By Katie Thompson
A city break in Norwich can be kind to your pocket, kind to your wellbeing and culturally enriching. Stay in city centre accommodation, experience our incredible local food scene, and explore our medieval streets all without breaking the bank.
Whether you’re here for our historic landmarks, our artistic side or our natural surroundings, you’ll want to cover it all! Norwich is a city that belies its size- there’s so much to see and do. (Don’t forget to check out our Free & Low Cost Things to Do page for the best options for families, sightseeing, outdoors and more!)
Here’s our itinerary for an unforgettable 3-day bargain break in Norwich!
And if you’re travelling from within the UK, it’s easier (and cheaper!) than you think. With Greater Anglia, advance tickets from London Liverpool Street start from £12 one way, or save up to 60% with East Midlands Railway on their Liverpool to Norwich services.
Stay at All Hallows Guesthouse, a unique retreat in the centre of Norwich. This calm and quiet accommodation makes the perfect respite after a day of exploring. While you’re here, don’t forget to pay a visit to the Julian Shrine, site of Julian of Norwich’s anchoress cell and one of many fascinating churches dotted around the city. From £170 for a 2-night stay (shared bathroom) for 2 adults, including a complimentary breakfast. Take a look at our Stay page for more city centre accommodation!
Plantation Garden is a city centre oasis overlooked by the impressive St John the Baptist Cathedral
We always recommend arriving early to make the most of your time here in Norwich.
So, after your journey, a relaxing stroll around Plantation Garden (£2 entry) will soon make you feel like a local. This grade-II listed sunken garden is an oasis of calm and a hidden gem. It’s a great spot for picnics, as well as exploring the beautiful lawns, flower beds and architectural features- we love its intricate Italianate terrace and Gothic fountain.
Just next door (you’ll notice the impressive tower above) is The Cathedral of St John the Baptist (free entry). This magnificent Gothic Revival Roman Catholic cathedral boasts an amazing interior. Keep your eyes peeled for its distinctive Frosterley Marble features, which up close reveals itself to be hundreds of intricate fossils! Then there’s the cathedral’s vibrant stained-glass windows. How many details will you spot?
Across the footbridge over Grapes Hill, you’ll find yourself in the Norwich Lanes, home to the city’s independent spirit. Here indies range from clothing to lifestyle, bookshops to bars. While away your afternoon exploring the meandering cobbled streets, popping in and out of the stores that catch your eye.
Which indie will catch your eye in the Norwich Lanes?
The Lanes has a wonderful selection of cafes and eateries. For lunch, we suggest Logan’s. This long-standing sandwich shop has an amazing array of fillings, salads, jackets and snacks- don’t forget to see what’s on the specials menu! You can take away for lunch in the sunshine or eat in when it’s drizzly (from £3.05). (Psst… at the end of the week it’s Free Fries Friday with takeaway specials!)
Or, if you’re in the mood for authentic Italian street food, look no further than Saporita! This family-run eatery offers tasty, freshly made pizza, panino, focaccia, panzerotti and more (from £5.50). And they’re more filling than they look! And for a sweet treat, we suggest a scoop of ice cream at Cafe Gelato!
Then at dinner time, book a table at Namaste Village– found on Queen’s Street- for mouthwatering vegetarian Indian dishes (mains from £11.95). Think fragrant vegetable curries, creamy paneer and fluffy naan breads. Yum!
The Details
See & Do: Plantation Garden, £2; The Cathedral of St John the Baptist, free; Norwich Lanes.
Eat: Logan’s, from £3.05; Saporita, from £5.50; Cafe Gelato; Namaste Village, from £11.95.
Stay: All Hallows Guesthouse, 2 nights from £170 for 2 people.
Norwich Cathedral is one of the city’s architectural icons
Begin day two with a morning stroll to Norwich’s Cathedral Quarter- it’s just a 10-minute walk from your accommodation along King Street. And you can use the cathedral’s spire as your guide (it’s the second tallest in England)!
Norwich Cathedral is free to enter and offers free 1-hour guided tours at intervals across the day- you don’t even need to book in advance. This impressive Romanesque building has over 900 years of history to explore- it was built by the Normans (just like Norwich Castle) and boasts the largest monastic cloister in the country. Make sure to look up at the intricately carved roof bosses! We suggest a couple of hours to take in this architectural icon at your own pace- from the Nave to the font to the windows, there are so many hidden details to discover.
And before you leave, a light lunch in the Cathedral’s Refectory Cafe never goes amiss! Think flaky sausage rolls and freshly roasted coffee. This bright and airy space is a calming spot to enjoy views of Cathedral Close. Speaking of Cathedral Close, here you can make a pitstop at our Paddington bench for a photo op for your scrapbook!
