A Tasty Suggestion
Tatlers has become an established name in the culinary annals of Norwich. Having been around for 35 years it has adapted to changing tastes and now serves modern British cuisine. While the interior maintains a formal air, the staff help create a friendly, relaxed environment in which to enjoy your meal. The menu contains a mix of dishes that utilize core British ingredients presented in an exotic manner with the use of a wide variety of spices and sauces. A dish that is typical of Tatlers and the skill of its head chef would be its Indian spice rubbed whole local plaice with pickled vegetables and potato raita. The quality of the meals on offer is matched by the quality of the price, with a main course starting from £10, Tatlers’ cuisine is a must for anyone who is new to the area and is looking for a taste that reflects Norwich’s eclectic atmosphere. Reservations available on +44 (0) 1603 766 670 or www.tatlers.com
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SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2008: The Norwich Fringe Festival showcases East Anglian culture at its finest. With events running throughout the month there is something for everyone. Go to www.norwichfringefestival.co.uk/
…and here are some more great things to see and do in and around Norwich…
OCTOBER – NOVEMBER 2008: The Norwich Beer Festival was first held in 1978 and has since become one of the biggest in its area. With over 200 cask ales from independent brewers it is a must for any beer drinker. For further information visit www.norwichcamra.org.uk/
MONTHLY: The comedy store in Norwich sees some of the best in new and current talent on the comedy circuit today. A great way to spend an evening out with friends or at a party. Go to www.theforumnorwich.co.uk/ to find out more.
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Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
The Sainsbury Collection presents art spanning 5,000 years from all corners of the globe including Africa, The Pacific, the Americas, Asia, medieval Europe and the ancient Mediterranean. Work by modern artists: Henry Moore, John Davies, Alberto Giacometti and Francis Bacon are also displayed. The building has newly been refurbished to include a shop and cafeteria and was reopened in May 2006. www.scva.ac.uk
A Grade 1 Dragon
Dragon Hall is one of the most important buildings in Norwich. This listed grade 1 building has recently undergone a £1.8 million restoration programme and re-opened its door to visitors in April 2006. The hall was built in 1430 by the merchant Robert Topps. The Museum has a wealth of artefacts, which recapture the atmosphere of this once very busy medieval trading place. www.dragonhall.org
Chapelfield Shopping Centre
This new development located close to the bus station, in the heart of the city, opened in September 2005. The complex has over 80 shops incorporating both the large chain stores and independent retailers. Chapelfield has over 17 cafes and restaurants and is a meeting place for visitors. www.chapelfield.co.uk
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Norwich, the capital of East Anglia, is a rich blend of historical grandeur and modern-day sophistication. The magnificent 900-year old Norman Cathedral, with the second highest spire in England, dominates the skyline. Below it, Norwich is awash with the familiar icons of 21st-century living. Shopping, dining, and nightlife are all here in great depth and variety.
It used to be said that Norwich had a pub for every day of the year, and at the end of the 19th century, partly due to a lively local brewing industry, there were many more, a total of 780. Two hundred are still left today, providing good beer, wine, and food to thirsty locals and ‘incomers’ (local slang for tourists and outsiders). It was also said that there was a church for every Sunday of the year, and it is true that Norwich has more medieval churches than anywhere in Western Europe, though many are no longer used for their original purpose.
There is a castle, and an ancient city wall with fortified towers. Norwich was the largest walled city in medieval England, and by the 17th century the largest provincial city. All around the city there are signs of its prosperous medieval past in the shape of huge buildings and charming cobbled alleyways. Wartime bombing raids destroyed some of the oldest buildings, but these have been replaced in a variety of architectural styles, some more pleasing than others. On Market Place, the City Hall (1938) and the Guildhall (1413) provide a useful comparison of old and new. As modern communications have made East Anglia less remote in recent years, money has flowed into the city and development has continued. It now has all the amenities of a modern European city, while retaining its old-fashioned charm.
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The Forum in Millennium Plain includes the BBC regional headquarters, Millennium Library, and Tourist Information Centre. This is a good place to pick up a map before your start your tour. Even better, start with Origins at the Forum, an interactive museum about the history of the region. This is particularly suitable for children.
