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Original poster

A day in Norwich

135 replies

RedDoughnut · 17/07/2023 13:49

What should I do with a full day to myself in Norwich?

Somewhere to park?
Somewhere nice to eat?
What to see?

Anyone with local info please post your suggestions. Thanks!

OP posts:
justaweeone · 17/07/2023 16:51

Glitterbiscuits · 17/07/2023 14:59

Oh, what day is market day?

Love all food as long as it's vegetarian. Sounds like a foodie city!

Is the museum/castle worth a look?

This is a nice vegetarian restaurant

https://thetipsyvegan.co.uk/norwich/

IamThegreaterMole · 17/07/2023 16:59

ProfYaffle · 17/07/2023 15:48

The Garnet is a pub on the edge of the market, they let you take food from the market in there which is handy if it's raining. Check out the Bodega stall and have a beer at Sir Toby's.

My favourite restaurant is Shiki's on Tombland.

If Escape rooms are your thing Cryptic Escape on Tombland is amazing, we loved The Haunting.

The Castle Museum has a display about the wreck of the Gloucester which is really interesting. Because some parts of the castle are closed you currently get a ticket for entrance to The Bridewell Museum as well which is also worth a visit.

Please, please, please check out Arboretum on St Benedicts. I won't tell you too much in case it spoils the surprise. When you get there you'll only know it's open if the candle is burning in the lantern over the door.

I haven't tried The Canoe Man near the train station but people paddling up and down the river seem to be having fun so that might be worth a look.

St Gregory's antiques is fun, an antique market in a redundant church and it's right in the middle of The Lanes so lots of other little independent shops too. Head in the Clouds, Grosvenor Fish Bar and the Belgian Monk are all Norwich institutions.

Head in the Clouds is still there?! I was last in there about 35 years ago! This thread is making me very nostalgic.

cheapskatemum · 17/07/2023 17:23

St Julian of Norwich's cell & the small church on the site is also fascinating. 2 cathedrals, Market, castle, Jarrolds, cobbled streets as others have mentioned.

There's a Wagamamas which do gluten free, for the poster who asked about this. I also like The Wine Cellar because there's always menu items & specials which are meat or fish & vegetables, so can be gluten free. The Waffle House is definitely no good!

cheapskatemum · 17/07/2023 17:23

No good for gluten-free I mean!

ProfYaffle · 17/07/2023 17:35

IamThegreaterMole · 17/07/2023 16:59

Head in the Clouds is still there?! I was last in there about 35 years ago! This thread is making me very nostalgic.

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Yep - my kids love it!

ShowOfHands · 17/07/2023 17:50

Head in the Clouds has been open for 50yrs. I buy most of my clothes from there! It still smells the same as it did when I was little.

BettyRoodBoy · 17/07/2023 17:52

TheThingIsYeah · 17/07/2023 16:50

Don’t get any over the valance will you.

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Is that the frilly skirt thing around the bed?

(Sorry OP for being no help whatsoever!)

Xrays · 17/07/2023 17:56

Sex people?? What??

We go into Norwich a lot, we live about 30 mins away. Personally I can’t be bothered with the faff of park and ride and we always park at Intu car park - but obviously appreciate it depends what side of the city you’re coming from. Never have an issue getting a space, even if there’s a queue it goes down really quickly.

Another vote for Waffle house and a visit to the Cathedral. The castle is fun to look round if you like history although the keep is shut (or it was anyway for refurbishment) so it’s not as fun as usual.

The Grosvenor fish and chip bar is amazing too - right over the other side near St Benedict’s I think. Lovely chips!

ShowOfHands · 17/07/2023 18:00

Sex people!

A day in Norwich
hettiethehare · 17/07/2023 18:01

I could really go a Waffle House ham, mushroom and cheese sauce waffle right now!

JorisBonson · 17/07/2023 18:02

I've heard there's a cracking owl sanctuary.

Ostryga · 17/07/2023 18:02

Go to Jorge’s for tapas. Anna will be serving you and she is genuinely the loveliest woman you’ll ever meet. Plus the food is fab and the wine is perfect.

