Assembly House Norwich
wait to do the same again this summer. The Myrtle Fish is a new elegant
Edwardian-style Frolic 31 electric launch from The Maids Head Hotel. It makes me happy to see such a lovely new way to enjoy more of Norwich and the river Wensum. The Myrtle Fish will take landlubbers on a two-hour gentle motor to Whitlingham Country Park through Norwich. Passengers will gain a new perspective of the city from the water, a river which hundreds of years ago was busy with traders bringing exotic goods and textiles from the continent. Some Myrtle Fish services will also include afternoon tea – less exotic but defi nitely more refi ned than the 17th century! Further al fresco pursuits include a
two-hour walking tour - Norwich: A Black History with Paul Dickson Tours (tickets £7.50). This themed tour proved so popular in autumn last year for Black History Month that Paul now offers it all year round. The Shakespeare Festival in Norwich Cathedral Cloisters returns with Macbeth (9-10 July, £20); buy food and wine at the venue or bring your own to enjoy a picnic. Hot on its heels is the latest GoGo sculpture trail, GoGo Discover (12 July–11 September).
Cafe Gelato
Look out for 20 huge
T.rex dinosaurs situated on the streets of Norwich here to accompany Dippy on Tour at Norwich Cathedral (13 July–30 October), in what will be a dinosaur themed summer here in Norwich. And to add to the excitement, Norwich Business Improvement District brings a prehistoric City Food Trail offering dino-dishes (not to be mistaken for dishes made of dinos) and special offers. Look out for dinosaur shaped neon lights in the windows of participating restaurants, cafes and pubs. Heading indoors we have treats too.
I’ve really missed our city museums and art galleries full of treasures, but worry not because they’re back! From 17 May until 4 July scoot up to Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery to see a masterpiece on loan from the National Gallery in London. Bellotto’s majestic painting The Fortress of Königstein from the North (1756-8) is on view, considered to be one of the most impressive and original 18th century landscape paintings in the artworld. Being two-meters wide this exquisite piece is certainly a painting to ponder. The Königstein fortress was built in Germany in the 13th century and still exists today, situated around 25 miles from Dresden. Another reason (as if we need a
reason) to visit Norwich Castle is to experience their exhibition A Passion for Landscape: Rediscovering John Crome. Celebrating the works of John Crome on the bicentenary of his death in 1821, we have a collection from this great Norwich School painter known as one of Britain’s great Romantic artists. This will be the fi rst major Crome exhibition since 1968, so isn’t to be missed. Crome’s landscapes of Norfolk are even more compelling right now as we’ve enjoyed so much of the outdoors in the county over the past year, it seems fi tting that the re-opening of the castle includes such incredible works of natural Norfolk.
And sticking with outdoors, after all it
is fi nally the beginning of summer and hopefully good weather. Head back to the city on Sunday afternoons from mid July to September for Norwich Business Improvement District’s new season of Head Out, Not Home. Moving to Sundays from its usual Thursday evenings, this free entertainment programme will keep shoppers, families and visitors amused whilst bringing an uplifting and jovial mood to Norwich. Grab a delicious authentic ice-cream from CafeGelato on Opie Street and sit back and enjoy. Finally, Tombland has had a makeover.
There are now more outdoor tables to enjoy food and drink than ever before. The Giggling Squid alone has seating for 100 and if like me you’ve been in Norwich since mid-April, I’m sure you’ll agree that all the extra outdoor tables with people enjoying themselves has really added to the city centre atmosphere. Fancy a city centre overnight stay?
Make the most of Norwich this summer by booking even if you’re local. The Assembly House has one-night stays for two for £199 including afternoon tea and a bottle of fi zz in your room (17 May–1 September). The Maids Head Hotel has rooms from £120 including breakfast per night (and some rooms accept dogs). Gothic House B&B is just £105 per night plus there are rooms at Best Western Annesley House on Newmarket Road and Stower Grange in Drayton.
For updated safety information, full details of events, places to eat and drink, stories, where to shop and visit in Norwich and beyond go to
visitnorwich.co.uk. Plus, don’t miss out on news, sign up to the City of Stories newsletter.
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Out&About
Photo: Trustees of the Natural History Museum
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