Norwich is an easy city to cover on foot, and you will notice many interesting buildings. Prime examples are The Georgian Assembly House, St Andrew’s Hall (a Dominican Friary), the Norman Castle Museum and Art Gallery, art nouveau Royal Arcade, art deco City Hall, as well as numerous medieval churches and fine flint buildings such as the Guildhall.
You could visit these one by one, but the heart of the city is round the corner on the Market Place. The traditional market has recently been refurbished displaying a riot of colour and activity. Here you can see the aforementioned City Hall and Guildhall forming a right angle on the square, separated by more than 500 years of architectural history. Here you can try one of Norwich’s many traditional pubs, as the Sir Garnet Wolseley is handily positioned on Market Place.
Suitably refreshed, you can continue with some shopping. Norwich has one of the highest proportions of small independent shops as well as big names. In particular try Digby’s chocolaterie in the Arcade, Perfect Pad in Lower Goat Lane and Brambles in Exchange Street for gifts. Visit the Kettle of Fish in St Benedict’s for handmade art. Wander through the Rambles of Pottergate and Bedford Street and you will find countless interesting stores and boutiques.
Return to St Benedict’s Street for dinner, where you have a choice of Italian at the Trattoria Italia, or Spanish at Don Pepe’s. Alternatively, visit one of the four theatres in the city, or head off east to the Riverside, where there are pubs and clubs to suit all ages and tastes.
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Norwich and the surrounding area offers visitors a large range of quality accommodation, and you can choose to stay in a historic building in the city centre, or a hotel in a budget chain.
For a really special break, why not stay at the sumptuous De Vere Dunston Hall Hotel? With its soaring chimneys and arched gables, this red brick mansion was built as a country retreat in 1859 and now offers the superb comfort of a top four-star hotel, complete with four-poster beds and open fires. Dunston Hall is perfectly placed for exploring the beauty and variety of Norfolk with its unspoilt beaches, bustling seaside resorts and country houses and not least, the stunning Norfolk Broads. Book on +44 (0) 871 900 8297 or www.flybehotels.com
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By car: Explore the city and the countryside in comfort and style at great prices! Get the best deal by checking Flybe's partner Avis for the best available car hire rates at www.flybe.com/avis
By road: Norwich city centre can be reached very easily from the airport by heading south on the A140. Contact Flybe’s partner Avis for the best available car hire rates. www.flybe.com/avis
By bus: Bus services operate from the airport direct to the city centre bus station, at the heart of Norwich city centre.
By taxi: Taxis also operate from the terminal building, and vary in cost
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By bus: Norwich bus services are well organised and regular. For timetables, call +44 (0)1603 223 800. The main bus station is centrally located at St Stephen's street. Special bus tickets for travel within Norwich, and for coach journeys further a field, are available from The Travel Centre located at the bus station. Six Park and Ride services currently operate from the suburbs into the centre of Norwich (price £2.80). This is a much better option than bringing your car into the narrow streets of this medieval city www.norwichareatransport.org
By rail: The mainline railway station is on the outskirts of town, just off the Thorpe Road. For all your timetables and fares UK wide: National Rail Enquiries (+44 (0) 8457 48 49 50). For all your rail travel requirements: Traveline +44 (0) 870 608 2 608. www.nationalrail.co.uk
Cycling: Norfolk is one of the best English counties for cycling, because it is so flat. It is also an ideal way to get round the narrow streets of Norwich. A map showing Norwich cycle routes is available online or by phoning +44 (0)1603 213 502. www.norwich.gov.uk
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Boat tours: City Boats offers a relaxed way of taking in the sites and history of Norwich and the rest of Norfolk. There are many trips to choose from, some passing through the heart of Norwich. Should you wish to deviate from the set route City Boats also has a selection of boats for hire ranging from four-seater skiffs to a ten-seater covered day cruiser. Tel: +44 (0) 1603 701 701 or www.cityboats.co.uk
Camping: For those that want to get a feel for both Norwich city and the surrounding countryside the Norwich Camping and Caravanning Club site is located 30 minutes from the centre of Norwich. The location has its own part-walled garden and river that can be accessed from the site for anyone wishing to angle. The site has 50 pitches, showers, toilets and a bus service five minutes’ walk away. Tel: +44 (0) 1603 620 060 or visit www.siteseeker.co.uk
