Cathedral of St John the Baptist

The Cathedral of St John the Baptist 

The Cathedral of St John the Baptist is Norwich’s Catholic Cathedral, but its doors are open to all people from any and no faith. The Cathedral is open from 7.30am until 7:30pm every day of the year.

Free entry (although donations are welcome), there are also (secular) events that take place throughout the year.

http://www.sjbcathedral.org.uk/

 

St Julian is a medieval feminist in my opinion.  A 14th century Norwich woman, she experienced a series of extraordinary visions.  She then became an Anchoress, locking herself away in a small cell attached to a church in Norwich.  In this cell, she became the first woman to write a book in English

You can visit the church and her cell for free, or the visitor information centre to find out more her history and context, and read books in the library - They may make you a cup of tea and give you a little hazelnut if you stay long enough!  The shrine also has a secret churchyard garden, a green oasis in the city

The Church is open every day: 9am - 6pm

The Visitor Centre is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: 10am - 3:30pm

The Julian Shrine | Julian of Norwich | St Julian's, Rouen Road, Norwich, UK

Olio app

Olio is a mobile app for sharing by giving away, getting, borrowing or lending things in your community for free. 

Shops and supermarkets arrange for their unsold produce to be picked up by volunteers who then distribute it through the app. Is is also a 'free shop' for non-food items.

You do have to be quick as items get requested very quickly.

Our neighbours get lots of stuff from Sainsburys after they can't give it away, they put it outside for all of us to feast upon.  Pastries never tasted so good.

Olio - Your local go-to for free food (and more)

An Olio Haul

Get Talking Norwich!

Welcome to Get Talking Norwich. We want everyone to have the ability to take part in discussions, consultations and activities that help shape our city.

Here you can share your ideas and thoughts, influence decisions that matter to you and follow a projects progress.  You can just take a look, though you will need to register to get involved. But it’s quick and easy and we’d love to hear from you!

If you want to shape your community, you can complete a one-off registration form and then join in the conversations

Get Talking Norwich

Get Talking Norwich (theshoebox.org.uk)

Eventbrite

Find free events on eventbrite by filtering by 'free'

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--norwich/events/

Norwich Cathedral

Norwich Cathedral

The most complete Norman Cathedral in England and one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Europe, Norwich Cathedral is one of England’s finest Cathedrals.  Free to look around (although donations are welcome), there's always something to do, and they have art exhibitions and free (secular) events throughout the year, on top of the religious services

https://www.cathedral.org.uk/visit/things-to-see-and-do

Free online courses

Sign up to a free online university-level course on a massive range of courses

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses

Social Groups on meetup.com

Meetup.com and the meetup app is a great way of finding out about social groups running in Norwich (and all over).

There's something going on on most days of the week, and most things are free.

https://www.meetup.com

Horsey Seals

December to February is a good time of year to see the seal pups at Waxham and Horsey.

https://www.explorenorfolkuk.co.uk/seals-at-horsey.html
http://friendsofhorseyseals.co.uk/

Free Gym Passes

Gym memberships are more expensive at this time of year (January), but you can blag yourself some free day passes or 'trials' to the posh gyms. 

https://www.nuffieldhealth.com/campaigns/gyms/free-pass

https://phoenixgymnorwich.co.uk/

https://www.bemilitaryfit.com/

Music Events

There's normally a free music event each day in Norwich

https://musicinnorwich.org.uk/ - Classical, jazz and world music

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1188247774522500/ - Norwich Music City

Free music

Norwich is great for free music events in bars and pubs.

There's normally some free music event on every night of the week, and usually more than one event to choose from.

The EDP often have some listings on their website, but the most comprehensive guide seems to be the wonderful Richard Shashamane's daily posts to the Facebook Group "Norwich: Music City".  It's a closed group but you can request to join.

www.facebook.com/groups/1188247774522500 

Visual art exhibitions

There's normally some sort of visual art exhibition on in Norwich every day.

