A Norman cathedral and castle, a medieval street of timber houses and the Norfolk Broads on the doorstep: Norwich is one of England’s best-kept secrets.
For much of the Middle Ages, Norwich was one of the largest and richest cities in England, second only to London. Its wealth came from wool and cloth, and it built a great cathedral, a castle and dozens of churches. It is often said to have more medieval churches than any other city in northern Europe.
Today Norwich is a lively, friendly city with a beautiful historic centre, a famous market and a strong independent spirit. It is the gateway to the Norfolk Broads and the Norfolk coast. This guide covers six things to see and do, and how to get there.
1. Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral is one of the finest Norman cathedrals in Europe. It was begun in 1096 and built of stone brought by boat from Normandy. Its tall spire, added in the fifteenth century, is the second tallest in England after Salisbury.
The cathedral has the largest monastic cloisters in England, a peaceful square of arched walkways around a green. Look up at the roof of the cloisters and the nave to see more than a thousand carved and painted stone bosses, showing scenes from the Bible. They are among the finest in the world.
Peregrine falcons nest on the spire each spring, and there is often a viewing point where you can watch them. Outside the east end of the cathedral is the grave of Edith Cavell, the Norfolk born nurse who was executed in the First World War for helping Allied soldiers escape. It is a place of quiet remembrance.
The cathedral close, with its old houses and gardens, is one of the largest in England. The cathedral is free to visit, with donations welcome. It holds services, concerts and events through the year.
2. Norwich Castle
Norwich Castle stands on a great mound in the centre of the city. It was built by the Normans, and its huge stone keep, built in the twelfth century, was a royal palace. For centuries it was used as a prison.
Today the castle is a museum and art gallery. The keep has been the subject of a major restoration to recreate the Norman palace as it would have looked, with its great hall and royal rooms. Check opening arrangements before you go.
The museum has collections of archaeology, natural history and art. Its art galleries have the finest collection of works by the Norwich School of painters, a group of nineteenth century artists including John Crome and John Sell Cotman, who painted the Norfolk landscape. The castle also tells the story of Boudica and the Iceni, the tribe who lived in Norfolk.
The views from the castle mound over the city are wonderful. The castle is a short walk from the market and the cathedral. Allow a couple of hours.
3. Elm Hill and the old city
Elm Hill is one of the prettiest streets in England, a cobbled lane lined with timber framed houses, most of them built after a great fire in 1507. It has independent shops, galleries and cafés. It is a lovely place to wander.
The streets around Elm Hill and Tombland, between the market and the cathedral, are full of history. Strangers’ Hall, a medieval merchant’s house, is a museum showing how people lived from Tudor to Victorian times. Dragon Hall, a medieval trading hall with a carved dragon in its roof, is nearby.
The Norwich Lanes, a network of streets in the city centre, are full of independent shops, cafés and restaurants. They are one of the best places to shop in the city. The Royal Arcade, an art nouveau arcade with beautiful tiles, is a gem.
Norwich’s many medieval churches are scattered all over the city, many of them now used as arts centres, shops or community spaces. Julian of Norwich, a medieval anchoress, wrote Revelations of Divine Love here, thought to be the first book in English written by a woman. A shrine marks the site of her cell.
4. Norwich Market
Norwich Market, in the heart of the city, has been trading for more than nine hundred years, and it is one of the largest and oldest open air markets in England. Its colourful striped roofs make it one of the most recognisable sights in the city. It has around two hundred stalls.
The market sells everything from fruit, vegetables and flowers to clothes, books and household goods. It is also one of the best places in the city to eat, with food stalls selling dishes from around the world. Locals and visitors crowd around the stalls at lunchtime.
Around the market stand some of the city’s most important buildings. City Hall, with its tall clock tower and bronze lions, was built in the 1930s. The Guildhall, a medieval building of flint, was the centre of the city’s government.
The Forum, a modern glass building on the edge of the market, houses the library and hosts events. The market is open most days of the week. It is a great place to feel the life of the city.
5. The Norfolk Broads
The Norfolk Broads, just east of Norwich, are a network of rivers and shallow lakes, the broads, that are a national park in all but name. They were formed by the flooding of medieval peat diggings. They are one of the most important wetlands in Britain.
The best way to see the Broads is by boat. You can hire a day boat, a canoe or a cabin cruiser for a holiday afloat, and there are boat trips from many villages. Gliding along the quiet rivers, past windmills and reed beds, is wonderfully relaxing.
Wroxham, about seven miles north east of Norwich, is known as the capital of the Broads, with boatyards, shops and cafés. Horsey, on the coast, has a windpump and a beach where grey seals gather in winter to have their pups. How Hill has nature trails and a traditional marshman’s cottage.
The Broads are home to rare birds, dragonflies and otters. BeWILDerwood, near Wroxham, is an adventure park for children in the woods. A car is the easiest way to reach the villages and boatyards.
6. The Norfolk coast and the Sainsbury Centre
The Norfolk coast, about an hour north of Norwich, is one of the most beautiful coastlines in England. Cromer is a traditional seaside town famous for its crabs, with a pier and cliffs. Holkham has one of the most beautiful beaches in Britain, backed by pine woods and dunes.
Blakeney Point is home to a large colony of seals, and boat trips from Blakeney and Morston take you to see them basking on the sand. The coast is rich in birdlife, with nature reserves along its length. Wells-next-the-Sea has a harbour, a beach with colourful huts and a steam railway.
Closer to the city, the Sainsbury Centre, on the campus of the University of East Anglia, is an art gallery in a striking building designed by Norman Foster. It has a remarkable collection of art from around the world, from ancient objects to works by Picasso, Bacon and Giacometti. The campus also has a lake and walks.
The royal estate at Sandringham, about an hour and a half from Norwich, is open to visitors for much of the year. A driver for the day makes it easy to explore the coast and the countryside of Norfolk, which is large and rural.
Getting there and getting around
Norwich station is a short walk from the city centre, with direct trains to London Liverpool Street in under two hours, and to Cambridge, Ely and the coast. The A11 links the city with Cambridge and the M11.
Norwich Airport is about three miles north of the city centre, with a small number of flights. Stansted Airport is about an hour and a half away by road. A car booked ahead is the easiest way to travel between Norwich and the airports, and to explore the Broads and the coast.
Ride with ZeroLanes. From your door, the station or the airport to anywhere in Norwich, at a price fixed before you confirm. Travelling between cities? Get a fixed price for the journey, or keep a car and driver for the day with hourly hire.