Norwich City Football Club: Norwich City, sponsored by Flybe will be playing once again in the Coca-Cola football league championship. Tickets for the Canaries’ matches can be bought online and on the day. This season will see new signing Matthew Gilks put through his paces in goal, book online to see how he and Norwich’s oldest club fare. www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk
Guided Walks: Getting fully immersed in the history of Norwich couldn’t be easier. With a huge selection of guided walks to chose from, each dealing with a particular aspect of Norwich’s heritage. The walks range from thosethat reveal more about the city’s Saxon origins, a trip that Queen Elizabeth I made in 1578 as well as Norwich rich trading past to the more enigmatic Dead Parrot Tour and a tour that takes you to a sample of Norwich’s 700 pubs! Tel: +44 (0) 1603 727 927 or visit www.visitnorwich.co.uk
Norwich Puppet Theatre: Founded in 1979, the theatre is the base for a nationally unique form of theatre that offers entertainment for the whole family. The company’s style is influenced by various cultures from around the world and they are always hosting companies from many nationalities. Productions range from Snow White to The Emperor’s new clothes. Shows include shadow puppetry, rod, glove and mask puppets as well as a variety of workshops. Tel: +44 (0) 1603 629 921 or visit www.puppettheatre.co.uk
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Norwich’s prosperity in the Middle Ages was built on the worsted cloth industry. There was ample employment for weavers, and the merchants got very rich. The textile industry declined in the 16th century but boomed again in the 17th, and specialist banks sprang up to cope with the influx of cash. One Quaker banking family married into the Barclay family of London, laying the foundation of Barclays Bank. The world-famous insurance company, Norwich Union, was also established around this time.
The 19th century brought commercial success in four main sectors of industry. Jeremiah James Colman set up the company that was to make his name synonymous with mustard the world over. It was said that his fortune ‘was made from what was left on the plate’. A.J. Caley started the chocolate factory that was taken over by Rowntree Mackintosh and, eventually, Nestlé. The shoe industry flourished, with the establishment of the largest shoe factory in Europe, and the origins of the world-famous Start-Rite brand. Finally, brewing took off, with the foundation of 26 breweries in Norwich, of which only one now remains.
The improvement of road and rail links in recent years has led to many more ‘incomers’ choosing to make Norwich their home. It is now within commuting distance of London and, for example, the high-tech industrial centres around Cambridge. The establishment of the University of East Anglia has helped to keep the city refreshed with new ideas and a steady stream of cosmopolitan youth. Norwich has succeeded in shaking off its slightly fuddy-duddy image and has become an attractive place to live and work.
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The Cathedral of the Holy and Undivided Trinity: The 900-year-old cathedral is an unmissable landmark in the centre of the city. It has the largest monastic cloisters and the second tallest spire in England. There are guided tours three times a day, starting at the West End of the cathedral, price £2.50 (+44 (0)1603 218 321). www.cathedral.org.uk
Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery: The 12th-century Castle is one of the oldest secular buildings in England, and is home to a museum and gallery. The museum’s exhibits include the largest teapot collection in the world, a fabulous collection of 7000 books and manuscripts, and the Colman’s Mustard Shop and Museum. The gallery features many paintings from the 19th-century ‘Norwich School’ of painters. www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk
Origins at the Forum: Origins is a state-of-the-art exhibition, based at the Forum, tracing how our cities have developed over the past 2000 years, taking Norwich as an example. Price £5.95 per adult. Concessions £3.95 Children under 4 yrs go free (+44 (0)1603 727 920) www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk
Elm Hill: Elm Hill is one of the oldest streets in Norwich and is a leap back in history. It was largely rebuilt after the great fire of 1507 but still retains its Tudor character to the present day. The narrow cobbled streets are edged either side by genuine Tudor houses and quaint little shops selling crafts and antiques. There are more Tudor houses in Elm Hill than in the whole of the City of London.
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Norwich is the perfect base from which to explore the remarkable Norfolk countryside.
