Whether it’s a long bank holiday weekend or simply some time off work and school with the family, Norwich is a great place to spend your holiday. But how do you make the most of it in just three days, especially when there’s so much to do? Don’t worry, we’ve got some great recommendations. Read on for some of our ideas on how you can get the best from the City of Stories!
As soon as you arrive, there’s no better way to start your trip than by uncovering the secrets of Norwich with The City Sightseeing Bus. There’s not much better way to introduce yourself, and it’ll save you all the walking!
On this hop-on, hop-off tour of the City of Stories, you’ll be taken to some of the most iconic locations on offer. From Norwich Castle to Mousehold Heath, where members of the UK’s last public revolt, Kett’s Rebellion, camped. It’s perfect for all ages, and you’ll be perfectly placed to discover the rest of Norwich.
Running seasonally from April 1 – September 30 every year, this bus tour is really worth the visit during your time in Norwich. It’s open-top too, so it’s perfect to take in all the sights you’ll see (and cool down on those warmer days!).
Tickets for this bus tour are valid for 24 hours from purchase, so you can get off and back on any time you like during your day. Prices start from £14 for adults (16-64), £7 for children aged 5-15, with under-5s going FREE. Family tickets are available for 2 adults and 3 children, priced at £35.
Arrive in Norwich on the Park & Ride? Good news, show your driver a valid P&R ticket and save £2 per person on your City Sightseeing tickets! Find out more here.
The City Sightseeing Bus offers some incredible views!
Once you’ve got your history and sightseeing fix, it’s time to discover the city’s shopping spaces. Just a few minutes’ walk away from the City Sightseeing’s Castle Meadow stop, you’ll find Castle Quarter nestled underneath the historic Castle itself. And it is a lot of fun.
Head into The Entertainer for a great toyshop experience, finding everything from Lego to the latest toys, games, dolls, and action figures. From there, head downstairs to Flying Tiger for all your stationary and home décor needs, and just about everything else in between!
Then, pop into just about every shop you can find before reaching the activities side of Castle Quarter. Try your hand at a hole-in-one at Putt Putt Noodle, pick between a multitude of activities at Boom Battle Bar, or treat yourself to a blockbuster hit at Vue! The choices are endless, and you could really spend your entire three-day trip here.
Castle Quarter offers some great shopping and entertainment!
After all that excitement, you’ve probably worked up and appetite, so head a few floors up and find yourself in Castle Social, their new foodhall. No need to wait, just grab a table, scan the QR code, and pick from some delicious ranges of food. From Currybox to Mamma Mia, you’ll be spoiled for choice, so everyone will find something to tuck into!
Even when Castle Quarter has been explored, you’re not done yet. For even more retail therapy, head to Chantry Place. This shopping centre has everything you’ll need, so you won’t regret it.
Fancy treating yourself to some new clothing? Check out Sole Supplier, Zara, H&M, JD Sports, and so much more. What about some homeware? They’ve got that covered too, with Lisa Angel, H&M Home, Oliver Bonas, and Coco Home & Gifts. With so many more shops, we couldn’t possibly list them all, so it’s up to you to discover!
Chantry Place has something for everyone!
If your visit extends over a Wednesday or a Sunday, you can’t miss out on Strangers’ Hall. This Grade-I listed building dates back as early as the 14th century, making it the third oldest building in Norwich!
Almost as if it’s frozen in time, you can explore the incredible Strangers’ Hall and learn about its history across the Great Hall, the Chambers, and the Georgian Dining Rooms. Then, be transported over hundreds of years across the Victorian Rooms, the Sotherton Room, and the Walnut Room. Discover the history behind the prestigious merchants and mayors dwelling here, and the Dutch and Flemish refugees who gave this building its name!
Plus, there’s always a good few special activities going on for the whole family to enjoy, like Bolingbroke’s Emporium Presents: Pleasant’s Potions, where you’ll use historic recipes to recreate polishes and potions. Once you’ve brewed your creation, you can create your own label and place them on the shelf to become part of the very history of Strangers’ Hall!
Admission costs for Strangers’ Hall starts at £6.50 for adults and £5.60 for children aged 4-18. Find out more and plan your visit here!
After your visit to Strangers’ Hall, some lunch might be in order. There is so much to choose from in Norwich – the food on offer is some of the best you’ll find anywhere, so we don’t think you’ll need too much help finding somewhere that suits you.
Afterwards, however, particularly on those warmer days, how does some authentic Italian gelato sound? If that piques your interest, you must visit Café Gelato on Opie Street. You’ll likely find a queue out the door, but it’s more than worth the wait.
Here, you’ll find a menu that features some of the classics, as well as a selection of ever-changing flavours. Will you go for an old-school favourite, or try something you’ve never tried before? Whatever you go for, we’re sure you’ll love this unbeatably smooth dessert.
