Free Sightseeing in Norwich
Free Sightseeing in Norwich
By Katie Thompson
One of the best ways to get acquainted with a city is sightseeing, whether you’re visiting for the first time or the tenth time. It’s an especially great way to make the most of your visit if you’re short on time or are looking for free things to do.
Luckily, Norwich has many amazing buildings, streets and sights to see- and they’re easily walkable too. (Follow our riverside walk to spot city walls, Norwich City Football Club and more or step into the story with our ‘Twenty Stories. One City’ series to uncover famous Norwich figures and their amazing feats!)
From amazing architecture to artistic trails, scenic streets and more, you can soak in over 1000 years of history! For locals looking for a fresh perspective or the budget-conscious traveller, here are our top picks for free sightseeing in Norwich.
Free and Low Cost | Free for Families | Free Outdoors
Norwich Cathedral
Discover more about Norwich Cathedral with a free guided tour
One of the best sights to start at is Norwich Cathedral. Its striking Romanesque design dates from Norman times, when Caen stone from Normandy was transported up the River Wensum specifically for its construction! As well as boasting the second tallest spire in England and the largest monastic cloister, Norwich Cathedral is a peaceful spot that’s packed with history.
To find out more, you can join a free guided tour (Monday – Saturday, hourly from 10am – 3pm), where the cathedral comes to life with stories, secrets and details you might otherwise have missed!
St John the Baptist Cathedral
Admire the impressive Victorian Gothic architecture at The Cathedral of St John the Baptist
Here in Norwich, we’re lucky to have not just one, but two impressive cathedrals! The Cathedral of St John the Baptist sits at the top of Earlham Road overlooking Grapes Hill. You’ll first be taken by its magnificent Victorian Gothic Revival architecture and inside it’s no different. It’s free to enter- so make sure you do! With grand arches, intricate stained-glass windows and Frosterley marble features, there’s more to St John the Baptist than meets the eye.
(Top tip: you can see both cathedrals (and more) from the top of Mousehold Heath– the go-to spot for skyline, sunrise and sunsets views in Norwich!)
Norwich 12 Heritage Buildings
The Forum, City Hall and the Guidhall are all part of the Norwich 12
Sightseeing in Norwich, you may have noticed the abundance of incredible- and varied- architecture. The Norwich 12 is a group of historically significant (and beautiful) buildings that you can see dotted around the city. So, if you want to discover the best architecture in Norwich, this is a great place to start!
The Norwich 12 includes icons like our Norman castle and two cathedrals, modern buildings like The Forum and our Art Deco City Hall, and lesser-known gems such as The Great Hospital and St James Mill. Alongside, there’s The Guildhall, The Halls, Dragon Hall, The Assembly House and Marble Hall in Surrey House.
And although not part of the Norwich 12- but still free to visit, The South Asia Collection is a museum that showcases and preserves the arts and crafts of Asian countries from Pakistan to Thailand. Don’t forget to look up! The building was once Norwich’s roller-skating rink and boasts a beautifully carved ceiling you won’t want to miss.
Elm Hill
It’s easy to be captivated by Elm Hill’s charm
Probably the most famous street in Norwich, Elm Hill is also the city’s most complete medieval street. You might notice it from films like Stardust and Jingle Jangle!
After a great fire in 1507, Elm Hill was rebuilt and, today, perfectly preserved timber frame buildings line the cobbles (keep your eyes peeled for one of the city’s only thatched rooves too). It’s a charming spot straight from a postcard, home to craft shops, cafes and galleries- so give yourself time to take photos!
Book Bench Trail
Discover out city and our literary heritage with the Norwich Book Bench Trail!
Did you know Norwich is England’s first UNESCO City of Literature?
One of the best ways to enjoy our literary heritage is through our Book Bench trail, which, at 3.5 miles long, will take you from Gentleman’s Walk, through Norwich’s eight districts, to the Norwich Lanes. Each bench is beautifully designed from stone, wood or metal- as a stack of books, open spine, bookshelf and more. It’s also a great excuse to stop and try some of our many eateries along the way!
