Norwich

Day 1: Medieval roots and UNESCO energy

Begin in the historic heart where Norwich’s literary story began and still thrives. You’ll move from contemplative spaces to lively contemporary hubs, with gentle walking between compact sites.

• Morning: Start at the National Centre for Writing in Dragon Hall on King Street. If heritage tours are running, book ahead; otherwise explore the hall and pick up the City of Literature programme, then stroll via the river to Hay Hill to see the Sir Thomas Browne statue and its urn detail.
• Midday: Walk to St Julian’s Church on Rouen Road to visit the Julian of Norwich Shrine. Keep voices low, check the small museum’s opening hours, and take a moment with “All shall be well” before lunch in the nearby Lanes.
• Afternoon: Head to The Forum’s Millennium Library and the Norfolk Heritage Centre for rare books and local manuscripts; staff can guide you to Browne-related holdings. If you like trails, scan the Wandering Words QR codes around the centre for audio poems as you loop back through the Market and Cathedral Close.
• Evening: Catch an author event in the City of Literature programme (book £8–£15 tickets in advance). Outside festival dates, browse The Book Hive on London Street for staff picks and Galley Beggar Press titles; mind local etiquette—phones silenced and stay for the Q&A even if you’re not buying.

Day 2: Campus creativity and independent voices

Spend the day with the institutions that fuel Norwich’s contemporary writing scene. The UEA campus contrasts modernist architecture with green space, and the city’s indie bookshops supply today’s most exciting voices.

• Morning: Take bus 25 or 26 to the University of East Anglia; wander the ziggurats and Sculpture Park, then pause at the campus bookshop. If you’re here in July, look for public events tied to the British Centre for Literary Translation Summer School.
• Midday: Visit the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts (often hosts talks) and grab lunch there. Check the UEA events listings—during Autumn and Spring, UEA Live brings alumni and international authors for readings and conversations.
• Afternoon: Back in the city, explore the Norwich Lanes: drop into The Book Hive (ask for the recommendation of the week), then browse Jarrold’s book department and the second-hand labyrinth of Dormouse Books on Elm Hill. Tip: buying from independents is considered cultural patronage here.
• Evening: Attend a UEA Live event if in season (Autumn/Spring), or, if visiting in September, Noirwich Crime Writing Festival sessions around Dragon Hall. Off-season, look for NCW salons or translation nights; hybrid streams are often available if tickets sell out.

Day 3: Archives, backstreets and a Sebald-flavoured wander

Dig deeper into the city’s written record, then let Norwich’s quieter corners shape a reflective afternoon. This is a slower, more local day with room for serendipity.

• Morning: Book ahead for the Norfolk Record Office at The Archive Centre; bring ID for a reader’s ticket and pre-order items you want to see. Staff can point you toward materials on Harriet Martineau, Amelia Opie or early provincial newspapers.
• Midday: Take a gentle “Sebald” walk: begin at Dragon Hall, follow the Wensum past Pulls Ferry, loop the Cathedral Close, and meander the backstreets—carry a notebook for impressions and photos rather than ticking sights.
• Afternoon: Settle in the Millennium Library for a reading hour or join a book group if one’s scheduled. If you missed Elm Hill earlier, return for unhurried browsing at Dormouse Books; then pause at the Hay Hill statue again—it’s a place locals genuinely use as a meeting spot.
• Evening: If it’s May, the Norfolk & Norwich Festival’s City of Literature Weekend often hosts events in spiegeltents and theatres—book early. Otherwise, choose a cosy café in the Lanes for evening reading; many venues host low-key poetry or spoken-word nights—check listings that morning to keep plans flexible.

By Air

• Norwich Airport (NWI): ~4 miles north of the centre; 15–20 minutes by taxi. Limited scheduled routes (notably KLM to Amsterdam for global connections) plus seasonal/domestic services.
• London Stansted (STN): ~85 miles; 1.5–2 hours by car. By public transport typically 2–2.5 hours (train via Cambridge/Ely) or ~2–2.5 hours by coach.
• London Luton (LTN): ~110 miles; 2–2.5 hours by car; 3–4 hours by rail (via London or Cambridge) or coach (often with a change).
• London Heathrow (LHR): ~140 miles; 3–4 hours by car; 3.5–4.5 hours by rail via central London; 4–5 hours by coach.
• London City (LCY) and Gatwick (LGW): usually 2.5–4 hours by car; 3–4.5 hours by rail via London interchanges.

By Train

• Main station: Norwich (city terminus).
• London: Greater Anglia fast services to London Liverpool Street every 30 minutes; ~1h50–2h.
• Cambridge/Ely: Regular services to Cambridge (~1h15–1h30) and Ely (~1h10), with onward connections to the Midlands, North and Stansted Airport.
• Regional/coastal: Great Yarmouth (~35–40 minutes), Sheringham (~45–55 minutes), Lowestoft (~1h40–1h55).

By Coach/Bus

• Main hub: Norwich Bus Station (Surrey Street).
• London: National Express to Stratford/Victoria typically 3–3.5 hours; FlixBus operates on some days/seasons.
• Airports: Direct or one-change coaches to Stansted (~2–2.5 hours); services also run to Heathrow/Gatwick (often 4–5 hours).
• Local buses: Extensive city and county network (First Eastern Counties et al.) plus Park & Ride sites around Norwich.

By Car

• From London/Cambridge: A11 dual carriageway links to the M11; typical times — London 2–2.5 hours, Cambridge 1–1.25 hours.
• East–west: A47 to Great Yarmouth (40–50 minutes) and to King’s Lynn/Peterborough (1.5–2 hours).
• South: A140 to Ipswich (~1 hour).
• Parking: Multiple city-centre car parks and several Park & Ride sites (e.g., Thickthorn on the A11, Sprowston on the A140).