Norwich Shopping and Districts

(Norwich, Norfolk, England, UK)

The sheer choice of places to shop in Norwich is quite immense and the city is now considered to be within the United Kingdom's top five shopping destinations. Therefore, if you are planning a visit to Norwich, do be sure to leave ample time for at least an afternoon's shopping and a spot of serious retail therapy.

Although it is true to say that Norwich really does contain plenty of large department stores and familiar flagship brands, it is the enticing shopping scene around the medieval streets that is most appealing.

Here shoppers will find a multitude of speciality stores and independent outlets, selling antiques, books, music and toys. And don't forget to check out the bustling Norwich Market, which remains the largest open-air market in the whole of England and is open Monday to Saturday.

Where to Shop

In the very heart of Norwich, the winding shopping lanes provide a pleasant place to shop for high fashion, and contain a number of reliable fashion boutiques, which are in particularly good supply along Magdalen Street, St. Benedicts Street and St. Giles Street. Further award-winning shopping is available within the historical Timberhill area, and virtually next door, at the Mall Norwich on Castle Market Street and Farmers Avenue.

Timberhill provides a scenic connection between the John Lewis department store and The Mall Norwich (otherwise known as the Castle Mall), an indoor shopping centre with shops such as Boots the Chemist, Mothercare, Rymans and Vision Express, as well as a soft play area for young children.

Elm Hill is perhaps the most famous of all the medieval shopping streets in Norwich and remains well preserved, with cobblestones and beautiful shops with timber-framed facades. At the top of Elm Hill, be sure to check out the weekly handicraft and antiques markets at St. Andrew's Hall and Blackfriars Hall.

Much of central Norwich is completely pedestrianised and traffic-free, in a successful attempt to improve the overall shopping experience. Take a stroll along Gentleman's Walk and St. Stephen's Street for an interesting selection of stores, or head to the Chapelfield complex, where a large branch of House of Fraser is sited.

Very famous in Norwich is the eye-catching shop named Jarrold's, which dates back to 1823 and has actually twice been awarded with the prestigious title of the United Kingdom's Independent Department Store of the Year. Also of historical significance is the Royal Arcade, which has many Art Nouveau features and stands alongside Castle Street.

On the outskirts of Norwich and lying next to the River Wensum, the Riverside Centre on Koblenz Avenue is a good place for shopping and comes with a retail park, multiplex cinema, restaurants and bowling attraction. Further afield are innumerable Norfolk market towns and villages, such as Wroxham, which is surprisingly home to the largest village store in the world.