A Family Break in Norwich

by Katie Thompson

Whether it’s a trip during the school holidays or a weekend away for some quality time together, a family break in Norwich is sure to be special.

For starters, there are plenty of attractions to keep all ages entertained. Whether you’re into history, love to dress up or can’t get enough of a certain cuddly character (hint: he loves a marmalade sandwich)! Go with the flow and see where Norwich takes you- this is a chance for everyone to relax and enjoy themselves.

Here’s our guide to a 3-day family break in Norwich- where to stay, what to do and, importantly, where to eat!

Image: Nick Warner, ©VisitNorwich

Family Holidays in Norwich & Norfolk | Norwich for Little Bears | Norwich with Little Walking | Family Places to Eat

Itinerary Inspiration
For Couples: A Short Break | For Friends: 72 Hours in Norwich | For Explorers: Old City, New Attitude

Where to Stay

Poolside Lodges is self-catering accommodation made for families. Credit: Poolside Lodges

When you’re looking for somewhere to stay, chances are you’ll want a home away from home. That’s what makes a self-catering cottage so appealing- a living room to play board games, a dining room for meals together and maybe even a garden to get outside.

Poolside Lodges (from £120 per night, 2 nights minimum) is just 4 miles from Norwich’s centre (a 14-minute drive or 22-minute bus journey). Their Poolside and Woodside lodges both sleep 4, are fully equipped with all the necessary appliances, and have their own open-plan living areas, family-sized hot tub and outdoor areas. And there’s a shared pool (May – September) and arcade-style games room!

Elsewhere, Norfolk Cottages and Kett Country Cottages have a brilliant range of accommodation located in Norwich’s village-feel suburbs- meaning public transport links to the centre are efficient, easy and often! All you have to do is filter to ‘family friendly’.

Or if you’re searching for a space in the city itself, we recommend 115 Onley Street (from £245 per night, 2 nights minimum), a detached house tucked away in a quiet, local neighbourhood, just a short 1-mile walk from Norwich’s centre. Ideal for families with older children, there are three en-suite double bedrooms (which can be made into singles), a large dining table and outdoor patio.

You can also check out our Stay page for more accommodation options.

Day 1
Museum of Norwich/ Trails/ Saporita/ Cafe Gelato

//See & Do: Museum of Norwich, Tuesday – Saturday; citywide trails.
//Eat & Drink: Cafe Gelato, Tuesday – Sunday; Saporita, Tuesday – Saturday, Amelia’s, Wednesday – Sunday; Côte Brasserie, Monday – Sunday.

The Museum of Norwich is packed with fascinating and interactive displays. Credit: Norfolk Museums Service

After travelling to the City of Stories, the best way to spend your first day is with a gentle visit to the Museum of Norwich (family discount adult from £6.93 with paying child from £6.57, under 4s free, pre-book online for the best prices). The museum tells the story of the city’s history, its people and its industries through ten fascinating galleries.

There’s lots to keep children entertained, from interactive galleries to immersive displays, hands-on areas and a recreated cinema. While you’re here, make sure to explore the shopping and trading display- set out like real-life shop windows with drawers to open and new stories to find- and the recreated 20th century pharmacist’s shop, whose shelves are packed with original packets and containers. And for the adults? You might find the array of Start-Rite school shoes familiar…

It’s safe to say you’re never too old for gelato! Credit: Cafe Gelato

If the museum has inspired you to get to know Norwich a little bit better, why not follow one of our free city trails? There are our Book Benches– a 5km-long celebration of our literary history taking the shape of book-inspired benches in eight locations. Throw in an Urban Art Trail (nine large-scale outdoor murals, plus 12 smaller pieces within Norwich Market) and keep a look out for seasonal summer and Christmas trails too, where you can spot the icon and crack the code!

(We also love self-guided tour Go Quest Adventures (£28.95 for up to 5 players, equalling £5.79pp) to uncover a whole host of fascinating facts about the city’s past and present. This is a great one to do with older children- team up or race against each other to top the leaderboard.)

End your first day with a tasty meal out before heading back to your accommodation in anticipation of a full day in Norwich tomorrow. We love family-run Saporita for authentic Italian street food. Think pizza, panini and panzerotti all made with fresh ingredients and tempting combinations like nduja and mozzarella and aubergine, tomato and basil, followed by their special tiramisu or salame al cioccolato!

Elsewhere, there’s Moroccan-inspired fare at Amelia’s– from spicy meze plates to slow-cooked tagines, whilst little ’uns can enjoy the likes of fresh pomodoro pasta, a drink and scoop of ice cream for just £10. Or infuse a little French flavour into your evening at Côte Brasserie, where both parents and children can enjoy (petit) steak frites and madeleines alongside, traditional dishes like moules mariniere and croque monsieur.

And if you’re looking for an unforgettable dessert (or pre-dinner sweet treat- you are on holiday, after all), look no further than Cafe Gelato (Tuesday – Saturday, open until 6pm; Sunday, open until 5pm). Here, there are so many flavours to try for the little and big kids, including classics like Madagascan vanilla, Norfolk strawberry and chocolate, and exciting flavours like cheesecake and coconut

Day 2
Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery/ Norwich Market/ Bishy Barney Boats/ Bowling House

Visit: Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery, Monday – Sunday; Bishy Barney Boats; Castle Quarter; Mulligans, Monday – Sunday; Labyrinth, Monday – Friday.
Eat: Norwich Market, days and times vary for individual stalls, Monday – Sunday; Bowling House, Tuesday – Sunday; COSMO, Monday – Sunday.

