The Complete Norwich Travel Guide: Top things to do, hidden gems, where to stay, eat and drink

Norwich might not top everyone’s UK travel bucket list, but this East Anglian gem deserves far more attention than it gets. With more medieval churches than any city north of the Alps, a castle that’s been transformed into one of England’s best regional museums, and a warren of independent shops tucked into atmospheric medieval lanes, Norwich offers something genuinely different from the usual British city break, and the much busier, touristic alternatives like Cambridge, Oxford or Rye.

In this travel guide I’ll outline everything you need to know for a perfect weekend getaway, including the top things to do in Norwich, and where to stay, eat and drink.

Why Visit Norwich?

Norwich punches well above its weight culturally and historically. Often left off itineraries, and rarely considered due to its slightly secluded location in rural East Anglia, this was England’s second city during the medieval period. That legacy is everywhere you look. The city boasts 31 medieval churches still standing within its old walls, each one a masterpiece of perpendicular Gothic architecture. And its museums – particularly Norwich Castle and Bridewell – are modern, engaging and state of the art.

But what really sets Norwich apart is its independent spirit. The Norwich Lanes are an award winning collection of winding streets, filled with independent shops – a far less busy rival to Brighton’s famous lanes. Unlike many British cities that have surrendered to chain stores, much of Norwich has maintained its distinctive character.

Add in excellent restaurants, atmospheric medieval pubs, and the fact that it’s genuinely walkable, and you have a city that rewards a proper visit rather than a quick day trip.

Top Things to Do in Norwich

Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery

Norwich Castle is the city’s one ‘must-visit’ destination. A Norman castle, built in the 11th century, the Keep has recently been renovated and reopened. It’s a truly evocative, historic place to explore – ancient graffiti carved into the walls, walls and doors painted as they would have appeared in medieval times.

The castle also hosts a large museum complex. For me, the best were the galleries covering East Anglia’s historic legacy – such as Boudicca and the Iceni; Anglo Saxon Norwich; the Vikings. But there were also vast collections spanning everything from ancient Egypt, to the city’s art collection, and galleries on natural history.

Overall, it was one of our highlights from our visit to Norwich, and well worth a visit. Plan to spend at least a couple hours there if you want to see everything.

Visit Norwich Castle website.

Explore the Norwich Lanes

The Norwich Lanes are exactly what you want from a historic shopping district – a maze of narrow medieval streets lined with independent boutiques, cafes, and specialist shops. Almost entirely pedestrianised and perfect for wandering, these lanes follow the street pattern that’s been in place since the medieval period, when Norwich was England’s second city and a major centre for the wool trade.

Unlike many British high streets that have surrendered to chains, the Lanes have maintained their independent character, earning recognition as Great British High Street of the Year in 2014. It’s home to more than 500 independent businesses, making it one of the UK’s most significant concentrations of independent shops, venues and galleries.

If you’re familiar with Brighton’s famous Lanes, Norwich offers a similar vibe but without the tourist crowds and with arguably better medieval architecture.

Some of my highlights in the Norwich Lanes included:

• The wonderful Book Hive, a labyrinthine independent book shop
• Cosmic Jo’s, a collectibles shop describing itself as a ‘galactic trading outpost’
• Norwich Arts Centre, a contemporary arts, theatre and music venue
• Shako Mako, a delicious Iraqi cafe

Read my guide to the top historic buildings to see in Norwich.

The South Asia Collection (Victorian Roller Skating Rink)

This is one of Norwich’s more unexpected treasures and a bit of a hidden gem. It’s a museum and shop dedicated to South Asian art and culture, housed in a Grade II listed Victorian roller skating rink.

The collection includes around 5,000 objects from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and neighboring regions, mainly from the 19th and 20th centuries with a focus on the everyday and provincial rather than palace art. You’ll find hand-carved wooden furniture, textiles, paintings, metalwork, and decorative objects. It’s a remarkable collection, in a unique setting. And free to visit.

Visit website.

Elm Hill

Elm Hill is Norwich’s most photographed street, and for good reason. This cobbled lane, with its timber-framed houses and complete absence of modern shopfronts, looks like it’s stepped straight out of the Tudor period. It’s a stunning collection of medieval buildings, leading up to the Cathedral quarter.

