I atended a wedding here in October and what a stunning place. Along with a spacious hall, with…read morebeams and original dragon features, it also contains lots of interesting information and history of the place. As a venue for events, it has a lovely outside courtyard, perfect for warm evenings and photos opportunities. The staff were extremely helpful and friendly, and the layout of the facilities were excellent. One major memory that has to be mentioned are the super strength hand driers in the toilets!!

I really enjoyed a Birthday Party here in 2007, amongst the ancient beams and history. A really…read moremellow place to eat drink and be merry and to soak up 1,000 years of Norwich life.

Excellent Cathedral, beautiful architecture, amazing stained glass windows, covered cloister to…read morewalk around (keep an eye out for the graffiti on the walls), still some traces of the original paint on the cathedral ceiling, watch out for the quirky historical touches eg the font is made from recycled machinery from a local chocolate factory. We were lucky to arrive just as a walking tour was about to start and we joined in and learned so much about this majestic building, it is definitely worth taking a tour to get in depth info from the friendly knowledgeable tour guide. There is a nice gift shop, and a cafe which was unfortunately closed by the time we finished our Cathedral visit but looked inviting. I did love the smell of the Cathedral when we entered, that old/cold/slightly musty smell, I don't know if there is a word for that fragrance but if not there needs to be! Petrichor describes the smell of rain....biblichor the smell of old books.....perhaps Cathchor?

Norwich Cathedral is a gem of English mediaeval architecture, and one of the best preserved from…read morethe Norman period. History The Normans moved the Saxon see of Elmham to Thetford in 1072 and again to Norwich in 1094. Building started in 1096 and was completed in 1145. Much of this fabric survives, particularly the main tower and the arcading of the nave and choir. The exceptions include the clerestory of the choir, rebuilt in the Perpendicular style after the spire collapsed in 1362; the spire itself (1480), replaced after being struck by lightning in 1463; the vaults, built successively in the 15th and 16th centuries; and the cloister (1297-1430). The cathedral suffered badly in the Commonwealth period, when mobs stripped what they regarded as idolatrous furnishings. Repairs were carried out after the Restoration of Charles II in 1660, and again in the 19th century in 1950s. A new, award-winning refectory was built in 2004 on the site of the mediaeval original. The Church The Cathedral retains its original proportions and ground plan, unusually in England in having an apsidal East End behind the high altar, with a processional ambulatory. The spire is, at 315ft, the second highest in England after Salisbury; the cloisters are the also the second most extensive (again after Salisbury). The arcades are wonderful examples of Norman Romanesque, but the vaulting is equally spectacular - the collection of bosses (over 1,000 in total) is unique. Those in the Nave tell the story from the Creation to the Day of Judgement, whereas those in the Cloister (which are more easily accessible) depict the life of Christ and scenes from the Apocalypse. Other furnishings of interest include a superb set of over 60 misericords, the 11th century statue of St Felix, and the outstanding Despenser Reredos. Rediscovered in 1847, this dates from the time of the Peasants' Revolt in 1381, and may have been commissioned as a thanksgiving. The Erpingham Window contains most of the Cathedral's surviving mediaeval glass. Outside the Cathedral, the Cathedral Close has well preserved 14th and 15th century gatehouses, and a variety of buildings, ruins, monuments and gardens within its 85 acres. Buried here are the remains of Edith Cavell (1865-1915), the nurse infamously executed in Brussels by the German Empire in the First World War. Her remains were brought back to Britain and interred in 1919.

Elm Hill is a great place to wander around wasting time. A…read morefew years ago I had been in the church crypt here, with friends, having coffee and wandered off to look in the fantasy bookshop. The area is medieval, pretty and quaint with little courtyards off it. Antique shops, craft and book shops etc. I wandered down a coutyard and there was a taxidermists shop. The door was open so I went in and looked around..no-one came and I left. Back with my friends we got a taxi back to the uni and they told me there was no taxidermists???? Some time later I saw a book in a shop in Lincoln called Shadows in the Watchgate by Mike Jeffries. It was a spooky scary fantasy set in Elm Hill and with an evil taxidermist who lived there. I had a bit of a panic..my friends said there was no taxidermist soanyway eventually my cousin told me there was and she knew him. PHEW! Elm Hill was also converted into the village of Wall and the bookshop became the pub in Neil Gaimans film Stardust. Enchanting place and on a warm summer day explore..sit under the trees and dream. (read the book and see the film too) :0)))

Somewhere you will find in all the guide books, take yourself off the beaten track and visit old…read moreNorwich. The cobbles of Elm hill with their range of antique shops, galleries, and specialist shops are legendary. At the top you will find the Britons Arms, one of the oldest coffee shops in the city, and you may not know that the street was used in the film Stardust. Take time to browse, and investigate the little courtyards that lead off - including a lovely quaint tea shop tucked away - Elm Hill's fab secret! Elm Hill was named after the beautiful Elm Trees, sadly they suffered from Dutch Elm disease in the 1970s but Elm Hill lives on and no visit to Norwich should be complete without it.

