If you are new to Norwich then a good place to start planning is by reading our Trip & Treat 3-day itinerary which is a great introduction. We also have suggestions in our blogs covering – 24 Hours, 48 hours in Norwich and 72 Hours.
Norwich is a city with a bit of everything. Great museums, fantastic shopping – with plenty of independent stores, fabulous food and drink, architecture, iconic places to visit, hidden gems, green spaces and theatres.
And don’t forget Norwich Market which is the centre of everything with amazing around-the-world street food stalls and all your souvenirs, vintage fashion, second-hand books and essential items!
For guided tours see further down the page.
Blogs that may interest you further: 12 things to do in Norwich | Shardlake in Norwich | Walks in Norwich | Norwich Book Benches
Norwich is full of great independent and national eateries from pavement cafes to fine dining restaurants. And being in a county well known for its food production and fresh fish a lot of places use local seasonal ingredients.
For coffee, cake, and a spot of lunch with wine go to St Giles Pantry, Jarrolds, Café Gelato, Bread Source at Norwich Cathedral and The Britons Arms.
For casual lunches and dinners (maybe with cocktails!) take a look at Saporita, Pho, Yalm, The Grosvenor Fish Bar, The Ribs of Beef, The Waffle House, Prelude at Norwich Theatre Royal, Giggling Squid, Makers House and Namaste Village.
Norwich Market is perfect for street food from around the world from breakfast to late afternoon.
And traditional afternoon tea can be taken at The Assembly House, The Maids Head Hotel, The Last, The Britons Arms, The Ivy and The Cosy Club.
For something a bit special try beautiful menus at Benedicts, Brix and Bones, The Last and The WinePress at the Maids Head Hotel.
There are food options and dining also at Chantry Place and Castle Quarter.
All are in Norwich city centre.
Shopping in Norwich is a wonderful mix of independent and high street brands. They rub shoulder to shoulder giving even the most experienced shopper a run for their money!
And because Norwich has a compact medieval street pattern you can get to all of the following in one day without need for further transportation.
For the independents head over to The Norwich Lanes, The Royal Arcade, Norwich Market, Elm Hill and Magdalen Street (specifically for vintage, second-hand and collectables).
For brands you know and love go to Chantry Place, Castle Quarter, Gentleman’s Walk and St Stephen’s.
Department stores include Jarrolds (independent), John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, and Frasers.
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.
If coming into Norwich via the A11, A140 and A47 we recommend using the Park & Ride with KonectBus at Thickthorn. Fares start at £3 with only £1 extra when you Park and Ride with another full paying passenger. Services are fast using bus lanes and frequent and run into the evening.
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. Norwich train station is in the city centre around a 10-15 minutes walk from the station.
Once in Norwich you can take onward travel into the Broads and the Norfolk coast with Greater Anglia.
Train routes include: Liverpool (direct train) to Norwich stopping at Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham, Peterborough and Thetford with East Midlands Railway.
London Liverpool Street to Norwich stops at Stratford, Chelmsford, Colchester, Manningtree, Ipswich, Stowmarket and Diss with Greater Anglia. Note some trains are fast (90 minutes) and stop in less places. Advance fares from London are from £10 each way.
There are also trains from London Kings Cross to Cambridge where you change for the Norwich line.
Greater Anglia also operate services from Stansted Airport, Audley End, Cambridge, Ely, Thetford, Attleborough and Wymondham.
Locally there are trains to the coast to Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Sheringham and Cromer also with Greater Anglia.
And into the Broads to Salhouse, Hoveton & Wroxham, North Walsham and Gunton with Greater Anglia.
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.
In Norwich city centre stay in Georgian splendour at boutique B&B The Assembly House (they often have a 1-night Sunday – Thursday offer for £199 for two people including parking, afternoon tea and breakfast) and The Maids Head Hotel (4*) (room only from £130 per room per night). With apartments at 82 The Unthank and one-bedroomed Georgian B&B Gothic House (single occupancy £80, double £110 with breakfast and parking).
There are also several Premier Inns and Travelodge’s.
