Norwich

Norwich, a two-cathedral city, is the capital city of the English county of Norfolk, within the larger region of East Anglia. It lies some 185 km (115 miles) north-north-east of London, with the A11 linking the two cities, and is a convenient base for exploring the Broads, the North Norfolk Coast, along with the whole county of Norfolk.

Norwich has a population of about 125,000. At over 800 years old, it was one of the main cities of medieval England, and retains a significant heritage of medieval buildings. In the 1960s, it became a university city with the foundation of the University of East Anglia (UEA), which has helped the flourishing of local culture. This was further enhanced n 2013 when Norwich's second university, Norwich University of the Arts (NUA) was established from the much older College of Art and Design.

• Norwich Cathedral, 65 The Close, NR1 4DH. The 900-year old Norman cathedral church. Don't miss 'old As I Am', a grinning skeleton on the south aisle wall.
• Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery. 'Pop in for a pound' in the last hour of opening.
• Dragon Hall. Restored trading hall from medieval era, unique in England. Guided tours available once or twice a month.
• Many fine medieval churches including St John Maddermarket, St Peter Mancroft by the Forum, St Stephens, all of which are usually open
• The Forum. A landmark building opened in 2001, architecturally dynamic, housing one of the best public libraries in the UK, BBC East, arts and information centre along with the large and popular Cafe Bar Marzano and a branch of the pizza chain Pizza Express. There are regularly changing events and exhibitions that are almost always free.
• Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts. Located on the campus of the University of East Anglia (UEA) - well worth the visit, lovely building and an underground section with changing exhibitions in art, ceramics, textiles...creative and imaginative. It was designed by Norman Foster and it is an example of an early work of his in the 1970s. Housed in the building is a permanent exhibition of the Sainsbury supermarket family pottery and sculpture with a lot of rare Chinese and tribal stuff - worth spending at least half a day there.
• Cow Tower, Cotman Fields, off Bishopgate, Norwich, NR1 4AA. A fortified gun tower built between 1398 and 1399; inside not open to public. Free.
• John Jarrold Printing Museum, Whitefriars, Norwich, NR3 1SH (Adjacent to Saint James Mill., +44 1603 677183 (only when museum open). W 09:30-12:30. Small printing museum.
• The Great Hospital, Bishopgate, Norwich, NR1 4EL, +44 1603 622022. 10:00 (only visit on monthly tour). Built in the 1200's the site is an Almshouse for the citizens of Norwich. It is open to visitors only once a month with tours that must be booked in advance and start at 10:00. £10 (incl. tea/coffee & biscuits).
• The Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Cathedral House, Unthank Rd, Norwich, NR2 2PA, +44 1603 624615. Daily 07:30-18:30. Tower tours Saturdays from early May-late Sept (tel:+44 1603 724381 email:heritage@sjbcathedral.org.uk, age and height limits apply)
• City of Norwich Aviation Museum, Old Norwich Road, Horsham St. Faith, Norwich, NR10 3JF, +44 1603 893080. Closed Mondays; opening hours vary between winter and summer, see website. Houses a collection of 19 military and civil aircraft, plus aircraft engines and other artifacts Adult £4.50; concession £4.00, children £2.30.

If you want some peace and tranquility in the middle of the city, "the plantation " is a small nicely formed private garden. Walking downhill from the Roman Catholic Cathedral (not the Church Of England one) the gardens are on the left between the two parts of the Beeches Hotel. If there is no one there pop your £2 in the box and enjoy.

Norwich Cathedral, 65 The Close, NR1 4DH. The 900-year old Norman cathedral church. Don't miss 'old As I Am', a grinning skeleton on the south aisle wall.

Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery. 'Pop in for a pound' in the last hour of opening.

Dragon Hall. Restored trading hall from medieval era, unique in England. Guided tours available once or twice a month.

The Forum. A landmark building opened in 2001, architecturally dynamic, housing one of the best public libraries in the UK, BBC East, arts and information centre along with the large and popular Cafe Bar Marzano and a branch of the pizza chain Pizza Express. There are regularly changing events and exhibitions that are almost always free.

Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts. Located on the campus of the University of East Anglia (UEA) - well worth the visit, lovely building and an underground section with changing exhibitions in art, ceramics, textiles...creative and imaginative. It was designed by Norman Foster and it is an example of an early work of his in the 1970s. Housed in the building is a permanent exhibition of the Sainsbury supermarket family pottery and sculpture with a lot of rare Chinese and tribal stuff - worth spending at least half a day there.

