Things to do in Norwich

Kick off your trip with a foodie treat on your feet. Meet at The Forum where local cheese sommelier Cheryl Cade will guide you to several speciality cheesemongers to sample their local delicacies. This tour takes you through the famous Norwich Market, with its colourful striped canopy – home to over 180 retailers, selling everything from clothes and toys to books and pies. And plenty of cheese too, of course!

Climb up Castle Hill to reach Norwich Castle which, when it was completed in 1121, was one of medieval Europe’s most impressive royal palaces. Today it’s chock-full of treasures to discover: from an Ancient Egyptian mummy to Viking jewellery and Victorian death masks to wonderful art galleries. Explore five floors from basement to battlements in what is now the most accessible castle in the country. Discover the new Gallery of Medieval Life – a partnership with The British Museum with over 900 exhibits and the castle Keep as it was in medieval times. Discover a 360◦ rooftop view over Norwich on the battlements.

Serving fish and chips for more than 90 years, Grosvenor Fish Bar is steeped in history. You won’t miss it either, as it usually has a huge queue snaking out of its doors. Enjoy classics like battered cod, fishcakes and beef dripping-cooked chips, or Grosvenor-exclusive options like Six-quid Squid, Loony Toony (battered tuna), and Krusty Krab Po’Boy (soft-shell crab in a roll). One of the top foodie attractions in Norwich.

The Assembly House is Norwich’s Grade I Georgian House which Bridgerton fans will adore. A luxury 15 bedroomed boutique B&B in the heart of Norwich, this is the place to take afternoon tea after a morning of shopping and sightseeing. While ahead of an evening out, luxuriate in bubbles made in Norfolk in a beautiful rolltop bath, sipping a pre-dinner drink. Come morning tuck into a sumptuous locally sourced breakfast with all the trimmings!

Making the most of Norwich’s unique situation within a national park there’s no better way to be at one with nature than by the river Wensum. The Lions’ Den River is a fragrant sauna garden with two wood-fired river view saunas and cold baths for your mood-boosting endorphins and dopamine ‘high’. Complete your experience with a steaming coffee or hot chocolate under their stretch tent café next door.

Breakfast at The Waffle House provides sustenance for your day ahead – with a side of fun. Choose from waffles topped with streaky bacon and maple syrup, cinnamon-spiced granola or cheesy beans – and more. Its dessert waffles are oh-so sweet, featuring Belgian chocolate mousse, fruit salad and cherry Bakewell. 

Spend the morning at Norwich Cathedral, a magnificent Romanesque cathedral with the largest monastic cloisters in the country and secret medieval graffiti. Once you’ve admired its incredible interiors, which could have featured in the Harry Potter films, walk over to Norwich’s most complete medieval street – Elm Hill. You might recognise it from Netflix’s hit Christmas flick Jingle Jangle. Its cobbled road is lined with old merchants’ houses, which now contain independent shops and cute cafés – one of the top places to visit in Norwich.

Head into Norwich Lanes to discover independent fashion boutiques, galleries and jewellery shops. For vintage gems, check out Magdalen Street – while The Royal Arcade, with its colourful tiles and stained-glass windows, has even more independent shops to explore. Jarrolds, the city’s five-floor award-winning department store, is the spot for upmarket brands and local artisan treats.

Tucked away on the University of East Anglia campus is the Sainsbury Centre. This modern, cuboid structure (which starred as Marvel’s Avengers headquarters in three movies – Avengers: Age of Ultron, Antman 2 and Spiderman: Homecoming) houses a vast collection of art by the likes of Francis Bacon and Picasso. Spend the afternoon poring over its abstract, constructivist and art nouveau wonders; for art lovers, this is one of the best things to do in Norwich. 

Round off your trip with an evening of live music and good cheer at the Bowling House. As its name suggests, it has its very own bowling alley – as well as a cocktail bar, karaoke venue and restaurant under one roof. One of the top places to go in Norwich for date nights and group visits, with live comedy on selected nights too.