On the horizon is a summer filled with sunshine, friends and family, and the freedom to do what we want. So, what better way to celebrate than to try something new? Norwich is filled with exciting, unique, interesting, and NEW things to do – making this summer the perfect time to get out and make some memories.
GoGoDiscover is back from 27 June – 10 September, and although you’ll recognise some friendly dinosaur faces from last year, there’s new T.rex sculptures, new mini Breakasaurus sculptures, and new mammoth sculptures joining them! Pick up a GoGoDiscover trail map (suggested donation £1) and get hunting across Norwich and Norfolk. And you best get started sooner rather than later – there’s a huge 79 individually designed sculptures to spot!
If you’d like to slow it down and relax, you can enjoy some peaceful guided meditation at Plantation Garden, Norwich’s secret Victorian green space. All you need to bring is a cushion or folding chair for your own comfort! Entry to the garden is a £2, with the meditation class £5 per person.
Want to discover something new about Norwich? Why not take a walking tour? The new City of Centuries tour from The Forum is led by expert guides who will take you around the city where you’ll discover fascinating history: from Norwich’s Viking roots to medieval success. The tours last approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes and cost £8 per person. Or why not take the History and Hostelries tour? This tour is for anyone who likes to take their time, soaking up history and beer. A relaxed, sociable walking tour which explores 2000 years of Norwich history and (uniquely) includes drinks in a few notable City hostelries. The tour takes around 4 hours and includes a drink in each pub visited. £25 per person.
The World We Live In: Art and the Urban Environment is a fantastic new exhibition at Norwich Castle, running until 4 September. Bringing together important works from the Arts Council Collection, the exhibition takes a look at how people engage with their built-up city surroundings. With film, sculpture, photography and paintings, there’s so much to explore and plenty of opportunity to delve into the many facets of urban life. Entrance included with a museum ticket. Adults £7, children £6.
Don’t miss Wandering Words, a literary trail throughout the city celebrating Norwich’s 10th anniversary as a UNESCO City of Literature. This free, self-guided tour will take you to five locations across the city (pick up a trail map at The Book Hive, DNA Books or Waterstones Norwich). Then simply scan the QR code for each location on your phone, and you’ll gain access to an immersive audio recording of a poem, as well as sounds of the people and settings that inspired the writer’s work. This is a brilliant way to see the city from a new perspective and experience something new.
Get stuck in at Norwich Theatre’s Family Festival, from 26 – 29 July. The theatre is opening its doors to families for a whole week of fun this summer, with a line-up of workshops, productions and free activities to do. With story hour, lunchtime concerts, a craft café, face painting and more – you’ll be spoilt for choice on what to do! Check the website for full details.
If that doesn’t satisfy your theatre fix, there’s plenty from the Norwich Puppet Theatre to enjoy. Stel and Wes Fight the Flood (5+ age recommendation) is a new show with performances from 2 – 6 August and features dynamic puppetry and catchy music. Family tickets from £8.50 per person. Or why not enjoy Puppets in the Garden from 19 – 21 August? With a choice of three different puppet shows, tickets also include the opportunity to make your own puppets and enjoy the garden space – you can even bring a picnic if you want! £40 family ticket (2 adults and 2 children, or 1 adult and 3 children).
There are so many unique experiences to discover in Norwich, and exciting new adventures are being created in the city all the time. Here are just some of our favourite new things on offer.
The Shoebox Experiences is the place to go to discover a part of Norwich that is seldom seen. Join a fascinating tour of a historic hidden street – but this isn’t just any street. It’s underground! Journey down two flights of stairs to explore the layers of architecture dating from the 15th century found in the secret street and undercroft below Castle Meadow. Tickets £15 for adults, £8 for children.
If you fancy something a bit more hands-on, head to the newly opened Gyre & Gimble Gin Academy in The Royal Arcade. What could be better than spending a couple of hours sipping G&Ts whilst crafting your own recipe gin from delicious botanicals? And the best part? You get to go home with your very own gin creation, bottled and labelled, with your recipe kept on file for if you’d ever like to recreate it! £75 per person.
If you go to the right restaurant, dinner can be so much more than just a way to refuel at the end of the day. It can be a unique experience for your tastebuds! And for something with a little extra flare, you’ll want to try new restaurant on the scene Brix and Bones. In an intimate space with an open kitchen, fitted with a bespoke, coal-fired grill, the menu features dishes using some of the best organic and sustainably sourced local ingredients available from the area.
If you’d rather work up a sweat getting active, then head to Hot Pod Yoga at Castle Quarter. This isn’t just any Yoga class – it takes place in an inflatable pod that’s heated to 37 degrees. With calming music, diffused essential oils and relaxing lighting, you’ll soon feel your muscles loosen as you move through Yoga poses. The classes are all inclusive, so regardless of ability you can give it a go! And trust us, you’ll feel thoroughly refreshed afterwards. One-off classes only £14.
Head out into the county and there’s even more delights to uncover. At Pensthorpe, check out the new Fairy Garden – an imaginative space featuring a bespoke 12ft fairy sculpture by renowned artist, Robin Wight. Surrounded by several additional sculptures including giant dandelions, the result is a beautiful, quiet haven for guests to reflect and relax. And maybe even spot a bit of fairy mischief if they engage their imagination! Tickets for the park £12.95 for adults and £11.95 for children.
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