It’s a carol concert in a cloister, karaoke Christmas classics, and authentic Italian gelato- mince pie flavoured.

Christmas in Norwich is traditionally different and it’s wonderful, says Melanie Cook of VisitNorwich.

www.VisitNorwich.co.uk

There’s more to do this December than you can shake a piece of tinsel at! So, to make the most of this heady time of year, here are my recommendations taking you from ways to meet Father Christmas to festive afternoons teas and on to Christmas performance. In short: meet, eat and be merry.

First things first. Make a date at Norwich Cathedral for their Carols in the Cloister with the senior girl choristers (14 December, 4pm, free).

This is the most festive way to spend a Saturday afternoon. It usually entails a meet in a cosy city pub like the Ribs of Beef for mulled wine before we head to the cathedral as it’s getting dark.

This year though, I would particularly recommend heading over to Café Gelato on Opie Street (just off London Street) to buy a tub of authentic gelato to take with you- flavoured panettone, Christmas pudding or mince pie.

But music aside, what truly makes this event so special is the atmosphere of the cloisters, the beauty of the cathedral spire and being outside, all wrapped up and singing your heart out to keep warm and merry.

Nothing is more magical and joyous than meeting the Big Man himself and here in Norwich and Norfolk we have a tremendous choice of how and where to do it- including the annual Santa’s Grotto for Dogs at The Forum (15 December, 11am-3pm)! It’s barking mad but it gives our furry friends a festive excuse to don their best outfits, whilst raising money for a good cause! Everyone wins.

One of the most impressive visits to Father Christmas and one that every generation can experience together is Santa’s Magical Journey at Thursford. This marvellous attraction (best enjoyed as it’s getting dark) is immense. I remember taking my children there for the first time and the look on their faces was worth every penny. This is more than a visit to Santa. It’s a mesmerising riot of colour and sparkles with animatronics, polar bears and elves making toys in their workshop. It even smells amazing.

The added bonus is that with your tickets you get entrance to their Enchanted Journey of Light. This is a beautifully curated garden of light sculptures from a fantasy underwater world to a gingerbread house and gingerbread men to – new for this year – naughty mushroom gnomes. This might just be your best festive outing (with or without children) and will be remembered for many years to come.

Tickets for Santa’s Magical Journey incorporating the Enchanted Journey of Light cost £29.50 for children (with a gift) and £23 per adult (no gift). Tickets for the Enchanted Journey of Light (only) cost £23 per adult. Available until 24 December.

Start the day the right way with A Very Festive Breakfast* at Jarrolds (14 December, £22.38 per child, 9.30am, 2 hours). Here, your little ones will enjoy breakfast, with the elves offering arts and crafts, and letter writing to Santa, finishing with a visit to the Grotto.

It is at this time of year the traditional afternoon tea morphs into the festive afternoon tea. Just one more reason to eat cake – like we need it. The choice is vast so hold on to your seats – and don’t plan to eat dinner!

The Britons Arms on quaint Elm Hill is possibly the best priced at £18 per person (December) and £6 extra for mulled or sparking wine. Think traditionally filled finger sandwiches and a pigs in blanket sausage roll, plus a cranberry & candied peel scone, then Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, a mince pie, blackcurrant, tangerine & vanilla trifle and a spiced chocolate truffle.

The Last Wine Bar & Restaurant comes in at the most expensive at £35 per person (until 30 December, 48 hours-notice required) and for that you get elevated fillings in your sandwiches, such as cured trout and lemon butter on rye bread and roast beef, horseradish, truffle and watercress in a soft milk bread bun. This is followed by a duck liver parfait, cherry and bitter leaf vol au vent. The sweet treats include a warm scone with clotted cream and British plum jam, almond mince pie and brandy butter, Valrhona 70% dark chocolate and salted hazelnut gateaux, cinnamon and honey madeleine and a citrus and vanilla mille feuille. Plus, a choice of 12 loose-leaf teas with complimentary refills.

