Bowthorpe is primarily a residential area, but includes a large industrial estate (Bowthorpe Industrial Estate; occupied by mix-use commercial business, including the technology sector) and one small out-of-town shopping centre, containing a supermarket and various smaller retail outlets.

Bowthorpe differs from the nearby estates of Earlham and Costessey; by having a high variability of housing stock, and a centrally planned network of bus and bicycle-only lanes.

On 10 July 1549, the Sheriff of Norfolk, Sir Edward Wyndham, was nearly pulled from his house by the rebels in the village as he tried to persuade them to disband.

[7] Bowthorpe Ward falls within the Norwich South constituency (despite being located slightly north), which has been held by the Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Clive Lewis since 2015.

Bowthorpe makes a notable contribution to local sport, providing grounds for Norwich's largest 5-a-side football complex.

Bowthorpe also was the home of Sunday League team Wendene Wanderers, who folded towards the end of 2010 due to lack of finance.