Norwich Highlights

....and if you don't fancy getting too lost, here are some of our top picks within the city for HODs 2025!

Bishop’s House Garden

St Martin at Palace Plain, NR3 1SB

Discover this historic private four-acre garden, which has belonged to the Bishops of Norwich for over 900 years, with long herbaceous borders, roses, the hosta walk, the meadow labyrinth, a jungle walk, bamboos and extensive shrubberies.

Wed 17 & Thu 18: 10am-4pm

Carrow House

Carrow House, King Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 2TG

Discover the hidden history of Norwich’s chocolate industry in this thought-provoking talk by Lynn Lockwood, The Architecture of Chocolate: Uncovering the Systems Behind Norwich’s Chocolate History - exploring colonialism, trade, and labour through storytelling and visuals. Uncover the global systems behind local architecture and industry.

Sat 20: 11am

Let’s ‘Clay’ Marbles

Cathedral House, Unthank Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 2PA

Children of all ages are invited to join artist and creative practitioner Donna Thompson to discover the beautiful Frosterley marble at the Cathedral of John the Baptist, and will get to make a clay tile to take home. (Children must be accompanied by an adult).

Sat 13: 10.30am-1.30pm (Last entry 1pm)

 The Creative Wellbeing Project 

The Garage, 14 Chapel Field North, NR2 1NY

Come and take part in a heritage themed print making workshop, have a tour of our building and join us for tea and cake.

Sat 20: 10am-2pm

The Flint Room

On Ber Street and Finkelgate Junction, NR1 3HB

Discover this beautiful medieval building, formerly St John De Sepulchre Church, now known as the Flint Room, one of Norwich's most unusual and historical wedding venues.

Tue 16: 10am-4pm

The Lost Country Houses of Norfolk

The City Bookshop, 10 Davey Place, NR2 1PQ

Visit this exhibition upstairs at The City Bookshop to see display photos, engravings, and sale catalogues all about the 80 or more mansions and large country houses lost to Norfolk in the past 150 years.

Fri 12 & Sat 13, Mon 15-Sat 20: 10am-5pm, Sun 14 & Sun 21: 11am-3.30pm

Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell

Bridewell Alley, NR2 1AQ

Explore the museum to learn the stories of the city from Medieval times to modern day, through the eyes of some of the people who worked in the trades and industries which put the city on the map.

 Fri 19 & Sat 20: 10am-4.30pm

Norman Doors and Weavers’ Windows

Bowerbank Room, Norwich Cathedral, The Close, NR1 4DH

The Costume and Textile Association invite you to take part in a craft workshop to stitch a bookmark, styled by textile designer Stephen Worth, celebrating architectural features of Norwich related to the textile workers who made the city great.

Sun 14: 10am-3.30pm

Architecture Detectives 

65 The Close, Norwich Cathedral, NR1 4DH

A self-led trail of architectural clues to learn more about the history of the building of Norwich Cathedral, available throughout festival from the ‘Welcome & Donations Point’.

Throughout festival

Library Architecture – Books and Buildings

65 The Close, Norwich Cathedral, NR1 4DH

Explore the library to learn more about the building’s architecture, and of the architecture books in the collections.

Fri 19: 2.30pm-4pm, (Tours 2.45pm & 3.15pm)

Silver Wings: The US Army Air Forces in WWII Norfolk

Explore Norfolk's rich wartime history through a free, ten-day exhibition

An exhibition and event series at The Forum Norwich, presented as part of Heritage Open Days.

80 years after the end of World War II (WWII), a new project comes to Norfolk in 2025 honouring the history of our local community, and the influence of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during the war.
A thoughtful look at community, memory and shared heritage, our Silver Wings exhibition showcases fascinating oral histories, rare film footage, and creative work produced by Norfolk schools and communities.

From the influence of American culture to the vital roles of women, and life on the ground during WWII, the ten-day exhibition highlights the hidden stories behind the 'friendly invasion' and reveals the lasting ties between Norfolk and the United States.

Exhibition Tours - Dates & times vary | Booking essential
Join exhibition curators and young participants for a 30-minute guided tour around the Silver Wings exhibition. Available on selected dates, these bookable tours offer extra insight into the stories behind the main exhibition.

Bookings for Silver Wings events: norfolkhods.ticketsolve.com

Family Activities - Sat 20 Sep | 10am-4pm | Drop-in
Visit the Silver Wings Exhibition at The Forum on Sat 20 Sep and enjoy a variety of free, self-led activities. Expect arts and crafts, Lego, and model plane building.
Silver Wings is presented by The Forum in partnership with the American Library, Memorial to the 2nd Air Division, 8th Air Force, United States Army Air Forces.