Traditionally Different Things to do in Norwich at Christmas
15 December 2025
Traditionally Different Things to do in Norwich at Christmas
by Katie Thompson
At Christmastime, Norwich is a magical city filled with welcoming cheer. But with a hint of something different.
Think harmonious performance found festive and folky and stand-up True Stories Live. We have cathedral carols at Christmas- of course, but in a 900-year-old cloister with a steaming electric-roasted coffee in hand. Escape to an alfresco riverside sauna or a working brewery for a roast and a pint.
Here, you can deck the halls your way. So, if you’re visiting our fine city this festive season, you’ve made a great choice- expect the experience you know, with the twist that you don’t.
A Christmas Day Sauna
Reinvigorate post-Christmas shopping with a sauna session at The Lions’ Den!
Instead of a Christmas day swim, how about a Christmas day sauna? (Plus, a cold plunge if you’re feeling brave!) Throughout the festive season, unwind at The Lions’ Den and mark out a little time for yourself. Pair that with a velvety hot drink under cosy blankets and fairy light-clad canopies along the river, you’ll soon embrace seasonal cheer!
Christmas Dinner from a Fish Bar!
Who wouldn’t be tempted by a fish and chip-infused Christmas dinner?
At Grosvenor Fish Bar (open Monday – Saturday), you can mix the quintessential ‘chippy tea’ with the best parts of that festive roast. For just £11, tuck into turkey sausage with chips, gravy, battered stuffing balls, and cranberry sauce! Our mouths are watering already.
A Uniquely Personal Performance with No Script
True Stories Live is as moving as it is unpredictable
Christmas is a time for spreading Christmas cheer, so why not hear people’s unpredictable, and moving stories in True Stories Live: Celebrate?
Performed at Norwich Arts Centre (21 December, from £4.50), speakers come from all backgrounds- they just have an anecdote to tell and they want you to hear it. Everyone is welcome to join!
Bingo at a Bowling House
Xmas Bingo at Bowling House is a fantastic evening of entertainment
Instead of dusting off the usual board games, why not try Barry’s Xmas Bingo at Bowling House (17 December, £16pp)?
Think friendly competition with added funkiness, all the excitement of prize bingo with a fabulous soundtrack, a glass of fizz and a few surprises along the way! There’s even karaoke for those who are feeling brave enough.
Giant Yorkshires in a Working Brewery
A giant Yorkshire pudding, a roast and a pint? Sign us up!
Winter: the season of roast dinners and crisp winter walks. So, pair them together and warm up at Redwell Brewery. Tuck into one of their legendary Giant Yorkshire Puds, piled high will all the trimmings (and a generous serving of gravy!), and sip on a pint of Redwell’s own craft beer. All in their working taproom!
Christmas Crafts Meets Afternoon Tea
The Assembly House is full of cheer come Christmas- including with their Floragami event!
Take your festive afternoon tea up a notch and unleash a little creativity with The Assembly House’s Floragami Afternoon Tea (7 December, £55pp). Craft an everlasting paper mistletoe adorned with beautiful beads- it’s a Christmas decoration you’ll be proud to hang year after year. And enjoy a delightful cream tea and mulled wine while you’re at it!
A Walking Tour- With Cocktails!
You’ll soon warm up with Cheryl Cade’s fascinating and tasty Winter Spirits tour
We all love a winter warmer, especially when it’s Cheryl Cade’s Winter Spirits tour (£46)!
Let seasoned Beer Sommelier Cheryl welcome you to the city’s independent bars and eateries to enjoy a selection of local tipples and well-paired nibbles. (With a flavour of Norwich’s history thrown in for good measure.) Think seasonal cocktails, gin, rum and even a flaming spirit!
Santa’s Grotto, but for Dogs
Christmas is for spending time with family- and we mean all the family!
The Forum has furry friends covered this Christmas. Bring along your pooch to Santa’s Grotto for Dogs (14 December, 11am – 3pm, free, donations welcome)!
Meet Santa Paws in his grotto for a family ‘pawtrait’! There’ll be festive treats, while Christmas costumes for your dog (and yourself!) are encouraged! What’s more, all this supports the local RSPCA charity.
A Christmas Carousel (and Big Wheel) Beneath Church Bells
Choose your favourite horse for a magical carousel ride
A real vintage affectation, you’ll fall in love with this magical Victorian gallopers (20 December 2024 – 4 January 2025, £3.50). It’s even appeared in the likes of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Half a Sixpence and Who Framed Roger Rabbit! Hop on board. Its position is perfect- beneath the tower of Norwich’s largest medieval church and the shimmering lights of The Forum!
And new this year- an illuminated big wheel offering sky high views of the city!
Winter Wassailing
Sprinkle your festivities with folky traditions with The Wassail from Norwich Arts Centre
Norwich isn’t unfamiliar with the medieval. And before carolling, there was wassailing. Traditionally a toast for good health, today Norwich Arts Centre and folk duo Eliza Carthy and Jon Boden are spreading Christmas cheer with The Wassail at Epic Studios (16 November, 8pm, from £28.50). From England’s oldest seasonal songs to Christmas tales and classic hits.
Festive Carols Outdoor in a Cloister
Carols in a 900-year-old cloister? What could be more magical?
If you’re looking for an enchanting Christmas service, Norwich Cathedral’s doors are open to all.
Enjoy ‘Carols in the Cloister’ (13 December, 4pm) and singalong with the girl choristers in the stunning surrounds of the Cathedral’s beautiful cloister, featuring all your traditional favourites. Embrace warm, colourful, and festive attire always for this magical afternoon!
Award-Winning Whisky. Made in Norfolk.
A bottle of English whisky makes the perfect stocking filler
So, you may think, English whisky? The English Distillery was England’s first for over 100 years, celebrating its 18th anniversary in 2025. And it hasn’t stopped winning awards since!
Only a 30-minute drive southwest from Norwich, here you can tour behind-the-scenes and visit their incredible shop which is perfect for serious whisky connoisseurs and generous stocking fillers.
Shop Decadent Slipper Handmade in Norwich. With a Piano.
Treat yourself or your loved ones to Bowhill & Elliott’s extra special handcrafted slippers
Did you know Bowhill & Elliott is the only store in the UK where they ‘make in the back and sell in the front’? These handcrafted shoes are a decadent treat for men and women alike.
And it’s a fabulous shopping experience– the sort of special trip you’d expect at Christmas. They even have a piano which anyone is welcome to play- how Christmassy!
Panto with a Cast of Puppets
This is panto but not as you know it! Oh, yes, it is!
No Christmas is complete without panto! Take a trip to Norwich Puppet Theatre for a magical performance of Aladdin (13 December – 4 January, adults £16, children £14). Step into a whole new world of adventure as Aladdin unleashes the hilarious and unpredictable Genie. With flying carpet, laugh-out-loud jokes and witty humour, it’s perfect for adults and children alike!
