From Wikitravel

Norwich [1] is the two-cathedral city in the English county of Norfolk in the region of East Anglia. It lies some 185 km (115 miles) from London and is a convenient base for exploring the Broads and the North Norfolk Coast.

[edit] Understand

Norwich has a population of about 125,000. It was one of the main cities of medieval England, and retains a significant heritage of medieval buildings. In the 1960s it became a university city with the foundation of the University of East Anglia, which has helped the flourishing of local culture.

The history and culture of Norwich and Norfolk wass showcased in the Origins exhibition, which has unfortunately now closed. [2]

[edit] Get in

[edit] By road

Major trunk roads to the Norwich Area are the M11, A14, A11 (via Cambridge), A12, A140 (via Ipswich) from London, the South East of England and the ferry port of Harwich.

The A14, A11 and A47 serve the Midlands and the North.

There isn't a lot of parking in the city. But there is a very good park and ride service National Park and Ride Directory. From most of the major junctions on the bypass you can find colour coded buses going into city every 6-7 minutes.

[edit] By train

Trains to Norwich depart from London Liverpool Street Station (Circle and Central Underground Lines), half hourly on the hour and half hour. Train services run on weekdays with the fastest journey time of 1h 36m. Other routes serve Cambridge, Peterborough (for connections to the Northeast and Scotland), the Midlands (Birmingham, Nottingham) and the Northwest (Manchester, Liverpool). For details call National Enquiry Line, tel 08457 48 49 50.

[edit] By air

Norwich is home to a major regional airport - Norwich International Airport - with over 300 worldwide connections via Manchester, Edinburgh or Amsterdam. London Stansted is also within easy reach by road (65 miles).

For more information, contact Norwich Airport on (01603) 411923 or Fax (01603) 487523.

[edit][add listing] See

• Norwich Cathedral [3] - the 900-year old Norman cathedral church. Don't miss 'old As I Am', a grinning skeleton on the south aisle wall.

• Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery [4] 'Pop in for a pound' in the last hour of opening.

• Dragon Hall [5] - restored trading hall from medieval era, unique in England

• Many fine medieval churches including St John Maddermarket, St Peter Mancroft by the Forum , St Stephens, all of which are usually open

• the Forum [6] - a new landmark building, architecturally dynamic, housing the municipal library, arts and information centre - includes the amazing Origins exhibition of local history and culture

• the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts [7] - located on the campus of the University of East Anglia - Well worth the visit, lovely building and an underground section with changing exhibitions in art, ceramics, xtiles....creative and imaginative. It was designed by Norman Foster and it is an example of an early work of his in the 1970's. Housed in the building is a permanent exhibtion of the Sainsbury supermarket family pottery and sculpture a lot of rare chinese and tribal stuff - worth spending at least half a day there.

If you want some peace and tranquility in the middle of the city, "the plantation " is a small nicely formed private garden. Walking downhill from the Roman Catholic Cathedral (not the Church Of England one) the gardens are on the left between the two parts of the Beeches Hotel. If there is no one there pop your £2 in the box and enjoy.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Norwich Theatre Royal [8]
• Maddermarket Theatre [9]
• Norwich Puppet Theatre [10]
• Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA Beer Festival [11] held every October
• Norwich is the key site for the Norfolk and Norwich Festival [12] held every year in the month of May.

Norwich is home to Norwich City Football Club, a team currently residing in the second league of UK football ("The Championship") and its ground, Carrow Road, is fairly close to the city centre and the railway station. The ground seats 26,000, and if you visit Norwich and are keen on football, it's worth a visit - a friendly ground, with large amounts of family spectators.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Norwich punches above its weight in retail terms and is regarded as one of Britain's major regional shopping centres. The Castle Mall shopping mall has recently been joined by a major new city-centre development, the Chapelfield mall, on the site of a former chocolate factory. It has a big "Cigar entwined in a wire frame" sculpture on top to help people find it.

Other than the shopping centres there is a big John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, Debenhams and local department store Jarrolds. This particular store is unusual in that it is still locally owned and gives 25% of its profits to the John Jarrold Trust - a charity that grant aids worthy causes. London Street is nearby and was Englands first pedestrianised street. The market is the site of the principal shopping area and is occupied by well-known chain stores; additionally, a wide range of independent specialist stores is concentrated around the Upper Goat Lane/Pottergate/St. Benedict's area of the city centre. This area is known as the Norwich Lanes. One street not to miss is Elm Hill. It's a medieval cobbled street near Norwich Cathedral that backs onto the River Wensum and is renowned for its antiques and tea shops.

That leaves us with the market! Apparently the largest permanent outdoor market in Europe, and one of the finest city markets in the UK. It has recently been refurbished and is a riot of primary colours and retracting roofs. It was designed by the same architect as the Castle Mall, Michael Innes.

Just outside the city centre are a number of shops worth a look. Upper St Giles is home to a number of independent shops, restaurants and delicatessens. Over the bridge and down Earlham Road towards the University of East Anglia (UEA) is a fine independent organic and local food shop called the Green Grocers. You will find a good range of locally sourced food as well as catering for vegetarian and vegans. They have a Farmers' Market outside the shop every second sunday of the month.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Restaurants in Norwich are getting better.

There is a Malaysian buffet on Timber Hill called Malaysian Delights. The food is good but rather toned down for the average British palate. It has a reasonable range for lunch and a bigger range for dinner. The best thing though is that you can eat as much as you want for £5.50 for lunch and £9.99 for dinner.

There is a range of Chinese restaurants in the city. Mainly they seem to be run by one family under the banner of Lucky Star. They run two big buffets (Riverside and above a car park at the top of St Stephens Street). They are all much of a muchness but Riverside is the most popular and therefore busiest. There are some others (mainly of Prince of Wales Road).

