Location: Norwich
Top Things to do in Norwich
What to do and see in Norwich, England: The Best Things to do
Norwich boasts museums spanning a ten centuries of history as well as a renovated city center with a pleasant pedestrian area lined with modern businesses and thriving nightlife. With two colleges, both with renowned art and writing programs, travelers will also step into a vibrant cultural scene. Tourist sites, dubbed the Norwich 12, include the historical Norwich Castle, Norwich Cathedral and City Hall, as well as the newer library and the glass Forum which hosts events from opera to skating.
Restaurants in Norwich
1. Winbirri Vineyards
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 188 reviews
Winbirri Vineyards, award winning wines from Norfolk. This family run vineyard and winery is set in twenty five acres of beautiful Norfolk country side. With a new state of the art winery just completed all the wines are produced on site from grapes grown here at the vineyards.
Reviewed By caks15 - Gorleston-on-Sea, United Kingdom
This was a truly informative, fascinating, enjoyable and excellent morning to celebrate my wife's birthday. Lee, the owner, is both inspired and inspiring. The tour was amazingly good value for money and including tasting five wines (generous tastes!) with nibbles included. However, access by taxi or having a driver willing to forego the tasting is essential if you wish to enjoy the wine to the full!
2. The Broads National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,226 reviews
Discover dramatic landscapes, raw natural beauty and a rare quality of light. Where big, bright skies meet endless horizons and dreamlike landscapes. A place where time stands still. Real peace, open space – it’s a place unlike anywhere else... The Broads National Park.
Reviewed By carolwise - Norwich, United Kingdom
We hired a day boat from Potter heigham and the views are amazing we also stopped of at a pub and the mooring was free. You see a lot of wildlife
3. Elm Hill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 622 reviews
Reviewed By johnhouston2 - Knaresborough, United Kingdom
Allied to its proximity to the Cathedral area and the river, this is undoubtedly the nicest part of the city. Elm Hill itself has managed to retain an old- fashioned and almost quiet atmosphere that is entirely appropriate to its age. Although it now has shops etc., the style of the place has been retained and its lovely old buildings and cobbled street evoke images of times long past and it is certainly a place you should visit.
4. Felbrigg Hall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,448 reviews
Reviewed By 827JohnC - Wisbech, United Kingdom
In Cromer last Sunday with my wife, who was there to play bowls, which I declined to spectate (Watching grass grow without the excitement of watching paint dry!) Just nipped down the road to Felbrigg Hall, ample car parking, very near to reception and close to the hall. Good welcome from reception team, and excellent directions, not really time to visit the estate, so straight to the Hall, and a warm welcome from the volunteers on duty. Pleasant amble with the usual high standard of information available from the Room Stewards, a fascinating house, well worth a visit. A few days ago a winger left derogatory feed back because he objected to the fee structure, well he is of course welcome to his opinion, but really..... Adult Membership of the National Trust is £6 a month, for that you get free unlimited access to all the NT properties, that my friend is a BARGAIN!
5. Norwich Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,233 reviews
Built as a Norman Royal Palace and once a prison, Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery is packed with treasures, including fabulous fine art, archaeology, and natural history. During 2020 and 2021 construction work will be underway on the exciting Norwich Castle: Royal Palace Reborn project to transform the Castle’s Norman Keep. During these works some areas of the Castle are not accessible and this includes the main Castle Keep.
Reviewed By Sunshine25580300779 - York, United Kingdom
Fascinating visit on a wet dreary autumn day. Art gallery very good with excellent audio visuals. Historical display rooms surpassed excellent with audio visuals and commentary especially enjoyed Anglo Saxon display. Don’t miss visiting. Staff very pleasant too.
6. The Plantation Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 444 reviews
A beautifully restored Victorian garden of 3 acres which is run by volunteers for the benefit of the community. All your entrance fees go the the upkeep of the garden, new plants etc. On Sundays in summer teas are served to musical entertainment. PLEASE NOTE: TOILETS are only open when there are volunteers on duty...on Sundays in the summer and for special events. Please see our website for details of events. Refereshments and toilets are available at St. John's Cathedral Narthex next door. We regret we have NO PARKING, but there is a pay and display carpark next door.
Reviewed By francesl566 - Cambridge, United Kingdom
Beautiful gardens. An oasis of calm and refreshment and a treat for the eyes. Highly recommend a visit.