Elm Hill is picture perfect and our most complete medieval street
Once the marketplace of Anglo-Saxon Norvic, Tombland (meaning ‘open space’) is Norwich’s historic heart. From the oldest hotel in the country, the Maids Head, to our most complete medieval street, Elm Hill. This cobbled street is straight out of a fairytale, home to independent galleries, craft shops and cafes!
One of the best ways to find out about our rich history is with a walking tour. Local guide Paul Dickson has so many to choose from, whether you want to learn more about Norwich in general, its pioneering women, or even our fantastic marketplace (from £9). This is one of our favourite ways to uncover the city’s secrets!
Heading towards St Andrews Street, past 14th century church St Peter Hungate and the flint walls of St Andrews and Blackfriars Hall, you’ll see East Gallery on the corner of Bridewell Alley. As part of Norwich University of the Arts, this gallery (free entry) is a great space to see thought-provoking exhibitions by local, national and international creatives!
One of our favourite fish and chip shops? Grosvenor Fish Bar!
To end the day, we suggest returning to The Lanes for a spot of fish and chips. This is where you’ll find Grosvenor Fish Bar. As one of the most popular in the city, it’s not uncommon to see a queue snaking down Pottergate. And they’ve recently celebrated their 100th birthday, so it’s safe to say you’ll leave feeling satisfied, especially when classics like cod and haddock rub shoulders with Bass with Sass, Loony Toony and Clamity Jane. Are you tempted yet?
The Details
See & Do: Norwich Cathedral, free; Paddington; Paul Dickson Tours, from £9; Elm Hill; East Gallery, free.
Shop: Jarrolds, award-winning independent department store; The Royal Arcade; Søstrene Grene.
Eat: Grosvenor Fish Bar, chip butty £2.50, fish cake £1.50; Refectory Cafe.
The Museum of Norwich is a fascinating insight into the city’s social history
Before heading home, it would be wrong not to make the most of your final morning here in Norwich!
The best place to find out more about the people of our fine city is at the Museum of Norwich (adults £8.20, children £6.90). Tucked along Bridewell Alley, this fascinating museum tells all about Norwich’s social and industrial side. From intricately designed textiles to handcrafted shoes and the all-important Caley’s Chocolate and Colman’s Mustard, there are so many local stories to explore here. And if you’re visiting as an adult with family or an hour before closing, you can enter at a discounted price (£7.30 and £2.50 respectively).
Head towards Norwich Market for lunch or a midday snack. Whatever your tastes, chances are you’ll find something delicious to tuck into- whether it’s Spanish albondigas, a New York-style sandwich or Chilean empanadas. Plus, you can eat with views of Norwich Castle- it doesn’t get much better than that!
Don’t miss out on lunch at Norwich Market
Just north of Norwich Market, along Bethel Street, is the South Asia Collection. This free-to-visit museum is home to an amazing collection of South Asian crafts from countries like Pakistan and India. You can explore displays of woodcarving, metalwork and more, as well as treat yourself to a souvenir at their Country and Eastern shop. Fun fact: this building used to be a roller-skating rink- just remember to look up!
And if you’re looking for more breathtaking architecture. Make a beeline for Marble Hall on Surrey Street (free entry, an 8-minute walk). Designed by Norwich architect George Skipper (who also designed the beautiful Art Nouveau Royal Arcade), it’s now home to Aviva. As one of the Norwich 12 heritage buildings, it’s well worth a look thanks to its Palladian exterior and an interior crafted from marble originally intended for Westminster Cathedral!
The Details
See & Do: Museum of Norwich, adults £8.20; South Asia Collection, free; Marble Hall, free.
Shop: Country and Eastern
Eat: Norwich Market
From the South Asia Collection (pictured) to Norwich Castle and the Sainsbury Centre, Norwich is a culturally rich city break
If you’re lucky enough to be staying a little longer in the City of Stories, there’s always something else to take note of!
You’ll find the Sainsbury Centre at the University of East Anglia- it’s easily accessible via the 25, 25a and 26 buses from the middle of Norwich. This innovative art museum is home to art spanning 5000 years, all the way from Mesoamerica to modern day Britain. (You can even hug a Henry Moore- yes, really!) To enter, pay what you can or visit their outdoor Sculpture Park for free!
Staying during the summer? You might notice a series of artfully designed animals across the city. This is Break’s GoGoSafari sculpture trail– and one you can follow for free! There are 50 rhinos, lions, giraffes, gorillas and elephants to spot, as well as Mini Gs in shop windows. This is one for the families and creatives among us.
And if you’ve a car, we suggest a family outing to Redwings Horse Sanctuary (free), just a 30-minute drive away outside the charming market town of Aylsham. This horse sanctuary is home to over 70 horses, ponies and donkeys. You can meet these beautiful creatures face to face, before a short stroll around their thriving wildlife lakes.
