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Castles, Historic Houses & Heritage in Norwich

Norwich has proper heritage on its own doorstep. Norwich Cathedral does free guided tours with an upper level route, plus Home Education Days if you've got a curious child. Just up the road, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is a free Gothic Revival wander with a garden café for afterwards, and The Cloisters is pay-what-you-fancy, with carved Green Men and a jubilee labyrinth to walk. The Plantation Garden, tucked behind a Norwich hotel, is an odd little Victorian spot of terraces and flint walls for £2 or so. For older kids, Mannington Hall runs an outdoor holiday club for 7 to 11s, though the Hall itself is under scaffolding. Ruins fans have options further out: St Olave's Priory in Great Yarmouth and Beeston Regis Priory in Sheringham are both free to wander, while a longer trip out to Castle Acre Priory near King's Lynn or Walsingham Abbey (from £2.63, ages 6-16) suits a full day with a picnic and dogs on leads.

10 places 6 free to visit

Ruins of a medieval stone gatehouse with arched entrance and windows, surrounded by grassy grounds and trees.Free

Beeston Regis Priory

Sheringham

Wander round medieval church ruins with 14th century arcading still standing in the chancel, free to visit any daylight hour.

Ruined medieval priory with stone walls and arches set in green grounds under cloudy sky.

Castle Acre Priory

King's Lynn

Ruined priory ruins to explore, with a medieval 24-seater toilet block that'll be the bit they tell everyone about.

Gift shopParkingPicnics allowedToilets

A smiling staff member wearing a brown jacket and name badge holds a handheld device whilst speaking with a visitor indoors.Free

English Heritage - St Olave's Priory

Great Yarmouth

Ruined priory ruins to wander freely among in Great Yarmouth, with crumbling walls and an undercroft to duck into.

Stone mansion with manicured lawns and terracotta urns, reflected in a pond with water lilies.

Mannington Hall

Norwich · ages 7-11

Nature trails, a walled garden and an outdoor holiday club for 7 to 11s, though the Hall itself is wrapped in scaffolding just now.

Accessible toiletBooking requiredCaféDog friendly+6 more

Norwich CathedralFree

Norwich Cathedral

Norwich

Free guided tours round a working cathedral, with an upper level tour and hands-on Home Education Days for the curious.

Accessible toiletAllergy awareBlue badge parkingBooking required+7 more

A bishop in ceremonial vestments shakes hands with three visitors inside a cathedral with stone columns.Free

The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

Norwich

Free wander round a proper Gothic Revival cathedral, with a garden café for afterwards and no ticket to buy.

CaféGift shopParkingWheelchair accessible

Gothic cathedral cloister with vaulted stone arches, columns and arcading surrounding a central courtyard.Free

The Cloisters

Norwich

Wander the ancient cloister to spot carved Green Men, walk a jubilee labyrinth and pay only what you fancy on the way in.

Accessible toiletAllergy awareBlue badge parkingCafé+6 more

Large outdoor event in a walled garden with many seated spectators facing a stage with green canopy, historic stone walls and lush greenery visible.from £2

The Plantation Garden

Norwich · ages 0-16

A quietly odd Victorian garden of terraces, flint walls and hidden corners, tucked behind a Norwich hotel.

Accessible toiletGroup bookingsPicnics allowedSchool visits+1 more

The South Asia CollectionFree

The South Asia Collection

Norwich

A free museum and shop of South and South East Asian art, textiles and furniture, tucked into a Norwich townhouse.

Dog friendlyGift shopStep-free accessWheelchair accessible

Stone bridge with two arches spanning a stream through woodland, with white flowering plants along the banks.from £2.63

Walsingham Abbey

Walsingham · ages 6-16

Woodland, ruins and four bridges over the river Stiffkey to lob sticks off, with snowdrops carpeting the ground in early spring.

Dog friendlyToilets

Good to know: castles, historic houses & heritage in Norwich

Are any of them free?

Yes, Beeston Regis Priory, English Heritage - St Olave's Priory, Norwich Cathedral, The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and 2 more are free to visit.

What does a paid visit cost?

Paid entry starts from £2 at The Plantation Garden. Prices, ages and facilities are listed on every place page, taken from each venue's own published price list.

Which ones are indoor?

Norwich Cathedral is indoor, good to keep up your sleeve for a rainy day.

Whereabouts are they?

You'll find castles, historic houses & heritage in Sheringham, King's Lynn, Great Yarmouth, Norwich and Walsingham. Every place we list is in or around Norwich, and each listing has the full address and directions.

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