Cow Tower, Cotman Fields, off Bishopgate, Norwich, NR1 4AA. A fortified gun tower built between 1398 and 1399; inside not open to public. Free.

John Jarrold Printing Museum, Whitefriars, Norwich, NR3 1SH (Adjacent to Saint James Mill., +44 1603 677183 (only when museum open). W 09:30-12:30. Small printing museum.

The Great Hospital, Bishopgate, Norwich, NR1 4EL, +44 1603 622022. 10:00 (only visit on monthly tour). Built in the 1200's the site is an Almshouse for the citizens of Norwich. It is open to visitors only once a month with tours that must be booked in advance and start at 10:00. £10 (incl. tea/coffee & biscuits).

The Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Cathedral House, Unthank Rd, Norwich, NR2 2PA, +44 1603 624615. Daily 07:30-18:30. Tower tours Saturdays from early May-late Sept (tel:+44 1603 724381 email:heritage@sjbcathedral.org.uk, age and height limits apply)

City of Norwich Aviation Museum, Old Norwich Road, Horsham St. Faith, Norwich, NR10 3JF, +44 1603 893080. Closed Mondays; opening hours vary between winter and summer, see website. Houses a collection of 19 military and civil aircraft, plus aircraft engines and other artifacts Adult £4.50; concession £4.00, children £2.30.

• Norwich is the key site for the Norfolk and Norwich Festival held every year in the month of May.
• Watch football ie soccer at Norwich City FC. They were promoted in 2019 and now play in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. Their home ground (capacity 27,000) is Carrow Road NR1 1JE, half a mile south of the railway station.
• Crystal Seas, 62 Whiffler Rd, Norwich, NR3 2AY, +44 1603 485000. PADI & SSI courses, dive centre, dive trips and shop.
• SportsPark, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, +44 1603 592398. Swimming pool, gym, climbing wall, martial arts, squash, etc.
• The Halls, St Andrews Plan, Norwich, NR3 1AU, +44 1603 628477. Originally a Friary complex.
• Eaton Golf Club, Newmarket Road, Norwich, NR4 6SF, +44 1603 451686.
• Norwich Arts Centre, 51 St. Benedict’s Street, Norwich, NR2 4PG, +44 01603 660352. Music and comedy venue housed in a 15th century, former church. A small venue, yet it has hosted well known bands such as Nirvana, Oasis, The Stone Roses, Manic Street Preachers, The Libertines and Coldplay.
• Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA Beer Festival. Held every October in The Halls (see listing above).

• Norwich Theatre Royal, Theatre St, NR2 1RL, +44 1603 630000.
• Maddermarket Theatre, St. John's Alley, NR2 1DR, +44 1603 626560.
• Norwich Puppet Theatre, +44 1603 629921.

Norwich Theatre Royal, Theatre St, NR2 1RL, +44 1603 630000.

Maddermarket Theatre, St. John's Alley, NR2 1DR, +44 1603 626560.

Norwich Puppet Theatre, +44 1603 629921.

Norwich also hosts some fine parks and gardens. Many of these parks were built in the early 20th century, as a form of unemployment relief:

• Eaton Park. one of the city's finest green spaces, lying west of the city.
• Catton Park. a nationally important green space located to the north of the city.
• Waterloo Park. an 18 acre park with a wide range of facilities located north of the city centre.

Eaton Park. one of the city's finest green spaces, lying west of the city.

Catton Park. a nationally important green space located to the north of the city.

Waterloo Park. an 18 acre park with a wide range of facilities located north of the city centre.

Norwich is the key site for the Norfolk and Norwich Festival held every year in the month of May.

Watch football ie soccer at Norwich City FC. They were promoted in 2019 and now play in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. Their home ground (capacity 27,000) is Carrow Road NR1 1JE, half a mile south of the railway station.

Crystal Seas, 62 Whiffler Rd, Norwich, NR3 2AY, +44 1603 485000. PADI & SSI courses, dive centre, dive trips and shop.

SportsPark, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, +44 1603 592398. Swimming pool, gym, climbing wall, martial arts, squash, etc.

The Halls, St Andrews Plan, Norwich, NR3 1AU, +44 1603 628477. Originally a Friary complex.

Eaton Golf Club, Newmarket Road, Norwich, NR4 6SF, +44 1603 451686.