You won’t want to miss out on all that’s on offer at Norwich Castle! Credit: Nick Warner, ©VisitNorwich

A family break in Norwich (or any visit to Norwich for that matter), isn’t complete without stepping foot into the iconic Norwich Castle (family discount adult from £13.95 with paid child from £13.05 under 4s free, pre-book online for the best prices). You’ll quite easily while away a morning (or day) here, especially now it’s the UK’s most accessible castle! Taking you from basement to battlements, immerse yourself in medieval life from the time of Henry I. Explore reinstated rooms and take a seat in the authentically reproduced throne as you watch over your subjects (with a crown, of course), before being amazed by the ancient objects in The Gallery of Medieval Life. And for the Castle’s youngest visitors, Snap’s Den (book your 30-minute slot on arrival) invites you to make believe the life of those working in the castle!

Then immerse yourself into local history, with galleries spanning archaeology, history, art and more. Start off with the Romans as you make coin rubbings and ride on a wooden chariot just like Boudicca leading her people into battle! From here, you can dress up like Anglo-Saxon villagers, find the hidden natural history jokes and use touchscreens to discover more. This really is a fully interactive experience and one you won’t forget any time soon!

Get outdoors in Norwich with Bishy Barney Boats. Credit: Chloe Samways, ©VisitNorwich

When you start to feel peckish, head direct to Norwich Market through our stunning Art Nouveau Royal Arcade (taking note of toy shop Langleys and the kawaii, Japanese-inspired Oshoppu). This is the street food destination in the city. Not to mention a feast for your senses. Think HUGE New York-style sandwiches for a twist on a classic lunch, fluffy fish and chips with lashings of vinegar, and crispy samosas too. Follow this with churros and chocolate sauce if dessert is on the cards!

In the afternoon, step into our city’s natural side. We recommend getting yourself over to Thorpe Green in Thorpe St Andrew (2.7 miles from the city centre) and hire an electric boat from Bishy Barney Boats (from £25 for 1 hour for 4 people)! Motor west in one of their cherry-red boats to discover Norwich’s medieval trading routes (past former boom towers and centuries-old landmarks, as well as the all-important swans, weeping willows and paddleboarders). Or east, a wealth of nature in the Broads National Park awaits! (In summer, boats need to be returned by 6pm.)

And if the weather isn’t playing ball, pay a visit to Castle Quarter and Mulligans for fun activities like indoor crazy golf and bowling. At Labyrinth, little ones can embrace teddy bear making, soft play, animated movies and a beach-themed play cafe!

Follow this with a well-deserved dinner. At Bowling House, feast on finger-licking small plates and hearty mains like sauce-smothered wings, juicy burgers and piled-high nachos! Children can devour a main (think chicken strips and meatballs), ice cream and a drink for just £14 (or swap to dessert for £16). Why not opt for a round of competitive post-dinner retro bowling (or even karaoke) while you’re here?

And for families with different tastes, world kitchen buffet COSMO offers everything from Chinese noodles to Indian curries to Italian wood-fired pizza. And children are bound to love the chocolate fountain. Not to mention you’ll be served by a cute cat robot!

Day 3
Norwich Cathedral/ Paddington/ Elm Hill

//See & Do: Norwich Cathedral, Monday – Sunday; Paddington; Elm Hill.
//Eat & Drink: Refectory Cafe at Norwich Cathedral, Monday – Sunday.

Norwich Cathedral’s Explorer Backpacks unlock a whole new level of secrets and stories. Credit: Nick Warner, ©VisitNorwich

On your final morning, there’s still time to explore Norwich Cathedral for an hour or two (FREE). Our striking Romanesque cathedral has 900 years of stories to discover and during the school holidays they hold themed activity days, trails, crafts and performance workshops!

For families, the cathedral’s Explorer Backpacks are a must. Aimed at ages 5 – 11 and free to borrow, this is an exciting way to find out more about the building’s secrets with binoculars, torches and magnifying glasses to help you along the way. We love to try and spot the centuries-old graffiti!

Norwich Cathedral is home to the largest monastic cloisters in the country- it’s as though you’ve been transported to Hogwarts! The cloister garden’s labyrinth is a lovely green area to let off some steam- see if you can make your way out again before stopping for a well-deserved snack in the Refectory Cafe. (We recommend the brownie.)

Snap a photo with Paddington before you leave. Credit: Bill Smith

Heading out into the beautiful Cathedral Close and towards Ethelbert Gate via the Hostry entrance, you’ll pass a familiar face. Norwich is home to the 24th Paddington statue, so it would be rude not to stop for a photo to remember the moment (you might even want to pack a marmalade sandwich in preparation)!

And if you’ve still got room (and time) for more cuddly characters, head through Tombland towards Elm Hill. As well as being a picture-perfect cobbled street, it’s home to The Bear Shop, which is a dream for collectors and children alike. Its windows glow with the friendly faces of teddies like Paddington, Charlie Bears and Steiff Bears.

A Family Break in Norwich