Norwich

A great way to orientate yourself with the geography and features of the city while getting fascinating insights into its culture and history from expert guides. Tours last for 90 minutes and are themed, the City of Centuries itinerary being by far the most popular.

A real hidden gem of Norwich, Surrey House was built for Norwich Union between 1900-1904 and is still used as an office by Aviva. Its stunning entrance hall is constructed from 15 varieties of marble originally destined for Westminster Cathedral. Free entry on Mon-Fri office hours, or join The Shoebox Experience's 'Magnificent Marble Hall Tour' for a detailed visit (£15 per adult, £8 per child 4-12.) 

A former prison, this is now an excellent museum. Ten galleries take you on a fascinating journey through Norwich's past, from its heyday as a powerhouse of the medieval wool trade through its 19th century industrial heritage and two world wars.

One of the city's most famous landmarks, Norwich Castle was built by Normans over 900 years ago. This imperious fortress is one of the country's best-preserved examples of Norman military might. First a palace and then a prison, it now houses a wealth of fine art, archaeological finds and natural history artefacts, as well as presenting regular high-profile touring art exhibitions. 

Keep an eye out for the Castle Keep's reopening later in 2024, when it'll become the most accessible castle in the country, letting you explore from basements to battlements, returning the Keep to its magnificent medieval status. In the meantime, the rest of the museum is as usual open for business. 

The city's most famous landmark is also one of its not-to-be-missed visitor attractions. A fine example of stunning Romanesque architecture, it has amazing medieval stonework, not to mention the second largest spire and largest monastic cloisters in England.

Dating from 1320, this is one of Norwich's oldest and most interesting buildings. Once home to wealthy merchants and the city's mayors, it has a wonderful collection of rooms dressed in textiles and objects from previous centuries.

Centrally located and open seven days a week, this unique glass-fronted building is the hub of Norwich's city and community life. There's a lively coffee bar, an open-plan pizzeria and an exhibition space housing many free events and exhibitions for all the family

Internationally recognised for its adventurous programming and support for new talent, this great little venue provides a vibrant mix of cultural experiences, including music, theatre, dance, performance art, visual art and poetry.

Housed in a converted 160-year-old riverside maltings, this charming 300-seat theatre features a year-round programme of drama, dance, jazz and comedy. It also has two galleries exhibiting work by local artists.

The city's newest destination location has restaurants, bars, bowling, graVity trampoline park, a multiplex and an IMAX cinema, clustered around a waterfront piazza. Many of the restaurants offer al fresco summer dining with river views.

The art deco Theatre Royal is one of the country's top regional performance venues. The wide-ranging programme features touring West End hits for a fraction of the price of London theatres, as well as opera, dance, family shows, music and stand-up comedy, which all make for a great reason to enjoy a short break in Norwich. 

The Students' Union at the University of East Anglia is a renowned live music venue and an essential inclusion on the touring schedule for many top bands. It's located just outside the city centre on a beautiful landscaped campus.

The Sainsbury Centre Sculpture Park (free) sits in 350 acres of beautiful parkland on the UEA campus and is the perfect place for visitors to be inspired amongst nature. Open for all ages, the park is the largest of its type in Norwich to enjoy outdoor art, architecture and the natural environment. The park is a place of tranquillity offering a Broad and Yare river valley to walk as well as dense urban modernist architecture, designed by leading architects such as Norman Foster, Denys Lasdun and Rick Mather. The natural surrounds include picturesque ancient oaks, greenery, and rare and endangered species. The sculpture Park includes important works by Henry Moore, Elisabeth Frink and Antony Gormley.

Prepare for some spine-tingling experiences as you tour notorious locations hidden away in Norwich's ancient streets. Your guide will thrill you with stories of ghostly goings-on and macabre mysteries that have haunted the city over the centuries.

Enjoy a stroll or a picnic in one of Norwich's 150 green spaces. The most famous is Castle Gardens, a delightful park that surrounds the magnificent Norman royal palace. The Green has awesome panoramic views over the castle and cityscape.

This is one of Norwich's hidden gems. Just a short walk from the city centre, it's a Grade II English Heritage registered garden with 3 acres of beautiful landscaped grounds. Features include a Gothic fountain, an Italianate terrace and woodland walkways.

Why not go for a riverside walk to enjoy a different perspective on the city and its history? Start at Fishergate and take a leisurely stroll along the banks of the Wensum to the Riverside Entertainment Centre.

Norwich is one of the most complete medieval cities in the UK and with that comes a host of hidden gems to look out for. From secret gardens, to a shop and museum housed on a vast Victorian skating rink to St Julian's Church where Lady Julian of Norwich was the first woman to write a book in the English language (13thC), as well as a quaint Bear Shop located on Elm Hill. 

With its many renowned field-to-fork producers and creative cooks, Norfolk is a foodie's paradise and this is reflected in Norwich's culinary scene. There's everything from haute cuisine to great-value bistros and pizzerias, as well as gastro-pubs and ethnic eateries.Try Makers House  and Yalm  (food hall with six local kitchens to chose from) for their great good and ambiance, and for fine dining Benedicts , Farmyard  and The Last . Great pubs include The Ribs of Beef  with its outdoor riverside terrace, the bar at The Playhouse which also has an outdoor riverside setting. Sir Toby’s Beers  on Norwich Market is Norwich’s smallest bar and is fantastic for meeting friends and people watching.

If you're short on time, don't worry. Just pop in to one of the city's many fast food outlets to grab a take-away. Options range from British favourites like fish and chips and pasties to more exotic fare, including falafel and noodles. The Grosvenor Fish Bar  in the Norwich Lanes is a Norwich instituation and has queues out of the door, they also have a stylish downstairs licenced restaurant to dine in. Norwich Market  is one of the most popular places to eat with many stalls also offering seating. Food is local and from around the world so you can dine on bao buns, steaming noodles and Indian or enjoy Chilean, Spanish or even a delicious locally handmade Walsingham Farmshop pie with mash and gravy on a cermanic plate!