Norwich is the main city of the county of Norfolk, located in the eastern part of England.In the 7th centurythe Saxons founded a village here (the first settlements belong to that era), and starting from the 12th century.here was already a booming city.Many woolen mills and shoe factories were built in Norwich, churches and cathedrals were built, economic and cultural life flourished.
The English are known for their conservatism, which is why many historical monuments have been preserved here to this day in very good condition.There are many taverns and pubs in the city that are more than a hundred years old.
Although Norwich is a student city, it is considered very quiet, green and peaceful.
HOW TO GET
Norwich has its own airport, but it receives few flights - from Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Manchester, Glasgow and some other cities.
A more convenient option is to fly to London and from there to Norwich by train.Trains from London Liverpool Street station leave every half hour, the final station is Norwich, so it is impossible to miss it, travel time - about 2 hours.There is a direct flight to London from Moscow and St. Petersburg.A train ticket from London to Norwich costs from 50 USD one way.
HOTELS
Norwich has hotels to suit all tastes and budgets, but most are located outside the city centre.Hotels in the center are often located in old buildings, the interior there is very colorful, but the prices for accommodation are above average.A great selection of B&Bs, hotels and inns on Earlham Road.It is almost completely built up by hotels, there is nothing to do there, but there is a choice of inexpensive accommodation.
For a room for two in a 3-4 * hotel (the difference between them is small) in the historic center of the city, you will have to pay from 120 USD per day, there are few budget hotels and guest houses here, but if you are lucky, you can rent a room for 70-80 USD.
Outside the center, for 70-90 USD you can stay in an excellent 4 * hotel with a garden on the territory, and from 120 USD per day you can count on 5 *.
ENTERTAINMENT AND SIGHTS
Many valuable architectural monuments have been preserved in Norwich.One of the main ones is the Cathedral, it was built over several decades, like many cathedrals in that era, so you can see a mixture of styles in its architecture, but the leading one is still Romanesque.The main distinguishing feature of this cathedral is the cream-colored walls and the octagonal spire 96 m high.
Another masterpiece of Romanesque architecture is the castle in the very center of the city.The building itself was erected at the beginning of the 12th century.in the Romanesque style, and in the 15th century.completed the vault - already in the Gothic style.Despite all its power and architectural beauty, the castle gives a rather gloomy impression - for many years a prison was located within its walls.Today, there is a museum and an art gallery there, which can be visited both independently and with a tour.
At one time, small Norwich had as many as 57 cathedrals, and locals used to joke: "We have a church for every week of the year and as many ale pubs."About 30 of the 57 cathedrals have survived to this day.
The building of the city hall of the 15th century is worth noting.with tower clock, Maddermarket church 16 c.with a magnificent facade, the church of St. Peter Hungate, decorated with carved stone, as well as the entire historic center, which resembles a real medieval England.
Norwich has a lot of greenery and parks, there are more than 10 of them in the city. One of the most beautiful is the garden of East Ruston Old Vicarage, where you can observe whole tunnels of flowers.The Plantation garden is located near the city center, where it is nice to take a quiet walk, and it is better to go to Earlham Park for a picnic or play badminton or frisbee - there noisy entertainment will be very appropriate.
SHOPPING
Norwich cannot compare with shopping in London and other larger cities, but local shopping centers are architectural monuments.
The most popular place for shopping in this city is the Royal Gallery, it is located in a Victorian building and is home to the famous Colman's mustard store, which opened in the early 19th century.There is a small but interesting mustard museum at the store.
Another interesting place is the Dragon Hall trade pavilion, built in 1427. Five centuries ago, merchants from all over the district came here to trade their goods.Today, the assortment is quite modern, but the building has been preserved almost in its original form.
Norwich Market offers fresh produce and souvenirs, as well as The Black Horse Gallery, which sells antiques.
CAFES AND RESTAURANTS
In the center of Norwich there are many cafes and restaurants of various national cuisines - from Italian to exotic.Most of them are located in historical buildings, and some - even in medieval interiors.
One of the most popular cafes in the city is The Tea House, best suited for breakfast.There is a very pleasant interior, decorated with fresh flowers, fresh pastries and a large selection of different types of tea.The Britons Arms Coffee House cafe is famous for its homemade pies, especially with custard and apple, and The Window restaurant for classic British dishes, the menu also has many different hearty and sweet pies, and you need to book a table in advance, as there are always many visitors.
The Chez Denis restaurant specializes in Creole cuisine, but lovers of French classics will also like it, you should definitely try the pancake menu and punch. Excellent Italian cuisine can be found at Pinocchio's restaurant, Indian cuisine at Spice of India, Chinese cuisine at Hong Kong Fusion, and Roger Hickman's is considered one of the best English restaurants.
Local pubs deserve special attention.Since it is a student town, there are many cheap pubs here, but some have been around for centuries.The Adam and Eve pub has been operating in Norwich for seven hundred years and is considered the best in the city.There is a large selection of various ales, new varieties appear regularly, as well as an interesting wine list.Another good place is the Coach and Horses pub, located directly opposite the town hall.For those who like noisy places with a fun party, Ribs of Beef bar on the river bank can be recommended.The main audience here is young people and students, and the menu includes various types of ale (you should try the strong one, it is particularly good) and a large selection of beer snacks.
