Things To Do in Norwich in 2022

22 December 2021

Things To Do in Norwich in 2022

2021 has certainly been an interesting year, particularly for Norwich. It saw dinosaurs take over the city in summer, and plenty of festive fun this Christmas. But as the year ends, it’s time to look forward. And 2022 has a lot to look forward to.

Planning a trip to Norwich in 2022 and want to know when to come and what to see? This helpful round-up dishes all the goss on what’s new in the City of Stories in 2022. So if you’re looking for things to do in Norwich next year, look no further.

January

Lantern Light Underground Tour 

Beneath Castle Meadow is a secret part of Norwich’s past. See the ‘hidden street’ (underground at the foot of Norwich Castle) in a new light, as a story-telling guide takes you on a journey below ground with only a lantern to light the way. Tour recommended for ages 8+, running selected dates from 10 – 28 January. Adults £13, children £7, under 4s free.

February

Love Light Norwich

Light up your February with this magnificent free light festival throughout the streets and iconic buildings of Norwich from 17 – 19 February. Back for a second year to wow audiences once again, Love Light Norwich will present performances, light installations, and special events over three bold and bright nights.

Expect phenomenal projections on Norwich Cathedral, interactive sound and light sculptures, dancing lights, a procession throughout the city, and exciting pyrotechnic performances. Plus, the Love City Food Trail will be back – where restaurants and cafes in Norwich will offer up specially themed culinary delights.

Pirate Themed River Trips

Looking for the perfect family activity to do with the kids in February half-term? How about a pirate themed river trip in the Norfolk Broads? Pirates have commandeered the Cordon Rouge and rumour has it they’re seeking lost treasure and need a crew to help them find it. Featuring pirate themed decoration, children’s activity packs, fancy dress and commentary from the pirate captain ‘Flint’ – this is an activity you won’t want to miss! 14 – 18 February, adults £12.50, children £12.50.

March

Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts

There’s plenty happening at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich’s iconic cultural venue (also known as The Avengers HQ). From 13 March – 17 July, catch ‘Pablo Picasso: The Legacy of Youth’ which features over 20 works by Picasso including paintings, drawings and prints, showing how the young artist embraced successive styles at large in the art world of his time. £13/£12 concessions.

From 13 March – 14 August you can also see ‘Richard Slee: Swans’ for free. One of Britain’s most important contemporary ceramic artists, Swans shows Richard Slee at his finest. In this new work, fourteen majestic swans glide across the tranquil surface of their museum plinths. With twisting, sinuous necks and red latex beaks, the swans exude a restless, inquisitive energy that animates the surrounding space.

May

Norfolk & Norwich Festival, 250th Anniversary

Norfolk & Norwich Festival celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2022, making it the oldest single-city Festival in the UK. Today it is one of the biggest multi artform Festivals in the UK, specialising in bringing world class acts to Norwich and Norfolk and always something just a little bit different. With a programme of theatre, music, comedy and literature, there will be something to suit everyone.

The National Centre for Writing will also be celebrating an anniversary as part of the festival – 10 years of Norwich being a UNESCO City of Literature. A special literature programme will feature as part of the festival in 2022 – so this is definitely not one to miss. The full programme will be announced in early 2022. 27 May – 29 May, free and paid for events.

Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery

The World We Live In: Art and the Urban Environment at Norwich Castle explores the many facets of urban life – architecture, migration, commuting, crowds, noise, lights – which have been a rich source of inspiration to artists. The exhibition brings together important works from the Arts Council Collection, the largest loan collection of modern and contemporary British art, to consider how city dwellers have engaged with their built-up surroundings. From 21 May – 4 September, tickets included in museum entry. Adults £6.70, children £6.20.

June

Norwich Castle: Keeping It Regal

For the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend in 2022, Norwich Castle is celebrating in style. There will be a selection of activities available including the Keeping It Regal trail and screenings at Cinema City in Norwich of Hamlet – Live from The Met (4 June) and The Lion King (5 June).

GoGoDiscover 2022

The GoGoDiscover county trail celebrates the Deep History Coast and Norfolk being home to the discovery of the largest and oldest mammoth ever found in Britain. Join in the fun of summer 2022 in a 10-week adventure full of colossal creatures and family-friendly exploration. In Norwich find T.riffic T.rex sculptures and a new colossal Steppe Mammoth. Taking to plinths all across Norfolk, Steppe Mammoth sculptures will get everyone enjoying the great outdoors on a journey that will help visitors explore all corners of the wonderful county of Norfolk. 27 June – 10 September, free.

September

Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts

The Sainsbury Centre presents a major new exhibition exploring Egypt from the ancient past to the present day. ‘Visions of Ancient Egypt’ supported by Viking, features over 150 works drawn from collections in the UK and internationally and will examine how ancient Egypt has shaped our cultural imagination. Opening in September 2022, the exhibition coincides with the anniversaries of two key events: the bicentenary of Jean-François Champollion’s decipherment of hieroglyphs and the centenary of Howard Carter’s discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. 3 September – 1 January 2023, £13/£12 concessions.