Norwich Car Tours: Top 5 Adventures on Four Wheels

Norwich, you know, with its blend of history and charm, provides a perfect stage for car tours, and basically it gives you the opportunity to uncover spots that are really quite tricky to get to via public transport, very tricky. If you have your own ride, you’ll find there’s just a certain sense of freedom to discover the areas nearby at a pace that really suits you, and that’s just so good. From its medieval lanes to the scenic Norfolk countryside, the drives offer a distinctive view of the area and beyond.

1. The Historic Norwich City Drive

Okay, so this route gets you up close and so personal with Norwich’s oldest spots. Your adventure is very likely to start near Norwich Cathedral, basically an awesome example of Romanesque architecture and all things medieval, still looking pretty majestic after all these years. Perhaps take a walk around Cathedral Close because it’s really gorgeous, too it’s almost the perfect starting point to get in that tourist mindset. Driving is not allowed here so park and stretch your legs. Then it’s onward! Passing through Elm Hill, well you’ll find is that its cobbled streets practically tell stories of the city’s rich past over time.

A little later on, you could easily swing by Norwich Market, too it’s almost one of the oldest and largest open-air markets in the entire country, offering a real taste, literally, of the local life and the best grub in town. From there, your drive could possibly loop towards Norwich Castle, providing a look at Norman history, really and truly giving insight. As you cruise towards the riverside, is that you may spot pull-offs where you get those lovely waterside vistas and those photo ops.

If you can, too it’s almost, make a pit stop at Pull’s Ferry, basically it is this photogenic water gate that speaks volumes of Norwich’s days as a trade hub. The circular drive will pretty much bring you back near to where you began. Perhaps finish things off at a restaurant nearby because that might be a great way to think over all the awesome Norwich things you’ve checked out today. This city drive provides the old meeting the present very wonderfully.

2. The Broads National Park Scenic Tour

Getting to the Broads from Norwich is honestly a breeze and gives you a peek into a really different side of Norfolk. Setting out northwards, well you will almost certainly soon trade in the city scenes for sprawling open land. First of all, head for Wroxham, known locally like the “capital of the Broads.” Now this place has got a little something for everyone, that, so maybe think over taking a boat trip to truly see the waterways. Or, just grabbing a cuppa at a cafe will really do you good on this road trip.

Keep moving toward Hoveton, a spot home to the lovely gardens of BeWILDerwood. Now these parks aren’t the average manicured landscapes. Oh no, quite the opposite, they provide natural family fun and loads of activities, very adventurous for adults and children alike, basically a really cute place. Continuing on, you can pretty much loop through some classic Broadland towns and villages, actually like Horning and Ranworth.

Ranworth, as a matter of fact, boasts the ‘Cathedral of the Broads,’ in essence, St Helen’s Church, which is worth scaling for panoramic vistas. So, if time isn’t an issue, find your way back to Norwich slowly, choosing little side roads to catch all the lovely scenery. That way, you are just that much more sure to uncover peaceful villages and riverside gems. For nature lovers or those who would love to check out Norfolk beyond the cityscape, the Broads Tour is definitely for you!

3. The Norfolk Coast Adventure

Wanting beaches? Very well, you can drive northeast from Norwich straight out to the Norfolk coast. It’s worth planning a pit stop in Cromer and sampling the classic Cromer crab, really like that authentic North Sea food experience. If you do, you will feel a little more like a local. Another way to spend an hour could easily be walking along the pier there and checking out all the sea views and you could breath in some sea air as well. If you’re on vacation, you might as well check out this town by the coast.

Further along is Sheringham, just that little further afield and just that much closer to amazing trails in Sheringham Park (a National Trust space) offering great coast vistas and really cool landscaped gardens. Very gorgeous to look at and explore in fine weather and it’s worth spending an hour here, trust me. From here you can easily go further eastwards, checking out cute little seaside villages like Weybourne and Cley next the Sea which have nature reserves nearby.

If you go further along that stretch of the coastal road you could even arrive in Blakeney, well known like a lovely village, not just this but it has boat trips galore! Those boat trips actually take visitors out to see local seal colonies out on the water. This is like the perfect thing to see to experience more wild Norfolk! Finish your outing and then make that drive back through pastoral inland Norfolk and think over what seaside memories to take back with you to the city!

4. The South Norfolk Villages Escape

Going southwest from Norwich into South Norfolk provides a look at more villages and classic England views, and a slower style of life and culture if you were to meet a local, that, and is that such a good thing? First of all, consider the historical town of Diss with its mere and those charming streets and small boutiques. Actually, why not spend a bit window shopping? From here, you could go to places and spaces such as Hingham (famous for that U.S. connections, weirdly). Or even, Banham that actually has the Banham Zoo nearby with landmarks.

A potential spot to then drop by would potentially be Wymondham that may also be famous because of that historic Abbey. It might be worth taking a moment or so here to walk about a place just dripping in local history and snap a load of photos! This trip may or may not lead you around idyllic lanes, past wheat fields. All while it will make you discover tucked-away little villages.

These smaller routes, in short, provide places to pull over so you can get awesome photos, stretch and check out local churches in cute settlements in the locale. This provides something quieter that will maybe appeal if you prefer something outside city limits and beside the water. At least you’d find places outside that Norwich you know, perhaps a town like Long Stratton.

5. The Norfolk Lavender and Castle Acre Tour

Going west out of Norwich brings visitors closer to spots like Norfolk Lavender and Castle Acre and those ruins which will be great if it is that kinda thing for you. Start out driving northwards but turn off West after about 40 minutes on the road towards a tourist attraction, should it still be growing season anyway, because Norfolk Lavender could well have some visual surprises. These farms are well known for awesome shows in the summer once lavender is flowering in the fields. The photo spots, honestly, should certainly tempt you to grab that digital device from wherever it is kept while you enjoy being among one the calm scents!

Now, keep your rental rolling along to Castle Acre. Did you know that here you can check out ruins, some awesome Roman ruins plus Castle Acre Priory as a bonus! These well maintained historical sites help the imagination race back to how rural Northfolk was years ago. The pretty market towns nearby can also allow breaks if you love little indie cafes where can grab coffee or teas plus snacks.

To cap things off, maybe weave to local smallish settlements at your own pace if you have hours to fritter or even visit interesting and picturesque attractions that can easily become the highlight, if it turns out that Norfolk Lavender doesn’t move you much anyway. Then the routes to make that return trip to Norwich are smooth along the roads westward! They make this area easily reachable plus a welcome getaway once you get those classic castles, abbeys, plus lavender gardens fresh in memory and on camera to bring back to those folks at home.