What delicious flavours will you choose at Café Gelato?
If you’re looking for the perfect last activity for the day, look no further than Mulligans. All of your friends and family will love it, if they don’t mind getting a bit competitive!
Mix and match a huge range of activities, from pool to electro-darts, ping pong to shuffleboard, and the big one… Crazy golf. You can do as much or as little as you like at Mulligans, it’s yours to enjoy however you like.
But you cannot miss the crazy golf. It’s one activity we’d highly recommend in your visit. Here, the crazy golf is like no other. Every course has eye-catching design, an exciting twist, or both. And there’s 18 of them. Who’ll come out on top?
Admission to crazy golf costs £10 per adult and £7.75 for under-18s in off-peak hours, and £11 per adult and £8.25 for under-18s in peak hours. Please note Mulligans also becomes over-18s only from 8:45pm.
Who doesn’t enjoy a good fish & chips dinner? If you’re new to Norwich, you absolutely have to try Grosvenor Fish Bar’s menu. There is so much to choose from, it all tastes incredible, and the value is amazing. What more could you want?
Whether you’re going for traditional cod/ battered sausage or trying out their unique menu with items such as ‘Loony Toony’, which is a battered tuna steak in a bread roll (from £7), you’re sure to find something to love.
You can eat inside Grosvenor too, with spacious seating underground, so you can enjoy your meal piping hot, and avoid any unfortunate weather that might spoil your chips!
It’s worth getting up early and making the most of your last day in Norwich, who knows when you’ll next be back? To start your day, we’d heartily recommend a visit to the Cosy Club for breakfast. You’ll know you made a smart choice when you’re greeted by the beautiful exterior, and the inside is no different.
Set on the site of the old National Provincial Bank, built in 1925, the Cosy Club has made themselves at home with incredible design to match the building’s history. The gorgeous and spacious main dining area, which was the banking hall, features a domed glass ceiling overhead, letting in a flood of natural light. Plus, combined with the towering pillars and the art deco aesthetic, it just looks stunning.
But enough about the decoration, how about the food?! The Cosy Club offer a wide-range of breakfast dishes, from the Butcher’s Brunch (£15.25, Treacle-cured pork belly chop, Cumberland sausages, smoked bacon, two eggs, house rostis, chorizo beans, toasted sourdough) to American Pancakes (£9.50 for three, £13.75 for six, smoked streaky bacon, blueberries, maple syrup). Everything sounds delicious, and there’s plenty to choose from!
For anyone with any dietary requirements, the Cosy Club offer a gluten-free and vegan menu, so you can be sure you’re enjoying a tasty meal with none of the worry! The Cosy Club also offer a kids menu, with a Kids Cosy Breakfast, Buttermilk Pancakes, Cumberland Sausage, or Cheesy Beans on Toast all available! Book your table at the Cosy Club here!
The stunning glass domed ceiling at Cosy Club makes for quite a view
A short drive from Norwich (25-minutes, to be exact), an amazing day out for the family awaits at BeWILDerwood. In this pocket of the forest, curiosity thrives. It’s perfect for the little ones to get exploring, with treehouses, a sky maze, zip wires, marsh walks, boat trips, and huge slippery slopes all to be conquered.
The adults can get involved too, letting their inner child out as they join in on some of the incredibly fun activities you’ll find dotted around this adventure park! Face painting, anyone?
Plus, BeWILDerwood is open every day until Tuesday, September 5th, where it will then return to weekend and half-term openings, so you can plan your visit nearly anytime you’re in Norwich!
Every activity is included in the price of tickets at BeWILDerwood, so once you’re in, the park is completely open to be explored. That includes crafts, face painting, storytelling, den building, and the enchanted boat ride. Even better, there’s almost always an event on at BeWILDerwood, like Parasquawk’s Flight of Very Fancy Colours from Saturday, May 27 – Friday, July 21.
Admission prices are based on height due to requirements on certain activities. Children under 92cm go FREE, while tickets for those between 92-105cm cost £19.50, with over 105cm costing £21.50. Over-65s can get in for £13.50. Where will you explore first?
BeWILDerwood is the perfect day out for the family
Where better to finish your trip to Norwich than the award-winning, family-run Indian restaurant Namaste Village? This authentic restaurant serves some of the finest food Norfolk has to offer, and it’s entirely vegetarian/vegan. Inspired by different regions of India, these healthy meals are sure to delight.
The ethos of Namaste Village is one of kindness, serving good food with care, and treating everyone who walks through the doors as family. Namaste Village source the very best ingredients locally. With an expansive menu, it’s just up to you to discover these exciting and new flavours! Book your table here.
There are so many places to see and things to do in the City of Stories, it’s impossible to list them all in one blog. If you’re looking for more inspiration, make sure to check out our City of Stories tab, including the ‘A Day in Norwich’ and ‘48 Hours in Norwich’ blogs!
