No burpees required. Norfolk’s natural environment could be the answer to a gentler approach to finding betterment and peace of mind in 2025 says Mel March of VisitNorwich.co.uk
Getting the best out of a visit to any city or destination in my opinion is to experience it like a local. It can be overwhelming arriving somewhere and not knowing what to do or where to head off first to make the most of your valuable time.
I But actually, can we hand on heart say we know the areas we live and visit frequently as much as we could? I talk to people all the time who have lived in Norfolk most of their lives but haven’t visited some of our fantastic museums or attractions, or booked tickets for an experience that would give further insight into where they call home.
And in Norfolk we are spoilt for choice with our 90-miles of coastline, 125 km of navigable Broads and atmospheric, cultured capital city. Our smorgasbord of food produce that makes its way onto the plates of our independent eateries, from tiny bakeries and local pubs to cafes and restaurants.
While our mix of diverse venues and festivals offering one-off events, school holiday activities and tickets – free and charged – recognises all situations and pockets.
Norwich is a city blessed in recent years with an enormous list of walking tours full of delicious local stories, historic facts and incredible people.
These tours are often around 90 minutes, cost £8+ and take us to places we might have missed if we were exploring by ourselves. I love that you get into it with a walking tour – time to explore slowly, to ask questions of your guide – time to take it all in.
This spring we have a couple of fantastic new tours. The first is Victorian Norwich with Paul Dickson (16 March and other dates, £9pp, plus a series of tours taking place during English Tourism Week: 15 – 24 March), and the second is Her Story Walk (April, £10) from Norwich Story Walks.
Victorian Norwich is an addition to an already diverse series lead by Paul Dickson. Peeling back the layers of Norwich’s incredible history in detail, there’s a lot to learn from each and every one that you take. Paul’s latest is a 2-hour exploration celebrating the city’s 19th century architecture, industry, shopping and culture.
Victorian Norwich takes in Colman’s Mustard, Caley’s Chocolate, the Norwich Union and the shoe industry. From 5 April, the tour will also incorporate a visit to Bowhill & Elliott on London Street – Norwich’s only surviving shoe manufacturer who last year celebrated 150 years in business.
Here, the present owner Marc Debieux will give a talk in-store about Bowhill & Elliott’s history of creating fabulous Albert slippers, dress slippers and house slippers. To this day they are still as popular as ever, being purchased by fans, celebs and fashionistas from across the world. And let it be known, locals shopping in-store get a £50 discount!
Her Story Walk is the latest from Norwich’s most recent guide – Siv Sears of Norwich Story Walks. Siv is an animated and witted guide, making him the perfect addition to all the walks that can be booked around Norwich. Her Story Walk is an important one. This walk showcases some of the remarkable and most fascinating women from Norwich who made incredible social changes, ones that we still uphold today.
Learn about Julian of Norwich, a woman many from this area will be familiar with, as well as Jenny Lind, Boudicca and Elizabeth Fry.
But also hear the fascinating life stories of Amelia Opie and Harriet Martineau, who is celebrated annually at the National Centre for Writing’s City of Literature Festival as part of Norfolk & Norwich Festival.
The Harriet Martineau Lecture celebrates the legacy of this world-changing woman by inviting globally renowned radical speakers to respond to her life and work. The 2025 lecture will be delivered by award-winning novelist Val McDermid on Saturday 24 May at Sir Peter Mancroft with tickets available now to book (12pm, £14-£10.00 U18/Young NNF).
Don’t think your adventure has to end here. Follow a tour or event with a bit more walking – it will be worth it! This time under your own steam to Redwell Taphouse near Whitlingham for a local brew and a bite to eat from the Redwell Vault Pizzeria. Plus, on Sundays into spring, they have an extra special treat with The Giant Yorkie Roast Co. serving roast dinners inside a huge Yorkshire pudding (prices £14.50 with half portions for children at £8.50).
Norwich is a city where old meets now and nothing proves this more than the Sainsbury Centre’s newest exhibitions opening this month. Continuing its series of investigative exhibitions, 2025 sees a new programme charting a course through the story of the world’s oceans and the precarious future they may be heading towards.
The Sainsbury Centre’s series of one-off exhibitions have a reputation (deservedly so) of exhibiting thought-proving works side by side which in any other setting might not work. And this month is no different.
Featuring contemporary art, historical paintings, ancient atlases and maps from across the globe, three concurrent exhibitions explore Can the Seas Survive Us? Opening 15 March and running until 3 August, see A World of Water and Darwin in Paradise Camp: Yuki Kihara, followed by Sea Inside (7 June – 26 October).
It is of course Mother’s Day this month, so any of the experiences mentioned here would make great presents for a very special mum. And with flowers synonymous with this celebration day of the mothers and mother figures in our lives, I can’t let slip mention of the great outdoors. Walks amongst budding foliage, delicate snowdrops and long beaches are all events that can be organised for a big group of family members- not forgetting that theatre tickets, relaxing beauty treatments and a bite to eat all go down a storm too!
Finally, if you have a foodie in the family, then a Sausage Making Workshop at The Goat Shed might be just the ticket (£60 for three hours). Or a Cheese Making Course (£95) for a day, which includes the science behind the process, a tour of their state-of-the-art Dairy, and a hands-on experience making your very own cheese.
In fact, The Goat Shed website (goat-shed.co.uk) is worth keeping an eye on with regular events taking place, such as their community ‘Hoof It Around Honningham’ walks (free, 5k, dogs welcome, first Monday of each month), Cow Club (£5, under 3s free) and their new Chief Herder Goat Experience (coming soon).
For booking details and other events go to www.visitnorwich.co.uk.