- Norwich
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United Kingdom
Tucked away close to St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral close to the center of Norwich, is a sunken garden being restored to its Victorian splendour. An old chalk pit was bought by William Trevor in 1856 and a three acre garden developed. He died in 1897 and the garden, while initially looked after declined, and by the beginning of the second world war was abandoned. It was completely lost until 1980 when it was rediscovered and is being lovingly restored by a group of enthusiasts.
It is now a haven of quiet, contains many original features and has the charm of a bye gone era. No one can visit without being enthralled by the atmosphere.
www.plantationgarden.co.uk/
4 Earlham Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 3DB
Google map: bit.ly/oNOuFG
The Norwich ghost walks are held on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 7.30 and hosted by the mysterious Man in Black. He leads you past the historic landmarks, such as the castle and cathedral, telling you the stories of ghosts and ghouls who haunt the city. There are also a few surprises along the way ...
Walks start at the Adam and Eve pub, Bishopgate, near Norwich cathedral. There is a pay and display car park.
www.ghostwalksnorwich.co.uk/index.html
17 Bishopgate, Norwich NR3 1RZ
+44(0)7831 189985
Google map: bit.ly/nMe9MZ
Amazing clothing and handbags made from genuine vintage fabrics.
11 Royal Arcade, Norwich, NR2 1NQ
01603 928802
www.poppyvalentine.com
Google map: bit.ly/aeWl2n
I don't really know Norwich Castle as a visitor - it's my local, and I've known it since I was small. It dominates the city of Norwich, where you can't really move without stumbling over some bit of medieval history - a church every 50 yards, a bit of city wall here, an ancient pub there. But Norwich Castle tops it all - quite literally - from its Norman mound. It's never been ruined because it's never been out of use. The keep is all open inside, and feels strangely small after you've looked up at its monolithic form from outside. It certainly gives you an idea of what it must have been like for the Normans, crammed together in a stinky, smoky hall. And you get a sense of everything that's gone on since. It was a prison for hundreds of years, and must have been pretty grim, but now I find it rather homely. It's got an art gallery (with stalwarts from the almost-famous Norwich School of painters) and even, slightly bizarrely, a rather good but compact natural history museum. As a local, I reckon its best moment was when they introduced the one hour, one pound ticket.
Castle Meadow, Norwich, Norfolk
museums.norfolk.gov.uk/default.asp?Document=200.21
Castle ticket £6.20, children £4.40
Google map: tinyurl.com/2wkkq5t
Inspire is a different kind of museum, one where children and adults can explore science through fun hands-on activities. stimulates curiosity and interest in science and technology. They have fun making projects. Our grandchildren, aged three and six, loved the experience. It is suitable for older children too.
St Michael's Church, Oak Street
www.inspirediscoverycentre.com
Google map: tinyurl.com/37p6kjw
Since 1980 there has been a puppet theatre in a converted medieval church in the centre of Norwich. It’s a unique venue dedicated to puppetry, with an auditorium, a studio, workshops, an exhibition gallery, shop and licensed bar. It's the only theatre in the region with a year-round programme of family-centred entertainment. As well as hosting a variety of touring puppetry companies from Britain and overseas, they run craft based workshops for children with special sessions for adults. They also work with schools in Norfolk and Suffolk to offer workshops and talks at the Theatre and by visiting the schools concerned.
Whitefriars, Norwich NR3 1TN
www.puppettheatre.co.uk
Google map: tinyurl.com/yz8h85v
I recommend when you go to festivals you leave your ego at home, festivals are so much fun because of the feeling of a community where everyone is in the same boat there to have a good time and let loose, so be crazy, don't care what others think and love everybody, leave your ego at home.
Any festival
Norwich is a capital of real ale, with some superb pubs. Norfolk has nearly 30 different breweries, and if you spend a few days here you'll be able to taste many of them.
Magdalen Street, north of the town centre, is your road to beer heaven with the King's Head, twice Norwich CAMRA pub of the year. A Victorian pub authentically restored, it has 7-10 real ales on draught, a fine selection of bottled beers, excellent pork pies and a bar billiards table. Further north is the Shed (Lawson Road) with its own microbrewery and frequent folk/blues gigs, and the Duke of Wellington, a neighbourhood local with 6 beers on handpump and more on gravity in the glass taproom.
