Visit Norwich

In the words of “Oh th eplaceyou ’l Dr Suess... go ” Maids Head Hotel Norwich says Melanie Cook of VisitNorwich this summer

Bellotto at Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery

Photo: Daniel Wildey / Paul Dickson Tours, Norwich Cathedral Close

“You’re on mute” should be a distant memory as we begin – thankfully – to enjoy more freedoms than we’ve had in months. Gone are friends and family members frozen on screen with seconds feeling like minutes as we wait to reconnect, and gone are the days of only being dressed from the waist up. We now have our full body to consider. And shoes.

Having spent what feels much longer than a year in slippers and ‘nice tops’ we’re getting closer to enjoying life as it used to be. And whilst we’ve been patiently waiting in the wings, many of our favourite venues have been hard at work making sure they’re Head Out Not Home July 2019safe to welcome us back and, in some cases, able to offer us more things to do than before. We’ve seen a lot of innovation, thinking outside the box and investment taking place.

Staycations are the big travel story this year. The spotlight has never shined so brightly on domestic travel destinations near and far. TV has adapted and we’ve looked down the lens watching unique travelogues from around our beautiful isles – in all weathers – it’s been an absolute delight to watch. I think we’ve all learned something from these shows. One lesson being that destinations in the UK can still be enjoyed thoroughly in our wetter, colder months and that no matter where you are there is delicious seasonal food and drink to enjoy. We just need the right clothes and attitude. Yes, we’re back to being fully dressed again.

Another lesson learnt has been that whatever we thought we knew about our home there is still more to discover. This summer The Assembly House in Norwich opens three new bedrooms to add to the eleven they already have. I can’t wait to see what they look like. Last summer I treated my family to a one-night stay, and though it was only a short distance from home it was a wonderful stay! Being able to walk in high heels to a restaurant close by and getting to my favourite shops in minutes was really great. And we did what we do when we go ‘away’, we enjoyed fabulous meals and food, we ate well and frequently in 24 hours! We really made the most of our surroundings and perfect city centre location. I can’t

20 1 9 F e s t i val

Ca t he dra l Sha kespeare

No rw ic h / Sm i t h B i l l P h o t o :

Photo: Trustees of the Natural History Museum

wait to do the same again this summer.

The Myrtle Fish is a new elegant Edwardian-style Frolic 31 electric launch from The Maids Head Hotel. It makes me happy to see such a lovely new way to enjoy more of Norwich and the river Wensum. The Myrtle Fish will take landlubbers on a two-hour gentle motor to Whitlingham Country Park through Norwich. Passengers will gain a new perspective of the city from the water, a river which hundreds of years ago was busy with traders bringing exotic goods and textiles from the continent. Some Myrtle Fish services will also include afternoon tea – less exotic but defi nitely more refi ned than the 17th century!

Further al fresco pursuits include a two-hour walking tour - Norwich: A Black History with Paul Dickson Tours (tickets £7.50). This themed tour proved so popular in autumn last year for Black History Month that Paul now offers it all year round. The Shakespeare Festival in Norwich Cathedral Cloisters returns with Macbeth (9-10 July, £20); buy food and wine at the venue or bring your own to enjoy a picnic. Hot on its heels is the latest GoGo sculpture trail, GoGo Discover (12 July–11 September). Look out for 20 huge T.rex dinosaurs situated on the streets of Norwich here to accompany Dippy on Tour at Norwich Cathedral (13 July–30 October), in what will be a dinosaur themed summer here in Norwich. And to add to the excitement, Norwich Business Improvement District brings a prehistoric City Food Trail offering dino-dishes (not to be mistaken for dishes made of dinos) and special offers. Look out for dinosaur shaped neon lights in the windows of participating restaurants, cafes and pubs.

Heading indoors we have treats too. I’ve really missed our city museums and art galleries full of treasures, but worry not because they’re back! From 17 May until 4 July scoot up to Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery to see a masterpiece on loan from the National Gallery in London. Bellotto’s majestic painting The Fortress of Königstein from the North (1756-8) is on view, considered to be one of the most impressive and original 18th century landscape paintings in the artworld. Being two-meters wide this exquisite piece is certainly a painting to ponder. The Königstein fortress was built in Germany in the 13th century and still exists today, situated around 25 miles from Dresden.

