Norwich and Norfolk don’t just have one single Christmas market, but many, from the end of October to December. Each one is different, celebrating local makers alongside food and drink, literature and more. All are full of Christmas charm, often to the background of a brass band and most are FREE to visit.

In 2026, Norwich welcomes NEW, traditional-inspired Christkindl Market in Chapelfield Gardens- think chalets, mulled wine and seasonal magic.

For a comprehensive list of the best Christmas markets, check out our dedicated blog here: The Best Christmas Markets in Norwich.

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.

Check out our Parking in Norwich FAQs for more details, including the cheapest places to park.

If you’re driving to Norwich this Christmas, we recommend arriving early to avoid traffic and checking ahead for planned roadworks. The main routes into Norwich are via the A47, A11, A140 and A146.

Norwich Park & Ride

There are five Park & Ride sites around Norwich. Three are run by First Bus: Norwich Airport– best for coming from north of Norwich, Thickthorn– best for coming via A11, and Sprowston– best for coming from the Broads National Park. Two are run by Simonds: Harford– best for coming via A140, and Postwick– best for coming from Great Yarmouth and east Norfolk. Fares start at £3 and it’s only £1 extra when you Park and Ride with another full paying passenger.

Car Parks

There are several surface and multi-storey car parks in Norwich. These include:

Multi-Storey:

Multi-storey car parks include Castle Quarter, John Lewis, St Stephens, Riverside, Rose Lane, The Forum, St Andrews, St Giles and Chantry Place.

Surface:

Surface car parks include Westwick Street, Rouen Road, Barn Road, Colegate, Chantry, Chapelfield East and Pottergate.

For a full list and map of Norwich’s car parks, please visit Norwich City Council’s website.

Blue Badge:

For a full list of Blue Badge parking, please see our Accessibility Need to Know page or visit the Norwich City Council website.

For more details, visit our Arriving by Bus FAQs, including where you can get the bus from into Norwich.

Yes, you can get a bus to Norwich. Norwich Bus Station is situated off Surrey Street and Queens Road, in the heart of Norwich city centre.

The main bus operators serving Norwich bus station are:

• First Bus
• Central Connect
• Sanders Coaches
• National Express
• FlixBus

Visit their websites for individual services and ticketing in the surrounding area.

For more details, visit our Travel by Train FAQs.

Yes, Norwich has a central train station at Riverside. It’s only a 10-minute walk to Norwich’s main shops, museums, eateries, bars and entertainment venues.

Norwich is a well-connected city. You can catch direct trains to Norwich from:

With Greater Anglia

London Liverpool Street – Norwich (1hr 50mins)
Colchester – Norwich (1hr)
Ipswich – Norwich (40mins)

Peterborough – Norwich (1hr 25mins)
Cambridge – Norwich (1hr 20mins)
Ely – Norwich (1hr)

Stansted Airport – Norwich (1hr 45mins)

Wroxham – Norwich (15mins)
Great Yarmouth – Norwich (30mins)
Lowestoft – Norwich (40mins)

Cromer – Norwich (50mins)
Sheringham – Norwich (55mins)

Depending on the service, Greater Anglia trains run up to two or three times an hour.

With East Midlands Railway

Peterborough – Norwich (1hr 30mins)
Nottingham – Norwich (2hr 45mins)
Sheffield – Norwich (3hr 45mins)
Manchester – Norwich (4hr 30mins)
Liverpool – Norwich (5hr 30mins)

East Midlands Railway trains run hourly.

You’ll find public toilets across Norwich’s city centre.

There are council-run toilets in a number of locations, including Norwich Market and the city’s multi-storey car parks. Find the full list here on Norwich City Council’s website.

Elsewhere, there are gendered and disabled toilets in The Forum, Norwich Cathedral, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer and Jarrolds.

Changing Places 

You can find Changing Places toilets at:

• The Forum (and a Family Room)
• Chantry Place
• Castle Quarter
• Norwich Castle

Download the current Norwich Map. Or use the interactive version here!

Yes, you can pick up a FREE pocket map of Norwich at various locations around the city, including shops, places to eat and attractions.

Alongside the map, it’s has information on places to shop, eat, events, green spaces and culture.

