Hotels in Norwich

Norwich packs two Norman landmarks within a mile of each other: the cathedral, begun in 1096 with Caen limestone shipped in via a purpose-dug canal, and the castle keep on its mound, built soon after the Conquest and now a museum of Norfolk life. Between them runs Elm Hill, a cobbled medieval lane of Tudor timber-framed buildings considered one of the best-preserved in England, alongside the Norwich Lanes' independent shops and cafes.

The cathedral's cloisters are the largest in the country and hold over a thousand carved medieval roof bosses. It is a compact, walkable city rather than a big one, so most sights sit within the old city walls. Stay near the cathedral quarter for Elm Hill and the Lanes on foot.