| Norwich is the county city of Norfolk, which | | | | arts and music festival draws crowds in from |
| means that there is plenty to see and do when | | | | across the county and from further afield and |
| you pay a visit to the area. | | | | can trace its roots back to 1772. Recently, |
| | | | it has featured performers such as Ray Davies |
| Norwich can trace its roots back to Roman | | | | (of Kinks fame) and the London Philharmonic |
| times and although it is some way from the | | | | Orchestra playing a score from a Charlie |
| coast, it played a large role in the times of | | | | Chaplin film. There are both indoor and |
| the Norman Conquest, probably due to its | | | | outdoor performances during the festival, |
| importance for trade even in those days. | | | | some of which are free events. |
| Indeed at that time it is thought to have | | | | |
| been one of the largest cities in the | | | | Norwich residents fortunately have a sense of |
| country. | | | | humor: the fictitious radio DJ Alan |
| | | | Partridge, brainchild of actor Steve Coogan, |
| Times have moved on and Norwich is now more | | | | broadcasts his shows from the city. His |
| famous for its shopping than its distant | | | | distaste for the city is misplaced but comes |
| invaders. | | | | across in his humor. |
| | | | |
| Shoppers will be delighted to visit the | | | | Sports fans will hope to take in a game by |
| ancient market place which has been thriving | | | | the Canaries, the nickname of Norwich City |
| since the time of the Normans and is now the | | | | football club when they play at Carrow Road. |
| largest open air market in England, opening | | | | |
| six days a week. | | | | Unexpectedly for a mainly fenland area, there |
| | | | is a Norfolk Ski and Snowboarding club at |
| More modern shops can be found in The Mall | | | | nearby Trowse. So you may be able to practice |
| (which recently changed its name from Castle | | | | your skills when you are in town. |
| Mall, so you may still find references to the | | | | |
| old name in some guide books). This was built | | | | Perhaps because of its excellent shopping, |
| to blend in with the historic city and much | | | | Norwich is a popular city break destination. |
| of the building is built into the side of a | | | | The shopping features both the usual national |
| hill. | | | | chain retailers as well as many local stores |
| | | | where you can come across a variety of more |
| Its main rival is the Chapelfield mall, which | | | | unusual items. You can also investigate the |
| has been built on the site of an old | | | | history of the area and walk down its cobbled |
| chocolate factory. | | | | streets, maybe on your way to one of the |
| | | | several museums who make there home here. |
| As a university town, you can expect to find | | | | |
| a wide range of other things to do, some | | | | Historical buildings include Norwich |
| cultural, some less so. | | | | Cathedral, which can trace its roots back to |
| | | | the eleventh century and the castle (which is |
| Make sure you book your Norwich hotel in | | | | now actually a museum) which is about 100 |
| advance if you visit at the same time as the | | | | years younger than the cathedral. |
| annual Norfolk and Norwich Festival. This | | | | |