street (good for breakfast), The Window on Wensum Street and Tea and Little Cakes on Timberhill. If you're looking for somewhere special to take your parents when they visit, aim for The Library Restaraunt - a bar and brassiere with a wood fire grill, housed in an old private library.

Entertainment

Norwich has three cinemas: for a unique and local experience have a drink and see a film at Cinema City. It's part of the Picturehouse chain and the beautiful building has a long history, dating from at least the 14th Century. UEA has a reputation for getting some of the best bands and musicians to campus so keep track of what's on at both the LCR and the Waterfront as tickets can sell out fast. There are a variety of art museums and galleries, including the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts (designed by Norman Foster) located right on UEA's campus. There are several theatres, including The Theatre Royal and the Maddermarket Theatre. For entertainment further a field, explore one of the county's famous stately homes (Holkham, Felbrigg or Blickling) or escape from it all and visit one of Norfolk's coastal towns.

Student accommodation

There is a range of student accommodation on campus, including the impressive INTO building for international students. If you've always wanted to live in a grade 2 listed building, try for a place in the architecturally acclaimed Ziggurats which were designed by Denys Lasdun and make up Norfolk and Suffolk Terrace. The majority of off-campus student housing lies in the Golden Triangle area between the UEA campus and the city centre. A selection of charming and historic pubs dot the entire Golden Triangle area and would be ideal for a pub crawl if you're getting acquainted with the area.

Top 3 places to see 

• Elm Hill
• UEA Campus (read up on Lasdun’s rationale for the design, and it will give you a real understanding and appreciation for your campus)
• The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts

Welcome to Norwich! Here's the place where you can have it all: the thrills and conveniences of a thriving city with the ability to escape into the peace and tranquility of the scenic Norfolk countryside.