Organising Language School visits to Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery

Norwich Castle: Royal Palace Reborn building project

Norwich Castle Keep is undergoing major redevelopment work which will continue until at least 2025. The Keep is closed during this time. Most of the other areas of the museum will be open, with a few changes. Find out more about planned gallery closures 

Planning your visit

• Museum opening hours are Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Find more information about Norwich Castle opening times
• If you are bringing a group and wish to make a pre-visit, please contact 01603 493636 or norwichcastle.bookings@norfolk.gov.uk
• If you have a large group, you may be required to stagger arrivals
• You can find a risk assessment on our website (PDF) [367KB]
• Find general information about language school visits
• We are not usually able to offer space for coats and bags or a space to eat packed lunches 

Bookings

All visits must be booked in advance. To book or to make an enquiry, contact 01603 493636 or norwichcastle.bookings@norfolk.gov.uk.

Admission and payment

Your booking confirmation shows details of the charge for your students. Group leaders and accompanying adults are free in a reasonable ratio. You can pay on arrival by cash, card or cheque payable to Norfolk County Council. It may be possible to invoice after your visit. If you would prefer an invoice, email norwichcastle.bookings@norfolk.gov.uk in advance of your visit.

Cancellation policy

If you need to cancel your booking, contact norwichcastle.bookings@norfolk.gov.uk in advance. If you have booked a tour or talk, you will need to give 21 days' notice in writing; if you don't you may be charged a cancellation fee.

Access

We're here to help if anyone in your party has access needs. We recommend you visit the museum or contact norwichcastle.bookings@norfolk.gov.uk before the trip to talk to us about how to evacuate in an emergency. Find more information about access facilities at Norwich Castle.

Arriving at the museum

• There is no parking on-site. However, you can drive over the bridge (in a car or minibus only) to drop off students or accompanying adults who have access needs
• From the coach drop-off on Castle Meadow, head up the path next to the hoardings. From there, there are three routes to the Castle:
  • Steps followed by the sloped footbridge
  • Slopes through Castle Gardens followed by the footbridge
  • The lift opposite the steps. The lift option bypasses the footbridge

Note: There may be construction vehicles on Castle Meadow. If this is an issue for your group, please ask your driver to drop you off on Farmers Avenue instead. There may be additional changes as the redevelopment progresses.

Inside the museum

Inside the museum there are lifts to the first and second floors. There is a maximum of three wheelchair-users above ground floor level at a time. Wheelchair-users visiting the upper floors must be able to transfer into an evac chair or wait at a refuge point in the event of an emergency.

There are accessible toilets on each floor. On the ground floor, there is also a Changing Places toilet, which can be opened with a radar key. If you don't have a radar key, please ask a member of staff.

Wheelchairs are available to borrow in the museum on a first-come, first-served basis.

On the day

• Ask your coach driver to drop you off or pick you up on Castle Meadow or Farmers Avenue. There is a short walk through Castle Gardens and across the footbridge to the museum
• The nearest coach or minibus parking is on Rouen Road. The nearest car parking is in Castle Quarter. There is no parking at the museum
• On arrival, please go to the information desk in the Rotunda. We will ask the group leader to sign in and record the number of students and adults in the party. If you have booked a tour or event, a member of museum staff will direct you to your meeting place
• The Museum Shop has a range of souvenirs priced for pocket money

Running late?

If you are going to be late and have an event scheduled, please call the Bookings Coordinator on 01603 493636.

Responsibilities and expectations during your visit

The group leader has responsibility for adult helpers. They also must brief students and adult helpers on key details before the trip. This includes health and safety, and roles and responsibilities as below.

All group leaders and adult helpers have responsibility for:

• Their students' behaviour throughout the visit including led sessions and breaks
• Sole responsibility for the welfare of their pupils during breaks and lunchtimes
• Staying with their group at all times, especially during breaks and lunchtimes
• In case of evacuation, escorting their group to the fire assembly point. They take the register and report any missing person to museum staff

Students must have a responsible attitude. They must be mindful of the fabric of the museum, its contents and other museum visitors.  

Departing the museum

When you are ready to leave, we recommend you phone your driver to check the coach is waiting for you. If there's a delay you'll then be able to wait in the museum rather than on the roadside.