A little over 1.5 miles (2.5 km) of the riverside path is described here. If you follow the entire route, starting and returning to the Forum in the city centre, you will walk around 3 miles (5 km) in total. You can shorten the route by heading back towards the city centre at several points (for example at Pulls Ferry). Please note, some of the route may be uneven and some sections may be closed at dusk.
The riverside walk starts on St Georges Street, near St Andrew’s Hall. To reach St Georges Street from The Forum, go to the opposite (north east) corner of the Market Place, (by Jarrolds). Walk up London Street and take a left turn into Swan Lane. Cross Bedford Street into Bridewell Alley and follow this down to St Andrew’s Street. You will see St Andrew’s Hall (a large flint building dating from 1471) opposite you.
St George’s Street runs to the left of St Andrew’s Hall and takes you towards the Norwich School of Art and Design. Just before the College, turn right through a Victorian brick archway, and through the former Blackfriars monastery grounds. As you walk along the riverside from here, on your right are the backs of medieval and Georgian buildings on Elm Hill. The River Wensum is still tidal and navigable at this point and you will soon come to a jetty for the riverbus boats.
Walk up to Fye Bridge (next to the Ribs of Beef pub). This is believed to be the oldest river crossing in Norwich, possibly being used as a ford by the Romans. The area of the city to the North of the Wensum has traditionally been known as “Norwich over the water”.
Cross the road carefully and continue along Quay Side towards Whitefriars Bridge. The striking Grade 1 listed building on the other side of the bridge was originally a Victorian yarn mill, and is now divided into offices. It stands on the site of the former Carmelite (White Friars) monastery. Once you have crossed the road you can see a small section of medieval wall and archway on the other side of the river.
Continue along the riverside beside the Law Courts. At a break to your right you will be able to view the 13th Century Adam and Eve pub, believed to be the oldest in the city. Further along you come to an impressive medieval brick defensive lookout called Cow Tower. It was built at the end of the 12th Century at a strategic bend in the river. Previously there had been a tollhouse here to collect tolls from boats coming upstream.
From Cow Tower, the Wensum flows to the south and takes you to the historic Bishop’s Bridge, the oldest in the city. It is largely unaltered since its construction around 1340 and is the only original medieval bridge in Norwich. This marks the furthest point that tourist hire boats can reach and there are moorings for hire craft all along this next stretch of water.
The route from Bishop’s Bridge continues through an alleyway between two buildings and from the footpath here there are fine views of the Anglican cathedral across the playing fields of the Norwich School.
A little further along is Pulls Ferry, marked by a picturesque 15th Century water gate. Originally, a canal from the river was dug here by the Normans to allow stone for the cathedral to be ferried as close to the construction site as possible. The Caen stone was brought by sea from France and shipped up the river. Later, the inlet was used to bring in provisions and remained until the late 1700s. There was also a ferry service across the Wensum here until the 1930s. Take a few moments to walk down to the water’s edge and look back at the archway.
Continuing from Pull’s Ferry you will soon see the public moorings at the Yacht Station near Foundry Bridge. (There are steps as the path crosses the terrace of the Complete Angler pub next to the bridge. To stay on level ground, turn right on a little path and turn left on to Recorder Road). Cross over the bridge to the other side of the river and cross Prince of Wales Road. On your left is the Railway Station, built in 1886.
Continue along the river bank, past the floating restaurant and the Sea Cadets' floating headquarters, the Training Ship Lord Nelson. You are now walking alongside the Norwich’s new Riverside Quarter, with its range of restaurants, nightspots and other leisure facilities. As the river curves to the left you will see the Novi Sad Millennium Bridge, marking Norwich’s friendship with the people of the Serbian city on the Danube. This is a footbridge with a cycle path, and it can be moved to allow tall boats to come past.
If you walk over the Millennium Bridge you can return to the city centre along the historic thoroughfare of King’s Street (see below). Alternatively go a little further down the river, past the Riverside Swimming Centre, to Carrow Bridge. From here Carrow Road Football Ground, home of the Canaries (Norwich City Football Club), is visible. Just beyond the bridge are two flint Boom Towers, built to defend the city in the 14th Century. A chain could be strung between the towers to prevent ships passing without permission. Portions of the old city walls are also visible here, and the Black Tower overlooks the river from Carrow Hill.
Carrow Bridge is a swing bridge that can be raised to let ships through. Crossing over and turning right takes you into King Street and back towards the city centre.
King Street has a number of notable features: The medieval merchant’s house at Dragon Hall; the Music House, which has a rendered Jacobean façade, but dates from the 12th Century; and St Julian’s Church, named after St Julian of Norwich who had a hermitage cell here - her “Sixteen Revelations of Divine Love“ is believed to be the first book written by a woman in the English language.
Turning left up St Julians Alley takes you past St Julian’s Church. Turn right and then left into Thorn Lane. Turn right on to Ber Street and then cross over All Saints Street into the pedestrianised area of Timberhill. This takes you to Orford Hill. Bear left and cross over Red Lion Street into Orford Place, then bear right and then left by St Peter Mancroft Church to return towards the Forum.