7. Norwich Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,926 reviews
“Norfolk’s favourite building”Founded in 1096 and built using Normandy stone shipped from Caen, Norwich Cathedral is set in the 44 acre Cathedral Close, a peaceful city centre sanctuary.The Cathedral itself is one of the finest complete Romanesque buildings in Europe, with the highest Norman tower and largest monastic cloisters in England. Inside, the Cathedral tells almost 1000 years of history, with our enthusiastic volunteers on hand to talk you through the incredible stories of its past.There is more to see at Norwich Cathedral than you think. Our award-winning 21st century Refectory restaurant is open seven days a week, as is the Hostry which features a rolling programme of exhibitions, many of them featuring local artists.You can also experience the tranquillity of our expansive Library, Herb Garden or Japanese Garden, as well as guided tours of the building throughout the week.Afterwards, feel free to explore the lanes of the Cathedral Close, a quaint village just minutes from the bustling city centre, and stop for a picnic on one of our many well kept greens. Norwich Cathedral is a living centre for worship, learning and hospitality, extending a warm welcome to all our visitors from Norfolk and beyond.Part of the Norwich 12 - An initiative of Norwich Heritage, Economic & Regeneration Trust.
Reviewed By rickw73 - Sevenoaks, United Kingdom
Where to begin?! I am a cathedral lover but had forgotten how special Norwich is. Boasting the largest cathedral close in England, the essentially Norman building is topped by a later, but most elegant spire. Strolling around the exterior gave glorious views across fields. I walked in at 7.30am to find the building deserted but bathed in wonderful summer sunshine. I watched peregrine falcons soar from the spire over the nave, I gawped at the 1380 dated reredos with its detailed painting and interesting political, as well as religious, story, and I gazed at the delightful and humorous roof bosses high over head -and the hidden misericords under choir stall seats. The cathedral also has some very good wall paintings which are well preserved (relatively) and worth taking time to see. Look out especially (in the south part of the nave) for the painting of the Bishop receiving money from King Rufus to buy his job! Stay as long as you can. And say a prayer there too! Did I mention the excellent small gift shop and the superb new refectory serving great food at reasonable prices? Wow! What a special place!
8. Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 633 reviews
The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts is an inspirational public art museum where you can see outstanding art for free. The Centre, which opened in 1978 to house the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection, is a world-class building designed by Norman Foster, at the University of East Anglia, Norwich.
Reviewed By 36daveb36
In the depths of the campus of the University of East Anglia, there is a very stylish building which combines university art library, with a gallery of modern art, ceramics and sculpture and the biggest cabinet of curiosities you could find. The collection of ethnic artefacts is amazing, and the antiquity of some of them is stunning.
9. City of Norwich Aviation Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 239 reviews
The museum started out as an aviation enthusiasts group for members of the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company way back in 1977. The membership was later opened up to non employees and a temporary site was secured on the 17/35 runway at Norwich Airport. In early 1982, museum exhibits included Avro Anson (TX228), Westland Whirlwind (XP355), Sea Vixen (XP919) and a Dassault Mystere IV (121). 1983 saw the arrival of our Vulcan bomber which flew in to the airport after its retirement from service. By 1985 the museum had moved to its present site and an air fair held to help raise funds to expand the museum. At this time the Anson had gone (having been damaged beyond economical repair during gales) but Vampire (XD373) had arrived. 1986 saw another air fair on 14th September that saw attendance figures break the 20,000 barrier and another arrival, T-33 (16718). Over the next few years, services were laid, the main exhibition hall erected and the arrival of more aircraft.
Reviewed By 849andrewg
I would recommend a visit to this attraction. The staff on site are, friendly, knowledgeable and prepared to take time to answer questions from the visitors. We had guided tours of their Vulcan Bomber and Nimrod exhibits, both presented by two very knowledgeable people who explained things in an easy to understand way. The tea room was well stocked and service was with a lovely smile. If you are worried about the cost, don't, it must be one of the most reasonably priced attractions I've visited. Believe me there, is a lot for little money. I am happy to recommend the museum to anyone from very young, to very old, male or female. we spent quite some time there, due to the fact I wanted to experience the inside of the iconic Vulcan and Nimrod. Easily accessed by car but don't know about public transport.
10. East Ruston Old Vicarage Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 955 reviews
The garden is open from 3rd March to 31st October on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays from 12pm to 5.30pm. The gardens at East Ruston Old Vicarage are one of the most exciting surprises in the county, who would expect to find a verdant, sheltered garden in the prairie landscape that is north east Norfolk? Enter the garden and you are worlds away from the local landscape for here there are many gardens within the whole including a new Walled Garden, Rose Garden, Woodland Garden, Mediterranean Garden and a stunning Desert inspired by the landscape of Arizona. These areas are connected by magical avenues and areas of informal planting with some places allowed to be wildlife friendly which includes a stunning Corn Field that contains the corn field weeds of yesteryear and has been known to move visitors to tears.
Reviewed By JoHelenM1964 - Rugby, United Kingdom
Visited on a sunny day in May. The Vicarage gardens have been very cleverly designed so each area has its own unique feel, and at each turn you almost feel you are in a "secret" garden. The planting is stunning and there are plenty of benches to sit on to rest and admire the well thought out design. The woodland area is a sudden contrast to the herbaceous borders. The entrance price may at first seem a little high - but once you pass through the ticket office you realise it is definitely worth the cost. Fabulous tea shop here and great plant shop also.