While it’s undeniably touristy one of Norwich’s most touristy spots, it’s still worth a visit. The street is home to antique shops, a church (St. Peter Hungate, now a museum of church art), and several cafes.

Norwich Cathedral

While not quite matching the grandeur of some English cathedrals, Norwich Cathedral is still magnificent and shouldn’t be missed. The Norman architecture is superb, and the cathedral has the second-tallest spire in England.

The cloisters are the largest in England and beautifully preserved, with wonderful carved roof bosses telling biblical stories. The cathedral close is also lovely, a peaceful enclave of Georgian and medieval buildings. If you can, try and go during Evensong or a service. We found ourselves there during a service purely by chance, and the choir were magnificent.

Entry is free, though donations are encouraged. Visit website.

Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts

Located on the University of East Anglia campus about 3 miles west of the city centre, the Sainsbury Centre is one of Britain’s most important modern art museums. The building was designed by Norman Foster and completed in 1978, one of the first major examples of high-tech architecture. It uses natural light beautifully to display the collection.

And the collection is extraordinary. Robert and Lisa Sainsbury’s collection spans cultures and millennia, from ancient Egyptian and Roman artifacts to works by Picasso, Degas, Henry Moore, and Francis Bacon. Everything is displayed a unique way, with works from different time periods placed together and on an equal footing.

Getting there: Take bus 25, 26, or X25 from the city center (about 20 minutes). Entry to the permanent collection is free.

Visit website.

Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell

Tucked away in the Norwich Lanes, the Bridewell Museum is a hidden gem that tells the story of Norwich’s industries and people over the past few hundred years. Housed in a medieval merchant’s house that later became a bridewell (a house of correction), the building itself is fascinating.

The collections cover the city’s history – from medieval Norwich’s religious importance to the city’s growth due to the wool trade and the influence of ‘the Strangers’ (Belgian and Dutch merchants who had a huge impact on the economic growth of the city). It goes through to Colemans Mustard, the city’s independent spirit and Norwich City Football Club. It’s the kind of social history museum that brings a city to life, showing you how ordinary people lived and worked.

The museum is smaller than the Castle, but don’t skip it. It’s well worth an hour or two of your time, to discover how Norwich became the city it is today. It also has an excellent giftshop.

Visit website.

The Medieval Churches of Norwich

With 31 medieval churches still standing, you could spend days church-hopping in Norwich. Each one has its own character and architectural quirks. Many are now maintained by the Churches Conservation Trust and are open to visitors outside of service times.

St. Peter Mancroft, right in the market square, is perhaps the grandest – a magnificent example of Perpendicular Gothic with stunning medieval stained glass.

Most of Norwich’s medieval churches were built from flint, a local material that was abundant in the area but notoriously difficult to work with. It gives the churches a very distinct, uniquely East Anglian look. And the sheer quantity of these beautiful, ancient churches is one of the most distinctive features of exploring the city.

Norwich Market

One of the oldest and largest outdoor markets in England, Norwich Market has been operating on the same site for over 900 years. Founded in the late 11th century to supply Norman merchants following the Norman Conquest, it was originally centered around Tombland (close to the Cathedral) before moving to its current location.

By the 14th century, when Norwich was England’s second city, the market was a major trading hub. Control passed from the monarchy to the city in 1341, and the market’s income helped fund civic projects for centuries.

Today, the market has around 190 stalls arranged in colorful striped rows, trading Monday to Saturday (with a handful open Sundays). The market was completely redesigned in 2006 with modern steel units, but it maintains its character and its role as the heart of the city. It’s a great spot for street food.

Strangers’ Hall

This medieval townhouse offers a window into domestic life across five centuries. The name comes from the “Strangers”, Protestant refugees from the Low Countries who settled in Norwich in the 16th century and transformed the city’s textile industry.

The house has been beautifully preserved, with period rooms showing how the wealthy lived from medieval times through to the Victorian era. The Great Hall, with its impressive hammerbeam roof, is particularly striking. It’s only small, but provided us with a very interesting place to shelter during a rain shower!