Near the market, between Gentlemans Walk and Rampant Horse Street is a small Lebanese restaurant that does excellent lunchitme flaffels or evening meals.

There seem to be loads of Thai restaurants in Norwich. Not sure why it has more than its fair share but since most of them are good we shouldn’t complain. The best two are Sugar Hut and Silk Thai. Sugar Hut is owned by a couple who have 3 restaurants in the city and this one is the original and best. Good menu and choice of wines, lovely staff and well prepared food. Quite busy on the weekend for dinner so book in advance. Thai Silk on the other had seems to always be quiet. Very well decorated with lovely fixtures and fittings. It has a good range of food and but is slightly more expensive than Sugar Hut.

Indian restaurants in Norwich have, over the past decade or so, been engaged in a fierce price war which has seen menu prices stay low - sometimes, it has to be said, at the expense of quality.

A very good Indian restaurant called Oasis is on Queen Street. It is in a converted church so it has big high ceilings and lots of space. There are quiet little enclaves off to the side where they seem to put couples which is a nice idea as the main restaurant can be noisy with a band. If you want fun and a lively atmosphere then it is great. Well decorated with a very modern style so as different as you will get from the stereotypical Indian restaurant. Food is medium hot by English standards so if you are used to Asian or Indian food then you need to ask them to spice it up a bit (which they seem happy to do). The staff seem helpful and friendly if not the most traditional of service.

There are several other Indian restaurants on Magdalene Street and a good place on St Benedict’s called Bengal Spice.

The standard Cafe Uno, Pizza Express etc are all present but are of a fairly chain restaurant standard so go if you want but there are some better choices. Zizzis in Tomblands is nicer than average with a traditional big wood burning oven so they do some nice flavoured pizzas and baked pastas. The best value for money is probably Figaro's. Pizzas around £6-£7 and generous toppings and some very good calzone.

There is one other place to mention as you should avoid it. Italia Nostra. It is just off Tombland and looks really authentic from the outside. That is about all it has going for it though. It is dark inside, the staff are fairly arrogant and forgetful and the food is disappointing.

Two worth trying are Pedro’s (Mexican)in Chapelfield gardens and Mambo Jambo’s. Pedro’s is ok nice setting in the park but the service is poor. Mambo Jambo’s on the other hand is great. Don’t go expecting great food but you get loads of it. It also has a cheap bar and is always full of groups of friends, work parties and birthday parties. This may be because for a reasonably price you get loads of drinks and huge portions of food.

There are many good restaurants in Norwich but to date only one restaurant, Adlards in Upper St. Giles Street, has earned itself a Michelin star. Although it can be a little on the pricey side it is well worth the cost to visit.

The Belgian Monk on Pottergate in the city centre is fantastic for mussels and does very good food at reasonable prices. They also do a variety of different beers: cherry beer is definitely worth a try.

If you enjoy pub fare, there are two excellent locations on Ipswich Road in the South end of the city. Both Maid Marion's and the Marsh Harrier will fill you to the brim. For a quintessential dinner of fish and chips, the Marsh Harrier cannot be beat, with their "whale of a fish". Selection of beer was also excellent. Staff is courteous and service is excellent.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Norwich was once famous for having a church for every week in the year and a pub for every day. It had the highest number of pubs per square mile in the UK.

For real ale enthusiasts, Norwich is home to the multi award-winning Fat Cat [13], a real ale paradise serving over 25 ales, and the only pub in the UK to twice win the prestigious CAMRA National Pub of the Year. Other popular real ale pubs in the city centre include The Coach & Horses and the historic Adam & Eve. North of the city are the King's Head in Magdalen Street, the Shed (with Fat Cat Brewery), and the Duke of Wellington, all real ale pubs with an extensive selection of ales and some cider.

There is a major beer festival, organised by the local branch of CAMRA, held every year in St Andrews Hall. Beware that it gets extremely crowded though.

The local real ale of choice is Woodforde's Wherry. Woodfordes also brew Nelson's revenge among others. Also popular in pubs around the area are the two popular Adnams ales, The Bitter and Broadside, brewed in nearby Southwold.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Maids Head in Tombland but it is a bit old fashioned and out of date. They tried refurbishing their restaurant so maybe the will sort the rest of the inside soon too. It is in a very pretty building so it is good for tourists who want a bit of old England.

• Nelson hotel by the railway station. Very convenient but full of middle managers come to do some work for Norwich Union. Also can be very noisy at night as it is opposite Riverside (a big entertainment complex).

• Holiday Inn, Ipswich Road, just South of the outer ring road. During a February 2006 visit, it was noted by a group of Canadian visitors to have well appointed rooms. The bar area was stocked with numerous local beers, as well as some of the more well known continental brews. The restaurant was rather expensive, and breakfast was questionable.

• Hilton, Cromer Road. To the North of the city. Nice enough as all Hiltons are and convenient for the airport and Norfolk Broads.

There are a couple of new chains hotels in town. On Duke Street next to a new car park is the Premier Travel Inn, clean, cheap and central but very bland. There is also a new Travelodge next to the new bus station, bland but clean and convenient.

Out of the city there are some larger golf-type hotels. Dunston Hall (owned by the De Vere group) just south of the city and Sprowston Manor (owned by the Marriott group) just north of the city. Both are OK and generally get 4 star ratings but they are hardly hotels you would choose to go on holiday to. They have lots of facilities (spas, gold pools etc) and are the best place to stay around Norwich if you don’t need to be in the city centre.

[edit] Get out

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