The Assembly House is famed for its themed teas and Christmas is no exception. Book a table with a Georgian ballroom for a view for their Nutcracker III Christmas Afternoon Tea (£32.50 until 5 January, £18.95 for guests under 12 years). This festive tea is served in four acts. The first – delicious dainty sandwiches. The second – sensational savouries. The third – scones sweet and savoury and the fourth – delicate cakes and pastries such as The Nutcracker Prince’s Moonlit Forest Gateau Opera, Pistachio Snowflake Macaron, Mr Ginger in the Land of Sweets, Clara’s Cupcake, Sugar Plum Fairy Trifle and The Nutcracker: a solid white and pink chocolate soldier with freeze-dried raspberries. Need I say more?

During December, the festive tea at The Maids Head costs £30 per person and is bursting with seasonal flavours such as turkey, stuffing, bacon, pickled onion chutney sandwiches and baked plum custard tart.

If you want to pair a tea with a winter countryside walk, then there are options outside Norwich, too. The Norfolk Mead- where you can sit by open fires, costs £24 per person (until 6 January). Barnham Broom hotel £26.95 per person. And Park Farm £32-£39 (children £16) where you dine in the Georgian Drawing Room. Choose from a Christmas, Sparkling, Champagne or Cocktail tea. 

Finally. Not finally. Singing, dancing and music is a huge part of Christmas. To that end, tickets for the panto (Aladdin, Theatre Royal Norwich, 7 December – 5 January) are a must buy. The Theatre Royal’s panto is a laugh a minute – written by the totally hilarious Richard Gauntlett (I’m a fan) and this year featuring Joe Tracini as Reg – Aladdin’s brother, Lisa Maxwell as the Evil Aunt, Tarik Frimpong as Aladdin and Meesha Turner as Jazz. And the dame? The stage welcomes Owen Evans, best known as one half of the Norfolk favourite comedy duo, the Nimmo Twins!

For the under 8’s and their families, we have Cinderella Rocks! at The Garage (8 – 29 December, £16.50). And, created for all ages- Norwich Puppet Theatre has its cast of puppets performing Sleeping Beauty (14 – 31 December, family of four £45 -1 adult and 3 children, 2 adults and 2 children or 3 adults and 1 child – or adults £14, children £12).

It’s all good watching everyone else perform and having fun – but what if you fancy a turn? Book a karaoke booth at Bowling House, then stay for drinks and perhaps a meal. Or grab tickets and let your hair down for an evening of Barrioke at Norwich Arts Centre (21 December, £26).

Yes, Barry from EastEnders sings. He is in fact a great entertainer. “Barrioke is BRILLIANT!” said Chris Moyles. Sounds like a recommendation to me.

I’m booking tickets right now.

A quick reminder.

Other superb activities include a festive marquee cinema at Fairhaven (The Grinch, 10 December, 6pm); Christmas at Strangers’ Hall; Christmas walking tours with The Shoebox Experiences; Christmas shows at Thursford and Cromer Pier; wreath making, tours, festive workshops, shopping and markets at The Assembly House, The Goat Shed, Holkham Hall and The English Distillery; The North Norfolk Pole Experience at Pensthorpe; Dippy’s Christmas Celebration at Roaar! and the brand-new Christmas Experience: Jingle in the Jungle at Banham Zoo. 

And if you don’t have time before Christmas Day, there are still things to do afterwards: Candlelight Tours at Holkham Hall are spectacular (tours throughout December until 30th priced £32-£36); Bure Valley Railway – Mince Pie Specials (27 December – 5 January, adults £22, children £11); and the Boxing Day Guided Walk at Fairhaven Woodland & Water Garden (11am, £11).   

*Adults required to stay but do not need to purchase a ticket.

For booking details of everything mentioned plus ideas for other festive activities go to www.visitnorwich.co.uk.