This trail will also take you past Norwich Castle, which, while not free to enter, is certainly an unmissable landmark to see during your time here.
Another tour to know is Norwich Free Walking Tours. Taking your on a guided journey across the city, stopping at famous sights (from the Guildhall to Fye Bridge to Norwich Market) and local favourites, all you have to do is pay what you think it was worth at the end!
National Centre for Writing Trails
The Herb Garden in Cathedral Close is just one location for the Wandering Words soundscapes
As home to the National Centre for Writing, it’s safe to say Norwich truly is a City of Stories. (And on certain dates, you can tour this ancient merchant’s house, Dragon Hall, for free too!)
With Wandering Words, you can experience 7 carefully chosen places in Norwich through unique poems and soundscapes by 7 different writers. You’ll gain new perspectives on the likes of St Benedicts Street, Norwich Cathedral’s Herb Garden and Tombland. All you need to do is download the Wandering Words app!
Norwich is a City of Sanctuary, known for welcoming refugees, Strangers and people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Stories from the Quarter celebrates the city’s diverse Bengali and Sylheti-speaking communities, taking you on a journey from Norwich Central Mosque and Islamic Community Centre in NR3 through the city centre to The Cathedral of St John the Baptist.
‘Twenty Stories. One City’ Walking Trail
Norwich Castle is just one of many sights associated with the 20 figures in our Twenty Stories series
Celebrating two decades of VisitNorwich, dive into the people tales of our ‘Twenty Stories. One City.’ series with a free-to-follow trail taking you across the city and introducing you to sights and spaces associated with these pioneering figures!
Follow our plotted map to visit locations of interest which sit at the heart of our twenty historic individuals with links to Norwich. From medieval rebels like Robert Kett and mystics like Julian of Norwich to pioneering reformers, artists and unsung heroes- think Elizabeth Fry, Emma de Guader and Samuel Bignold. Take your time exploring- over a few hours, a day, or several, walking in their shoes, discovering their achievements and characters.
Urban Art Trail
Spot Snap the Dragon on our urban art trail!
Norwich is known as a fine city, and it’s also a creative one- just take a look at our striking urban art trail.
If you’re into art, history or want to get to know the city a little better, then there are eight eye-catching murals to tick off (as well as 12 smaller pieces within Norwich Market). Each one reveals something about our rich heritage, be it literary connections, historic figures like Boudicca, or our 900-year-old marketplace. From Timber Hill to Pottergate, Riverside to the Royal Arcade.
Norwich Churches
Spot St Peter Mancroft from Norwich Market, The Forum and Hay Hill!
As a city (and county for that matter) known for its abundance of abundance of churches– from Anglo-Saxon to Norman, Medieval to Victorian, they’re another great option for sightseeing! Three of these must-see architectural spots are St Peter Mancroft, St Peter Hungate and The Julian Shrine.
You’ll find St Peter Mancroft right in the city centre on Millennium Plain- there has been a church on this site since 1075! The church features knapped flintwork, a mighty tower with lead-covered fleche and 14 bells, a fine stained-glass East Window and hammerbeam arch-braced roof decorated with wooden angels. At its West End, you might be lucky enough to see the Mancroft tapestry, expertly woven by refugee Flemish weavers (also known as Strangers) in 1573 showing the resurrection of Christ.
On Princes Street, St Peter Hungate is a must-visit for any art lover. This 13th century church houses a beautiful collection of medieval stained-glass windows, vibrant with deep reds, blues, greens, and golds. Most of the glass still dates from 15th century and depicts scenes of angels, the Apostles and more. It’s home to Hungate Medieval Art, a charity which exhibits aspects of medieval art and architecture, as well as heritage-inspired contemporary works.
Elsewhere, The Julian Shrine, found in St Julian’s church on King Street, remains a destination for pilgrims from across the world. This is where medieval mystic Julian of Norwich lived as an anchoress; the cell is where she wrote her Revelations of Divine Love and became the first woman to be published in English. And next door, in the free-to-visit Julian Centre you can find out more on this incredible woman and her contemporaries. We suggesting joining a free tour (every Friday, May – September) for more fascinating history!