Close to Norwich in the Broads stay at 4* The Norfolk Mead which also has a fabulous new spa and Poolside Lodges, Kett Country Cottages and Reedham Ferry Touring Park. And the Norfolk countryside at Park Farm (& leisure facilities), Barnham Broom (golf & leisure), Fielding Cottages (S/C) and Go Norfolk Cottages.
On the North Norfolk coast try The Victoria (small country house) on the Holkham Estate, and the lovely Holly Lodge B&B and their one beautiful Shepherd’s Hut at Thursford.
And because nowhere in Norfolk is very far away a two-centre break city and countryside or city and coast is a perfect way to experience more.
Check out our Stay section for our recommendations of some of the best stays.
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 and five Park & Ride sites.
If coming into Norwich via the A11, A140 and A47 we recommend using the Park & Ride with KonectBus at Thickthorn. Fares start at £3 with only £1 extra when you Park and Ride with another full paying passenger. Services are fast using bus lanes and frequent and run into the evening.
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.
Norwich has plenty of guided walks and tours to choose from.
Paul Dickson Tours has a host of themed tours including an introduction to Norwich as well as tours about Norwich’s pubs, stories, architecture and more.
Cheryl Cade is Norwich’s beer sommelier and cheese expert and thus she offers walking tours which take in tastings of beer, gin and cheese mixed with some history of Norwich too. These are really fun tours.
The Shoebox Experiences are something different again. Tour their hidden medieval street under a building, or join their Tipsy Tavern Tour – they are plenty more on offer too.
Take to the water with Pub & Paddle on a canoe, kayak or rowing boat. Row up and down the Wensum or paddle to some of our wonderful waterside pubs.
Norwich Ghost Walks take you on a spooky tour around Norwich through some of the most haunted areas of the city!
Free tours are available around Norwich Cathedral. And monthly free tours of Dragon Hall are offered by the National Centre for Writing whose home is a medieval trading hall.
The National Centre for Writing also have self-guided walking tours. Take a look at Wandering Words for a wonderful literary tour including soundscapes and commissioned poems to accompany your surroundings. All you need is your phone!
Norwich is an affordable city with a host of free things to do all year round as well as free tickets to some really great annual events.
During school holidays in February there is a large free programme at Norwich Science Festival. And for all ages during Norfolk & Norwich Festival (May) and Heritage Open Days (September).
Check out our free sightseeing page which has some great things to do in Norwich.
There are also free tickets available to some of Norwich’s annual events.
In our bargain break 3-day itinerary to Norwich there are several free things suggested to do.
We also have a blog covering Free and Low Cost Things To Do.
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 900-yearss-old – 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. it is located in 44-acres of grounds which lead to the river Wensum.
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. Next door make sure you pop into The Plantation Garden (Norwich’s secret garden).
Situated in the heart of Norwich, Norwich Market is open Monday to Saturday from breakfast to late afternoon. With the exception of Sir Toby’s Beers which is the only licenced bar on the market and fabulous place to stop for a beer or a drink! It’s also a fantastic place for mulled wine at Christmas.
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!
Take a tour of the market including tastings with Paul Dickson on a Great Market Tour.
For information on where to park with your blue badge, please visit the Norwich City Council website.
The Sainsbury Centre is one of the most prominent University art galleries in Britain. It is world renowned and was designed by Norman Foster.
They offer a ‘pay if and what you can’ approach making its 5000 year-old collection of world art and exhibitions accessible to everyone.
See works by Picasso, Henry Moore, Francis Bacon, Degas, Giacometti and much more.
The Sainsbury Centre also recognises art as living so you can visit and hug a Henry Moore.
There is a cool cafe, and shop and a great restaurant plus 100’s of acres of grounds by the river to walk including their Sculpture Park.
This is a great morning or afternoon out. Note they are closed on Mondays.
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 and walkable from the city centre, 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. Paul Dickson offers walking tours which explain the history – Shardlake’s Norwich.
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.
Late in 2024 Norwich Castle will open up its battlements which will offer even better views across Norwich.
There are public toilets throughout Norwich. You can find a list of public toilets on the Norwich City Council website here.
Find Changing Places toilets at The Forum with accessible toilets at Chantry Place and also Castle Quarter.
Norwich Castle has a Changing Place toilet on the ground floor off the Rotunda. And when the castle Keep reopens the entire castle will be the most accessible castle in the UK.
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.
