Terrace House in Norwich, Norfolk, England

Norwich is a vibrant, yet safe city in the heart of the picturesque Norfolk countryside in the region of East Anglia.  Norwich is within easy reach of London, Cambridge and the Norfolk coast.

Its thriving medieval centre, rich in beautiful historic architecture, is a perfect blend between the past and the present.  The Anglo-Saxons settled the modern site of the City on the river Wensum between the 5th and 7th centuries and, following the Norman Conquest in the 9th century, work began on the castle and cathedral, using the river to transport stone from Caen in France.

During the Middle Ages the city flourished and, thanks to a thriving wool industry, Norwich became a prosperous and wealthy trading hub.  Norwich Market is one of the oldest and largest outdoor markets in the country and dates back over 900 years.  On one side of the market is the Norwich Guildhall, built in 1407 as the home of the mayor, and on the other is the church of St Peter Mancroft, the largest church in Norwich, built between 1430 and 1455.  Both are stunning examples of medieval architecture.  Overlooking the market is the ‘Art Deco’ City Hall and the contemporary glass-fronted building called The Forum, which is the central library for the city as well as an internet hub, and tourist and information centre.  It was officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 2002.  Norwich Market, The Guildhall, The Church of St Peter Mancroft, City Hall and The Forum are all just a five-minute walk from The English Experience.

The English Experience School is situated on Tombland, only 5 minutes away from the Cathedral quarter and the historic cobbled streets and medieval buildings of Elm Hill, which have featured in period films and TV documentaries.  Tombland is also the sight of the Maids Head Hotel, proclaimed to be the oldest hotel in Britain.  Students from The English Experience have visited the hotel and have even learnt how to ‘toss a pancake’ on Shrove Tuesday.

Shopping and Leisure

As well as 1500 historical buildings, including two cathedrals and a castle, there are also plenty of parks and green open spaces to enjoy, as well as an abundance of shopping opportunities.  Norwich has been ranked in the Top 10 shopping cities in the UK.  As well as the market, there are also two modern shopping malls, or you may visit the quaint and historic Royal Arcade and Norwich Lanes, where you can find independent shops, cafés, restaurants, galleries and an abundance of other cultural exhibitions. The English Experience will also introduce you to the plentiful sports facilities, from swimming and tennis to indoor dry-slope skiing and dancing. There is also access to watersports, such as kayaking and sailing, on Norwich’s Whitlingham Broad.

Arts and Culture

In 2012 Norwich was pronounced England’s first UNESCO City of Literature.  With a long history of illustrious literary figures, such as Julian of Norwich, Max Sebald and Anna Sewell, as well as the world famous UEA Creative Writing Programme, Norwich has creativity running through its veins.

Back in 2007 Norwich earned the honour of becoming the first city in England to be admitted to the World League of Historical Cities (WLHC), which seeks to conserve and regenerate some of the most stunning places around the world.  Other cities admitted include Paris, Vienna, Prague, Barcelona, Budapest and Rome. Norwich is a vibrant city with busy night life and a range of live music venues and bustling streets, yet it was cited by The Independent newspaper as one of the 15 safest cities to live in Britain.

Norfolk Broads

Norwich is on the doorstep of the Norfolk Broads.  The river Wensum runs through the City and flows south of the city past Carrow Road, the home stadium of Norwich City Football Club, and on to Whitlingham Country Park, the gateway to the Broads.  Here it merges with the River Yare and continues eastward, through the Broads and into the North Sea.  Norwich and The Norfolk Broads can all be enjoyed by boat, bicycle or on foot.

At this stage we are only seeking to exchange in Portugal and simultaneously.