Nestled in the picturesque countryside of Norfolk, England, lies the charming city of Norwich. Norwich is a UNESCO City of Literature and one of only 20 in the world. And guess what – its my home town. Yes, it is where I was born, lived my teenage years, worked in the pubs and on the market and bought up my children. In fact I have lived most of my life in Norwich, until I sold up to pursue my love of travel. Â
This tucked away little City has a so much to offer; rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant cultural scene. Visiting Norwich is a delightful getaway for those wishing to explore the county of Norfolk or for a city break. Its a great base for a holiday or as the starting point for a motorhoming road trip in Norfolk.
So let me take you on a journey, exploring the best places to visit in Norwich and help you uncover the essence of this captivating city.
fast facts for visting norwich
Go
June, July and August for best weather.
Budget
Hotel - approx £100 pn.
CCC electric pitch - approx £45 for members
Passes
Norfolk Passport (free) for discounts and offers
Visit
Norwich Cathedral & Grounds, Norwich Castle & Art Gallery, Elm Hill & Tombland, Norwich Market, River Wensum Walk
Eat
Try Benedicts, Grosvsner Fish Bar, Bishops Wine Bar, Assembly House, Farmyard, Norwich Market, Donnellis Pizza
Festivals
Norwich Beer Festival, Norfolk Show, VW White Noise Festival, Norwich Film Festival
Getting to Norwich
By Road: Main roads into Norwich are good. Finally they finished making it dual carriage way all the way through on the A11! Take the M11/A14/A11 when approaching from north London or if approaching from London, the A12/A140. When coming from the Midlands, you will come on the A14 the main road from the North is the A47.
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By Plane: You can fly into Norwich International Airport from a few places in the UK – Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Manchester and Exeter. Jersey and Guernsey also fly into Norwich and there are daily flights from Amsterdam, which connect you to the rest of the world!
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By Train: Regular trains from London (every 30 minutes) will get you from Liverpool Street Station. Cambridge also serves Norwich with a train every hour. The Cambridge train continues into Stansted Airport, which makes it a handy travel link too. Peterborough has regular trains into Norwich and this connects the Midlands and the North.Â
Our Favourite Travel Booking Companies.
These are our useful links for our ‘Go To’ travel booking apps. These are the sites that we use all the time when backpacking or need to spend a few days out of the motorhome (visiting the children or repair work on the motorhome). The Trainline we use for all our train ticket needs in the UK. Booking.com we use for all our hotel, hostel and accommodation needs worldwide (this was a life saver in India!) and finally, Viator for our excursion adventures like walking tours or more specialist activities.Â
Our Visiting Norwich in 48 hours map
How to use our Map
Click on any of the icons in the map to view a pop up of what that is. The key I have used is:
- Green – Things to Do
- Blue – Great Food
- Red – Fab Pubs!
Your Visit to Norwich - Day 1
Morning
Begin your exploration of Norwich at the River Wensum, walking through the pub called the Compleat Angler and walk along the river to Pulls Ferry, a medieval water gate from the 15th century. This will lead you nicely up through Cathedral Close, with its historic buildings and tranquillity, towards the magnificent Norwich Cathedral. I actually graduated in Norwich Cathedral many moons ago. It really is a quite spectacular example of Romanesque architecture. The spire is the 2nd highest Cathedral Spire in the UK at 315ft. The amazing interior is breath-taking, and a guide can help bring it to life for you too
Turn right out of the Cathedral, walk past Prime, the best steak restaurant in Norwich, and then take a left to walk up the wonderful Elm Hill, the oldest street in Norwich, dating back to medieval times. Elm Hill is home to a host of quaint and tiny shops including . The Bear Shop, which used to have a teddy bear hospital, but they have stopped providing that service now, which is a real shame.Â
Stop in the middle of Elm Hill to eat at the Britons Arms. Built in 1347, it survived the fire which destroyed most of Elm Hill and much of Norwich too. The Britons Arms was first recorded as an ale house in 1760 and is now a cafe/restaurant serving delicious food.
Afternoon
Continue walking to Bridewell Alley, where you will find the Museum of Norwich. Norwich used to be the 2nd city of England, so has quite an extensive history and this museum takes you through many aspects of this fine cities history. Head towards the centre of Norwich now, just a 2 minute stroll away in London Street, down to the Royal Arcade, a beautifully designed Art Neuveau building built in 1899.
No visit to Norwich would be complete without checking out everything that Norwich Market has to offer, which is what will appear before you as you leave the arcade. The market has been on this site since the middle ages. It has stalls that have been there for generations – the flower stall on the corner has been there as long as I can remember. They have some great food options too.
Evening
As evening falls, head to the lively Norwich Lanes, a bustling area filled with independent shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars. There are some fabulous food places to try in this area and be sure to check out St Benedicts Street for lots of bar and pub life. St Benedicts is probably my favourite place to spend a relaxing chilled evening with a really good vibe.
Take some time to paddle through the city centre. You can do 'Pub, Paddle and Pizza' for a quirky evening out from 6pm in the summer months. A fun and different way to spend an evening.
Your visit to Norwich - Day 2
Morning
Start your second day in Norwich by exploring the tranquil Plantation Garden. It is frequently referred to as the ‘secret gardens’, probably because it is a Victorian marvel hidden amidst the urban landscape. (I used to live opposite it when I was 17 in a massive bedsit over the shops!) The transformation from old quarry to secret garden began in 1857 and is now full of intricate landscaping and historical features; a little patch of quiet in a bustling city. It could be the perfect way to shake off any cobwebs from the night before.
From here, walk back towards town, stopping at Norwich’s 2nd Cathedral, a grade I listed building, on the way. St John the Baptists Catholic Cathedral is of the Gothic Revival style and completed in 1910. Take the flyover into Upper St Giles, and head into the city centre for some retail therapy. All the usual high street shops can be found. The main shopping mall in Norwich and also The Forum are very close together and often have exhibitions or other activities happening as a bit of a hub within the city.
Stop at the Sir Garnet for a beer and get a scrummy pizza from Brick next door, which is one of the best pizza places in Norwich. Alternatively, peruse the many eateries in Norwich Market.
Afternoon
Visiting Norwich has to include taking a step back in time at Norwich Castle, an imposing Norman fortress which has been transformed into a museum. Discover the city’s rich history through its exhibits. They have plenty of extra events as well, so be sure to check what’s on before hand. Every school child in Norwich must have visited this place – and the fascination never disappears. Tickets are around £7.00 (depending on who you are) and can be booked online.Â
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Evening
End your day with a quintessential British experience—a pub crawl through some of Norwich’s finest drinking establishments. Norwich used to have a pub for every day of the year. I am sure my mum and dad tried most of them.
Start at Adam and Eve, the oldest pub in Norwich, where they sell good old fashioned pub grub. Walk down to the Wig and Pen, near the Cathedral, turn right to go to the Ribs of Beef, near the river and if you want one more – check out the Mischief. All of these are pubs that have been around for 30+ years.
If you want to top your night off with a curry, then I can highly recommend The Spice Lounge curry house.
Norwich offers a captivating blend of history, culture, and natural beauty that will leave a lasting impression on any visitor.
Whether you’re drawn to its awe-inspiring cathedrals, medieval streets, or vibrant cultural scene, visiting Norwich has something for everyone. Immerse yourself in the unique charm of Norwich and create another beautiful travel memory.
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