Norwich Arts Centre, 51 St. Benedict’s Street, Norwich, NR2 4PG, +44 01603 660352. Music and comedy venue housed in a 15th century, former church. A small venue, yet it has hosted well known bands such as Nirvana, Oasis, The Stone Roses, Manic Street Preachers, The Libertines and Coldplay.

Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA Beer Festival. Held every October in The Halls (see listing above).

Norwich punches above its weight in retail terms and is regarded as one of Britain's major regional shopping centres. The Castle Mall shopping mall was joined in 2005 by a major new city-centre development, the Chapelfield mall, on the site of a former chocolate factory. It has a big "Cigar entwined in a wire frame" sculpture on top to serve as a visible landmark.

Other than the shopping centres there is a big John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, Debenhams and local department store Jarrolds. This particular store is unusual in that it is still locally owned and gives 25% of its profits to the John Jarrold Trust - a charity that grant aids worthy causes. London Street is nearby and was England's first pedestrianised street. A wide range of independent specialist stores is concentrated around the Upper Goat Lane/Pottergate/St. Benedict's area of the city centre. This area is known as the Norwich Lanes.

One street not to miss is Elm Hill. It's a medieval cobbled street near Norwich Cathedral that backs onto the River Wensum and is renowned for its antiques and tea shops. These include the Britons Arms, an excellent coffee house and restaurant in a delightful thatched building dating from 1420.

That leaves us with the market! Apparently the largest permanent outdoor market in Europe, and one of the finest city markets in the UK. Its roofs are a riot of primary colours. The market is home to over 150 stalls with an ever increasing variety of street food options and an ever changing series of pop up stalls. It was designed by the same architect as the Castle Mall, Michael Innes.

Just outside the city centre are a number of shops worth a look. Upper St Giles is home to a number of independent shops, restaurants and delicatessens. Over the bridge and down Earlham Road towards the University of East Anglia (UEA) is a fine independent organic and local food shop called the Green Grocers. You will find a good range of locally sourced food as well as catering for vegetarian and vegans. They have a Farmers' Market outside the shop every second Sunday of the month.

Restaurants in Norwich are getting better.

• Malaysian Delights, 11-15 Timber Hill, NR1 3JZ. A Malaysian buffet. The food is good but rather toned down for the average British palate. It has a reasonable range for lunch and a bigger range for dinner. The best thing though is that you can eat as much as you want for £5.50 for lunch and £9.99 for dinner.
• There is a range of Chinese restaurants in the city. Mainly they seem to be run by one family under the banner of Lucky Star. They run two well-priced 'all-you-can-eat' buffets (Riverside and above a car park at the top of St Stephens Street). They are all much of a muchness but Riverside is the most popular and therefore busiest. There are some others (mainly of Prince of Wales Road).
• Near the market, between Gentlemans Walk and Rampant Horse Street is a small Lebanese restaurant that does excellent lunchtime falafels or evening meals.

There seem to be loads of Thai restaurants in Norwich. Not sure why it has more than its fair share but since most of them are good we shouldn’t complain. The best are Silk Thai and Lam Thai.

• Thai Kitti, 4 Opie St, Norwich, NR1 3DN, +44 1603 766755. M-Su 11:00-15:00 & 17:00-22:30. Restaurant and takeaway
• Thai Silk, 17 St. Benedicts Street, +44 1603 666223. This Thai restaurant seems to always be quiet. Very well decorated with lovely fixtures and fittings. It has a good range of food and but is slightly more expensive than Sugar Hut.
• Lam Thai, 131 Magdalen Street, NR3 1NF (Slightly out of city centre, +44 1603 622884. Although not cheap, the quality of food is very good.
• Giggling Squid, 24 Tombland, Norwich, NR3 1RF, +44 1603 667 341. M-Th 12:00-22:00. F-Sa 12:00 - 22:30. Su 12:00-21:30. Thai food

Indian restaurants in Norwich have, over the past decade or so, been engaged in a fierce price war which has seen menu prices stay low - sometimes, it has to be said, at the expense of quality.

• There are several other Indian restaurants on Magdalene Street, including Ali Tandoori, Spice Lounge just down the road on Wensum Street, a good place on St Benedict’s called Bengal Spice and just to the west of the inner ring road there is City Spice located on Dereham Road.

