Norwich is a city on the River Wensum in East Anglia and lies about 100 miles north-east of London. It is the regional administrative centre for East Anglia and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of its most important. It remained the capital of the most populous English county until the Industrial Revolution.

The urban area of Norwich had a population of 213,166 according to the 2011 Census. This area extends beyond the city boundary, with extensive suburban areas on the western, northern and eastern sides, including Costessey, Taverham, Hellesdon, Bowthorpe, Old Catton, Sprowston and Thorpe St Andrew. The parliamentary seats cross over into adjacent local-government districts. A total of 132,512 people live in the City of Norwich and the population of the Norwich Travel to Work Area is 282,000 . Norwich is the fourth most densely populated local-government district in the East of England, with 3,480 people per square kilometre .

In May 2012, Norwich was designated England's first UNESCO City of Literature.