Norwich holidays

How to reach Norwich

• Flight time: The nearest airport to Norwich offering domestic flights is London Stansted, about an hour and a half’s drive away. Flights to Stansted from major UK airports typically take around one hour.

• Transfer time: From Stansted Airport you can take a direct bus to Norwich, which takes approximately 2.5 hours.

• Price: The bus fare from Stansted to Norwich costs about £25, a taxi considerably more at around £80.

Best time to visit Norwich

As a city destination, no one time is really better than another to take your holidays to Norwich. That said, each season offers something different.

• Spring (March to May): Average temperatures range from 8°C in March to 15°C in May, with moderate rainfall. May also sees the wonderful Norfolk and Norwich Festival take over the town, so do book accommodation well in advance if attending.

• Summer (June to August): Norwich is rarely overrun with visitors, but this is, nevertheless, peak tourist season. You’ll also experience the best of the weather when you can expect temperatures in excess of 20°C and plenty of sunshine, more than most other parts of the UK.

• Autumn (September to November): Autumnal colours hold sway over the town and surrounding countryside, with temperatures cooling from around 18°C in September to 10°C in November. Although quieter, there is still a full cultural calendar.

• Winter (December to February): The colder months offer festive markets, Christmas lights and warming pubs to retreat to, and with fewer tourists, you can take in the city’s sights at your leisure. Temperatures hover around 5°C, and although rare these days, there may be the odd flurry of snow.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: You’ll find few other languages spoken on the street except English. The local accent has a gentle, almost West Country like lilt.

• Local habits and customs: A genteel city, Norwich is known for its welcoming nature and folk here are only too happy to assist.

• Health and safety: Norwich is a safe city with very low crime rates, although, as in any city, it’s always wise to be aware of your surroundings.

• Currency: The currency used is the British Pound. ATMs are widely available and credit cards are accepted in most places.

• Getting around: Norwich is not a big city, and it’s flat, so walking is easy. However, should you need a bus, services are good, with a standard single fare costing around £2.20. Consider a day pass (£3.30) for unlimited travel if you plan to explore extensively.

• Time zone: Norwich operates on GMT, switching to British Summer Time, which is GMT+1, from late March to late October.

Best things to do in Norwich

A laid-back charmer of a city, medieval-rich Norwich showcases a winning blend of ancient architecture, high-class culture and colourful market life.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Norwich Cathedral Tower: Stagger up to the top of the tower for expansive views of the city and the gently rolling Norfolk countryside.

• Castle Gardens: Perched atop a large grassy knoll, these lovely gardens encasing Norwich Castle afford marvellous views of the medieval city.

The best districts

• Tombland: Once the site of the old Saxon marketplace, this curiously named thoroughfare is now packed cheek-by-jowl with quaint cafés and shops.

• Elm Hill: Step back in time along this picturesque cobbled street, the oldest in Norwich, lined with beautifully preserved wattle-and-daub buildings housing pleasingly musty antique shops.

Museums and galleries

• Castle Museum: Glued to the top of a grassy mound, the stern walls of Norwich Castle conceal a fine museum, with pride of place going to the Colman Art Galleries, an outstanding collection by the early 19th-century Norwich School.

• Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts: This typically flamboyant Norman Foster designed building harbours a beautifully presented collection of mostly non-European artefacts, paintings and sculptures.

Parks and gardens

• The Plantation Garden: Victorian town garden established in the 19th century packed with flowers, foliage and the occasional folly.

• Eaton Park: Large municipal park where you can play tennis, football or golf, hop aboard a mini-steam train or just admire the old-fashioned bandstand and pavilion.

Historical monuments

• Norwich Cathedral: An exemplar of Romanesque architecture, this mighty sandy-coloured structure is finessed by its prickly octagonal spire, the second tallest in England.

• The Guildhall: A capacious flint and stone structure begun in 1407 is reckoned to be the largest surviving medieval civic building outside London.

Day trips in the area

• Southwold: Handsome and genteel seaside town that’s perfect for walking and bathing, with the added incentive of the most inventive Under the Pier Show in the country. Discover great deals with our range of hotels in Southwold.

• The Norfolk Broads: Synonymous with Norfolk, the broads are one of Europe’s most important wetlands (binocular alert), a haven for birds including kingfishers, grebes and warblers.

• Great Yarmouth: Old-fashioned beach resort known for its big sands, historic pier and long-standing maritime heritage, and all just 30 minutes from Norwich. Find the best offers on cheap hotels in Great Yarmouth.

