Whether you’re looking for some alternative activities and sights for your Masters of the Air inspired trip, or if you’re here for a while and want the best of the best to fill your time, Norwich is the place to be. Read on for even more ideas right here in the City of Stories!
You can’t miss Norwich Castle. Right at the centre of the city, this icon has watched over the City of Stories for nearly a millennia after it was ordered to be built by William the Conqueror in 1067. Nowadays, it’s open to all as an awe-inspiring museum and art gallery.
The Castle Keep is currently closed as it undergoes renovation work, which, when completed in the summer (the rest of the museum and art galleries are still open), will take visitors back to the Norman heyday and become one of the UK’s premier heritage attractions. It’ll also become the UK’s most accessible Castle, with every visitor able to explore from the basement to the battlements. It’s a must-visit when in Norwich.
Norwich Castle is going to take visitors back in time this summer!
There’s no better way to get to know a new city than with a guided tour. And in Norwich, there’s few better than Paul Dickson Tours and The Shoebox Experiences.
Paul Dickson Tours offer a huge range of different themed tours around Norwich, and they’re all truly as fascinating as each other. From tours about the history of Norwich Market (with tastings included!), to ‘Norwich, an introduction’ for those looking to find out more about the city’s history in general, Paul has something for every visitor’s interests.
Meanwhile, The Shoebox Experiences offer their own range of interesting and history steeped tours here in Norwich. From the Hidden Street Tour, where you’ll see the remains of a street and its buildings underground (Hidden Street Tour closes April), to the Tipsy Tavern Tour, where you’ll see some of our most historic pubs, while enjoying a drink inside, these tours are perfect for families and friends looking for something really unique.
Paul Dickson’s Walking Tours are perfect for anyone looking to find out more about the secrets of Norwich!
If you’re into your history, which we’re guessing you are, then you absolutely have to see Elm Hill – Norwich’s most complete medieval street. It’s iconic, not just here, but internationally too, with Hollywood using Elm Hill as a film set for productions like ‘Stardust’ and ‘Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey’ with Forest Whitaker.
While you’re wandering around and taking it all in, be sure to stop off at the Britons Arms (one of just five thatched buildings in Norwich) for your choice of coffee, cake, afternoon tea, and dinner on select evenings.
The Britons Arms on Elm Hill is the perfect stop to take in the sights.
We can’t miss out on mentioning even more of this city’s incredible food & drink scene. From a massive range of global street food to wonderful dining experiences, Norwich has everything.
Visit Grosvenor Fish Bar for truly traditional fish & chips (with even more creative dishes with a twist on offer), or enjoy something artisan, like Italian gelato at Café Gelato, delicious pizza at Saporita, a range of local food and drink from St Giles Pantry, wine and sharing plates from Jarrolds, or the choice of six local kitchens at Yalm. And that’s just some of the choices on offer! Check out our Eat & Drink page for even more recommendations on where to find Norwich’s best food.
After trips to the Castle and Elm Hill, why not learn more about Norwich with our two fantastic museums, Strangers’ Hall and the Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell?
Strangers’ Hall is one of the oldest buildings in Norwich, with seven distinct rooms replicating different time periods in the city. It’s truly fascinating to unravel the history behind this gorgeous building, including how it got its name! Strangers’ Hall is open Wednesdays (10am – 4pm) and Sundays (1pm – 4:30pm), with extra openings throughout school holidays published to their website (Admission: £6.50 per adult, or £5.90 with a paid child ticket, £5.60 per child aged 4-18).
From the medieval to the modern, the Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell tells the story of Norwich, its industries, and the people who lived and worked here. From textiles to shoes, chocolate to mustard, the story of how Norwich constantly adapted is told across this museum’s ten galleries over two floors. Come see some fascinating objects brought to life with hands-on experiences, audio diaries, and archive film shown in a recreated cinema. The Museum of Norwich is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-4:30pm (Admission: £7.40 per adult or £6.60 with a paid child ticket, £6.30 per child aged 4-18).
The Museum of Norwich at The Bridewell is a great way to learn about our fine city’s history.
There’s a saying in Norwich that we have a church for every week and a pub for every day of the year. While this is no longer true for the latter, at one point, it was actually an underestimation! In fact, there was a time our fine city had approximately 600 pubs. Today, there is around 130 fantastic pubs to choose from, with many of them steeped in a rich history.
You could choose to visit the Sir Garnet pub (included in our 3-day itinerary), enjoy a drink by the river on the jetty of The Ribs of Beef, see Norwich’s oldest pub, the Adam & Eve (dating back to 1249 when it was a brewhouse run by Benedictine monks), or even visit The Gardeners Arms or as it’s affectionately known, The Murderers, after a gruesome crime took place at the pub in 1895. For even more bars and pubs to visit around Norwich, check out our ‘Bars & Beers‘ page on the VisitNorwich website.
The Ribs of Beef has a beautiful view of the River Wensum.