When you’re visiting Norwich, look out for our City Hosts in their blue ‘Here to Help’ tabards. They’re friendly and knowledgeable and will help with directions and recommendations.

There are plenty of welcoming places around Norwich when you’re visiting with your dog, including parks, cafés, restaurants, shops and attractions.

Our top picks include:

• Parks: Mousehold Heath, Eaton Park, Sainsbury Centre’s Sculpture Park, Chapelfield Gardens
• Food & Drink: Yalm, The Lions’ Den City, The Cuppie Hut, Ber St Kitchen.
• Shops: Jarrolds, Dogfish.
• Attractions: Norwich Cathedral, Norwich Ghost Walks, Cheryl Cade Tours, Cinema City.

If you’re staying overnight, we recommend the Maids Head Hotel and The Georgian Townhouse.

For more information on where to go, check out our Dog Friendly Norwich blog. 

And for a more recommendations, see the listings on Dog Friendly Norfolk. 

Norwich Map

To help find your way around, you can use the Norwich Map! This FREE pocket guide is available in locations across the city. If you need any directions, look out for our City Hosts in their blue tabards!

Where to Go

Begin your day at Jarrolds, Norwich Market or Norwich Cathedral’s Refectory Cafe for a warm welcome and a coffee and cake (all great for lunch, too).

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 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.

When the light begins to fade, finish your day with stroll along our cobbled streets, admiring festive window displays. Stop by Sir Toby’s Beers for a traditional glühwein (with or without a slug of brandy).

(For shopping and Christmas markets, have a look at our other FAQs!)

These are our top five things to do in Norwich at Christmas (alongside the pretty lights!): 

1. Christmas Markets

Across Norwich, you will find around 20 artisanal markets (including some themed) selling an array of locally made and handcrafted pieces, from food to ceramics to traditional gifts! Markets run throughout November and December.

In 2026, a NEW, traditional-inspired Christkindl Market is bringing European-style chalets, mulled wine and more to Chapelfield Gardens.

2. Christmas Shopping

Norwich is a city that has the best of both worlds.

For high street labels, there are shopping centres Chantry Place and Castle Quarter, plus regional flagship stores from John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Frasers and Primark.

In the Norwich Lanes, you can explore plenty of independents, including Jarrolds, the city’s award-winning, family-run independent department store with five floors!

3. Christmas Food & Drink

There’s always room for Christmas food & drink!

For a quick pit stop, sip steaming glühwein at Sir Toby’s Beers on Norwich Market or Bier Draak for an Irish Coffee.

In pubs and bars across the city, you can try locally brewed beers, wines and spirits- from whisky to rum to gin.

For hot chocolate, we like Alchemista.

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. Or try Grosvenor Fish Bar for their take on Christmas dinner- turkey sausage with battered stuffing balls, chips, gravy and cranberry sauce!

For ‘drink, drinks’, the Norwich Lanes is home to a lovely selection of bars, while the city is known for its historic, 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!

5. Norwich Cathedral & Elm Hill

Norwich’s Cathedral Quarter is even more charming at Christmas.

Norwich Cathedral has so many wonderful Christmas events. From 4 December and 3 January, you can admire their annual Tree of Remembrance, plus there are FREE daily 1-hour tours.

Elm Hill is Norwich’s most complete medieval street and a beautiful part of the city. See Tudor beamed buildings, rare thatched rooves and shop independents like The Bear Shop. Elm Hill was even the film location for the Netflix Christmas film Jingle Jangle

Norwich is a great place for Christmas shopping thanks to its compactness and mix of independent shops and high street brands.

Independents

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 gift and lifestyle stores, fashion, vintage, bookshops, galleries and more.

Our favourites include Atwin, Lisa Angel, Elm, Bowhill & Elliott, Lazy Lobster and Macarons & More.

High Street Names

For high street shops, 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.

Norwich has two shopping centres – Castle Quarter and Chantry Place. Here, you’ll find stores like TK Maxx, Apple, Zara, Mango, Whistles, Hotel Chocolat, JD Sports, H&M, Tiger and Oliver Bonas.  

Yes. In Norwich, many stores open for late night Christmas shopping throughout December, and usually on a Thursday.

