Summer has officially begun, the sun is shining, and it’s time to have some fun. And this summer there’s plenty to do in Norwich. From free street music and performances to exciting exhibitions and foodie treats. The only problem you’ll have is trying to fit everything in! So, let’s not waste any time – here’s our guide on what to do this summer in Norwich.
GoGoDiscover is back with a bang this summer! The hugely popular sculpture trail returns with all your favourite dinosaurs from 2021, plus some new friends too. Scour the streets of Norwich and Norfolk and you’ll find 55 large T.rex, 24 huge Steppe Mammoth, and 98 smaller Breakasaurus sculptures from the 27 June to the 11 September. And yes, you counted right, that’s 79 prehistoric creatures to find! The trail is free to follow, although there’s a suggested £1 donation to Break charity.
Doing all that dino hunting may just make you peckish. So why not stop off at The Plantation Garden for a Sunday afternoon tea? The Plantation Garden is a gorgeous Victorian hidden garden that’s the perfect spot for a bit of relaxing. And what better way to relax than to enjoy a slice (or two) of cake? Served from 2-4pm every Sunday throughout summer until 12 September. Plus, on select days you can also enjoy performances from musicians! Check the website for more details.
And if you’re looking for something a bit more lively, you can head to the garden for summer evenings of outdoor theatre! Discover the history of The Plantation Garden itself in ‘Paradise Lost and Found’, 5-6 July, a light-hearted costume drama (adults £8, children £2). Or check out the classic musical Into the Woods on 15 July (adults £12, under 18’s £8).
The Plantation Garden is the perfect spot to enjoy an afternoon tea.
How often do you get to enjoy quality live music and street performance? How about when it doesn’t even cost you a penny? We’re guessing not very often. But this summer in Norwich, there’s 7 whole Sunday afternoons of free entertainment to enjoy! Whether you’re looking for an activity to do as a family or you need an excuse to meet up with friends, Head Out, Not Home has something for everyone. There are six locations in the city which will host free performances, and each week there will be five acts to see, with staggered start times to allow you to see more than one act! We recommend grabbing a coffee or sweet treat while you’re in the city, and then sitting back and enjoying the show.
Street performers dancing at Head Out Not Home 2019
Let’s be honest, something about the sunshine just makes you want to sit down in a pretty courtyard and tuck into some delicious food or sip a cocktail or two or. Well, thankfully, Norwich has that and more on offer. Gyre & Gimble has opened up a new Gin Academy and Shop in The Royal Arcade, where you can create your very own gin to take home with you. Perfect for a unique date night, a hen party activity, or a great way to make some memories and bag yourself a one-of-a-kind souvenir. £85 per person, which includes four gin and tonics. If you’re more interested in the tasting than the making, the gin experience at Bullards in Chantry Place could be for you. For only £30 per person, you’ll learn the origins of the spirit and expert tasting techniques, with four gin and tonics included. If a casual drink in atmospheric outdoor surroundings is more what you’re after, The Ribs of Beef with its quaint riverside terrace, or the Norwich Playhouse’s colourful bar are both perfect. Cheers!
The Norwich Playhouse Bar is a firm favourite
And let’s not forget about the food. The Assembly House’s latest themed afternoon tea is The Wizard of Oz, and it looks scrumptious! Available from 1 July to 6 September it includes a Somewhere Over the Rainbow Gateau Opera with vanilla cheesecake flavoured rainbow sponge, and Ruby Slippers – a raspberry and rose shortbread biscuit with raspberry and rose frosting. Adults £27.95, children £16.95.
In fact, the city is full of foodie gems. For fine dining, book a table at Benedicts, The Ivy, or sample food cooked over hot coals at Brix and Bones. For food with fun, pop in at Bowling House and top your meal off with cocktails, karaoke or bowling!
Brix and Bones Norwich
If you’re visiting Norwich and want to get your bearings, or you’d like to discover something new about this wonderful city, taking a tour is the way to go. There are plenty to choose from – for the history lovers we’d recommend checking out Norwich Guided Tours by The Forum, or Paul Dickson Tours. For the foodies, you can’t miss Cheryl Cade tours, with the option of a beer, cheese or gin themed experience. Or there’s the History and Hostelries tour that takes you round some of Norwich’s iconic pubs (with a few drinks included of course!). To see the secret side of Norwich, take The Shoebox Experiences hidden street tour – a fascinating tour of a medieval street which can be found underground. And for something spookier, check out Norwich Ghost Walks.
Cheryl Cade Tours
Norwich is full of cultural delights, and this summer there’s some brilliant exhibitions and events to enjoy that you won’t want to miss. Take a visit to Norwich Castle (adults £7, children £6) to catch The World We Live In: Art and the Urban Environment. This exhibition (until 4 September) explores cities and urban areas and our relationship with them, and features a stunning collection of paintings, photographs, sculptures and film. The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts is another brilliant day out with free entry to the Sculpture Park and permanent collection – both full of breath-taking artworks. Plus, on until the 17 July is Pablo Piccasso: The Legacy of Youth (£13/£12 concessions). For lovers of art this is a must-see – a unique look at the famous artists’ early career works and influences.
Take a moment to soak up Norwich’s creative history with a brand-new self-guided trail that has been created in celebration of Norwich’s UNESCO City of Literature 10-year anniversary. Wandering Words takes you to five locations across Norwich where you’ll find a QR code to scan, which allows you to listen to an immersive audio recording of a poem and the sounds of the people and settings that inspired the work. All you need is your mobile phone and a trail map, which can be picked up from The Book Hive, DNA Books and Waterstones, to enjoy this free sensory experience.
Discover Norwich, the City of Stories
