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Voykit pocket guide · United Kingdom
Norwich
Give Norwich 2 nights: walk the medieval centre and two cathedrals in a day, then use it as a base for the Broads or the north Norfolk coast.
Norwich is a compact medieval city with two cathedrals, a Norman castle and one of England's best-preserved old centres, 1 h 50 min by train from London Liverpool Street. Most of it is walkable in a day, but it works best as a 2-night base for the Broads and the north Norfolk coast.
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Best months
- May–Sep; Dec for the Christmas market
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, wet, quiet)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- GBP
- Money
- Currency is the pound sterling (GBP, £). Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; some places are card-only.
- Daily spend
- Budget £55–85 excl. bed · Mid £90–150 excl. bed · High £160+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EE, Vodafone (merged with Three in 2025) and O2 run the networks; prepaid SIMs sell in supermarkets, phone shops and airport vending machines, no registration needed.
- Emergency
- NHS non-urgent 111 · Police non-urgent 101
- Plugs
- Types G · 230 V · 50 Hz · Three-pin Type G only; European, US and Australian plugs need an adapter. Bathrooms have two-pin shaver sockets only.
- Tipping
- Restaurant with table service: 10–12.5% if no service charge is on the bill; check before adding more.; Pub or bar: Not expected; 'and one for yourself' offers the bartender a drink.; Taxi: Round up or 10%.; Hotel porter: £1–2 per bag.; Tour guide: £5–10 per person for a day tour; free walking tours expect £10–15.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Free refills are common; restaurants will bring tap water if you ask.
- Toilets
- Public toilets are scarce and some charge 50p–£1 or are card-only. Stations, museums, department stores and pubs (if you buy a drink) are the fallback.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | £3–4.50 |
| Pub main course | £12–18 |
| Pint of beer | £4.50–6 |
| Fish and chips | £10–16 |
| Cathedral entry (donation suggested) | £0–8 |
| Castle museum entry | £10–14 |
| City bus single | £2–3 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | £8–15 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- NWI · Norwich International
- Regional airport 6 km north of the centre; bus to the city centre under 30 min (check).Regional airport 3.7 mi north of the centre; bus to the city centre under 30 min (check).
- STN · London Stansted
- Direct Greater Anglia trains to Norwich; also National Express coaches.
- LHR · London Heathrow
- National Express coach direct, or Elizabeth line to Liverpool Street then Greater Anglia.
Typical fares
- Train London Liverpool Street → Norwich
- about £30–70 advance, 1 h 50 min (check)
- Train Norwich → Hoveton and Wroxham
- about £5–7, 20 min (check)
- Taxi city centre → airport
- £15–22 (check)
Get around
The centre is compact and best on foot: the castle, market, both cathedrals and Elm Hill sit within about 1.5 km. City buses (mostly First) link the station, Riverside, the university and the airport, but many routes change in the centre. Norwich is on National Cycle Route 1 and the 26-mile Marriott's Way; some painted cycle lanes are narrow, so ride with care.The centre is compact and best on foot: the castle, market, both cathedrals and Elm Hill sit within about 0.9 mi. City buses (mostly First) link the station, Riverside, the university and the airport, but many routes change in the centre. Norwich is on National Cycle Route 1 and the 26-mile Marriott's Way; some painted cycle lanes are narrow, so ride with care.
See and do
Known for
- Norwich Cathedral
- Norwich Castle
- Elm Hill and the medieval lanes
- Norwich Market
- The Broads and north Norfolk coast nearby
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Wroxham and Hoveton (The Broads) | Bittern Line train from Norwich to Hoveton and Wroxham, about 20 min | About 45 min |
| Cromer | Bittern Line train from Norwich, about 50 min | About 1 h |
| Great Yarmouth | Wherry Line train from Norwich, about 35 min | About 50 min |
| Wells-next-the-Sea | Train to Sheringham then Coasthopper bus, or drive about 50 min | 1.5–2 h |
| King's Lynn | Train via Ely, or excel bus from Norwich bus station | 1.5–2 h |
| Thetford | Train from Norwich, about 35 min | About 50 min |
Sleep
- City centre (Castle Quarter / Market)
- Walk to everything; best for a short first visit.
- Cathedral Quarter (Tombland)
- Quiet lanes around the cathedral and Elm Hill; 5–10 min walk to the market.
- Riverside / Prince of Wales Road
- Near the station and nightlife; convenient for early trains, noisier at weekends.
- Golden Triangle (Unthank Road area)
- Residential streets with cafés, 15–20 min walk south of the centre; cheaper rooms.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thank you |
| Please | Please |
| Excuse me | Excuse me |
| How much is it? | How much is it? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| Where is the toilet? | Where is the toilet? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake at first meeting; 'hi' and first names quickly; avoid: Cheek kisses with strangers
- Conversation: Weather is a safe opener; understatement and self-deprecating humour; avoid: Asking about salary or class
- Queues: Join at the back; avoid: Pushing onto buses or trains before others get off
- Apologies: 'Sorry' is said constantly, even when not at fault; avoid: Taking it as an admission of blame
- Pubs: Buy rounds in a group; wait at the bar without waving money; avoid: Clicking fingers at staff
- Nations: Call Scots Scottish and Welsh Welsh; avoid: Calling the whole UK 'England'
Scams and watch-outs
- Parking in the centre is limited and pricey; use a Park and Ride site (free parking, bus fare applies) if driving in.
- No direct trains from King's Lynn or Downham Market; change at Ely and allow over 1 h 30 min.
- The A11 is the main road in from London; there are no motorways near the city.
- Riverside and Prince of Wales Road get loud late on weekend nights.
Norwich is a safe, walkable city by UK standards. The real issues are pickpocketing and late-night drink crowds around Riverside and Prince of Wales Road, and unlit riverside paths after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Norwich yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Norwich Cathedral
- Norwich Castle
- Elm Hill and the medieval lanes
- Norwich Market
- The Broads and north Norfolk coast nearby
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Visit Norwich — official tourism site: www.visitnorwich.co.uk/
- Norwich City Council: www.norwich.gov.uk/
- National Rail — journey planner: www.nationalrail.co.uk/
- Wikivoyage: Norwich, revision 5339647 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5339647
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Norwich
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in Norwich; the US embassy and most others are in London. Consular help for emergencies: check your embassy's London page.
English is spoken everywhere; no phrasebook needed.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/norwich). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.