At Chantry Place shopping centre, shops are often open until 7pm on Thursdays in December and later in the month. There will be two late night shopping evenings on 10 & 17 December.

Jarrolds’ hours vary depending on which day of the week you’re visiting, but this independent department store’s lower ground floor opens later until 8pm on Thursdays (19 November and 10 & 17 December only), Fridays and Saturdays from 2 November, and opens on Christmas Eve, 9am – 4.30pm.

John Lewis Norwich is open until 8pm every Thursday. From 28 November until Christmas, the store will open until 7pm on Saturdays. In December, the store extends its opening hours to 6pm from 7 – 13 December, 7pm from 14 – 20 December and 8pm from 21 -23 December (all excluding Sundays). John Lewis will be open on Christmas Eve (9am – 5pm).

In the Norwich Lanes, many of the stores will be open later on Thursdays.

The Royal Arcade is holding Late Night Shopping event on Thursday 19 November, 5.30pm – 8.30pm, coinciding with Norwich’s Festive Lights Switch On.

There’s a whole host of family events and things to do in Norwich.

Check out all the best family things to do here, as well as where to visit Father Christmas and family-friendly shows.

This year, you can take part in the FREE Festive Love Letters 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, Bure Valley Railway, The Bug Parc, Fairhaven Woodland & Water Garden, Banham Zoo, Goat Shed, Pensthorpe, Thrigby, Wroxham Minature Worlds and Holkham.

Norwich Theatre Royal produces an annual panto. This year it’s The All New Adventures of Peter Pan (5 December – 3 January 2027) and stars Joe Tracini, West End star Karl Queensborough, actors Milo Clarke and Kerry Ingram, and panto dame Quinn Patrick.

At The Garage, the ideal pantomime for young families: My First Panto: Goldilocks and the Three Little Bears (6 December – 1 January 2027, under 7 years). This show is designed with interactive play, special lighting and sensory experiences for a fully immersive, relaxing and entertaining performance.

Yes, we have a number of accessible performances in Norwich and Norfolk over Christmas, including pantomimes and variety shows.

See our list here: Accessible Christmas Performances in Norwich & Norfolk – Visit Norwich, which includes dates and performances with sensory adaptations, BSL signing, captions, relaxed and Dementia-friendly environments and audio description.

For more information on accessibility during your visit to Norwich, such as parking and toilets, visit our Accessibility in Norwich page.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2027, the Thursford Christmas Spectacular is a variety show that attracts audiences from across the country every year.

From November – December, this festive extravaganza blends seasonal entertainment with year-round favourites in the form of song, humour, dance routines, musical performance and variety acts. Previous shows have included speciality acts from mountain bike trick duos, magicians, hula hoop artistes, contortionists and circus performers.

Thursford is the biggest Christmas show of its kind in Europe- with a 130-strong cast performing every day, straight from London’s West End.

2026’s Thursford Christmas Spectacular is taking place from 10 November – 23 December, with performances at 2pm & 7pm. Shows last 3 hours and tickets start from £42 per person. Book your ticket via their website.

Norwich has a great choice of independent eateries, including bars, food halls, pubs and market stalls.

Check out our top recommendations for the best Christmas food and drink.

Casual Food

For lunch or a light bite, head to Logan’s or Saporita for mouthwatering sandwiches and authentic Italian street food, respectively.

We also recommend Cafe Gelato for festive gelato flavours like panettone, mince pie and clementine.

On Norwich Market, you can choose between a great variety of worldwide food stalls, from fish and chips to Chinese, chillies, bao buns and tapas.

At Yalm food hall, you can eat from eight different kitchens using the QR code on your table and at The Waffle House, you can try savoury and sweet seasonal specials.

For a relaxed pub, try The Warwick Arms, home to Luca Pizza or head downstairs in Jarrolds’ for their wine bars and Exchange Restaurant.

No matter your tastes, Norwich’s restaurants offer plenty of choice.

Dinner

For fine dining, we suggest Benedicts, Brix and Bones, The Last and WinePress at the Maids Head.

If you’re vegan and vegetarian, there’s authentic Indian at Namaste Village.

Norwich is also home to well-know names for Asian food like Rosa’s Thai, Pho and Giggling Squid.

