We call it a fine city - but it is officially now the crème of the crop.
Norwich has been crowned as the best place to live in the UK by The Sunday Times.
The prestigious title is nothing to sneeze at, with Norwich beating a shortlist of 71 other locations, ranging from London to remote villages.
An expert team of judges visited every location on the list and considered criteria such as schools, transport, broadband speeds, mobile signals, green spaces and the quality of the High Street.
Norwich has been featured in every edition of the Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide since 2012, so it was only a matter of time before it bagged the top spot.
Praised as a "creative, cosmopolitan city with a small-town feel" that offers the perfect blend of urban and rural life, judges were left impressed by the vibrant culture of a city so small.
Specific shout-outs were given to Norwich's status as the first UNESCO City of Literature, its six theatres, vibrant music centre, the newly revamped castle and the Sainsbury Centre gallery.
The publication also claimed locals can afford to "eat like kings" and still "probably afford to buy a home".
Judges also agreed that "the best independent shops, cafés and bars" in the entire country can be found in the Lanes and Norwich's 900-year-old market.
Holly Bamford, head of marketing at Norwich BID and Visit Norwich, credits the city's mix of "historic character" and "creative energy" for its big win.
"To be named the Best Place to Live in the UK is a huge moment for Norwich and a testament to what makes Norwich so special," she said.
"We’re a city where historic character meets creative energy, where independent spirit thrives, and where community is at the heart of everything.
"This is exactly the story we champion at Visit Norwich - working in partnership with local businesses to amplify the city’s voice, attract new audiences and turn national recognition like this into lasting growth for the destination.
"We couldn’t be prouder to promote this city, and I, personally, couldn’t be prouder to call this - now award-winning - city my home."
What do locals think of the praise?
City folk generally seem to agree with The Sunday Times' sentiment that Norwich is, indeed, a fine city.
Matt Mather, who was browsing the market with a friend, said: "I love the market, the variety of food.
"It's a good community in Norwich and it's a safe place to live, really."
Geoffrey Tortice, who was soaking up the sun in Gentleman's Walk, was less impressed with the city... all because of the amount of roadworks.
"It’s not the worst place I’ve been to," he said. "It’s not too bad. It’s just those bleeding traffic works.
"It’s a big problem around here. It’s nice to have a walk around the market."
"For me, it's the all-inclusiveness of Norwich," Kyle Laurence explained. "I love the bars, the sense of acceptance."
Mike Seymour added: "For me, it's being able to be ourselves as queer, open people and not being judged.
"The sense of community and friends we have here definitely makes it worthwhile."
Liz Tubby, Marion Lewis, Heather Board, and Valerie Langham - a group of "Norwich-born and bred" women who have been friends since school- also think the city is a good place to live.
"We’ve lived here all our lives, we’ve seen a lot of changes, some not for the better," Ms Tubby said. "But all in all, it’s a good place to live.
"We love Norwich."
Charlene Cary, owner of Cary's Flowers on Norwich Market, added: “I love the people.
"Everyone’s friendly and most of the shops are quite independent. It's fairly clean for a city.
"The fact that you can walk from one side to the other is quite nice.
"The buildings are beautiful, on a sunny day everything shines, and on a snowy day everything looks beautiful."
The best things to do in Norwich
A major factor in The Sunday Times' decision to rank Norwich as the best place to live in the country was all the things to see and do.
Here are the recommendations that the judges mentioned.
1. Theatres
The Theatre Royal is one of the country's oldest established theatres, founded in 1758.
Other must-visit places include the Puppet Theatre, the Maddermarket Theatre and the Playhouse, which offer a range of quirky performances.
Big shows people can catch later this year include Cats, Legally Blonde: The Musical and Miss Saigon.
On the award win, Stephen Crocker, chief executive and creative director at Norwich Theatre, said: "It is no surprise to me that our fantastic city has been properly recognised for its uniqueness and distinctive creative vibes.
"At Norwich Theatre, our passion lies in the communities we serve, the stories we tell, and being at the heart of the artistic energy that shapes our city’s vibrant character."
2. The Sainsbury Centre
Since opening in 1978, the Sainsbury Centre has stood as a landmark of modern architecture and a beacon for the arts in Norwich.
Home to world-class collections and research, the museum is free to visit on a pay what you can afford system.
Jago Cooper, Sainsbury Centre director, said: "The only reason we can do such exciting programming and ground-breaking art experiences at the Sainsbury Centre is because of the incredibly enthusiastic and supportive cultural community in Norwich.
"It is a joy to work here and share what we do with more than a million visitors to the museum every year."
3. Norwich Market
Norwich Market has dozens of colourful stalls and sits directly in the city centre.
Dating back to the Norman era, the open-air market is the perfect place to browse and get a bite to eat on a sunny day.
4. The Lanes
Tucked behind the busy high street, the Norwich Lanes are a maze of medieval streets packed with independent shops, cosy cafés and characterful pubs.
It is the perfect display of the urban, independent energy The Sunday Times applauded.
5. Norwich Castle
Norwich Castle has loomed large over the city skyline for close to a millennium, and is a landmark that can be seen from most places in the city centre.
Once a Norman power base and later a prison, it is now the beating heart of the museum service and recently welcomed guests back inside its walls following a £27.5m revamp.
6. The City of Literature
Norwich’s claim as a UNESCO City of Literature was another feature that impressed the judges.
From the medieval Dragon Hall, home of the National Centre for Writing, to the independent bookshops, such as the Book Hive, reading is woven into the city's story.
Peggy Hughes, CEO of the National Centre for Writing, said: "Norwich is truly a city of stories, past and present. It's a beautiful, affordable magnet where creative people can find community and build fulfilling careers.
"Green, walkable, radical, independent, friendly: unique! Truly the finest city; the National Centre for Writing is proud to call it home."
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