The Best Indoor Activities in Norwich
25 February 2026
The Best Indoor Activities in Norwich
by Katie Thompson
East Anglia may be the driest part of the country, but here in the UK it’s good to have a reliable list of indoor activities saved for a rainy day whatever the time of year. And this goes for friends, couples and solo travellers as well as families.
So, we won’t let a little bit of rain stop us! As you’re visiting Norwich, you can still expect to get your culture fix. We’ve got wet weather favourites like bowling and crazy golf, rich history to relive in our many museums, and one-of-a-kind attractions for trips into Norfolk.
Check out our favourite indoor activities below!
Museums Packed with Local History
Get to know the city, its industries and its people at the Museum of Norwich
With a history as rich as Norwich’s, it’s no surprise that our fine city streets are dotted with fantastic museums.
At Strangers’ Hall (adults from £7.10, children from £6.20, open seasonally Wednesday & Sunday, 10am – 4pm), one of the city’s oldest buildings, you can follow in the footsteps of Norwich natives, from the 14th century to Victorian times. Meanwhile, the Museum of Norwich ((adults from £8.20, children from £6.90, Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 4.30pm) is all about the city’s people and industries. Chances are you’ve visited a pub named for a local figure- well, this is where you can learn about the likes of Rumsey Wells and Parson Woodford. Our top tip: open every drawer to see some of the museum’s most special items!
Looking out across the city: Norwich Castle (adults from £15.30, children from £13.05, twilight tickets 1 hour before close £2.50, open daily, 10am – 5pm). Our iconic Norman keep is a royal palace reborn. Following a £27.5 million redevelopment, it’s now the UK’s most accessible castle, with reinstated floors, authentically designed furniture, panoramic battlement views and a Gallery of Medieval Life with almost 1000 artefacts! Plus, the former Victorian prison is still home to historic displays and leading exhibitions. Think Romans and Egyptians, natural history and contemporary art- there’s something to capture every imagination!
And while it may not be a museum, The Shoebox Experience’s Hidden Street Tour (adults £16.50, children £8.50) is another unique way of experiencing Norwich’s past. We don’t want to give away all the details, but this fascinating tour takes you beneath Castle Meadow to discover Norwich before it became the city we recognise today.
Architectural Cultural Spaces
Remember to look up at The South Asia Collection!
When it’s raining outside, you appreciate the buildings you’re in that little bit more. And when these architectural gems are also Norwich’s key cultural attractions, even better.
The Sainsbury Centre (Tuesday – Sunday, pay if and what you can) is an innovative art museum in a futuristic Norman Foster-designed building (so much so, it has a starring role as Avengers HQ in the Marvel Universe). Alongside forward-thinking exhibitions, the museum’s permanent Living Area juxtaposes pieces across different cultures and periods. For the younger ones, there are trails available from the main desk as well as bookable workshops for hands-on and multi-sensory experiences.
In the city centre, The South Asia Collection (Monday – Saturday, 9.30am – 5pm, FREE) conserves, promotes and records South Asian culture and crafts from countries including Afghanistan, Myanmar and Indonesia. The collection includes over 8,500 artworks and objects. And when you enter, look up! This beautiful building was originally a Victorian roller-skating rink and boasts a breathtaking carved wooden ceiling.
Norwich is home to two cathedrals, both free to enter. The Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist is a fine example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture, thanks to its grand columns, imposing facade and intricate stained-glass windows. Meanwhile, Romanesque Norwich Cathedral is another 900-year-old Norman icon. Its spire is the second tallest in the country and its monastic cloisters the largest- the vaulted ceiling is simply stunning. If you have children with you, remember to borrow a free Explorer Backpack to uncover the cathedral’s secrets! Both cathedrals offer tasty treats in their cafes, meaning you can take your time and really appreciate your surroundings.
Lively Leisure Activities
You can’t go wrong with a bit of bowling- especially when there’s tasty food and karaoke involved!
Nothing beats a little friendly competition. Luckily, we’ve got great leisure and entertainment venues to make you forget the weather outside.