The standard Cafe Uno, Pizza Express etc. are all present but are of a fairly chain restaurant standard so go if you want but there are some better choices. Zizzis in Tomblands is nicer than average with a traditional big wood burning oven so they do some nice flavoured pizzas and baked pastas. The best value for money is probably Figaro's. Pizzas around £6-£7 and generous toppings and some very good calzone.

Two worth trying are Pedro’s (Mexican)in Chapelfield gardens and Mambo Jambo’s. Pedro’s is more about the quantity than the quality, but it's still a good restaurant. Mambo Jambo’s on the other hand is great. Don’t go expecting great food but you get loads of it. It also has a cheap bar and is always full of groups of friends, work parties and birthday parties. This may be because for a reasonably price you get loads of drinks and huge portions of food.

• Belgian Monk, 7 Pottergate, NR2 1DS (in the city centre, +44 1603 767222. M-Sa 12:00-23:00. fantastic for mussels and does very good food at reasonable prices. They also do a variety of different beers: cherry beer is definitely worth a try.

If you enjoy pub fare, there is an excellent location on Ipswich Road in the South end of the city. The Marsh Harrier will fill you to the brim. For a quintessential dinner of fish and chips, the Marsh Harrier cannot be beat, with their "whale of a fish". Selection of beer was also excellent. Staff is courteous and service is excellent. The Golden Triangle area to the west of the city centre has more than its fair share of pubs serving good quality food, probably in no small part to the large student population of the areas. The Unthank Arms and The Mad Moose serve good quality though not inexpensive food, whilst the likes of The Belle Vue and The Garden House sell decent pub fare.

For vegetarian restaurants try The Greenhouse, an environmentally friendly cafe and shop on Bethel Street or Pulse on Guildhall Hill. Also on Guildhall Hill is The Waffle House, a daytime and late-opening classy, but low priced, waffle emporium, offering a variety of sweet and savoury Belgian waffles. Some are vegetarian, some not, but the produce used is almost all organic. There's great coffee there too, and the service is generally quick.

• Italia Nostra, 52 St Giles Street, +44 1603 617199. 17:00 - 22:00. Italian restaurant.
• Benoli, 5, Orford Street, NR1 3LE, +44 1603 633056. 12pm-10pm Wednesday - Saturday; 12pm-4.30pm Sunday. Independently owned Italian restauran owned by chef patron Oliver Boon, a former ‘Masterchef Professionals’ finalist & previously head chef at the prestigious The Landau restaurant in London, run by Albert & Michel Roux Jnr. Private dining room for exclusive parties of up to 8 people.

Malaysian Delights, 11-15 Timber Hill, NR1 3JZ. A Malaysian buffet. The food is good but rather toned down for the average British palate. It has a reasonable range for lunch and a bigger range for dinner. The best thing though is that you can eat as much as you want for £5.50 for lunch and £9.99 for dinner.

There is a range of Chinese restaurants in the city. Mainly they seem to be run by one family under the banner of Lucky Star. They run two well-priced 'all-you-can-eat' buffets (Riverside and above a car park at the top of St Stephens Street). They are all much of a muchness but Riverside is the most popular and therefore busiest. There are some others (mainly of Prince of Wales Road).

Thai Kitti, 4 Opie St, Norwich, NR1 3DN, +44 1603 766755. M-Su 11:00-15:00 & 17:00-22:30. Restaurant and takeaway

Thai Silk, 17 St. Benedicts Street, +44 1603 666223. This Thai restaurant seems to always be quiet. Very well decorated with lovely fixtures and fittings. It has a good range of food and but is slightly more expensive than Sugar Hut.

Lam Thai, 131 Magdalen Street, NR3 1NF (Slightly out of city centre, +44 1603 622884. Although not cheap, the quality of food is very good.

Giggling Squid, 24 Tombland, Norwich, NR3 1RF, +44 1603 667 341. M-Th 12:00-22:00. F-Sa 12:00 - 22:30. Su 12:00-21:30. Thai food

There are several other Indian restaurants on Magdalene Street, including Ali Tandoori, Spice Lounge just down the road on Wensum Street, a good place on St Benedict’s called Bengal Spice and just to the west of the inner ring road there is City Spice located on Dereham Road.

Belgian Monk, 7 Pottergate, NR2 1DS (in the city centre, +44 1603 767222. M-Sa 12:00-23:00. fantastic for mussels and does very good food at reasonable prices. They also do a variety of different beers: cherry beer is definitely worth a try.