Another reason (as if we need a reason) to visit Norwich Castle is to experience their exhibition A Passion for Landscape: Rediscovering John Crome. Celebrating the works of John Crome on the bicentenary of his death in 1821, we have a collection from this great Norwich School painter known as one of Britain’s great Romantic artists. This will be the fi rst major Crome exhibition since 1968, so isn’t to be missed. Crome’s landscapes of Norfolk are even more compelling right now as we’ve enjoyed so much of the outdoors in the county over the past year, it seems fi tting that the re-opening of the castle includes such incredible works of natural Norfolk.

And sticking with outdoors, after all it is fi nally the beginning of summer and hopefully good weather. Head back to the city on Sunday afternoons from mid July to September for Norwich Business Improvement District’s new season of Head Out, Not Home. Moving to Sundays from its usual Thursday evenings, this free entertainment programme will keep shoppers, families and visitors amused whilst bringing an uplifting and jovial mood to Norwich. Grab a delicious authentic ice-cream from CafeGelato on Opie Street and sit back and enjoy.

Finally, Tombland has had a makeover. There are now more outdoor tables to enjoy food and drink than ever before. The Giggling Squid alone has seating for 100 and if like me you’ve been in Norwich since mid-April, I’m sure you’ll agree that all the extra outdoor tables with people enjoying themselves has really added to the city centre atmosphere.

Fancy a city centre overnight stay? Make the most of Norwich this summer by booking even if you’re local. The Assembly House has one-night stays for two for £199 including afternoon tea and a bottle of fi zz in your room (17 May–1 September). The Maids Head Hotel has rooms from £120 including breakfast per night (and some rooms accept dogs). Gothic House B&B is just £105 per night plus there are rooms at Best Western Annesley House on Newmarket Road and Stower Grange in Drayton.

Cafe Gelato Assembly House Norwich

For updated safety information, full details of events, places to eat and drink, stories, where to shop and visit in Norwich and beyond go to visitnorwich.co.uk. Plus, don’t miss out on news, sign up to the City of Stories newsletter.

DISCOVER Crom e

A traditional seaside town with a world-famous pier and plenty to do in or out of the sea

This popular Victorian resort is known as the ‘gem of the North Norfolk Coast’. Its main attractions have changed little over the years, yet continue to draw visitors from around the world: there’s the atmospheric pier, home to the Pavilion Theatre, where the UK’s only remaining traditional end of the pier variety show takes place each year. Add in the delicious namesake crab and beautiful blue fl ag beaches and it’s no surprise this is still a holiday hotspot.

What to see and do

Wander the narrow lanes, dotted with independent shops and brightly painted houses and you’ll see from the goods on offer to the names of the cutesy cottages that this is a town proud of its rich fi shing heritage and its ties to the RNLI. To fi nd out more about the latter, head to the familyfriendly Henry Blogg Museum, which celebrates the area’s remarkable history of life-saving at sea.

Obviously, no trip here would be complete without visiting the historic pier, where you can catch a show (returning in 2021), browse for souvenirs or try your hand at crab fi shing.

Cromer is also one of only a few places on the Norfolk coast that offers suffi cient waves for surfi ng, so if you fancy a lesson, there are several schools here that will get you out on a board during the spring and summer months.

Lunch

There’s nothing like the sea air to build up an appetite – and nowhere better to sate your hunger than the Old Rock Shop Bistro. This bright, welcoming and family-run cafe serves up a selection of hearty homemade meals, pastries and highly-recommended Cromer crab sandwiches. As with anywhere worth going, you may have to wait for a table if you turn up during the lunchtime rush – although at the moment takeaways are available instead. www.theoldrockshopbistro.co.uk

Drinks

The Gangway is a chic and stylish bar just a stone’s throw from the shore that opened in 2019 and managed to expand its premises during the madness of 2020. Offering an impressive selection of local and further afi eld small batch craft beers and spirits alongside wines, coffees, cocktails and nibbles. www.thegangway.co.uk

STAY THE NIGHT

THE GROVE

Offering style within a magnifi cent Georgian setting, The Grove’s ivy-clad exterior houses a range of en-suite bedrooms, as well as six self-catering cottages in the adjacent barn conversions. All of the accommodation is light and airy, with views over the grounds. Rooms are equipped with the essentials – a fl at screen digital television, telephone, hairdryer, coffee and tea making facilities and complimentary Wi-Fi. Other on-site facilities include a heated indoor swimming pool, table tennis table, 4 acres of landscaped garden featuring a children’s play area, tree house and trampoline, and a private path to Cromer beach. Breakfast is free when you book a room direct and is packed with delicious, locally sourced fayre. www.thegrovecromer.co.uk