At Bowling House, you’ll find five lanes of funky, retro-style bowling. The lanes are slightly shorter than usual but that makes it a level playing field- anyone can win! Games are available from £7pp or you can go all in with one of Bowling House’s tempting packages and tuck into their delicious sharing plates! A quick mention goes to their karaoke booths and all-new dart boards, too.
Castle Quarter is more than just a shopping centre, it’s also home to a variety of entertainment (including that all-important rainy-day activity: the cinema). Head to Retro Replay for nostalgic arcade games like Pac Man and Space Invaders or to Arrowheadz to hone your darts skills. For the little ones there’s Crazy Club indoor play and Escape Hunt for groups to test their teamwork! (Or if rainy-day shopping is more your thing, then Castle Quarter and Chantry Place should be your go-to.)
And for the little ones, Labyrinth offers a play cafe for weekdays (10am – 2pm). Think timber frames, soft play, role play and a cosy movie shed. Then at the weekend, it’s all about laser tag. In Labyrinth’s neon seaside carnival-themed ‘arena’, families can see who comes out on top (£10pp for 45 minutes) before rewarding yourselves with a slice of stone baked pizza!
For an evening of indoor excitement, try Mulligans (open daily). Take games night to the next level with rebound shuffleboard, electrodarts and an 18-hole course of pop culture-themed crazy golf! Before 8.45pm, it’s also a great place to take the family, especially with tweens and teens. Or at Slice + Dice, it’s all about board games (open daily). Tuck into delicious vegan food while you try your hand at familiar favourites or get strategic with something new!
And for cat-themed fun, look no further than The Cat House (Wednesday – Sunday, sessions from £10)! Here, you can easily while away an hour playing with these friendly felines in their cosy lounge (there’s a sunny patio for drier days!). Tuck into a slice of cake while you enjoy a cat-themed board game, workshop or wellness event. Sounds purr-fect to us!
If it’s sports you’re interested in, have you tried padel? At Court de Padel, grab a group of friends and test your skills on one of their 8 super panoramic courts (single courts from £16, double courts from £32 for 1 hour). While at Pace Padel, you can make the most of their super high ceilings for longer rallies and energetic competition (courts from £35 for 1 hour). Then unwind at The Lions’ Den City, taking in rooftop views of our fine city from the warmth of their relaxing indoor community sauna (from £11 for 30 minutes).
Days Out in Norfolk
Try at bug-handling experience at The Bug Parc
If you’re staying in Norwich a bit longer, not even the weather should stop you exploring all that Norfolk has to offer!
The Bug Parc is an award-winning attraction that’s only 12 miles from Norwich city centre. Open all year round (Wednesday – Sunday & Monday – Sunday during school holidays, 10am – 4pm, adults £13.95, children £11.95, under 3s FREE), this totally unique bug zoo educates and entertains wildlife enthusiasts of all ages. With 3 tropical houses housing 15 different bug zones, here you can discover over 200 species of minibeasts! Come face to face with invertebrates, arachnids and ants- you can even book a bug-handling experience (£2pp) that’ll (quite literally) put millipedes and more in the palm of your hand.
At the heart of the Broads National Park, Wroxham Miniature Worlds– the UK’s largest indoor modelling attraction- will immerse you in a myriad of fascinating (and tiny!) displays (Thursday – Sunday & Monday – Sunday during school holidays, from 10am, adults £13.95, children £10.95). From scenic layouts of the British countryside and European and Japanese railways to exciting slot cars, LEGO, dolls, knitting, retro arcade games and vintage toys, this is one to thrill adults and children alike!
Closer to the coast (a 50-minute drive from Norwich), Thursford’s Steam Museum (April – October, Sunday – Wednesday, from £8, under 12s FREE) houses the world’s largest collection of steam engines and organs. Whilst you’re here, listen to the mighty Wurlitzer (boasting 1339 pipes!), explore Thursford’s Showman engine and take a ride on original vintage fairground rides (£3pp)! This attraction is exciting to all ages and absolutely one of the best for putting a smile on your face!