Make a trip out of the centre to West End Street and you'll find the Fat Cat, twice CAMRA national pub of the year. An amazing selection of beers here from around the world,including beer from Laos. Gets very crowded at weekends (no wonder).
These are my locals. I am a lucky so and so. And then there are many more: the King's Arms, Hall Road; Rose Tavern and Ketts Tavern; Gatehouse - a fine 1930s pub with a historic and unspoiled interior. Most of the truly great pubs, though, are a little way out of the centre of town, so be prepared to do a bit of walking or take a few taxis.
This is an excellent website, which recommends all forms of services within Norwich. It is of high quality and has been very useful in finding recommended restaurants, pubs, services etc. It also has exclusive offers for members and each month has a newsletter and competitions. Its sister site EnjoyNorthNorfolk.com is of equal standard.
Norwich cathedral (well worth a look in itself - second tallest spire in the England) sits in a very lovely and quiet "close", with grassy areas dotted with trees and a rich mix of architecture in the surrounding buildings - an oasis so close to the city centre.
Turn left with the main (west) door behind you or walk straight ahead from St Ethelberts Gate and take the path away from the city centre, straight down to the river Wensum. You'll reach the picturesque spot known as Pulls Ferry. Then turn left to walk beside the river for a few minutes to Bishop Bridge and the Red Lion pub (outdoor seats by river). Keep to the river walk that diverts briefly behind the pub, to reach Cow Tower, (ruined 14th century fortification) and continue by the river for a short while until the pathway forks. Take the left fork, away from the river to reach the Adam and Eve - oldest pub in Norwich (also has outdoor seating but not much of a view).
Reaching the road just beyond, turn right and follow it until you reach the junction with Whitefriars and Palace St. Keep left along Palace St and you'll find the Erpingham Gate leading to the cathedral just inside.
A pretty and restful walk just a few minutes from the market. It takes only 30-40 minutes - without pub stops!
Starting from Norwich Cathedral, NR1
An Italian restaurant with an interesting menu that covers pasta and pizza but has much more interesting things too. Very friendly service, quite spacious, reasonable prices. I got a table easily on a Saturday evening without booking - a much more attractive option than the noisy and heaving Pizza Express next door!
11 St Benedicts St, Norwich, NR2 4PE -less than 5 mins stroll from City Hall and the market.
A cafe/teashop inside the old Guildhall building, situated in its old court room - an interesting and attractive space. Good food options, very pleasant service and, true to their chocolate making origins, a menu of hot chocolate options! Also sells Caleys chocolate bars, biscuits and other sweet temptations. Very convenient in the city centre, as it's right next to the big central market.
The Guildhall, Gaol Hill, Norwich NR2. Open Mon - Sat
Firstly I would recommend to any family with children over eight, a trip to the Norfolk broads. A five-day trip is the perfect opportunity to bond as a family, and being on your own boat gives you the opportunity to stop wherever you like.
While in the area trip to Ranworth's Nature Trail is definetly recommended. It is not only beautiful walk, but there is a very interesting information centre which is floating on the broad. Also an area for birdwatching with binoculars. The swallowtail butterfly is particularly beautiful and the children love them.
01603 270479
Simply the best tasting ice-cream in the world!!
Produced by a small dedicated family firm who really know how to make natural ice cream.
Norwich, on a barrow in London Street and in restaurants/cafes/shops in Norfolk.
www.ronaldo-ices.co.uk/
If you happen to be on the beautiful Norfolk coast, then make sure you don't miss a visit to Cookie's Crabshop in Salthouse. Yes, you are bound to queue, at any time of the year, but the freshness of their seafood will be worth the wait.
Tel: 01263 740 352
Conservation holidays that don't involve flying or cost thousands of pounds: Volunteer on one of over 30 RSPB reserves in the UK. Work includes practical conservation and wildlife surveys as well as showing visitors around the reserves.
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