Attractions and Places to Visit in Norwich
Norwich, county town of Norfolk, lies on the little River Wensum within easy reach of the beautiful Norfolk Broads, which can easily be explored by boat. Norwich has more medieval churches (32 in all) than any other city in England except London.
A bustling business and shopping center, Norwich is East Anglia's traditional capital, a fact reflected in its splendid Norman cathedral. Centuries of history can be found in its old gateways and winding lanes, and it's also a vibrant cultural hub famous for the two-week long Norfolk and Norwich Festival. The event takes place each May with musical and theatrical performances, as well as visual art exhibitions.
Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery
Built on a large artificial mound, Norwich Castle consists mainly of a Norman keep constructed in 1094 by William II. Now home to a superb museum and art gallery, the castle's interior is set out as a rotunda surrounded by various galleries containing extensive archaeological sections, natural history dioramas, collections of medieval weapons, glassware and ceramics. The painting collection includes English and Dutch masters of the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as examples from the famous Norwich School of painting.
Just beneath the castle is the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum with its excellent collections of uniforms, medals and paintings. Just a short walk away is the city's spacious Market Place, site of one of the most notable markets in the county, and also where you'll find the City Hall, Central Library and the 15th century Guildhall.
Dragon Hall
Dragon Hall, an outstanding Grade 1 listed medieval trading hall dating from 1430, is famous for its spectacular Great Hall featuring an impressive timber crown-post roof and intricately carved dragon. Built by merchant Robert Toppes as the heart of his international trading empire, it was once full of wool, cloth, timber, spices, pottery and other items of trade. Amazingly, the whole structure was lost for centuries, concealed within a terrace of houses and shops. Now fully restored, the Dragon Hall is a remarkable museum that vividly portrays medieval trade and civic life in 15th century Norwich.
Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum
The Museum features a display covering the history of the Royal Observer Corps, as well as a rare nosepiece of a Felixstowe F5 flying boat discovered in a garden after 60 years use as a potting shed. Aviation fans will also want to visit the City of Norwich Aviation Museum in Horsham St. Faith with its displays of aircraft such as the Vulcan, Dart Herald and Vampire. Exhibits include memorabilia from the 8th Army Air Force stationed here in WWII.
With the combined driest and sunniest climate in the city, Norwich is a great place for people who want to get out and enjoy the fantastic fresh air that blows down from Scandinavia. You’ve heard of blue sky thinking – thinking outside the box? Well, Norwich has Big Sky Thinking – any kind of holiday you want, Norwich can provide it, and all under it's huge, wide skies.
