My OperaHistoric Norwich
Friday, June 2, 2006 11:45:46 PM
Map: OS 1:50,000 Landranger 134 Norwich and The Broads.
OS grid reference: TG233087
Distance: 31/2 miles approx
Terrain: all easy going on footpaths with some steep steps.
Getting there: This walk begins outside The Forum, the home of the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium library. Norwich is well served by local, regional and national bus services. Regular train services from London, Ipswich, Cambridge, Peterborough, North Norfolk, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. By car - The Forum is in the centre of Norwich near City Hall and the Market Place. Car parking under the Forum and several other nearby car parks.
This walk passes many of Norwich's most famous historic buildings but also includes some lesser-known parts of the city. The Tourist Information Centre, located in the Forum, sells city maps and guides and can provide much more information about places of interest.
Stand with your back to the Forum. St Peter Mancroft Church is directly in front of you. Leave the Forum bearing left and stand above Norwich Market. City Hall is behind you, with the Guildhall up ahead. Enjoy the splendid view of Norwich Castle. Thread your way through the market onto Gentleman's Walk and turn right.
The pedestrian area ends at Rampant Horse Street. Turn left here with Marks and Spencer on your right, then first right into St Stephen's Street, crossing the road at the traffic lights. Turn left into Surrey Street and keep on until your reach Finkelgate, passing the magnificent Norwich Union HQ (left), Notre Dame School (left), and the Victorian town-houses in Carlton Terrace (right).
Turn left into Finkelgate and at St John the Theologian Church turn right onto Ber Street; cross the road at the pedestrian crossing.
Take the first left to Carrow Hill, then the path (left) that leads to the town wall.
The path goes down some steep steps beside the wall. Keep on until you emerge onto the road.
Turn left and go straight ahead to Rouen Road; Norwich City Football Club's floodlights come into view on the right. Soon bear right onto King Street, passing the Friendship Bridge, which leads to the Riverside leisure and shopping area. This is also your first view of the River Wensum. The Ferryboat pub is on the right.
Turn left at the traffic lights shortly after St Peter Parmentergate Church. Head up the road towards the Castle, cross over as soon as you can and bear right, round the back of Anglia Television. The entrances to the Castle Museum, the Castle Gardens, Castle Mall Shopping Centre and the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum are on the left.
You are approaching Bank Plain. Turn right here onto Prince of Wales Road, passing Anglia TV. Cross Prince of Wales Road and continue down past the bars and night clubs.
Turn left into St Faith's Lane (post box on corner); then visit James Stuart Garden (right) - an oasis of calm in the city centre. Look for a path up ahead which leads to a passage entering the Cathedral Close. The magnificent Cathedral tower comes into view. Turn left into the Close, then sharp right. Look out for Hooks Walk (the path to Bishopgate) on your right.
Follow the sign to Bishopgate and enjoy more fabulous views of the cathedral. Norwich School playing fields are on the right. Turn right onto Bishopgate; on the left is the Great Hospital. When you reach the Red Lion pub, with Bishop's Bridge ahead turn left onto the riverside walk.
The path passes the late 14th-century Cow Tower, then a car park on the left. The Adam and Eve, Norwich's oldest pub, is to the rear of the car park. The cathedral dominates this section of our route.
Norwich law courts are to the left. Cross the road bridge and continue down the riverside walk. Keep on until you reach Fye Bridge, with the Ribs of Reef pub ahead. Turn left, then first right up Elm Hill, a wonderfully picturesque cobbled street.
Turn right at the top of Elm Hill and head past St Andrew's and Blackfriar's Halls. Cinema City is on the left. Take the next right down St George's Street, along the side of St Andrew's Hall, passing Norwich School of Art and Design and Norwich Playhouse (good riverside bar).
Turn left into Colegate (short detour to the right to see the wonderful Octagon Chapel). Cross Duke Street (Golden Star pub on the corner). Keep on as far as St Michael Coslany Church, the home of the Inspire hands-on science centre.
Turn left up Coslany Street and cross the Wensum again. You reach Westwick Street. Cross over and just to the left climb St Lawrence Steps to St Benedict's. Turn left on St Benedict's, cross over at the pedestrian crossing, and walk up St Gregory's Alley passing St Gregory Pottergate Centre for the Arts.
Go up Lower Goat Lane (fish bar on corner) then head round City Hall back to the Forum.
OS grid reference: TG233087
Distance: 31/2 miles approx
Terrain: all easy going on footpaths with some steep steps.
