There’s so many amazing things to do in Norwich. Award-winning shopping, lively streets, historic monuments and a gateway to the iconic Broads and beaches of Norfolk. Find out why we’re regularly voted as one of the top 10 places to live in the UK, here.
Norwich is a city of foodies. And, since Norfolk is a large farming county filled with the freshest and finest produce this country has to offer, that means we’re lucky enough to have some seriously good food here in the City of Stories. From fresh meat and vegetables, to the fish from our scenic shores, you’ll be spoiled for choice with every visit to Norwich.
But we’re not limited to food from our locality, Norwich Market offers exciting dishes from around the world, and many of our chefs have trained in some of the best international kitchens to return home and set up shop. Plus Norwich is known for its excellent vegan scene too!
Check out our Restaurants section and discover your new favourite restaurant, or find our top recommendations across our City of Stories blogs!
Norwich is a wonderful city to take a break, and there is plenty to do over a weekend or even for stays of 7 nights or more. Norwich is the only city in the country within a national park, The Broads, so it’s a very green city with lots of outdoors options for picnics, walking, cycling, nature, and activities on the water.
A visit to Norwich would also not be complete without a trip Norwich Cathedral, The Cathedral boasts the second tallest spire and the largest monastic cloisters in England, as well as being a tranquil space away from the busy Tombland.
Team this with extraordinary architecture, experiences, attractions, cobbled streets and culture and you have a holiday to keep every age fulfilled and entertained for the duration. Norwich is also a short drive from stunning country houses, family attractions, large nature reserves and long walking and cycling routes so there are plenty of fun days out from the city too.
Did you also know Norwich is very close to the Norfolk coast? You can easily spend a day at the beach – even an evening stroll with a fish and chip supper – at Sheringham, Cromer, Winterton and Great Yarmouth. Or perhaps consider a 2-centre holiday and stay longer to enjoy it all. Take a look at the North Norfolk coast like Holkham.
Other day trips include a short drive to Wroxham where you can hire day boats on the water to visit Broads like Coltishall and Salhouse. As soon as you step aboard you get a real sense of calm and adventure.
Check out our See & Do section to plan your next trip!
Car
Norwich is only 110 miles north of London, 66 miles from Cambridge, 121 miles from Nottingham, 159 miles from Birmingham and 170 miles from Oxford. The main routes into Norwich are the A47, A11, A140 and A146.
Several multi-storey and surface car parks are located within the city centre, including parking at Castle Quarter, Chantry Place, John Lewis, Riverside, The Forum, St Andrews Car Park, Rose Lane, St Giles Car Park, and St Stephens Car Park.
Train
Stay for a day and catch a late-night service home, or stay awhile with no worries about car parking or traffic jams. With advance fares available from just £10 each way from London, and a journey time of just 90 minutes (even less if you’re travelling from somewhere closer than London!), leave the car at home and enjoy our welcoming spaces your own way. Find out more details about catching the train to Norwich here!
Airport
Whether it’s business or pleasure, flying into Norwich International Airport is quick and easy with the airport only 15 minutes drive from the city centre. And you can fly from destinations within the UK or Europe. Norwich is connected to over 400 worldwide cities via Schiphol Airport, one of Europe’s most important airline hubs.
Hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses and boats — whether you’re in the heart of the city or out exploring, staying for a day or visiting for a week, we have everything you need in the City of Stories.
Check out our Stay section for our recommendations of some of the best stays in the city.
Yes, you can pick up a free map of Norwich at various locations around the city. The map is full of information on shopping, attractions, restaurants and ‘must-see’ attractions. Keep an eye out for our City Hosts in their blue tabards, who are happy to help you find your way around Norwich (and have a chat too!).
You can view the VisitNorwich Map & Guide here!
Norwich has plenty of car parks dotted all over the city. Several multi-storey and surface car parks are located within the city centre, including parking at Castle Quarter, Chantry Place, John Lewis, Riverside, The Forum, St Andrews Car Park, Rose Lane, St Giles Car Park, and St Stephens Car Park.
Click here for more information on travelling to Norwich via car, including car parks, charging points, and more.
Here in Norwich, we’re lucky to have a host of guided tours. For a more casual experience, you can join the open-top City Sightseeing bus (seasonally run between April 1 – September 30) that will let you discover some of the city’s must-see sights. Tours start from the Coach Bay outside Castle Quarter, with various stops across the City of Stories. The first tour departs at 10:30am, then every hour on the half-hour mark, with the last tour departing at 3:30pm.
For more detailed themed walks, Paul Dickson Tours is a great option. 2 favourites include a tour of around Norwich Market, and ‘Shardlake’s Norwich’: all about CJ Sansom’s novel Tombland, which features Kett’s Rebellion.
Norwich not only has plenty of free places to visit, but a programme of free events throughout the year. Form Norwich BID’s City Food Trails to free live entertainment and music. There is something for everyone to enjoy, check out our What’s On to find out more about the events taking place in Norwich during your visit.
Yes, the city centre is very compact – approximately 30 minutes’ walk from one side to the other if you’re a confident walker. In the city centre you can reach on foot: attractions, museums, independent shops, high street shops, 2 shopping malls, Norwich Market, restaurants, pubs, bars, the bus station, the rail station, the river and four theatres. Look out for our City Hosts, who are here to help you make your way around Norwich.
Norwich has two cathedrals, the oldest being the magnificent Romanesque Cathedral situated in Tombland. Norwich Cathedral is home to the largest monastic cloisters in England and houses more than a 1,000 beautiful medieval roof boss sculptures. The city is also home to the Roman Catholic cathedral. Situated on Unthank Road, this cathedral is a fine example of the great Victorian Gothic Revival.
Situated in the heart of Norwich, Norwich Market is open Monday to Saturday with a much smaller offer on a Sunday. It’s one of the largest and oldest open-air markets in the country, and has been located in its current spot for over 900 years. In 2019 it won Best Large Outdoor Market at the Great British Market Awards. While the market sells a delicious range of quality local foods, it’s also a champion for international street food, offering up some of the finest produce and dishes from around the world! Amongst many things, you can buy fresh flowers, plants, haberdashery, hoover bags, vintage clothes, books and even get your hair cut!
For information on where to park with your blue badge, please visit the Norwich City Council website.
The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts is one of the most prominent University art galleries in Britain. It is world renowned and was designed by Norman Foster. Located on the campus of the University of East Anglia (UEA), the Centre is just a short bus journey on the number 25, 26, or 26a bus.
Head up to Mousehold Heath for a stunning view of the city skyline. Located north-east of the medieval city boundary, Mousehold Heath is a fantastic local nature reserve where people go to unwind from the pace of city life. It was from the heath that an army of rebels besieged the city during Kett’s Rebellion in 1549.
If you don’t fancy the long walk, hop onto the open-top sightseeing bus tour and stop off at Mousehold (seasonal). You can also join a tower tour at St John’s Cathedral for another amazing view. In the city centre itself – from the mound of Norwich Castle – see the Norwich skyline which takes in medieval churches, both cathedrals, The Forum, City Hall and more.
There are a number of bus services available to help you travel around Norwich & Norfolk. There are frequent train services between Norwich and Norfolk, as well as the rest of the country.
Click here for more details.
