If you’re coming to Norwich by car this Christmas, we recommend arriving early to avoid most of the traffic and checking ahead for planned roadworks. (And it’s a great excuse for coffee and cake when you arrive!)
The main routes into Norwich are the A47, A11, A140 and A146. We suggest using Norwich Park & Ride, which has five sites and regular services. Fares start at £3 and it’s only £1 extra when you Park and Ride with another full paying passenger. Services are fast and frequent, using bus lanes and running into the evening.
Several multi-storey and surface car parks are located within the city centre, including Riverside, Castle Quarter, Chantry Place, The Forum, John Lewis and St Andrew’s Car Park.
For a full list of accessible and Blue Badge parking, please see our Accessibility Need to Know page or visit the Norwich City Council website.
Check out our Travel by Car FAQs for more.
Yes, Norwich Bus Station is in the city centre, 2 minutes from everything.
Look at First, Konectbus, Sanders, Central Connect and Simonds for individual services and ticketing in the surrounding area.
Check out our Getting to Norwich by Bus page for more.
Yes, Norwich has a central station at Riverside that’s only a 10 – 15 minute walk to all the main shops, museums, eateries, social activities, bars and entertainment venues.
Look at Greater Anglia for trains from London Liverpool Street, via Chelmsford, Manningtree, Colchester, Ipswich, Stowmarket and Diss. You can also travel with Greater Anglia from London Kings Cross, via a change at Cambridge, and if you’re staying in the Broads National Park or along the North Norfolk coast.
There are also trains from further afield with East Midlands Railways via Thetford, Ely, Peterborough, Grantham, Nottingham, Sheffield, Stockport, Manchester and Liverpool.
Check out our Travel by Train FAQs for more.
You’ll find public toilets across Norwich’s city centre.
There are council-run toilets in a number of locations, including Norwich Market (find the full list here).
Elsewhere, we suggest The Forum. Their toilets include a Changing Places toilet and Family Room.
You’ll also find Changing Places toilets in Chantry Place, Castle Quarter and at Norwich Castle, while Norwich Cathedral, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer and Jarrolds have gendered and disabled toilets.
There are plenty of welcoming places around Norwich for you and your four-legged friend, from cafés and restaurants to shops and attractions. If you’re staying overnight, we recommend the Maids Head Hotel for a dog-friendly stay.
For more information on where to go, check out our Dog Friendly Norwich blog.
Orientate yourself with the Norwich Map! This FREE pocket guide is available in locations across the city and will help you learn your way around. If you need any directions, look out for our City Hosts in their blue tabbards!
Begin your day at Jarrolds, Norwich Market or Norwich Cathedral’s Refectory Cafe for a warm welcome and a coffee and cake. Each of these are also great for lunch.
If you want to know more about Norwich, visit The Museum of Norwich or Norwich Castle. And for something a little more festive, there’s Strangers’ Hall or The Shoebox Experiences’ Chronicles of Christmas tour.
Our city is also home to two cathedrals: Norwich Cathedral and The Cathedral of St John the Baptist. Both are beautiful and atmospheric at this time of year.
(For shopping and Christmas markets, have a look at our other FAQs below!)
When the light begins to fade, finish your day with stroll along our cobbled streets, admiring festive window displays and our twinkling lights overhead. Then stop by Sir Toby’s Beers for a traditional glühwein (with or without a slug of brandy). You won’t regret it!
Whether local or from further afield, Norwich has a wonderful mix of everything you need for a day out or city break, including historic attractions, local food and drink, shopping and culture.
At Christmas, these are our top 5 things to do, alongside admiring all the lights, of course!
1. Christmas Markets
Norwich doesn’t go in for one European-style Christmas market. Instead, across the city centre at various venues, you will find over 18 smaller, artisanal markets (including some themed) selling an array of locally made and handcrafted gifts! Markets run throughout November and December.
2. Shopping
Now we know this is a big topic, but Norwich is a city that has the best of both worlds. That’s two central shopping centres, flagship regional stores from John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Frasers and Primark, and lots of gorgeous independents, including an award-winning independent department store with 5 floors!
3. Christmas Food & Drink
Whether it’s lunchtime or later, there’s always room for Christmas food & drink! For a quick pit stop when you’re wrapped up warm, sip steaming glühwein at Sir Toby’s Beers on Norwich Market. At Jarrolds, take a seat at their wine bars (with cheese or patisserie), a seafood bar, one of two restaurants, a coffee bar and a café.
For ‘drink, drinks’, the Norwich Lanes is home to a lovely selection of bars, while the city is known for its ancient and cosy pubs.
4. Festive Afternoon Teas
Norwich (and Norfolk) has a smorgasbord of Christmas afternoon teas for every budget. Make your choice from this list!
When it comes to Christmas markets, Norwich is unique! Instead of one big Christmas market, we’re home to lots of small, artisan markets. These take place across the city on most weekends in the lead up to the big day.
Our favourites include: Festive Fair at the Forum, Fierce Babe Christmas Market, Global Village Christmas Market, Clutter City Winter Market, The Assembly House Christmas Fair, and Local Makers Market.
Norwich is a great place for Christmas shopping thanks to its compactness and its wonderful mix of independent shops and high street brands, from the marketplace to the Norwich Lanes.
