A couple of weeks ago I spent a day in the beautiful city of Norwich. Recently it's garnered a cult fame through Alan Partridge's Alpha Papa. I did spot a few of the locations in the film and a rather amusing giant graffiti of Alan's face, but I was rather more keen to check out the city's rich history! I wanted to share my favourite historic buildings I came across and also my tips on where to find vintage clothing and antiques in the city. So here's my top 5 places to visit in Norwich for history and vintage fans:
The Castle
This 900 year old Norman castle is now home to a Museum and Art Gallery with a wide range of exhibits, from treasures from the time of Boudica, to the world's largest collection of ceramic teapots.
The Royal Arcade
This stunning example of a Victorian shopping arcade was designed by local architect George Skipper in the late 1890s. You can go and admire the Art Nouveau design as well as browsing its elegant shops.
The Market
Norwich is home to one of the largest open air markets in the country and it's been on the same site for an impressive 900 years. It's worth a visit for its selection of independent vintage traders, who can be found on the upper side near the Guildhall.
Just round the corner from the market is Goldfinches Vintage, which deserves a special mention as it is where I picked up a fabulous vintage pinny. It also had some beautiful 50s dresses and an elegant selection of handbags.
Magdalen Street
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Moving further out of town, Magdalen Street is home to an array of charity shops, vintage boutiques and antiques shops. The street may look a little scruffy on the surface, but if you are prepared to hunt around you can find some gems. Retreat Vintage and Looses Antique Market are worth a visit for vintage treasure hunting. I can also recommend the Flea Market held in the upstairs of Looses on Saturday morning, where I picked up a fab pair of high waisted 70s flares for just £2.
The Cathedral
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And finally a visit to Norwich is not complete without going to the Cathedral. Another building with a 900 year heritage, the Cathedral is a beautiful example of Romanesque architecture. If you do pop in, don't miss the chance to go up the narrow spiral stairs to the treasury and check out the rare wall paintings. I can also recommend dropping by the newly built Refectory for a cuppa!
So that's a taster of my visit to Norwich. Have you ever been? Any vintage or historic places to recommend?
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