• Cambridge: Step back in time with a day trip to the university city of Cambridge, just over an hour by train. Explore King's College Chapel, punt the scenic River Cam, or wander the historic colleges. Find your perfect Cambridge stay with our hotels in Cambridge.

Activities for families in Norwich

Small it may be, but Norwich has no shortage of things to offer families holidaying here, whether it’s checking out the local wildlife or indulging in the city’s strong literary and artistic heritage.

• Parks and gardens: Kids can let off steam at Eaton Park with its comprehensive sports facilities, or, for something a little less vigorous, the Plantation Garden does the job for a quiet stroll through Victorian-era landscapes.

• Aquariums and zoos: Just a 30-minute drive away, Banham Zoological Gardens is a thriving small gardens and zoo, and whilst the apes and monkeys are the stars of the show, there’s a good collections of big cats (in particular snow leopards) and one of the best groupings of owls in the UK.

• Book bench trail: Norwich has an illustrious literary history, and dotted around the city are eight individually designed benches inspired by books associated with the city; it'll take you roughly one and a half hours to complete – bookworms or not, kids (and adults) will love it.

• Theatre: The city is strong in many areas of the arts, but none more so than puppetry, and the simply brilliant puppet theatre here will delight children and adults alike.

Free things to do in Norwich

It’s not difficult to find free things to do on your Norwich holidays, be it seeking out local street art, taking lengthy riverside walks or browsing the local markets.

• Free events: Norwich hosts numerous free events throughout the year, the pick of which is the all-embracing Norfolk & Norwich Festival, which, among other things, offers free street performances and concerts.

• Free museums: Without doubt the city’s most magnificent building, the cathedral is a stirringly beautiful medieval structure of imposing grace and elegance – and best of all, it’s free. As is the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, home to some superb pieces.

• Markets: Although the city’s superb 900-year-old open-air market is free to visit, the likelihood is that your wallet will be a little lighter after sampling some of its delights, be it a plate of local mussels or some fresh churros.

• Urban Art Trail: Sometimes it’s just nice (and usually free) to see art in the open air, and you can do just that on this cool trail which takes in a series of large-scale murals – each with a Norwich theme – sprinkled around the city.

• Riverside walks: Up that step count and partake in a leisurely walk along the River Wensum, which serenely wends its way through the city.

Nature and outdoor activities in Norwich

Norwich has more than enough to keep visitors in thrall to nature, but for the very best of what the outdoors has to offer, you really need to go to the wonderful Norfolk Broads.

• Water sports: Landlocked it may be, but you don’t have to travel far from the city to get your fix of waterborne sports. The elongated coastline presents possibilities for sailing, surfing, windsurfing and much more.

• Hiking: For those who prefer land-based excursions, the Norfolk Coast Path presents over 135km of scenic coastal walking, accessible for all ages and abilities.

• Cycling: Bike-friendly Norwich accommodates several designated cycle routes that take you through the city or out into the countryside – but if you fancy exerting more energy, try the 42km-long Marriott’s Way.

Local dishes in Norwich

One of the great delights of holidays to Norwich is its food, and it's fair to say that the city has undergone quite the gastronomic revival in recent years.

Some typical dishes

• Cromer Crab: Harvested off the Norfolk coast, these little bombs of flavour – with their pie crust shells – are renowned for their tender, sweet meat.

• Norfolk Plough Pudding: A hearty suet pudding brimming with pork, bacon and onions, traditionally eaten at the start of the ploughing season.

Tapas dishes

• Binham Blue Cheese: An award-winning blue cheese made in Norfolk, it works really well as a tapas-style snack or part of a cheese platter.

Meat dishes

• Norfolk Black Turkey: A traditional choice during the Christmas season – but eaten any time of year – this bird is noted for its succulent flavour and firm texture.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Brancaster Oysters: Farmed and fished in the crystal-clear waters of Brancaster Staithe Harbour, these delicious morsels are best eaten having been steamed with garlic, wine and herbs.

Street food

• Norwich Market: Nine hundred years old and with more than 200 stalls, this vast foodie emporium will have you salivating at every turn; there’s everything from artisan pastries to fried meat sandwiches.

Sweets and desserts

Look out for the classic Victoria sponge, a soft sponge cake layered with jam and dusted with sugar, and the Norfolk treacle tart, made with a luscious filling of golden syrup, breadcrumbs and lemon juice.

Local drinks

• Norfolk Ale: Norfolk is awash with fantastic breweries, but try Woodforde’s, which offers a range of ales from bitter to rich and malty.

• Wherry: A popular local beer with floral and citrus notes, named after the flat-bottomed boats seen on the Norfolk Broads.