Getting there: This walk begins outside The Forum, the home of the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium library. Norwich is well served by local, regional and national bus services. Regular train services from London, Ipswich, Cambridge, Peterborough, North Norfolk, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. By car - The Forum is in the centre of Norwich near City Hall and the Market Place. Car parking under the Forum and several other nearby car parks.
This walk passes many of Norwich's most famous historic buildings but also includes some lesser-known parts of the city. The Tourist Information Centre, located in the Forum, sells city maps and guides and can provide much more information about places of interest.
Stand with your back to the Forum. St Peter Mancroft Church is directly in front of you. Leave the Forum bearing left and stand above Norwich Market. City Hall is behind you, with the Guildhall up ahead. Enjoy the splendid view of Norwich Castle. Thread your way through the market onto Gentleman's Walk and turn right.
The pedestrian area ends at Rampant Horse Street. Turn left here with Marks and Spencer on your right, then first right into St Stephen's Street, crossing the road at the traffic lights. Turn left into Surrey Street and keep on until your reach Finkelgate, passing the magnificent Norwich Union HQ (left), Notre Dame School (left), and the Victorian town-houses in Carlton Terrace (right).
Turn left into Finkelgate and at St John the Theologian Church turn right onto Ber Street; cross the road at the pedestrian crossing.
- Just as Ber Street joins Bracondale, look out for the small garden on the left that houses the remains of the Ber Street Gate.
Take the first left to Carrow Hill, then the path (left) that leads to the town wall.
- This is the best-preserved section of Norwich's medieval walls and includes the striking Black Tower.
The path goes down some steep steps beside the wall. Keep on until you emerge onto the road.
Turn left and go straight ahead to Rouen Road; Norwich City Football Club's floodlights come into view on the right. Soon bear right onto King Street, passing the Friendship Bridge, which leads to the Riverside leisure and shopping area. This is also your first view of the River Wensum. The Ferryboat pub is on the right.
- King Street is one of Norwich's most important medieval streets. You pass St Etheldredas Artists Studios, Wensum Lodge education centre, the Waterfront music venue and Dragon Hall, a wonderfully preserved medieval merchant's house. Look out for the sign to St Julian's Church. St Julian, a 14th-century mystic, lived as a recluse in a cell on this site.
Turn left at the traffic lights shortly after St Peter Parmentergate Church. Head up the road towards the Castle, cross over as soon as you can and bear right, round the back of Anglia Television. The entrances to the Castle Museum, the Castle Gardens, Castle Mall Shopping Centre and the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum are on the left.
You are approaching Bank Plain. Turn right here onto Prince of Wales Road, passing Anglia TV. Cross Prince of Wales Road and continue down past the bars and night clubs.
Turn left into St Faith's Lane (post box on corner); then visit James Stuart Garden (right) - an oasis of calm in the city centre. Look for a path up ahead which leads to a passage entering the Cathedral Close. The magnificent Cathedral tower comes into view. Turn left into the Close, then sharp right. Look out for Hooks Walk (the path to Bishopgate) on your right.
Follow the sign to Bishopgate and enjoy more fabulous views of the cathedral. Norwich School playing fields are on the right. Turn right onto Bishopgate; on the left is the Great Hospital. When you reach the Red Lion pub, with Bishop's Bridge ahead turn left onto the riverside walk.
The path passes the late 14th-century Cow Tower, then a car park on the left. The Adam and Eve, Norwich's oldest pub, is to the rear of the car park. The cathedral dominates this section of our route.
Norwich law courts are to the left. Cross the road bridge and continue down the riverside walk. Keep on until you reach Fye Bridge, with the Ribs of Reef pub ahead. Turn left, then first right up Elm Hill, a wonderfully picturesque cobbled street.
Turn right at the top of Elm Hill and head past St Andrew's and Blackfriar's Halls. Cinema City is on the left. Take the next right down St George's Street, along the side of St Andrew's Hall, passing Norwich School of Art and Design and Norwich Playhouse (good riverside bar).
Turn left into Colegate (short detour to the right to see the wonderful Octagon Chapel). Cross Duke Street (Golden Star pub on the corner). Keep on as far as St Michael Coslany Church, the home of the Inspire hands-on science centre.
Turn left up Coslany Street and cross the Wensum again. You reach Westwick Street. Cross over and just to the left climb St Lawrence Steps to St Benedict's. Turn left on St Benedict's, cross over at the pedestrian crossing, and walk up St Gregory's Alley passing St Gregory Pottergate Centre for the Arts.
Go up Lower Goat Lane (fish bar on corner) then head round City Hall back to the Forum.
