Historic Norwich

From the medieval period until the start of the Industrial Revolution Norwich was England’s second city, enormously prosperous and culturally active. This has created a very rich legacy of heritage, with the city proudly boasting the largest intact medieval street pattern in Europe. Home to over 1500 historic buildings within its city walls including two cathedrals, and an imposing Norman Castle there is plenty to discover and explore.



Discover; Norwich Cathedral Quarter including Elm Hill, The Norwich Lanes, Timberhill, Norwich Market, The Royal Arcade, Castle Gardens & The Castle Mall, Chapelfield & Chapelfield Gardens, Plantation Garden & Cathedral of St John The Baptist.

Today, visitors will find museums, cafés, shops and all manner of businesses housed in glorious heritage buildings with incredible architecture from the Norman, medieval, Georgian, Victorian and modern eras. Heritage is celebrated in a host of historic buildings including The Maids Head Hotel which is allegedly the oldest hotel in the UK. All year round discover special events, festivals and one off performances taking place in these buildings adding an exciting entertaining element to any visit.


Discover; Norwich 12, The Old Skating Rink Gallery, Jarrold, The Britons Arms, The Library Restaurant Grill & Bar, Cinema City, St Peter Mancroft, St Peter Hungate, Eaton Park

Norwich benefits from some wonderful museums, some telling the story of Norwich and its historic importance and others displaying finds in Norfolk and general interest items. The contents of these Norwich museums collectively are priceless. View exhibits from the famous Norwich School of Painters and Degas, see Norfolk artefacts including Saxon hoards of gold and touch sculpture from Henry Moore. Even witness exquisite recreated rooms as they would have been in their day.


Discover; Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery, The Bridewell Museum, Strangers’ Hall, The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, The Colman’s Mustard Shop and Museum, The Old Skating Rink Gallery

Norwich is a compact medieval city making it an ideal destination to discover on foot with a marvellous Blue Badge Guided Walk or for the more ghoulish a ghost walk! The river Wensum runs through the heart of the city so discover Norwich from a different perspective and take to the water by punt. If you prefer a more leisurely pace options include journeys by open-top bus and bespoke tours by car which can incorporate the Norfolk countryside, villages and coast.


Discover; Blue Badge Guided Walks, Norwich Ghost Walks, Norwich Punting, CitySightseeing, Norfolk Tours, self-guided trails

Norwich's oldest street, Elm Hill, located in the historic Cathedral Quarter, is a beautifully preserved cobbled street (and the oldest in Norwich) with half timbered merchant’s houses and small specialist shops selling antiques, crafts and even collectable teddy bears. The Norwich Lanes as the name suggests in an attractive series of ancient winding alleyways, paths and pedestrianised streets where many independent businesses have made their homes.



Discover; The Bear Shop, Jarrold, The Britons Arms, The Bridewell Museum, Strangers’ Hall, , Tombland Antiques & Collectables, Mandell's Gallery, City Boats

Norwich has over 30 medieval churches within the city walls alone. Many still function as churches but others have been imaginatively converted to other uses. St Peter Mancroft is the largest medieval church in Norwich where the grave of Sir Thomas Browne can be found. Green spaces abound in Norwich with several ‘secret’ gardens for visitors to admire and a wonderful riverside walk which takes you by Pulls Ferry, Norwich Cathedral, Cow Tower and St. James’s Mill.


Discover; Norwich Puppet Theatre, St Peter Mancroft, Chapelfield Gardens, The Bishop’s Garden, Plantation Garden, The Knot Garden, Castle Gardens