The summer school holidays might be coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean the fun in Norwich stops! There’s plenty of things happening in September – whether you’re planning on taking a cultural autumn city break, or you just want to keep having fun with the family.
GoGoDiscover comes to a close on 11 September, so if you still haven’t been out to see the giant T.rex sculptures in Norwich you must do it now! To make a day of it add John Lewis to your list of places to visit – they are running a colouring competition and have instore prehistoric guests made from cardboard and reusable packaging by their talented Visual Merchandising team. They also have a lost baby dinosaur to find – perfect to keep the kids entertained (and a great opportunity for the adults to enjoy a bit of shopping!) All this activity is until 19 September.
One of the T.rex sculptures part of the GoGoDiscover trail
2. Museum of Norwich
Head to the Museum of Norwich to see Crome’s Norwich: 1821-2021 (closes 18 September). Taking a closer look at the artist’s relationship with his native city through the lens of contemporary photographer Nick Stone, who has walked in the footsteps of John Crome, along riverbanks and city paths, to revisit the locations which inspired him. The result is a collection of stunning images which blend Crome’s works with contemporary photography.
To accompany the exhibition, Nick has created a self-guided walking tour which takes in some of the locations featured in his work. Download the map here.
Admission to the Museum of Norwich is £6.70 for adults, and £6.20 for children. Cheaper family tickets are available for different combinations of adults and children, in addition to a Twilight Ticket valid one hour before closing time (£2.00). All tickets must be booked in advance.
Norwich River Afternoon, c.1812-1819, by John Crome, © Norfolk Museums Service
Theatres are finally coming back in to our lives with more and more shows going up. And we couldn’t be happier about it. Norwich Theatre Royal has some fantastic theatre treats lined up, including Johnny Ball’s Wonders Beyond Numbers (11 September, 2pm), Simon Amstell – Spirit Hole Sat (11 September, 8pm) and Sixties Gold Sun (12 September, 3pm & 7.30pm). Plus the sensational Bedknobs & Broomsticks, which is running from 28 September to 3 October.
Over at Norwich Playhouse there is even more to enjoy, with An Evening of Jazz & Cabaret (11 September) and Paul Zerdin: Hands Free (24 September). Check the Norwich Theatre website for many more things coming up too.
Norwich’s annual crime writing festival- NOIRWICH returns between 9 – 12 September. Most events are online but there are some workshops which are taking place at Dragon Hall. Events are free (although they must be pre-booked) with workshops costing £35. See the full line up at here.
Each September this festival takes place, celebrating history and culture across the UK. It’s your chance to try out new experiences and see hidden places for free!
Fancy a free tour of the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts? Available on 10 & 17 September at 2pm and 3pm, tickets must be booked in advance and are limited to 15 people per tour. Book on the website here. And don’t forget to visit the Heritage Open Days website to see what else is going on in Norfolk.
Take a tour of the Sainsbury Centre this September with Heritage Open Days
Staying at the Sainsbury Centre, opening this month is Grayson Perry: The Pre-Therapy Years. This exhibition opens 19 September and runs until 30 January. Grayson Perry: The Pre-Therapy Years is the first exhibition to survey Perry’s earliest forays into the art world, introducing the explosive and creative works he made between 1982 and 1994. Tickets: £12 under 18s half price. Tickets must be booked online.
Over at Houghton Hall in North Norfolk, works from the celebrated British sculpture Tony Cragg are on show until 26 September. Shown across the gorgeous grounds and historic interiors of the hall the exhibition – curated by the artist himself – includes large-scale bronze and steel sculptures sited in the gardens and grounds, and smaller pieces shown in the State rooms and gallery spaces of the house. Tickets £18 and must be prebooked.
Tony Cragg at Houghton Hall
Get closer to nature with activities at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden until 29 September. Uncover the secrets of our hidden waterways and see wildlife up close on a guided exploration with wildlife canoe trails. No experience necessary. Adult tickets: £27.50. Child tickets: £17.50.
This month sees the opening of Norfolk Open Studios, an annual event which usually follows the Norfolk & Norwich Festival in May, but is making its first autumn outing! Visit makers and creators from across Norwich and the county across 16 days in September and October. The free event will see more than 320 artists taking part throughout the county and in Norwich 81 artists will be opening their studios to share how they work. For full details of where you can visit, check the website.
Holkham Hall has a whole range of activities to enjoy this September, including some great walks and tours: Country House Party: A Hall Tour (22nd September & 20th October, £30), Holkham Hall From the Outside: A History And Architecture Walk (15th September, £30), and Explore with the Expert – Sustainability (Wednesday 22nd September, £14).
Not to mention the return of the popular North Norfolk Food Festival! Now in its 12th year, the festival will see over 60 local producers selling everything from gin, chocolate and bread to cheese, chutney and brownies. Most of these local producers will grow, rear, produce, supply and sell food in Norfolk, so you can be sure of some fresh and delicious treats. 4th & 5th September, entry free.
Exterior of Holkham Hall
Fancy a festival? Then head to Deepdale Festival in North Norfolk between 23 and 26 September. Full festival tickets from £30, Saturday and Sunday from £25 and just Sunday from £15. As well as fabulous food and shopping there’s music from a host of artists including: Lucy Grubb, Little Red Kings; Mammal Not Fish; Fire in Her Eyes; Quarterman; Ebb Tide and many, many more.
