5-Minute Catch-Up: What’s New in Norwich?

23 February 2026

5-Minute Catch-Up: What’s New in Norwich? 

by Katie Thompson

There’s always something to look forward to in the City of Stories- sometimes it’s hard to keep up! From Norwich Cathedral’s Shakespeare Festival to brand-new food experiences, not to mention the full line ups of two of our city’s most popular festivals. While in Norfolk, there are exciting updates from our favourite attractions! 

Whether you’re a foodie, theatregoer, or are looking for things to do with the family, keep reading for a quick catch-up on the latest news in our fine city!

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Saporita Launch Italian-Inspired Afternoon Tea 

Saporita have announced their own twist on a popular British classic- pairing classic afternoon tea with their undeniably delicious authentic Italian street food. Our mouths are already watering.  

Think homemade focaccia and finger sandwiches with Italian meats and cheeses, topped with much loved cakes and biscuits like cannoli and salame al cioccolato. Enjoy it with traditional tea, a soft drink or Prosecco. Or opt for Aperol for a real Italian twist! 

Saporita’s afternoon tea launches on 15 March from £21pp. 

Norwich Cathedral’s Shakespeare Festival Returns with Othello 

A tale of love, jealousy, manipulation and deception. This summer, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men return to Norwich Cathedral to perform Othello for the annual Shakespeare Festival. See the show performed how Shakespeare would’ve written it- in open air, with an all-male cast and Elizabethan costumes, music and dance. 

After inadvertently sparking the hatred of Iago, Othello is manipulated by Iago’s revenge, turning against Desdemona and descending into jealousy with devastating consequences. This is one of Shakespeare’s most enduring tragedies. 

Tickets are on sale now for Othello at Norwich Cathedral’s Shakespeare Festival, 3 & 4 July, £24pp.

Free Entry to Norwich’s Top Museums for Lottery Heritage Open Week 

In honour of National Lottery Open Week (7 – 15 March), an annual event to say thank you to everyone who helped raise £32 million by playing the National Lottery, Norfolk Museums Service are offering free entry to Norwich Castle, Museum of Norwich (both 13 & 14 March) and Strangers’ Hall (11 & 14 March).  

All you need to do is bring a lottery ticket or scratch card along as proof and up to 6 of you can experience Norwich’s rich history for free! 

Norfolk Museums Service venues are taking part in National Lottery Open Week on 11, 13 & 14 March. 

Major Norwich Festival Line-Ups Announced 

It’s just 3 months until the always highly anticipated return of Norfolk & Norwich Festival! (Plus, the National Centre for Writing’s City of Literature Weekend is back (22 – 24 May).) And this year, Norwich Jazz Festival is also a part of this special 17-day celebration. And to get us even more excited, both line-ups have been in full! 

This year sees Balimaya Project and GoGo Penguin headline Norwich Jazz Festival, with the likes of Neil Cowley Trio, Marysia Osu, Nubiyan Twist and more at venues throughout the city. While at Norfolk & Norwich Festival, there’s comedy, talks, film, dance, immersive performances and more to look forward to! In the Spiegeltent, contemporary circus company Circa return for an energetic performance of Wolf! It’s part dance, part ritual and part adrenaline rush- one you won’t want to miss. 

Tickets for Norfolk & Norwich Festival (8 – 24 May) and Norwich Jazz Festival (15 – 24 May) are on sale now. 

Rosa’s Thai Launches Two Exciting Menus 

Always popular for authentic Thai food, Rosa’s Thai have launched two new menus! 

Their Unlimited Classic Curries menu returns with exciting updates, including a lower price! Now open to tables of any size (that goes for solo diners, too), you can savour red, green and panang curries, jasmine rice, and prawn or pumpkin crackers- yum! 

And for groups, Rosa’s Thai’s brand-new Thai Feast Menu is made for sharing. With a classic or veggie sharing platter to start, mains from a selection of stir fries, curries and noodles and followed by a mini dessert, you really can try a bit of everything. 

Rosa’s Thai Norwich is open Monday – Sunday from 11.30am. The Unlimited Classic Curries menu is available Saturday & Sunday, 12pm – 4pm (1.5hour limit), £20pp. The Thai Feast menu is available daily and recommended for groups of 9+ people, 2 courses £25pp, 3 courses £28pp.

Pensthorpe Home to Norfolk’s First Wild Beaver Pair in Over 500 Years 

Following November’s sighting of Norfolk’s first wild beaver in 400 years, Pensthorpe have confirmed two wild beavers together in the nature reserve! 

With footage showing the pair grooming each other, behaving naturally and living in a lodge they’ve built, these beavers are the first settled wild pair in Norfolk for the first time in 500 years. Sightings are rare (and it’s not a visitor attraction), but the natural return of beavers celebrates our thriving local landscape. 

Pensthorpe is open daily from 10am.

Attractions Reopen for Spring in Norwich and Norfolk 

With the anticipation of spring, comes the reopening of our most popular attractions! (Check out more attractions reopening here.) 

In Norwich, that means Dragon Hall, home to the National Centre for Writing. From 30 March, you can drop-in on Sundays and Mondays, 10am – 3pm, and explore at your leisure, whether that’s with a self-guided tour or to settle down with a good book in their garden. 

In Norfolk, Thursford’s exciting Adventure Play Fair reopens on 28 March. Across this incredible play park, you can slide down a giant Helter Skelter (it’s faster than it looks!), spin on the teacups and splash in the water fountain organ. Whilst from 5 April, their Steam Museum is once again welcoming visitors to see the world’s largest collection of steam engines and organs, including the iconic Wurlitzer. 

Dragon Hall reopens for drop-in hours from 30 March. Thursford’s Adventure Play Fair is open from 30 March. Their Steam Museum reopens from 5 April.