There’s so much to look forward to in 2022. So, whether you want to spend some quality time with your family this year or have a long-overdue catch up with friends, read our helpful guide to find out what you can experience in Norwich this year that’s free and affordable.
Now this is the big one. Love Light Norwich returns from 17-19 February and it’s possibly the best free festival that you’ll find in the City of Stories! Three whole nights of spectacular projections, fantastic performance, beautiful light art trails and more will transform Norwich at night. Take part in workshops exploring medieval courtship, be amazed by an outdoor dance performance on bikes, fire sculptures outside the beautiful Norwich Cathedral and concluding the festival – the River of Love Procession, a carnival-style parade showcasing incredible art and performance across the city. Get the dates in your diary – because you won’t want to miss this.
And don’t forget to take yourself out for some delicious food as part of the Love Light City Food Trail. Restaurants and cafes across the city have signed up to take part, providing love-themed food dishes to celebrate the festival. You’ll notice ‘love’ neon signs in the windows of participating businesses.
Celestial Sound Cloud light installation, part of Love Light Norwich
The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts is an iconic cultural venue in Norwich, with a thrilling array of art, jewellery, textiles and more as part of the permanent collection. Plus, there’s the Sculpture Park, spanning 350 acres of land and featuring artistic sculptures that are sure to wow you. It’s the perfect day out for art lovers, families and more – and both the permanent collection and the Sculpture Park are free to see!
Also on display until 17 July is a new free exhibition, Rhythm and Geometry: Constructivist art in Britain since 1951. Celebrating the abstract, the display is comprised of 120 objects across sculpture, painting, drawing and more. Delve deeper by taking a free guided tour, taking place at 11.30am Tuesday – Sunday from 18 January. Reserve your place at the front desk on arrival.
The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
There’s a common misconception that all theatre tickets are expensive, but here in Norwich there’s plenty to see that won’t break the bank. A select number of £10 tickets are available for every performance that takes place at Norwich Theatre Royal, so you can see touring productions from the West End and the National Theatre such as Dreamgirls, Les Misérables and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, performances by the English Touring Opera, and famous names such as Derren Brown and Al Murray, for less!
Norwich Playhouse is also known for programming some of the best up and coming comedians, fringe favorites, and family-friendly shows. Many of which have tickets available for £15 and under, such as Basil Brush’s Family Show, The Tiger Who Came for Tea and Matt Forde.
Norwich Theatre Royal Auditorium
Foodies rejoice! Norwich is home to one of the best outdoor markets in the country with a whole host of vendors serving up food from a range of cuisines including Italian, Chinese, Thai, Indian, Japanese and more. There are also butchers, cheese counters, bakeries and stalls offering unique wines and more – you’ll be hard pressed not to find what you’re looking for here! Plus, you’re very likely to find a bargain or two. Some fresh chips for a couple of quid? How about a whole pizza for £5? Or some Chilean Empanadas? The possibilities are endless…
And it’s not just for foodies. Keen shoppers will love the market for its vintage clothing, gifts, comics, music and more – all at great prices.
Norwich Market is filled with tasty treats that are delightfully affordable too!
If you love music, you’ll love the Norwich Philharmonic Society. From orchestral concerts to choir performances, there’s plenty of opportunities to catch some beautiful music in Norwich. In February, grab a ticket to Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich, experience Choral Music With a Difference in March, or enjoy a Family Concert in April. Prices start from £11, with discounted tickets available for under 26s and students.
A great way to spend a day in Norwich is to explore the city’s two beautiful Cathedrals. Norwich Cathedral is situated in the charming Cathedral Quarter, filled with cobbled streets and independent cafes and shops. As the most complete Norman Cathedral in England with the biggest monastic Cloisters in the country, there’s plenty to see – which you can do by yourself or on a free guided tour.
The Cathedral of St John the Baptist is equally as interesting – one of the finest examples of Victorian Gothic architecture. Spend some time in the Narthex, an annex to the Cathedral which hosts a garden café where you can enjoy a hot drink and some light lunch, before walking around the quaint gardens. Both the Cathedral of St John the Baptist and Norwich Cathedral are free to visit too – so there’s nothing stopping you from paying a visit!
Cathedral of St John the Baptist interior
For just the small price of admission (£6.70 adults, £6.40 children), you can explore the museum and art gallery housed in this medieval building. With important collections in archaeology, natural history, regimental history, and fine, decorative and contemporary art – there’s something for everyone.
If you enjoy a wintery walk or want somewhere to bask in the sunshine in summer, Norwich isn’t short on beautiful green spaces. We recommend the Plantation Garden for a romantic stroll or picnic – perfect to tie in with a visit to the Cathedral of St John the Baptist as it’s only a two-minute walk away. Eaton Park is perfect for families with its model boating lake, crazy golf and more. And Whitlingham Country Park is ideal for adventurers with boating and cycling available.
The Plantation Garden
