by Katie Thompson
Norwich is a maverick city- don’t let our old walls fool you. It’s like nowhere else, one that’s creative, welcoming and full of stories to tell. So, what better way to discover Norwich for yourself than with an overnight stay?
We may be biased, but we think you’ll be wowed. Take your time and take it all in. From our impressive Norman architecture to our modern museums to our buzzing food and drink scene! Oh, and there’s our natural side too.
It’s time to explore the City of Stories- keep reading for our 2-day itinerary in our fine city!
The Sainsbury Centre is an innovative art museum that’s open to all and where art is living
Norwich is a city where old meets now. And nowhere does it ring true more than the Sainsbury Centre. This innovative art museum is home to thousands of years of history- spanning everything from Mesoamerican ceramics to 21st century photography.
Here in this Norman Foster-designed building, art is seen as living. As you explore the permanent Living Art collection, feel the smooth stone of Henry Moore’s ‘Mother and Child’, contemplate Giacometti as you lounge beneath his ‘Diego Seated’ or become your own work of art in a life-size glass case. Their exhibitions ask the big questions, while the Sculpture Park invites you into the museum’s luscious green surroundings. You pay what you can to enter, so this art really is for everyone to enjoy.
Through the Ethelbert and Erpingham Gates, Norwich cathedral is ready to be explored
Hop on the 25/26 bus to make your way into Norwich’s buzzing centre. When you arrive, you’re bound to be drawn to our thriving medieval marketplace. Beneath these multi-coloured rooftops, you’ll encounter worldwide aromas on every stall. It’s hard to know where to start, so we suggest following your nose! Perhaps you’ll devour a donburi bowl or savour steaming ramen. One thing’s for certain, everything is bursting with flavour!
Spend the afternoon at a slower place and make your way along cobbled streets towards our historic Cathedral Quarter. Through the grand Ethelbert gate, you’ll enter Cathedral Close, where quaint cottages line characterful lanes beneath the towering spire of Norwich Cathedral.
Pop into the Refectory Cafe for a sweet snack, coffee or light lunch
Here you can wander through hallowed monastic cloisters (the largest in the country), under magnificent medieval roof bosses and into our beautiful nave. If you’ve time, join a free hour tour to uncover even more secrets, from Elizabethan graffiti to an important pre-Reformation altarpiece. Then head upstairs to Bread Source at the Refectory Cafe. It’s a Norwich-favourite where locals go for electric-roasted espresso and flaky cinnamon swirls.
After all that exploring, it’s time for a well deserved dinner. In the heart of the Lanes, embrace Turtle Bay’s vibrant Caribbean flavours and laid-back air. With a menu that boasts tropical cocktails and deliciously spiced dishes, we recommend sharing street food-inspired plates or trying their typical Jamaican brown chicken!
The Assembly House is ideal for a luxury city centre stay
Spend the night at The Assembly House. This Grade I listed Georgian gem offers an indulgent B&B experience. In each room, you’ll encounter sleek bathrooms and sumptuous furnishings that’ll welcome you after a day of exploring.
The Details:
Visit: Sainsbury Centre, Tuesday – Sunday; Norwich Cathedral, Monday – Sunday.
Eat: Norwich Market, days and times vary for individual stalls, Monday – Sunday; Turtle Bay, Monday – Sunday.
Stay: The Assembly House, 2 adults from £170 per night including breakfast.
As the UK’s most accessible castle, Norwich Castle has so much to discover
After breakfast, begin your second day with a trip to our iconic Norwich Castle– it’s just opened after a £27.5 million redevelopment!
This isn’t just any old castle. For starters, it’s completely accessible from basement to battlements, meaning you’ll be treated to some incredible views of our city skyline. With its original floors reinstated, you really get a sense of what life was like here. Immerse yourself. From a larger-than-life projection of its history to authentic Norman dress-up (there’s no age limit here!) to the beautifully finished Gallery of Medieval Life (in partnership with the British Museum, no less). And that’s without exploring the castle’s other fascinating galleries- from mummies to modern art
The views from Norwich Castle’s battlements are unrivalled!
While you’re here, treat yourself to a slice of quiche in the bright cafe or check out nearby Castle Quarter or Marmalades in our Art Nouveau Royal Arcade for more tempting lunch options.
Norwich’s rippling waterways and proximity to our varied coastline mean it’s not hard to see why this was a strategic city in medieval times. With Bishy Barney Boats (a 15-minute drive or bus journey from Castle Meadow), you can motor along this once medieval trade route. Get a new perspective from the water as you meander peacefully along the River Wensum, past sights like Carrow Road, Pull’s Ferry and towards Cow Tower- 2 hours will get you there and back and leave time for a refreshing drink at a waterside pub.
See our fine city from the water with Bishy Barney Boats
For the journey home, you’ll need some sustenance. So, hop over to Redwell Brewery– just a 10-minute drive away (35 minutes on the bus). This microbrewery not only brews a refreshing selection of local craft beers, but you can experience them in their working taproom! We suggest making the most of Norwich’s mouthwatering food and drink with a final slice (or three) of stone-baked pizza from their resident Redwell Vault Pizzeria!
The Details:
Visit: Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery, Monday – Sunday.
Do: Bishy Barney Boats.
Eat: Redwell Brewery, Friday – Sunday.