Visit website.

Where to Eat in Norwich

Norwich has an impressive food scene that goes well beyond what you’d expect from a city of its size. Some of the best spots to eat include:

Lunch/more casual spots in Norwich

• Moorish Falafel Bar in the Norwich Lanes does excellent Middle Eastern street food.
• The Waffle House on St. Giles Street is a Norwich institution – a long-standing Belgian waffle house in a historic setting. You may have to queue.
• Grosvenor Fish Bar consistently appears on lists of the best fish and chip shops in the UK, located in a 1700s listed building in the Norwich Lanes.

For dinner

• Yard – an utterly delicious, casual Italian focused on fresh, simple pasta dishes.
• Kimchi – ‘Korean comfort food’, like fried chicken, Bibimap. Authentic, casual and top quality.
• XO Kitchen – a trendy spot with Asian fusion plates
• Benedicts is Norwich’s fine dining star

Best Pubs in Norwich

Norwich has some excellent, historic pubs – as well as some great spots for fans of real Ale. Some of the best pubsin Norwich:

• The Adam and Eve – Norwich’s oldest pub, in the shadow of the Cathedral
• The Garnet – in a medieval building on the market square, spread over multiple levels with excellent drinks
• The Murderers – don’t let the name put you off! A traditional pub with a good drinks selection, the name coming from a real murder case
• The Belgian Monk – specialising in Belgian beer, with knowledgable staff
• The Wig and Pen – a historic, family-owned pub with views of the Cathedral
• Fat Cat Brewery Tap – A bit further from the centre but beloved by beer enthusiasts, the Fat Cat is a proper real ale pub that’s twice won CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year (1998 and 2004)

Day Trips from Norwich

Norwich makes an excellent base for exploring the wider Norfolk area. The county has diverse landscapes and attractions, including coastal towns, the stunning Broads and historic houses.

The Norfolk Broads

The Broads are a network of rivers and lakes that form Britain’s largest protected wetland. This unique landscape, created by medieval peat extraction that later flooded, is now a haven for wildlife and boating.

You can take boat trips from several towns near Norwich. Wroxham (about 7 miles northeast) is known as the “Capital of the Broads” and offers everything from short pleasure cruises to full-day hire boats.

Getting there: Regular buses to Wroxham from Norwich (about 30 minutes), or it’s an easy drive.

Great Yarmouth

This traditional seaside resort is about 20 miles east of Norwich and offers classic British seaside nostalgia. The long sandy beach, two piers, and amusement arcades deliver everything you’d expect from a Victorian seaside town.

Getting there: Regular trains (about 30 minutes) and buses connect Norwich and Great Yarmouth.

Blickling Hall

One of England’s great Jacobean houses, Blickling Hall is a National Trust property about 15 miles north of Norwich. The red-brick mansion, with its distinctive Dutch gables and towers, sits in beautiful gardens and parkland.

Getting there: Buses run to Blickling, but having a car makes it easier (about 30-minute drive). Open seasonally, so check National Trust website.

Cromer

This small coastal town about 25 miles north of Norwich is famous for its crabs and Victorian pier. Cromer has managed to maintain its charm without becoming overly touristy.

Getting there: The coastal train from Norwich to Cromer (about 50 minutes) is scenic and runs regularly.

Where to Stay in Norwich

Norwich has accommodation options ranging from budget chains to boutique hotels, mostly within easy walking distance of the main sights. Explore the map below, or read about more options underneath.

Luxury and boutique hotels in Norwich

The Assembly House is one of Norwich’s most atmospheric places to stay – a Georgian building in the heart of the city that has been beautifully restored. Book here.

38 St Giles, a small boutique hotel in a Georgian townhouse. Book here.

The Maids Head Hotel – a 4* hotel in a 13th century building, right by the Cathedral. Book now.

Mid-Range and affordable hotels in Norwich

Best Western Annesley House Hotel – a comfortable, 3* hotel a short walk from the centre, set across a series of Georgian buildings. Book here.

Holiday Inn Norwich City – an affordable, modern chain, close to the football stadium and train station. Book now.

Everything else you need to know to visit Norwich

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