Redefining Opportunity in a City Without Compromise
Before relocating to Norwich, Chloe Sharp had built a career at the heart of London’s publishing scene. An award-winning art director, she has spent over a decade shaping visual storytelling across leading magazines, creating everything from high-profile cover shoots to fashion and beauty editorials. Her work at Stylist Magazine earned industry recognition, reflecting a distinctive creative voice that blends concept, craft, and culture.
Alongside her editorial career, Chloe has developed a parallel path in teaching and mentoring at Norwich University of the Arts, sharing her experience with emerging designers and exploring new creative disciplines through freelance work.
Her move to Norwich wasn’t about stepping back from opportunity, but about redefining it, seeking a lifestyle that could support both her creative ambitions and family life.
What she discovered was a city that offers far more than expected: a place where career, creativity, and community can exist side by side.
Leaving London, Looking for More
I grew up in Essex, went to university in Leeds, and then moved to London, where I spent about 10 years. When my husband and I started thinking about having children, we knew we wanted to leave London, but deciding where to go took years. We were constantly weighing up options – Bristol, Cambridge, somewhere completely different-without ever quite landing on the right place.
We eventually chose Cambridge because it made sense on paper. But after about 18 months, we realised that to get the space we wanted, we would have to move further out.
What we actually valued was being in a buzzy city, somewhere with energy and life on our doorstep.
We came to Norwich for a weekend, just to explore. I remember walking through the city, past the cathedral, along Elm Hill, and feeling an immediate shift.
It was one of those moments where you just know. It felt calm but vibrant, historic but full of life.
We viewed one house, loved it instantly, and moved. The area we found was quiet but incredibly close to the city centre, and from that point on, we never looked back. I’ve now been here for two and a half years, and that feeling hasn’t changed.
One of the most surprising things about living here has been the sense of community. Our road alone is full of creatives, and there’s a genuine openness between people that I hadn’t experienced in the same way before.
It shows up in small, everyday moments. Messaging a neighbour to see if they want something you can’t use, dropping it off on their doorstep on your way out—it all feels easy and natural. There’s a sense that people are connected, without it ever feeling forced.
A Creative Scene That Genuinely Thrives
Before moving, I knew Norwich had an artsy reputation, but I hadn’t realised how many established creatives actually lived and worked here. Coming from a London-centric industry, I had assumed that most people would either commute or simply not be here.
Instead, I found a city full of people doing interesting, high-level creative work, many of whom have chosen Norwich deliberately. Some still travel to London occasionally, but they are equally invested in building something here. It completely changed my perspective on what’s possible outside the capital.
Moving to Norwich pushed me to rethink how I wanted my career to fit into my life.
I started asking how I could make my career work for me. Now, I balance a senior creative role with teaching and freelance work. One of my biggest concerns before leaving London was losing that connection to the city. What I’ve realised instead is that living in Norwich changes your relationship with it for the better. The journey into London is no longer something I dread. It feels like a pause, a chance to reset, rather than a daily stress. And because my work is often based in East London, the logistics are manageable.
Beyond that, Norwich feels surprisingly well connected. The ability to travel easily, even internationally, makes it feel far less remote than people might assume.
A Place Where Everything Comes Together
We often talk about whether we would ever move somewhere more rural, especially with children. But we always come back to the same conclusion.
For us, it’s about being in the middle of things.
Having access to parks, the cinema, events, and a sense of activity and culture around us. Norwich offers all of that without the intensity of a larger city.
Living in Norwich has completely shifted my expectations of what a city can offer.
It has the creativity, opportunity, and connectivity I once associated only with London, but with a better quality of life. I’ve been able to continue my career, build new connections, and create a lifestyle that feels balanced and fulfilling.
It’s a place where you don’t feel like you’re compromising, you feel like you’ve found something better.
I came here for a weekend, viewed one house, and built a life I genuinely love.