Bibbitybobbitty · 17/07/2023 18:03

Castle is covered in scaffolding & currently closed, museum is open but fairly dull in terms of modern museums, very little interactive stuff. Cathedral was lovely & has a nice cafe. TBH we found very little to do other than wandering around the lanes shopping areas.
Oh and we were pretty taken aback by the amount of public drunks/unpleasant behaviour on display mid week afternoon, lots of police moving them along but felt quite intimidating with young teens. We aren't generally prudish about this - live in Glasgow so well used to big cities but this had an edge to it which even DH found put him on edge.

Xrays · 17/07/2023 18:05

JorisBonson · 17/07/2023 18:02

I've heard there's a cracking owl sanctuary.

That’s miles away - Suffolk owl sanctuary. It’s a lovely place to visit though.

Oioicaptain · 17/07/2023 18:08

The waffle House is a must as is the area around the cathedral.

Oioicaptain · 17/07/2023 18:09

There's also a cracking barn that sells all sorts of reclaimed furniture and home accessories. I'll look it up.

JassyRadlett · 17/07/2023 18:10

Waitingforsummertocome · 17/07/2023 14:22

I would park in John Lewis and have a look around there. Then wander over to the two magpies which has the most amazing cakes. I would then spend a fortune in bookbugs and dragon tales just a bit further down timber hill from the magpies. After that I would wander down to the Norwich lanes and look around there before a drink, scone and shop in jarrolds. I would then wander back up to the car taking in the forum and market on the way.

This is literally what I was going to type.

Roselilly36 · 17/07/2023 18:16

justaweeone · 17/07/2023 16:48

I've never seen them and live locally

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Me neither 😂

SallyWD · 17/07/2023 18:39

MermaidEyes · 17/07/2023 16:17

Just watch out for the sex people.

What are the sex people?! Prostitutes?

Augend23 · 17/07/2023 18:44

I think market day is every day except Sundays, if I remember correctly.

Bread sauce has never failed to supply delicious foods when I have been in town.

Jarrolds department store is a must.

There's also an interesting sort of shop-cum-museum called I think Country and Eastern which sells stuff from south east Asia and has a collection of things from there.

ShowOfHands · 17/07/2023 18:51

Bibbitybobbitty · 17/07/2023 18:03

Castle is covered in scaffolding & currently closed, museum is open but fairly dull in terms of modern museums, very little interactive stuff. Cathedral was lovely & has a nice cafe. TBH we found very little to do other than wandering around the lanes shopping areas.
Oh and we were pretty taken aback by the amount of public drunks/unpleasant behaviour on display mid week afternoon, lots of police moving them along but felt quite intimidating with young teens. We aren't generally prudish about this - live in Glasgow so well used to big cities but this had an edge to it which even DH found put him on edge.

The castle dull? Oh lordy. It's one of my happy places.

I don't recognise the Norwich you've described at all and I lived and worked there for years and visit all the time. It's a safe city. Maybe it was having a bad day?

lljkk · 17/07/2023 19:18

where are you driving from, how long do you want to spend, how far would you walk?

Ostryga · 17/07/2023 19:28

Bibbitybobbitty · 17/07/2023 18:03

Castle is covered in scaffolding & currently closed, museum is open but fairly dull in terms of modern museums, very little interactive stuff. Cathedral was lovely & has a nice cafe. TBH we found very little to do other than wandering around the lanes shopping areas.
Oh and we were pretty taken aback by the amount of public drunks/unpleasant behaviour on display mid week afternoon, lots of police moving them along but felt quite intimidating with young teens. We aren't generally prudish about this - live in Glasgow so well used to big cities but this had an edge to it which even DH found put him on edge.

Not sure where you were but it wasn’t Norwich! I live in NR3 and have done for years - in the city center all the time. Never see anything like you’re describing (unless you’re on Prince of Wales at the weekend but no one sensible goes there).

Xrays · 17/07/2023 19:31

ShowOfHands · 17/07/2023 18:51

The castle dull? Oh lordy. It's one of my happy places.

I don't recognise the Norwich you've described at all and I lived and worked there for years and visit all the time. It's a safe city. Maybe it was having a bad day?

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I agree. Just read that post out to my dd who is home from Nottingham university and she was shocked 😆 She thinks Norwich and Norfolk are the most peaceful cities / places she’s been to and doesn’t recognise that version of it at all! (We moved here from south London about 15 years ago).