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| Norwich Travel Guide: Norwich Guide
| | Written by Michael D Hughes on 08 Apr 2007 about a trip in Oct 2006.
Trip was for a single traveller on short break.
| Norwich shopping |   9.0 | | Norwich's open air market (Gentleman's Walk) is one of Britain's largest, and probably oldest, having been here since the Norman Conquest. The most picturesque shopping street must be Elm Hill with its specialist shops: art, antiques, books, hobbies. The national chains congregate around Gentleman's Walk, Castle Meadow, London Street and St Stephen's Street, most of which are pedestrianised. The most modern development is the multi level Castle Mall with 80 shops, easily overlooked below the castle. |
Norwich nightlife | 10.0 | Most bars and clubs are conveniently concentrated in the Riverside Quarter. Here is Time, the biggest night club, plus Brannigans, Squares and Lloyds No 1. For more mellow and sophisticated nightlife, Tombland has cafe bars and restaurants.
Norwich is my favourite city because I'm a real ale drinker and this is a beer lovers' paradise heaving with excellent free houses. However most of them are outside the inner ring road, and exploring an unfamiliar city is easier in daylight. I've split them into four pub crawls:
North: 21/22 bus from Castle Meadow to junction of Sprowston St/Lawson Rd., here is The Shed, sister pub of the Fat Cat.
Then a 10 min. detour west down Lawson Rd., in Waterloo Rd. is the Duke of Wellington with over 10 beers. Then back down Magdalen St., at no. 42 is the Kings Head, more a city pub. Further along Magdalen St. is the Ribs of Beef in a lovely location on the river. Last The Glass House (11 Wensum St.), the nicest Norwich Wetherspoon.
South: At junction of Chapelfield Rd. and St Stephens St. is The Champion. Then the Trafford Arms at 61 Grove Rd., big range of beers. Then eastwards through Southwell Rd./Trafalgar Rd. to the Kings Arms (22 Hall Rd.) a Batemans pub with guest beers. Finally over the road to Billy Bluelight, a Woodforde's pub.
West: Catch 19/20 bus to first stop in Dereham Rd., first The Reindeer (Elgoods). Further along off Dereham Rd. in Stafford St. is the Alexander Tavern, a Chalk Hill pub. On the other side of Dereham Rd. in Nelson St. is The Nelson. Last but not least the Fat Cat (corner Nelson St./West End St.) is the jewel in Norwich's pub crown. Twice Campaign for Real Ale national pub of the year, it has over 20 ales.
East: Just 2 pubs not to be overlooked. In Thorpe Rd near the railway station is the Coach & Horses, the Chalk Hill brewery tap. Round the corner in Rosary Rd is the Rosary Tavern, not a huge range of beers, but has my favourite cider, Norfolk Kingfisher, dangerously drinkable at 7.5% |
Norwich restaurants | 8.0 | Curry fans are well catered for with a number of Indian in Prince of Wales Street and the near end of Magdalan Street. In rough order of preference (though mostly based on one visit): Nazma Brasseries (15 Magdalen St.) very small but my usual meal (Chicken Madras) delicious. Passage to India (45 Magdalen St.) good and filling. Raj Villa (15 P.O.W. St.) meal took half hour to arrive but worth the wait. Prince of India (19 P.O.W. St.) lacked volume but OK. Black mark for Ali Tandoori (9-11 Magdalan St.), they gave me the wrong rice and meal non too hot - suspect its just too big and busy.
Norwich not quite so well endowed with Chinese. The Hong Kong (22 P.O.W. St.) is smart with good food but is not cheap for a Chinese. The Thai Dragon (formerly Luckly Star Chinese) next door is excellent value although I prefer Chinese.
There are other Indian and Chinese further away, and of course numerous other types/nationalities. |
Norwich attractions | 8.0 | Most impressive is the magnificent 12th century cathedral. It took forty years to complete, has the second highest spire in Britain, extensive grounds, and is open to the public May - September. The other most notable ancient building the castle/museum on a hill above Castle Meadow. Built circa 1160, seen from below it appears to have worn surprisingly well: thats because it was refaced in 1834. Open Mon-Sat.
More up to date (circa 2001) is the Forum near the open air market, a huge all glass construction containing the library, tourist information office, cafes, and the Origins museum. |
Norwich events | | Probably the most important events that would appeal to most visitors are:
- Lord Mayor's celebrations in July - a five day celebration including fairground, street procession, fireworks, music festival and street artists.
- Royal Norfolk Show (June/July) - the largest two day agricultural show in the U.K.
- The French Market (April and October) - thirty stalls of French produce held in Gentleman's Walk. |
Norwich day trips | | The most obvious is Great Yarmouth, about 40 mins on the X1 bus, 30 mins by train. I went by bus, better to appreciate going through the Broads, which must be as flat as Holland but without the tulips.
Two probably more low key and genteel seaside towns I havn't yet seen are Cromer and Sheringham, only some five miles apart so you could see both in one day. 1 hour to Sheringham by train, 90 mins on X5 bus.
Diss is a nice little inland town, but if going by train beware that the station is some 1.5 miles from the town and there didn't seem to be a bus link. The 118 bus takes 90 mins.
Depending on where you live and how long you are staying, you might consider visiting Cambridge, 90 mins by train. |
Norwich History and Culture | | In the middle ages Norwich was actually bigger than London, its prosperity based on agricultural trade with the Low Countries. Its relative economic decline means that probably few now come here to make their fortune, but its a lovely place to visit and retire to. Its long history is still abundantly apparent in its narrow streets and thirty two medieval churches, nine of which are still used as churches.
Norwich is very well endowed, with numerous art galleries, museums, theatres and cinemas. |
Getting to Norwich | 6.0 | | Like Cornwall, Norwich is somewhat out on a limb and takes some time to get to except from London and nearby East Anglian towns. It takes me a good 3.5 hours on the train from Birmingham, changing at either Ely or Peterborough. But once there I always think its worth it. |
Getting around Norwich | The great thing about a day trip or short holiday in Norwich is that its big enough to be interesting but not so big you're soon worn out. Most shops, restaurants, and main tourist attractions are within walking distance from the railway station. If you want to visit the best pubs, or go further afield, a knowledge of bus routes is essential. Ring 08456 020 121 for a copy of the 80+ page timetable.
There is no bus station, but all the local buses seem to go through Castle Meadow. I always stay at a hotel in Stracey Rd behind the railway station, and if tired (or lazy!) you can get a bus to Castle Meadow from the nearby Wensum House stop. If planning more than two or three rides a day it would probably be worthwhile to buy a First Day bus ticket for £3.80 (2006 price). |
When to visit Norwich | | Not absolutely critical, but I suggest Spring or Autumn. Winter could be too cold and baking hot summer days are tiring if doing a lot of walking. |
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All Norwich Travel Guides | The travel guides below were written by diytravel.co.uk members who have visited Norwich in East Anglia. To write your own guide, click the 'Write travel guide' button at the top of the page.
| Norwich guide | | 8.2 | Norwich Guide | | Norwich's open air market (Gentleman's Walk) is one of Britain's largest, and probably oldest, having been here since the Norman Conquest. The most picturesque shopping street must be Elm Hill with... |
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