Norwich Cathedral: A Free Family Day Out in the Cathedral Close

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Norwich Cathedral seen through the medieval Erpingham Gate archway — the great west front and spire framed by the dark stone arch. — Norwich Cathedral seen from Tombland through the Erpingham Gate.

Norwich Cathedral is one of Britain’s most complete Norman buildings — a 900-year-old cathedral with the largest cathedral cloister in England, the second-tallest spire in the country, and (at the right time of year) a famous pair of peregrine falcons nesting on the spire. Entry is free and donations-supported. The Cathedral Close around it is among the most atmospheric pieces of central Norwich and worth a wander in its own right.

Visitor essentials

Address: 65 The Close, Norwich, NR1 4DH, Norfolk
Operator: The Dean and Chapter of Norwich Cathedral — live opening hours and prices
OS map: OS Explorer 237 — Norwich Buy from OS →
Entry: Free — the cathedral asks for a donation if you’re able to give one.
Gift shop: A lovely shop in the cloisters with good-quality merchandise — worth a browse on your way out.

The Norwich Cathedral spire seen from inside the cloister garth on a still evening, with the Norman arcades and trefoil-capped buttresses lit up by the late sun. — The cathedral spire from the cloister garth.

Make a day of it: park in town and walk through the close

Norwich is a small, compact city, so the easiest plan is to park once and explore on foot. Castle Mall Car Park and St Andrew’s Car Park both put you within a short walk of the cathedral, and you’ll see a lot more of the city by walking through the streets and lanes than by driving straight to the gate.

The cathedral itself isn’t the only thing worth slowing down for. The Cathedral Close is full of charming old buildings — medieval houses, the great Erpingham Gate, and the green lawns of the precinct — and on a sunny afternoon, wandering around the close is a lovely way to spend an hour or two before you even step inside.

If you’ve still got time, Norwich also has a Roman Catholic Cathedral on the other side of the city — the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, on Earlham Road. It’s an easy walk through the city centre, with plenty of independent cafés on the way for a coffee and a slice of cake when you need a break.

The Norwich Cathedral nave looking east — the long Norman arcade, the lierne vault overhead and the great east window at the far end. — The nave looking east from the west end.

What to expect on a family visit

Allow 90 minutes for the cathedral itself — the nave, the cloisters, the Treasury exhibition and the south transept. Children get a (free) i-spy trail at the welcome desk; the famous peregrines are visible from late spring through to mid-summer with a live camera feed in the Hostry. The Refectory restaurant in the modern Hostry building is genuinely good for lunch. Add another hour if you’d like to walk the wider Close — the Erpingham Gate, Bishop’s Garden and Lower Close are all worth seeing.

The Refectory restaurant at Norwich Cathedral — a modern timber-vaulted dining room built against the medieval cloister wall, with families eating at light wooden tables. — The Refectory at Norwich Cathedral.

Eating at Norwich Cathedral

The Refectory Bakery and Café — Norwich Cathedral

Cathedral café operated by Bread Source artisan bakery. Artisan bread, cinnamon buns, pastries. Sandwiches, light lunches, specialist teas. Step-free access in the modern Hostry building.

Today: Open 08:00–18:00.

Mon–Sat	08:00–18:00
Sun	08:30–16:00

Verified 29 April 2026 against the operator's official page. Hours change seasonally — check the operator's page before visiting. (Last verified more than 3 months ago — confirm before visiting.)

Plan your route: the relevant Ordnance Survey map for Norwich Cathedral is OS Explorer 237 — Norwich. Mobile signal is patchy across many of these places — a paper or downloaded OS map is more reliable than your phone for finding car parks, footpaths and the way home.

A walk around the cathedral and close

A small collection of pictures from in and around Norwich Cathedral — the west front, the cloisters, the great east window, the labyrinth in the garth, fragments of medieval carving, and a coffee or two from one of the independent cafés on the walk back into town.