Art in Norwich website has a round up of visual art, sculpture and architectural events in Norwich

http://www.artinnorwich.org.uk/

Free Learning

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are free online courses available for anyone to enroll.

The main ones are FutureLearn, Coursera, edX and Open University

https://www.futurelearn.com/
https://www.coursera.org/
https://www.edx.org/
http://www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses


What is a MOOC? Intro Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW3gMGqcZQc

Heigham Park

Heigham Park

Recreation Road, Norwich

Facilities:

• Junior and toddler play area
• Grass tennis courts
• Bowling Green
• Toilets
• Attractive seating areas
• Historical, horticultural,
• Wildlife interest

You can find out about becoming a friend of heigham park here: https://friendsofheighampark.wordpress.com/



Info on this and other parks in Norwich - http://www.thegoldentriangle.co.uk/Parks_and_Gardens_in_Norwich.html

Titchwell Marsh

About Titchwell Marsh

This popular reserve on the north Norfolk coast has something for everyone. A walk from the visitor centre down to the sandy beach takes you past reedbeds and shallow lagoons, which are often full of birds. You can sit on benches or watch from spacious, wheelchair-accessible hides. 

In summer, marsh harriers float over the reeds, where bearded tits nest. On the lagoons are avocets, gulls and terns. In autumn and winter you can see up to 20 species of wading birds and lots of ducks and geese. 

The reserve is open every day of the year.

There is a car parking charge (£5), but you could possibly park elsewhere and walk.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/t/titchwellmarsh/about.aspx

Lifeboat Museum on Cromer Pier

Lifeboat Museum on Cromer Pier 

Also on the east promenade you'll find the Henry Blogg Lifeboat Museum. The whole town is proud of the man referred to as 'the greatest of the lifeboatmen', who gained national fame in the first half of the 20th century when navigation around the Norfolk coastline was particularly hazardous in easterly gales.

http://www.cromerrnli.org.uk/

Sheringham Park

Landscape park and woodland garden with miles of stunning coastal views

Wander through Sheringham Park and you'll discover why it became the personal favourite of its designer, Humphry Repton. Visit the Repton exhibition to see the story of his 1812 design during a turbulent period of history.

Famous for its vast collection of rhododendrons and azaleas, the last owner, Tom Upcher, would hold rhododendron champagne parties in the 1950s to show them off. Ladies would arrive in their fine gowns, some wearing Wellington boots to walk down the main carriageway, sipping champagne and admiring the colours.

Today, you can climb to the top of the towers to experience breathtaking views of this beautiful landscape, the North Norfolk coast and maybe a steam train passing through.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sheringham-park

The Norfolk Broads

Britain's largest protected wetland and the third largest inland waterway. 

It's also home to more than a quarter of the rarest plants and animals in the UK.

A rich mix of attractions are on offer on land and water all year round - and the historic city of Norwich is right on the doorstep.

http://www.enjoythebroads.com/

Holkham National Nature Reserve

Holkham National Nature Reserve covers about 3706 hectares (9158 acres) from Wells-next-the-Sea to Burnham Overy and comprises a number of rare and precious habitats including salt marsh, sand dunes, pine woodland, beach and grazing marsh.

The present landscape is largely man-made having been reclaimed from saltmarsh between the seventeenth and nineteenth century. The 2nd Earl of Leicester planted the distinctive belt of pine trees in the nineteenth century to help stabilise the dunes. At one time the tidal creeks were wide enough to allow ships to load cargo from a ‘staithe’ or quay in Holkham Village. The work to hold back the sea and secure the fresh-water marshes continues to the present day.

Today, Holkham is best known for its stunning panoramic beach and the rich and varied wildlife found on the grazing and salt marshes. Birds are a particular attraction whether a single rare migrant or the spectacular sight of thousands of pink-footed geese.

http://www.holkham.co.uk/nature-reserve-beach/introduction