Two weeks ago, my fiancé and I ventured on a long but exciting journey to Norwich, a quiet yet storied city nestled in East Anglia. The purpose of the trip was academic—his dissertation—but we saw it as a chance to step away from routine and into a city neither of us had explored before.

We took the National Express from Wolverhampton—a nearly 9-hour coach ride that tested our patience but rewarded us with a sense of stillness we didn’t know we needed. The kind of stillness you only find when you’re in motion, watching the countryside blur into greens and golds, feeling time stretch long enough for unspoken thoughts and soft laughter.

Norwich greeted us like an open-air museum, especially for someone like me who’s quietly obsessed with Tudor architecture. Did you know this city has the highest concentration of Tudor buildings in the entire UK? I didn’t either—until I saw them for myself. And once you see them, you’ll start looking up more than ahead.

🏰 A Living Tapestry of Old & New

Norwich is a beautiful fusion of modern life and medieval charm, effortlessly blending historic streets, timber-framed houses, and cobbled lanes with vibrant city living. The heart of the city is easy to walk around and is threaded by the peaceful River Wensum.

Situated in East Anglia, around 100 miles northeast of London, Norwich is considered the most complete medieval city in the UK. Wandering its streets feels like stepping into a storybook—from Elm Hill and Tombland, to Dragon Hall, Strangers' Hall, and the stunning Royal Arcade built in 1899.

The streets are a blend of old soul and modern rhythm. Cobbled lanes curve around timber-framed houses. Cafés are tucked into corners that have probably seen revolutions, fires, festivals, and quiet Sunday markets. Every building has a secret. Every corner feels like a moment waiting to be noticed.
I was especially smitten, of course, by its Tudor heritage. Did you know Norwich has the largest collection of Tudor buildings in the country? That alone made my history-loving heart skip.
We explored on foot, crisscrossing the gentle loops of the River Wensum, ducking into alleyways that looked like they belonged in a Brontë novel, and tracing routes that felt somehow familiar, like I'd once dreamed them.
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🛏️ Where We Stayed: Namaste Palace Hotel

For four days and three nights, we made our little home inside the Namaste Palace Hotel. A charming hotel in a quiet part of the city, it gave us just what we needed: peace. The ensuite room was clean and cozy, tucked away from the noise of traffic but close enough to everywhere we wanted to go.

Mornings began with a simple breakfast—croissants, cereal bars, porridge cups—quietly shared between us as we planned our route for the day. But the real treat was downstairs: a small Indian restaurant aglow with warm lights and the scent of spices. After hours of walking, we’d return here and eat in silence, not because there was nothing to say—but because some places make you speak less, and feel more.

More photos below:

📸 What We Explored

🌿 The Plantation Garden

Tucked just off Earlham Road behind a high brick wall is one of Norwich’s best-kept secrets—The Plantation Garden. For just £2, you step into a Victorian wonderland. There’s a romantic sense of forgotten grandeur: Gothic fountains, Italianate terraces, rustic benches, and flower beds just waking up from winter. We spent an hour there, but it felt longer—in the best way.

🧱 Elm Hill

Arguably the most famous street in Norwich. This cobbled Tudor street is its most photographed—and for good reason. Timber-framed buildings lean slightly as if they’re whispering to each other. A bookshop called The Dormouse made me smile (doesn’t that name alone feel like a fairytale?), and the tearooms feel like they were made for rainy-day conversations. Every window held a story. Every shadow, a suggestion of the past.

🌉 Quayside & Fye Bridge Street

We walked along Quayside, tracing the gentle bends of the River Wensum, hands in our pockets, cameras out but often forgotten. This area, once a thriving commercial quay, is now one of the city’s most serene spots. Fye Bridge Street, lined with cafés and reflections in the water, became our favorite walking route. The view of the pastel buildings mirrored in the river felt like a scene from a watercolor painting.

🕍 Don’t Miss…

If you ever find yourself in Norwich, give it at least two full days. Visit the grand Norwich Cathedral, wander the halls of Norwich Castle, and leave enough space in your itinerary for wandering without purpose. Because here, the best moments aren’t always the ones you planned.

Highlights worth savoring:
✨ Medieval architecture that feels alive
✨ Hidden gardens that hold your thoughts
✨ A city small enough to know in a weekend, but big enough to remember for a lifetime
✨ Kindness in the smiles of strangers, and the warmth in a pot of tea

Norwich may not be the loudest city, but it sings in whispers—through its streets, stones, and stories. And if you’re ever looking for a place where time feels beautifully tangled, this medieval city in Norfolk might just be your next unforgettable escape.

With love from the cobbled lanes,
Anj 🖤