Welcome to Norwich Castle Museum. “Live the history!” the sign commands you as you walk over the bridge and approach the austere, symmetrically shaped “square box on the hill”.
Take the battlements tour to see all the famous historical Norwich landmarks from the ramparts. This allows the visitor to experience just how ideally constructed and positioned the castle was as a defensible fortress.
From here, dive down all the way through the five levels of history into the dungeons below, stopping along the way to learn about the Anglo Saxons, Romans, Egyptians, World War II, natural history and art.
A Day Out At Norwich Castle Museum should include a visit to The Castle & History Zone which uses models and interactive displays to bring to life the 900-year-old Norman keep.
The castle itself was originally built for the Norman-French people by William the Conqueror who wanted to have a fortified castle in Norwich. It was a Royal Palace and still is considered one of the finest Romanesque buildings in Europe. Plans are now afoot to redevelop the site.
In a £13 million project approved in 2018, the original Norman floor and rooms befitting to a palace of Norman kings, will be recreated. A new visitor experience centre and schools’ entrance will also be developed, in partnership with the British museum.
All the exhibits are sympathetically laid out to retain the castle’s unique ‘olde worlde’ atmosphere.
Artefacts from Britain’s exploration around the world are scattered throughout the various zones, including, in this section, a mock-up of an Egyptian tomb with ancient mummies.
Any display concerning East Anglia would not be complete without telling the story of Boudica and the Iceni tribe, and their fight to the death against the invading Romans.
Children will enjoy riding on a chariot with an interactive display using moving horses.
Visitors can also see what life was like after the Romans in the Anglo-Saxon and Viking gallery.
There’s also a section tracing the 300-year history of the Royal Norfolk Regiment, together with other artefacts from WWII.
There really is a ‘History of Everything’ here, which is why a day out at Norwich Castle museum is suitable for all the family.
Hands-on exploration and some dressing up make it even more fun, particularly for the kids and the Instagram photos to follow!
The Natural History zone is a ‘must’ for a day out at Norwich Castle Museum. It incorporates a spectacular collection of mammals, such as a polar bear and a pelican, together with a vast array of British birds and exotic butterflies from around the world. Information on the collectors and curators of these wonderful specimens is also on display.
Fans of the Norwich school of art can admire the Castle’s collection of paintings, many showing the wonderful Norfolk light against the dramatic coastline. Some modern art can also be seen.
The Castle is also home to a decorative arts collection, and some wonderful ceramics, notably the world’s biggest collection of ceramic teapots, and the world’s largest teapot! Now, Norwich, one of Europe’s most complete medieval cities is all set to firmly secure its place as an internationally acclaimed city of culture.
So, don’t miss a day out at Norwich Castle Museum!