The Norfolk Broads is a unique area of water, grazing marshes, and fen and woodland, which is home to some of the rarest plants and creatures in the UK. Its waterways are used for recreation and visitors can enjoy boating holidays and other outdoor activities. You can hire any variety of boat, from motor cruiser to launch, from sailing yacht to dinghy, for a week or a day, but make sure to book well in advance. Try City Boats in Norwich itself (+44 (0)1603 701 701) www.cityboats.co.uk or Hoseasons, which operates from 19 different boatyards on the Broads, including Horning, Wroxham, and Potter Heigham (+44 (0) 1502 502 588). www.hoseasons.co.uk
www.cityboats.co.uk
For golf, head for Norfolk’s newest championship-standard leisure and golf resort, the Marriott Sprowston Manor Hotel Golf and Country Club. A five-star property located 3km outside Norwich, it is set in 70 hectares of mature parkland. Another top-quality golf venue is Barnham Broom, with two 18-hole courses, tennis and squash courts set in 100 hectares a few miles out of town near East Dereham (+44 (0)1603 759 393).
About 3km heading east out of the city centre you’ll find Thorpe St Andrew. The Rivergarden at 36 Yarmouth Road is a highly recommended pub with good food (+44 (0)1603 703 900).
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Norwich is famed for the number of its pubs, serving world-renowned ales.
The Riverside complex offers a variety of pubs and clubs serving until the wee small hours. This is the main clubbing area, but it can get a bit rowdy on Friday and Saturday nights. Here you could visit Ignite which welcomes clubbers over 18 and for those who are over 25, check out Lava and Brannigans. There’s also a Lloyds No.1 Wetherspoons at 6 The Riverside, with a good Chinese restaurant close by. Along the Prince of Wales Road recommended clubs are Mercy and Optic.
A bit further from the city centre a good pub is the Unthank Arms on 149 Newmarket Street (+44(0)1603 631 557). This is always packed with university students downstairs, but there is a quieter space upstairs with an upmarket restaurant.
For theatregoers, there is the 1300-seater Theatre Royal on Theatre Street, which puts on musicals, opera, ballet, drama, and cabaret from international production companies (+44 (0)1603 630 000). You can get pre-show dinners here, which are recommended.
The Maddermarket Theatre in St John’s Alley offers local repertory in an atmospheric Tudor environment (+44 (0) 1603 620 917).
The Playhouse Theatre offers contemporary theatre and music from all over the country. Housed in a converted medieval church, Norwich Puppet Theatre is one of only two puppet theatres in England (+44 (0) 1603 615 564).
A fun alternative to nightclubs is the Miller Dance and Performing Arts Centre. Located at Ropemakers Row, they are the leading dance centre in East Anglia. They offer a wide range of classes from hip-hop to strictly ballroom and ballet to rock and roll. There is something for everyone. Call +44 (0)1603 488 249.
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New properties have been springing up in Norwich and May 2007 saw the first families move into an entire new village that is being constructed five miles away from the city centre. The project aims to construct 1300 new homes in the Queen’s Hill area, complete with 86 acres of country park, a local school and a village centre.
As a part of the new development, Barratt Homes is constructing 165 homes in Ringland Park area of the Queen’s Hill development. These will include two to five bedroom houses and two bedroom apartments, ranging in price from £146,500 to £258,000. The location allows for commuters to travel into Norwich and then all over Norfolk and surrounding counties thanks to extensive rail links.
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Norwich is a medieval city, flourishing on the wool trade in the 15th and 16th centuries. This means that there was money to spend on church-building at a time when the talents of architects and stonemasons were producing some fine work. Apart from the magnificent Norwich Cathedral, and another Roman Catholic cathedral just outside the city wall, there are more than 50 medieval churches in Norwich itself. There are more than 700 in the outlying areas of Norfolk and many hundreds more in Suffolk to the south. This makes the region a paradise for anyone interested in church architecture. Highly recommended is Norfolk’s Churches by C.V.Roberts and R.H.Tilbrook (Jarrold 1997), which includes a gazetteer of churches in Norfolk, with commentary and excellent photographs of 60 of the most interesting.
One of the best ways of discovering the real sights of the city is to take the riverside footpath from the railway station that follows the River Wensum. This offers lovely views of the cathedral and takes you through some old parts of the city. Sights on the way include Pull’s Ferry, where there is a 15th-century Watergate, and Bishop’s Bridge, which dates from 1340. You may also see an old sailing barge, or Norfolk wherry, moored up on the riverbank. At the end of the footpath, turn left onto Palace Street and make your way to Elm Hill, a picturesque cobbled street with beautiful old timber-framed houses.
Even less well known, and great for an after-lunch stroll, is the Plantation Garden, a restored Victorian garden hidden away behind the Roman Catholic cathedral on the west side of the city. The garden is open to the public every day, admission £2.
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