Italia Nostra, 52 St Giles Street, +44 1603 617199. 17:00 - 22:00. Italian restaurant.

Benoli, 5, Orford Street, NR1 3LE, +44 1603 633056. 12pm-10pm Wednesday - Saturday; 12pm-4.30pm Sunday. Independently owned Italian restauran owned by chef patron Oliver Boon, a former ‘Masterchef Professionals’ finalist & previously head chef at the prestigious The Landau restaurant in London, run by Albert & Michel Roux Jnr. Private dining room for exclusive parties of up to 8 people.

Norwich was once famous for having a church for every week in the year, and a pub for every day of the year. It had the highest number of pubs per square mile in the UK.

For real ale enthusiasts, Norwich is home to the multi award-winning Fat Cat, a real ale paradise serving over 25 ales, and the only pub in the UK to twice win the prestigious CAMRA National Pub of the Year. Other popular real ale pubs in the city centre include The Coach & Horses and the historic Adam & Eve. North of the city are the King's Head in Magdalen Street, the Shed (with Fat Cat Brewery), and the Duke of Wellington, all real ale pubs with an extensive selection of ales and some cider.

There is a major beer festival, organised by the local branch of CAMRA, held every year in St Andrews Hall. Beware that it gets extremely crowded though.

The local real ale of choice is Woodforde's Wherry. Woodfordes also brew Nelson's Revenge among others. Also popular in pubs around the area are the two popular Adnams ales, The Bitter and Broadside, brewed in the Suffolk coastal town of Southwold.

• The Bicycle Shop, 17 St Benedicts Street, Norwich, NR2 4PE, +44 1603 625777. 10:00 - midnight. A lovely new addition is The Bicycle Shop bar/restaurant. Great for lunch or a drink in its downstairs bar. Good wines and local beers.
• Frank's Bar, 19 Bedford Street, Norwich, +44 1603 618902. Tu-Th 09:00-00:00, F & Sa 09:00-02:30, Su 10:00-23:30. Cafe-bar in central Norwich filled with good food, top drinks, marvellous music and general chilled-outness. You can enjoy Frank’s Bar in a range of different ways, whether it be with a coffee, glass of wine, tasty meal or nibbles. Sunday’s are special as well with a fantastic Sunday Breakfast menu (served from 11.00 – 6.00) and a classic afternoon film (screened in the back room) along with the usual selection of great coffee, good papers to peruse and general loveliness.

The Bicycle Shop, 17 St Benedicts Street, Norwich, NR2 4PE, +44 1603 625777. 10:00 - midnight. A lovely new addition is The Bicycle Shop bar/restaurant. Great for lunch or a drink in its downstairs bar. Good wines and local beers.

Frank's Bar, 19 Bedford Street, Norwich, +44 1603 618902. Tu-Th 09:00-00:00, F & Sa 09:00-02:30, Su 10:00-23:30. Cafe-bar in central Norwich filled with good food, top drinks, marvellous music and general chilled-outness. You can enjoy Frank’s Bar in a range of different ways, whether it be with a coffee, glass of wine, tasty meal or nibbles. Sunday’s are special as well with a fantastic Sunday Breakfast menu (served from 11.00 – 6.00) and a classic afternoon film (screened in the back room) along with the usual selection of great coffee, good papers to peruse and general loveliness.

Although Norwich is generally a safe city to visit, caution should be taken when wandering the city centre at night. Use common sense and avoid back streets; staying in groups is always a good idea. Areas to avoid during the night would be Anglia Square and Eaton Park, although there is not much to do there at night. Prince of Wales road has lots of bars and clubs, so it can get rather busy there in the evening.

• Nearest Accident & Emergency: Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UY. 24/7.
• Norwich Walk-In Centre, Rouen House, Rouen Road, Norwich, NR1 1RB. 7am-9pm.

Nearest Accident & Emergency: Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UY. 24/7.

Norwich Walk-In Centre, Rouen House, Rouen Road, Norwich, NR1 1RB. 7am-9pm.

Although Norwich is a comparatively small city by international standards, there is still plenty to do.

• The main attraction beyond Norwich is the Broads, a network of mostly navigable rivers, lakes and marshes famed for its scenic beauty. Visitors can either take a stroll along the network of footpaths along the Broads or rent a small cruiser or sail-boat.
• Great Yarmouth
• Aylsham
• Long Stratton
• Dereham