It’s easy to get wrapped up in the chaos of Christmas. But fear not – if you’re looking for a little escape, we’ve got a great list of fun and interesting things to do in Norwich over the holidays with no mention of sleigh bells or Santa. Promise.
Norwich
At Norwich Castle Museum & Gallery and East Gallery until 22 Jan 2023
FREE with entry to Norwich Castle Museum & Gallery
This intricately detailed, richly coloured and deeply resonant exhibition by internationally renowned artists The Singh Twins is a must-see for anyone with an interest in art, culture, fashion and history.
Slaves of Fashion connects ethical trade, consumerism, and attitudes toward race by examining the history of Indian textiles, telling a global story of Empire, conflict, enslavement and luxury lifestyle which still has relevance today.
The exhibition is on display at two galleries: Norwich Castle Museum & Gallery and East Gallery, a short walk from the Castle. We recommend visiting the Castle first. Your ticket will remain valid for the full run of the exhibition, so you can visit East Gallery at any time if you are visiting the Castle at a time when East Gallery is closed.
At the Sainsbury Centre of Visual Arts until 1 Jan 2023
Tickets: £14/£12 concessions UEA and NUA students: FREE
What is it about Egypt that continues to capture our imaginations? A major new exhibit at Sainsbury Centre Visual Arts, featuring over 150 works from international and UK collections, looks at how the iconic motifs and visual styles of Egyptian art and design have remained popular from ancient times to the present, as well as how they’ve evolved over time, revealing a history closely entwined with conquest and colonial politics.
Visions of Ancient Egypt
Museum of Norwich
FREE with admission to Museum of Norwich
Norwich’s textile heritage is brought to life in this charming exhibition, showcasing the creative work of Threads of Connection’s womens’ art for wellbeing group.
Over the past year, Museum of Norwich have collaborated with Art At Work, a local not for profit organisation that creates art-based projects to promote wellbeing and better mental health. The participants have gained new knowledge and become experts in their fields of research through visits, talks, creating and making.
Museum of Norwich
FREE | Suitable for ages 12+
Rarely do we get the chance to fully immerse ourselves in Norfolk’s medieval past. See history like you’ve never seen it before with a free virtual reality experience at the Museum of Norwich.
Take a seat, put on a headset, and be transported back to August 1549, when the last public revolt in England took place – and Norwich was right at the heart of it! As the events unfold around you, put yourself in the thick of the action and follow the rebel’s progress from the early days in the camp at Mousehold Heath to the final battle at Dussindale.
Kett’s Rebellion VR Experience
Museum of Norwich
City-wide audio trail | FREE | Download the free Echoes app
1942 saw a series of aerial attacks on historic English cities, which were targeted as part of the Baedeker Raids. Norwich was among them.
Get to know the real story of Hitler’s bombing of Norwich through a collection of facts, interviews, first-hand accounts and moving poems inspired by the events in this city-wide audio trail.
The free, interactive trail, which features 50 audio recordings, was launched on Remembrance Day 2022, created by a group of young people to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Baedeker raids on Norwich during World War II.
To access the audio trail, download the free Echoes app in the App or Google play store and simply search “1942: Messages from the Norwich Raids”.
1942: Messages from the Norwich Raids
National Centre for Writing
City-wide audio trail | FREE
Discover the past, present and future of the City of Stories through newly commissioned poems by five wonderful authors with ties to Norwich. All you need is your mobile phone!
Listen to an immersive audio recording of a poem as well as sounds of the people and places that inspired the writers by following the walking trail and scanning the QR code at each marked location.
The National Centre for Writing asked local writers to come up with creative responses to a specific location in Norwich, or an event in the city’s past. The variety of new writing that is taking place in, around, and inspired by the city can be seen in these new works.
This literary walk was put together to mark ten years since Norwich became the first UNESCO City of Literature in England.
Wandering Words
Norfolk
Invertebrate zoo | Perfect for families | Adult £9.90 | Children ages 4 – 17 £7.90 | Chilren under 4 FREE | Senior 65+ £8.90 | Student £8.90 | Disabled adult £8.90 | Disabled Child £6.90 | Carers FREE | Book now
If you have a kid who loves creepy crawlies (or you’re a bit of a bug-lover yourself), a visit to BugzUK, the largest invertebrate parc in the country, is the perfect non-festive choice for the festive season. See hundreds of incredible tropical insects, millipedes, tarantulas and so much more. What’s not to love?
BugzUK
