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Norwich & Norfolk at Christmas

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6 days From £649 per person
4.5 stars(13 reviews)
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Discover scenic waterways and heritage trains

Mobility Rating 2

2023 Tour code: 24NFX

About the tour

Explore the heritage trains and meandering waterways of Norfolk over the Christmas period. Immerse yourself in the delights of this charming region from your base in the city of Norwich.

Highlights

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - Norwich

Your holiday begins today in Norwich, where you meet your Tour Manager at your hotel, enjoying a glass of mulled wine upon arrival. After checking in, you're free to settle in or begin exploring this historic city. Local Christmas markets, intricate light displays and beautifully decorated centuries-old buildings set the scene for this festive adventure. With a wonderful medieval centre, Norwich is dominated by its castle and spectacular cathedral.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - Norwich on Christmas Eve

You have a guided tour of the historic city of Norwich this morning, a place steeped in history and filled with medieval buildings and crooked houses. This afternoon, you're free to continue exploring.

The beautiful and historic city has much to recommend it. Dominated by a magnificent Anglo-Norman cathedral built in 1096, Norwich is a pleasing jumble of historic and modern architecture, its shopping streets and open squares revealing museums, medieval churches, public gardens and other attractions seemingly at every turn. At Christmas, the city takes on an even more magical quality, with pretty fairy lights and festive decorations brightening up the streets.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Christmas in Norwich

Enjoy plenty of time on Christmas Day to relax and enjoy the festivities. This afternoon you sit down to a traditional Christmas lunch with all the trimmings, followed by time to continue exploring the beautiful city of Norwich. Perhaps enjoy a walk past the city's breathtaking castle, or visit the Plantation Garden, which was established in 1856 and sits tucked away at the heart of the city. This evening, there is a delicious Christmas buffet served at the hotel.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 – Cley Marshes and Fairhaven Gardens

Today is Boxing Day and this morning, we travel to the coast to explore the Cley Marshes wildlife reserve, one of the best birdwatching sites in the UK. We also learn about the wildlife of the reserve during an informative film and refreshments. While here, look out for seasonal visitors such as the distinctive pink-footed goose and the snow bunting. This afternoon we travel to the Norfolk Broads to visit Fairhaven Gardens. Combining cultivated gardens, woodland, and water gardens, it is dappled with seasonal blooms and a great place for additional birdwatching.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - From the Broads to the coast

Today commences with a charming journey on a narrow-gauge railway from the bustling Broads town of Wroxham. The Bure Valley Railway follows the meandering river through gentle countryside before reaching the historic market town of Aylsham. This afternoon, you travel along the North Norfolk Railway from the Georgian town of Holt to the Victorian seaside resort of Sheringham, along a route dubbed the Poppy Line. You journey through gentle countryside to the picture-perfect Weybourne station, carefully restored to its original condition, before enjoying great views of the sea on the way into your destination. From here, you travel to nearby Cromer for lunch at a fish and chip restaurant before having some free time in this vintage seaside town. Renowned for its Grade II-listed Victorian pier that stretches nearly 500 feet out to sea and its famous crabbing industry, Cromer is a delightful place to wander with a long esplanade on its beachfront. Back at the hotel, the group enjoys a three-course dinner together.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - Homeward bound

After breakfast, your tour concludes as you say farewell to your fellow festive travellers and leave Norwich.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

On many of our UK & Ireland tours, you may check in at the first hotel on your itinerary anytime after 14:00; your Tour Manager will be available between 16:00 and 18:00. However, if you are arriving later, you can meet your Tour Manager before dinner from 19:00.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotel

Holiday Inn Norwich City, Norwich

Holiday Inn Norwich City, Norwich

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Trains

Bure Valley Railway
North Norfolk Railway

Enhance your holiday

Upgrades

UK rail connections

Reviews

4.5 stars4.5 / 5 · 13 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (7)
  2. 4 stars
    (5)
  3. 3 stars
    (1)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

A Dunkley

3 stars

Submitted 9/Jan

Hotel very good. Overall experience disappointing because of poor communication of excursion cancellation and lack of free time to explore Norwich when venues open. The manager and guide at Fairhsven garden was so enthusiastic and knowledgable

Collected by Trustpilot

Mr Grant Stallwood

5 stars

Submitted 5/Jan

hotel excellent trips superb

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M Baynes

5 stars

Submitted 12 Jan 2022

Norwich is a lovely City to spend Christmas,hotel was pleasant although not in the most salubrious area unless your a football fan.All the staff were very helpful and friendly, food was very good with plenty of choice,even for a vegetarian !! Ken our holiday guide was excellent doing his best to please quite a large party. I wouldn't consider another rail discoveries holiday at that time of year due to the over crowding ( not your fault) of the trains. Mary Baynes

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Alex Smith

5 stars

Submitted 10 Jan 2022

Excellent holiday, although weather was wet all the time, the hotel (Holiday Inn Carrow Road), staff and tour guide were brilliant, could not do enough for you.

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Val

5 stars

Submitted 09 Jan 2022

Really enjoyed my first Christmas break. Something happening every day with tour guide taking the stress out of itinerary. Thanks.John

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M Richards

4 stars

Submitted 04 Jan 2022

The usual great service from Rail Discoveries. Ken was an excellent tour manager who was very good at finding alternatives when the schedule had to be altered. The Holiday Inn did a great job, especially Christmas Day lunch, but I was disappointed that the final two dinners did not match up to the standard of the first three, presumably because of a change of chef. Staff very efficient and welcoming. So good to be holidaying with you again RD. I thoroughly enjoyed my excellent Christmas holiday.

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