uk city guide - Norwich

Norwich

Norwich is a diverse, sophisticated city with both historical and modern influences. It is set in one of the most picturesque parts of England, with gently rolling hills and woodland forests. The town itself still carries much of its medieval charm in its historic buildings and many cobbled streets. There are also many guided and unguided walks in the city where you can discover the extraordinary heritage of Norwich and its outstanding buildings. Or, you can take one of the many cycle routes and see this wonderul city by bicycle. This city has a little bit of everything for everyone, and is always a fun place to visit.

The skyline is dominated by the triangular spire of the Norwich Cathedral. This magnificent building is really worth your while to stop by and see. The details of this cathedral, more so than other cathedrals in England, really make this church stand out. For example, each roof timber has a "boss", a theological statue or image. There are over 1,000 bosses to see. One of the most beautiful areas of the church is the Cathedral Close. This long hallway has incredible arches overhead and makes for stunning picture. You'll definitely want to take a guided tour to have all the details pointed out to you as well as get some history of the building. The cost is £4.00 for adults, and advanced booking is preferred if you can do it due to the popularity of the cathedral.

You'll also want to stop by the Norwich Castle and Art Museum. From the outside, this castle appears to be the most bland, but its treasures on the inside make this castle one you won't want to miss.Inside, you can see all the treasures of the castle as well as the many historical art collections which tell stories about Norwich. There is an entire gallery dedicated to showing the history of life in England right after the collapse of the Roman Empire, and includes a fascinating reconstruction of an Anglo-Saxon grave site. There are also art galleries exhibiting paintings from teh 17th to the 20th century including English watercolors, Dutch landscapes and modern British paintings. Admission is £6.30 for adults, and hours are Monday to Friday 10AM to 4PM, Saturday 10AM to 5PM and Sunday 1PM to 5PM.

Quite the opposite of the Cathedral and Castle is the ultra modern Forum built in the late 90's to replace part of the city that burned. Here you'll find many shopping centres, malls and restaurants to fit any taste.

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See a Map of Norwich