Car Rental Norwich

Navigating Norwich is relatively simple and enjoyable due to its collection of wide lanes and winding, cobbled streets.

Driving in the UK is on the left-hand side of the road, and speed limits are indicated in miles per hour. These are typically 30mph (48km/h) around towns and cities, 60mph (96km/h) on many rural roads and 70mph (112km/h) on most dual-carriageways and motorways, but always check the signs as these can vary.

If you are arriving at the airport, join Holt Road as it merges into Cromer Road (A140) and follow the orbital highway around Norwich to reach the key suburbs.

At Earlham Park you’ll find the campus of the University of East Anglia, while Whitlington Country Park offers brilliant picnicking potential to the city’s west.

If you prefer, head straight for the affluent city centre. Use Aylsham Road to reach the River Wensum and a network of one-way roads. Join the roundabouts and use the orbital A147 to circuit through the centre. You will find many useful parking lots in this area, including the St Andrews Car Park which sits in a prime riverside position near the dining and theatre district.

Castle Mall is the city’s premier retail destination, complete with a cinema, seasonal events and kids’ entertainment. It is close to the many conference centres throughout Norwich, so it’s easy to swing by in your rental car if you’ve spent the morning or afternoon in meetings.

The Forum and Dragon Hall are two of the best cultural venues around – you’ll also find important historical attractions in the streets around the meandering river. Norwich Castle is the most famous attraction of the city – inside the Norman walls you’ll find a museum and art gallery to explore.

To discover the rest of beautiful Norfolk, use the A47 or the A140 to journey towards the coast. Cromer and Great Yarmouth are two of the largest traditional seaside towns – there are plenty of lesser known, idyllic villages to explore if you head down the coast too.

Norfolk is home to an abundance of peaceful greens spaces yet remains refreshingly cosmopolitan.

A medieval city in the heart of rural East Anglia, Norwich has served as a meeting point and cultural hub for more than a thousand years.

This legacy remains today – the city enjoys a friendly and welcoming atmosphere and thriving cultural scene.

Culture that steps to its own beat

Norwich Castle is the city’s key landmark, and in true Norwich style, it offers the perfect blend of old and new. This square fortification has stood for nine hundred years and now houses a range of fascinating exhibits. Step inside to learn about the history of decorative arts, take in interactive historical displays and view collections dedicated to natural history.

Norwich was the first UNESCO City of Literature – it’s an exclusive club, since just 20 cities across the world have been granted this title. There are also several impressive theatres – the Norwich Theatre Royal is the most renowned, but you can also see quirky shows at the Maddermarket Theatre, the Puppet Theatre or the Norwich Playhouse.

Don’t miss out on shopping at the independent retailers of Norwich Lanes either. The trendy, lamp-lit boutique streets were crowned Great British High Street of the Year in 2014.

Nature in Norfolk

The Norfolk Broads are about half an hour from Norwich by road, so renting a car is the ideal way to get there. This impressive network of waterways is a popular British vacation spot. Many visitors rent a cottage or even a boat to relax in the lush scenery.

Once you’ve had your fill of fishing and cycling, take to the road to emerge on the wondrous Norfolk coast. Cromer is famous for crabbing – try your hand at the lines or drop into a traditional seafood restaurant by the pier.

Great Yarmouth is home to Pleasure Beach – an exciting family amusement park – plus an intriguing Sea Life Centre. If you’re looking for beauty at the beach, head north to Wells-next-the-Sea in the Norfolk Area of Natural Beauty. Don’t forget to try traditional fish and chips while you’re here for a true taste of the Norfolk coast.

Rumble with the royals

As you might expect for a prominent English city, there are plenty of regal attractions near Norwich. Norwich Cathedral houses the Royal School of Church Music Diocesan Festival each June, playing host to the occasional royal visit as well.

The star of the show however is the Sandringham Estate. Just one hour from Norwich by car, this is the country retreat of the British royal family. During the summer months, visitors are permitted daily and there is an on-site museum.

You’ll be able to walk through the spaces graced by the royal family past and present, including the house and the vibrant gardens which stretch across 60 acres.

Renting a car in Norwich is the perfect way to see all the sights.