If you like modern dining in a relaxed setting, try The Unthank Arms, William & Florence or The Georgian Townhouse.

Norwich Cathedral has a packed programme at Christmas, including FREE and ticketed events and seasonal services. One of the most popular events is Carols in the Cloister (12 December, 4pm).

For other Christmas services, look at Roman Catholic The Cathedral of St John the Baptist and central St Peter Mancroft, Norwich’s largest medieval church.

Norwich’s many entertainment venues mean there is a wide selection of festive shows and music at Christmastime- from Christmas classics to brass bands. These are 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.

Across November and December, you will find a number of festive things to do.

This includes, wreath workshops, candlelight events and Christmas markets.

In the Christmas holidays (19 December – 3 January), outside The Forum, you can ride a traditional Christmas carousel (also called a gallopers) and Big Wheel.

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!

Norwich is a great base to explore Norfolk, especially at Christmastime. Here are our top recommendations for day trips from Norwich during November and December.

Holkham Estate (36.5 miles, 1-hour drive)

• Holkham by Candelight (select dates 29 November – 23 December)– a self-guided tour of Holkham Halls’ magnificently decorated rooms in twinkling lights and creative displays.

Thursford (25 miles, 50-minute drive)

• Christmas Spectacular (10 November – 23 December)– a festive extravaganza of singing, dancing, humour and variety acts, the biggest of its kind in Europe.
• Enchanted Journey of Light (2 – 24 December)– an otherworldly immersive lantern walk with larger-than-life lanterns and luminous sculptures, from underwater worlds to festive scenes to safari animals.

Cromer Pier (23 miles, 45-minute drive)

• Cromer Pier Christmas Show (14 November – 28 December)– an all-singing, all-dancing show with West End values as part of the only full-season end-of-pier show in the world, including singing, dancing and special effects.

Goat Shed (9.5 miles, 20-minute drive)

• Christmas Shed (23 October – 24 December) and Farm Shop– A showcase of locally- and British-made gifts in chalet like stalls, perfect for ticking off your gift list. Peruse the Norfolk produce in the farm shop before a meal at the cafe, with ingredients you can buy after!

The Norfolk Mead Hotel (8.5 miles, 25-minute drive)

• Christmas Wreath Making and Afternoon Tea (select dates 26 November – 2 December)– a festive and indulgent experience including a creative masterclass to create your own wreath, followed by a tasty Christmas afternoon tea.

Bure Valley Railway (12 miles, 25-minute drive)

• The Noel Night Train (select dates 4 – 18 December)– travel by steam through the wintry Norfolk countryside and enjoy the cosy charm of the Bure Valley Railway by night, with twinkling lights, festive music, and seasonal refreshments.

After exploring Norwich and making festive memories as a family, why not opt for a fun day out for all ages in Norfolk? Here are out top picks for day trips for families in Norfolk at Christmastime.

Thursford (25 miles, 50-minute drive)

• Santa’s Magical Journey (21 November – 23 December)– discover a magical winter wonderland on the way to meet Santa, past penguins, polar bear, giant teddies and more into Santa’s grotto. Includes Enchanted Journey of Light, gift and visit to Father Christmas.

Pensthorpe (23.5 miles, 45-minute drive)

• North Norfolk Pole (5 – 23 December)– an immersive festive experience filled with twinkly lights and seasonal characters, with the chance to meet Santa, build your own teddy, try Elf Training sessions and explore this beautiful themed festive village.

Bure Valley Railway (12 miles, 25-minute drive)

• Festive Express (select dates 5 – 24 December)– The Festive Express includes a magical steam train journey, a visit to Santa in his incredible grotto, a personalised present for every child and snack box filled with festive treats.

Fairhaven Woodland & Water Garden (10 miles, 20-minute drive)

• Christmas Lights Walk (select dates 21 November – 23 December)– follow this enchanting Christmas Lights Trail through the woodland, passing the magnificent King and Queen Oak trees and discovering illuminated deer families along the way, finishing your walk beside the fire.

ROARR! (11 miles, 30-minute drive)

• Magical Father Christmas Experience (select dates 4 – 23 December)– a magical journey through the North Pole, meeting mischevious elves and visiting Father Christmas before adventuring through the Winter Trail to arrive at the Toy Emporium.