For the best independents, head to Jarrolds, the Norwich Lanes, The Royal Arcade, Norwich’s Cathedral Quarter and Norwich Market. In all of these locations you will find boutiques, galleries, lifestyle stores like Atwin and Lisa Angel, vintage, bookshops, jewellery and antiques.
For all your high street favourites, Norwich has flagship regional stores from Primark, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer and Frasers. Along Gentleman’s Walk and the surrounding area are the likes of Sostrene Grene, Waterstones, The White Company and Fat Face.
And we have two shopping centres – Castle Quarter and Chantry Place. Here, you’ll find stores from TK Maxx, Apple, Zara, Mango, Whistles, Hotel Chocolat, JD Sports, H&M, Tiger and Oliver Bonas.
In Norwich, plenty of our shopping favourites are open for late night Christmas shopping throughout December, and usually on a Thursday.
At Chantry Place shopping centre, shops will be open until 7pm on Thursdays 4 & 11 December and between 15 – 23 December, excluding Sunday 21 December.
Jarrolds’ hours vary depending on which day of the week you’re visiting, but this independent department store’s wonderful lower ground floor (where you’ll find the food hall!) will be open later on Thursdays from 30 October. On 15 – 17, 19, 22 & 23 December, the store will be open until 6pm, and until 7pm on 11, 18 & 20 December. Jarrolds will be open on Christmas Eve from 9am – 4.30pm.
John Lewis Norwich is open until 8pm every Thursday. From 7 – 12 December, the store will extend its opening hours to 6pm and to 7pm from 13 – 23 December (both weeks with Sundays until 4.30pm and Thursdays until 8pm). John Lewis will be open on Christmas Eve from 9am – 5pm.
In the Norwich Lanes, many of the stores will be open later on Thursdays.
The Royal Arcade’s popular Late Night Shopping event is on Thursday 20 December from 5pm – 8pm (coinciding with Norwich’s Festive Lights Switch On)!
There’s a whole host of family events and things to do in Norwich, from visiting Father Christmas to family-friendly shows. This year, you can take part in the FREE Christmas Crown Trail and discover the best of Norwich’s festive displays and twinkling lights!
And many of Norwich’s incredible family attractions are only a short drive away, including ROARR!, BeWILDerwood and Bure Valley Railway.
Check out all the best family things to do here!
Norwich Theatre Royal has a fabulous annual panto. This year it’s Cinderella (Saturday 6 December 2024 – Sunday 4 January 2025), starring Joe Tracini, soap stars Georgia May Foote and Danny Hatchard, and one half of Norwich comedy duo the Nimmo Twins, Owen Evans!
We also have a panto with a puppet cast! See Aladdin at Norwich Puppet Theatre (Saturday 13 December – Sunday 4 January). It’s one of only three building-based puppet theatres in the UK!
Meanwhile, young families will enjoy My First Panto: Rapunzel at The Garage (Sunday 8 December – Sunday 29 December, under 7 years)! This show is designed with interactive play, special lighting and sensory experiences for a fully immersive and entertaining performance!
Yes, we have a number of accessible performances in Norwich and Norfolk over Christmas, including pantomimes and variety shows.
Whether you’re in need of a sensory-adapted performance, BSL signing, captions, relaxed shows or audio description, you can check out our blog for more details, including dates: Accessible Christmas Performances in Norwich & Norfolk – Visit Norwich.
For more information, such as accessible parking and toilets, visit our page Accessibility in Norwich.
Norwich has an amazing array of independent eateries, including bars, food halls, restaurants, pubs and, of course, market stalls! Check out our top recommendations for the best Christmas food and drink.
For lunch or a light bite, head to Logan’s or Saporita, followed by a warming glühwein at Sir Toby’s Beers or an Irish Coffee at Bier Draak.
And across the city, you’ll find seasonal menus with fresh local produce, festive afternoon teas, and mulled wine or hot chocolate from Norwich Market.
For good food, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got mouthwatering meals to suit all tastes, so no matter what you fancy, you’re in for an unforgettable meal.
For a fine dining treat, we suggest Benedicts, Brix and Bones, The Last and WinePress at the Maids Head.
If you’re vegan and vegetarian, there’s Namaste Village and Slice + Dice.
At food hall Yalm, you’ll find worldwide cuisine to everyone’s tastes. Or try a traditionally different destination in The Waffle House.
Norwich is also home to well-know names like Rosa’s Thai, Pho and Giggling Squid.
Take a look at the programming at Norwich Cathedral for ticketed and free music and services. One of the most popular events is Carols in the Cloister (Saturday 13 December, 4pm).
Also look December services at The Cathedral of St John the Baptist and Norwich’s largest medieval church St Peter Mancroft, which is in the heart of the city, opposite The Forum.
There is an array of venues for festive shows and music- from Christmas classics to brass bands, free and ticketed.
Check out performances at Norwich Theatre Royal, Norwich Playhouse, The Forum, Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich Cathedral, The Cathedral of St John the Baptist, the Maddermarket Theatre and St Peter Mancroft.
From wreath workshops and candlelight events to Christmas markets and even a traditional Christmas carousel, Norwich has plenty of festive things to do this Christmas for every member of the family.
If you’re looking for some inspiration, check out our City of Stories blog, where you’ll find festive things to do, Christmas nights out, festive family days out, what’s on in December and more!
