Best places to stay in Norwich
Hoveton Estate
BeWILDerwood, Horning Road, Hoveton, Norwich, NR12 8JW
Sleep under a dreamy night’s sky at Hoveton Estate, with a wood burner and bed providing a cosy rural vibe as you camp in comfort.
Located close to BeWILDerwood adventure park, the estate is within a stone’s throw of a hive of outdoor activities.
The Old Vicarage Campsite
Reedham Road, Moulton St Mary, Norwich, NR13 3NH
Located deep within the Broads, this campsite provides traditional camping facilities as well as hexagonal-shaped pods, which come with a double bed and are heated by a brazier.
Maids Head Hotel
20 Tombland, Norwich NR3 1LB
This elegant four-star hotel dates back more than 800 years, making it the oldest in the UK. It’s in the heart of Norwich, opposite the cathedral and just a short distance from the castle. Wander inside and you’ll be treading in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth I and Catherine of Aragon.
Best places to eat in Norwich
The Bicycle Shop
17 St Benedicts St, Norwich NR2 4PE
For more than 80 years this café was a bike shop – today it’s almost beyond recognition, with a warm glow, rustic furniture and house plants galore. No wonder it’s a place to see and be seen.
The menu is top-notch too, featuring dishes such as confit Norfolk duck leg in a tomato, and orange and haricot bean cassoulet.
Benedicts
9 St Benedicts St, Norwich NR2 4PE
This restaurant is renowned for serving up creative dishes using local produce. It’s owned by Richard Bainbridge, star of Great British Menu and a chef who knows his way around Michelin-starred kitchens.
His signature dessert, Nanny Bush’s Trifle, was a winning dish on the show – this is one of the reasons why the restaurant is so popular. As you might imagine, Benedicts is a high-class affair – make sure you book ahead to guarantee a table.
Grosvenor Fish Bar
28 Lower Goat Ln, Norwich NR2 1EL
It’d be rude to go anywhere near the Norfolk coast without sampling fish and chips – and this restaurant serves up the traditional dish in some pretty unique surroundings.
Book a table in the atmospheric underground grotto and check out the specials, which often include Wako Taco and Bass with Sass.
Best things to do in and around Norwich
Whitlingham Country Park
Trowse, Norwich, NR14 8TR
If you don’t have a whole day to explore the Broads, Whitlingham Country Park is a good shout. Located on the outskirts of the city, it offers a taste of the flatlands’ lush tranquillity.
Cycle around the woodland or take to the water by hiring a canoe, kayak or paddle board.
Horsey Beach
Horsey, NR29 4EJ
Head to Horsey Beach for a chance to spot grey seals and their young on the sand – most common in winter.
Alternatively, make your way to Blakeney Point and Morston, where you can take a boat trip out and see seals bobbing around the lapping waves.
Great Yarmouth
Seafront, Great Yarmouth, NR30 2EN
Car hire in Norwich leaves you spoilt for choice when it comes to beautiful beaches.
If you head to Great Yarmouth, you can soak up the sun on the sand before enjoying the attractions along the Golden Mile – including rides at the famous Pleasure Beach.