This is a fantastic place for a good norfolk country walk, could walk for miles in the countryside,…read morethe castle itself is a great find and a great part of english Heritage. Unfortunatly we went many years ago, so I can't be more informative, but this place sticks in my mind wandering about the castle because it was so pretty to view and full of history

Oxburgh Hall is a place that shouldn't be missed when visiting the area. It sits within a moat and…read moreis a great example of English brick gatehouses of the 15th century. It was originally built circa 1482 by Sir Edmund Bedingfeld and has been continuously occupied by the family ever since. There have been several upgrades as well over the years...centuries. There are Victorian additions that were added later in the 1800's like the terracotta chimneys and windows along with amazing gardens to name a few. It has always been used as a home, and not a fortress. The home has seen the War of the Roses, survived a fire and near demolition prospects and still stands. It is truly an amazing place to visit and I'm happy it's under the care of the National Trust. The hall is known for its "Priest hole". In the event of a raid a priest could hide in the wall and couldn't be found. This is open to the public, whereas most like it are closed. That makes this is a fantastic historical opportunity alone. I must say, it is a little unsettling to go into the hole and you definitely get the idea of how the priest must have felt. The home is also known for the needlework on display by Mary, Queen of Scots while imprisoned in England and Bess of Hardwick. You can also tour the Kings Room where King Henri VIII stayed when visiting. Photos are not allowed inside...darn it, but you are welcome to take pictures of the grounds and such. You can obtain books and postcards in the gift shop. This review was overdue and I simply can't believe that I didn't finish it. But I'm even more surprised that no one else has reviewed this place when it is so extraordinary. It shouldn't be missed if you are in the area. If you are a history buff like us, then you'll truly enjoy it. Gee Whiz info...the name is pronounced: "OX bru" Note: I also recommend becoming a member of the National Trust. They do great things and keep history alive. Whether you are from or live in the UK or just visiting from outside the country...it's well worth it and goes to a great cause...it's a win/win for all!

We took the family (inc 2 children age 11 and 12) to Blickling Hall last summer, and spent a very…read moreenjoyable day there. The house was typical National Trust with informative guides located around the house to provide information when needed, and plenty of exhibits to give you a feeling of time gone by. The children were given a quiz sheet to keep their interest and they learnt a lot as they went round the house. Outside were beautiful grounds, lots of space to walk round at leisure and to give the children chance to run around. We took a picnic with us, but supplemented this with some wonderful locally made pork pies that we bought from the shop located at the entrance. The gift shop was well stocked, but the shop at the entrance took some beating with excellent produce to take away. If you took out National Trust membership, they refund your entrance fee, meaning that you could make significant savings if you wanted to visit other NT properties throughout the year - well worth doing.

enjoyable day out for all the family, went a couple of years ago with the family and lots of fun…read morehad by all.

Well laid out but as its off a layby some people may find it hard to locate…read more Parking on layby is no problem and bus service is on the main road at the site and you can easily go to Yarmouth or Norwich.

Absolutely lovey visit to this stunningly architecturally exquisite cathedral, made extra special…read moreby Shirley, our tour guide, who shared her love of this special place by sharing her secrets with us and bringing an old empty stone building alive with history and characters. Stained glass was stunning. The defaced saints etc shows how the cathedral managed to survive religious upheavals through the years and still stay a focus for the local population's faith. Nice gift shop to peruse and take a gift or memory home with you. Definitely put this majestic historical building on your Ely itinerary.

Today, 21 November 2025 was Ely Cathedral's annual Christmas Market…read more First, the exterior architecture was stunningly amazing. To think that a building of this size and historic nature is being preserved is commendable. Inside, the numerous stained glass is breathtakingly beautiful. But the reason for today's visit was the annual Christmas Market, a ticketed event featuring high quality artists. The aroma of dried orange wreaths fill the church. I can't begin to name all the artwork being sold, and included the church gift shop. A truly memorable experience!