Norwich – A Truly Fine City

Norwich enjoys a combination of rich history, vibrant present and prosperous future, blended together with three ever-present characteristics; culture, art and heritage.   

This county town of Norfolk is representative of its past conquerors and inhabitants, including the Romans, Vikings and Saxons. But it was the Normans who created the biggest impact upon the city’s indelible history.

William the Conqueror ordered the construction of two famous landmarks in the city at the latter end of the 11^th century. Norwich castle was built as a fortification, and was followed by the erection of Norwich Cathedral a few years later. Both buildings still dominate the city’s skyline and are extremely popular visitor attractions.

Today the castle is home to a museum and art gallery, offering you the opportunity to discover the castle’s journey from royal palace to prison. Take a tour around the castle, and into the dungeons, before exploring the decorative art galleries.

The impressive cathedral is open to visitors throughout the year, and is regarded as one of the finest cathedrals in the country.

Both the castle and the cathedral form part of “Norwich 12”, a collection of iconic buildings which together form a family of heritage attractions. The remaining ten buildings can all be visited during a visit to Norwich and include: The Cathedral of St John the Baptist (Norwich’s second cathedral), The Assembly House (now home to a wonderful coffee shop), and The Forum (home to Norwich’s main library).

Norwich also has an urban edge, revealing a city packed with shops, eateries and bars. The city is amongst the top shopping destinations in the country, offering an exciting shopping experience. Discover the cobbled streets of Norwich Lanes, packed with over 300 independent retailers, corner cafes and bars. The Lanes have also been nominated for the accolade of Great British High Street of the Year for 2014.

Two contemporary malls also provide a shopping haven. Chapelfield is the city’s primary shopping mall, packed with high-street retailers and large brands. Castle Mall sits in the shadow of Norwich Castle and is home to a collection of shops, and a Vue Cinema.

Riverside shopping complex is another choice for busy shoppers and forms part of an entertainment hub. Here you will find shops, restaurants, bars, bowling and a cinema, attracting a youthful crowd of students and families. Nearby you will also spot Carrow Road, home to Norwich City Football Club.

Norwich is also renowned for its culinary excellence. The Golden Triangle is an area of the city packed with an excellent selection of pubs and restaurants, including the popular Georgian Townhouse and Workshop Bar & Café. In the city centre Roger Hickman’s restaurant offers a taste of exceptional dining.

The city is also crammed with arts and literature; in fact Norwich is the only city in England to have been awarded the title of UNESCO City of Literature. The Theatre Royal is a celebration of the arts, and plays host to numerous plays, comedians and of course the Christmas pantomime. Alan Partridge also brought the red carpet to the city for his premiere of the film Alpha Papa.

And after experiencing all of that in a whirlwind day, why not relax on top of Mousehold Heath and take in the spectacular views across the whole of the city.