Essential information about visiting Norwich Castle

Norwich Castle is an iconic Norman castle offering outstanding collections and displays of archaeology, decorative and fine art, natural history and more.

We are a Sandford Award holder for 2022-2027. The Sandford Award is a recognition of quality in heritage learning. The Sandford assessor outlined that Norwich Castle: 'offers an imaginative and inclusive learning programme...Children are encouraged to actively engage with the past'.

The essentials

• School visits must be booked in advance
• Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge holder
• Programme for:
  • Early Years
  • Key Stage 1
  • KS2
  • KS3
  • KS4
  • KS5
  • Language schools
• Free entry for schools in Norfolk in term-time. £2.40 per child outside term-time. UK schools outside Norfolk £2.40 per child.
• Cancellation and minimum fees information (PDF) [148KB]
• Privacy information (PDF) [113KB]

Museum overview

• Magnificent Castle Keep. The Keep is currently closed for major redevelopment work. Find out more about the Royal Palace Reborn project
• Contemporary and fine art including the Norwich School of Artists
• Royal Norfolk Regimental collections
• Roman, Anglo-Saxon and Viking (temporarily closed), and Egyptian displays
• Crime and punishment, natural history and the decorative arts
• World-class special exhibition programme
• Café and shop with pocket money items

Parking

• Drop-off points for coaches near the museum on Castle Meadow or Farmers Avenue
• Please note: There is no parking on site. If you are using a minibus or car only and need to drop off group members at the museum entrance for accessibility reasons, you can drive over the bridge and drop off or pick up

Facilities for schools

• Indoor picnic area with coat and bag storage. Picnic area must be booked in advance.
• A short, safe walk to Castle Gardens where there's space for picnics and to run around

Access

• Accessible toilets and Changing Place
• Level access
• Lift to first floor
• Please discuss wheelchair access on booking
• Find out more about access at Norwich Castle

Bookings and information

• Organising your school visit to Norwich Castle (PDF) [157KB]
• Risk assessment (PDF) [367KB]

Booking is essential for all school visits and we'd recommend enquiring at least a term in advance. If you'd like to make a booking, contact norwichcastle.bookings@norfolk.gov.uk or 01603 493636. You'll need to have the following information to hand:

• The name and postcode of your school
• The number of students you want to bring
• Their year group(s)
• The number of accompanying adults 
• The type of visit you're interested in
• Which half-term/term you'd like to visit
• Whether anyone in the group has any physical access, learning or behavioural needs
• For workshops, half-day events or self-guided visits, whether you'd like a space to eat packed lunches. If you visit for a full-day event, you'll automatically be assigned a lunch space