Confidence in Norwich's tourism offer has seen investment across the accommodation sector, attractions, world-class events and free WiFi making the city an even more attractive and charming destination in 2016 for day visits, short breaks and longer stays. Last week Norwich Business Improvement District (BID) launched free WiFi to the majority of the city centre with download speeds of up to 5MBs per second, bringing a truly connected digital experience to city centre users.  Other areas of the city will come online next year.

In February, The Assembly House launches 11 brand new boutique bedrooms, The Maids Head Hotel (England's oldest hotel) continues a programme of refurbishment, plus there will be additional bedrooms in the Broads at The Norfolk Mead Hotel and Waveney River Centre as well as multi-million pound renovations in large hotels on the edge of Norwich.

Attractions with more to offer than ever before in 2016 includes; East Gallery NUA, Herbert Woods (Broads), Holkham Hall, Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse Museum of Norfolk life and Venta Icenorum Roman town's new augmented reality scheme. Plus the launch of Norwich Murals featured on buildings across the city themed Norwich, City of Stories; storytelling in pictures rather than words.

One off events include Norwich Philharmonic who will be performing Mahler (21 May)  to an audience of over 2000 in Norfolk's biggest ever classical music concert to celebrate their 175th anniversary and first time ever in Norwich; British Art Show 8 (24 Jun – 4 Sep) at Norwich University of the Arts and Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery.  The world-renowned Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts brings Fiji: Art and Life in the Pacific (12 Mar – 7 Aug) revealing stunning sculptures, textiles, ceramics, ivory and shell regalia (over 270 works of art) as well as a beautiful, newly commissioned, hulled sailing canoe built in Fiji and shipped to Norwich for display and sailing on the Norfolk Broads. The Sainsbury Centre will also host Alberto Giacometti: Man in a Raincoat (23 Apr – 25 Sep), commemorating the 50th anniversary of the artist's death. The Sainsbury Centre holds the largest collection of works by Giacometti in the UK.

William Kempe was one of the most famous actors and dancers of the Elizabethan era, a member of the Chamberlain's Men, an acting company closely associated with William Shakespeare. In 1600, Kempe famously Morris-danced 108 miles from London to Norwich ending his energetic jig at the Maids Head Hotel.  To celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, The Maddermarket Theatre will be performing 'Shakespeare at 400 mini festival' (Mar-Apr) and Norwich Cathedral will host Shakespeare in the Cloisters (15 – 16 Jul) a two day event in July.

Further information

Accommodation

The Assembly House, Norwich
Theatre Street, Norwich NR2 1RQ
In the heart of Norwich is a fine example of Georgian architecture and a member of the Norwich 12. February sees the launch of 11 rooms, including 2 opulent top-floor suites with stunning views over the rooftops of Norwich and a beautiful bridal suite. Six rooms will boast their own secret gardens and four of which will have their own comfortable lounges. All rooms will be fitted with top-of-the-range luxury fixtures and fittings, from top quality pocket-sprung beds to Egyptian cotton sheets and duck-down duvets, character antique furniture to drench showers and, in many rooms, roll top baths. www.assemblyhousenorwich.co.uk/

The Norfolk Mead Hotel on the edge of the Broads, 6 miles from Norwich (4*)
Church Loke, Coltishall, NR12 7DN
Is a boutique country house with a 2AARosette food offer. The hotel has 13 stylish bedrooms including a 2-bedroom cottage and a 1 bedroom summer house with lounge. NEW for 2016 is the launch at Easter of two one-bedroom suites and a spa. www.norfolkmead.co.uk

The Maids Head Hotel, Cathedral Quarter, Norwich (4*)
Tombland, Norwich NR3 1LB
Lays claim that it is the oldest hotel in Britain based on the hotel's site being used continuously for hospitality since the early 12th century. In 2015 the hotel underwent a major refurbishment under new independent ownership; lounges, communal toilet facilities and ensuite bathrooms. 2016 will see the completion of a new reception with al fresco tables and chairs on Tombland and refurbishments of their suites. The biggest news at the end of 2015 was the introduction of an iRiS guest services paper free app in their bedrooms. The iPad based system, a first for a hotel in Norfolk (only 200 in the world)  allows guests to reserve tables in the restaurant, order meals, drinks at the bar, book taxis, check airport departure boards, browse the internet, get the latest information on events and culture in Norwich and days out in Norfolk and much more.
http://maidsheadhotel.co.uk/

Holiday Inn Norwich North, Norwich Airport
Cromer Road, Norwich NR6 6JA
Has completed its refurbishment including all bedrooms, with; bar, lounge, conservatory and restaurant upgrade to be completed early 2016. http://www.hinorwich.com/

Dunston Hall, 2 miles outside Norwich (4*)
Ipswich Road, Norwich, NR14 8PQ
Located close to Norwich in the countryside, Dunston Hall with its award-winning golf course  completes its  Leisure Club refurbishment 21st December 2015. Bedrooms refurbishment begins in January 2016. http://www.qhotels.co.uk/our-locations/dunston-hall/

Waveney Inn, Waveney River Centre, the Broads (5*)
NEW seven boutique hotel rooms, all nautically themed and most overlooking the river. Rooms feature giant beds, big TVs and luxury shower rooms at Waveney Inn part of the Waveney River Centre. New this year was the launch of the stunning 5-bedroom Burgh Staithe featuring 4 bathrooms, a hot tub, a large contemporary living/dining/kitchen area, garden and river views.
Waveney River Centre is a 5 star park on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty, with the Broads and a nature reserve on its doorstep. The park is highly committed to preserving the environment for visitors to enjoy and holds a David Bellamy Gold Conservation Award.  Offering so much more than your average holiday park it also offers  13 luxury lodges (two with outdoor hot tubs), two luxury penthouses, four glamping Norfolk made wooden pods, camping, Canadian Canoe hire, day boat hire, an indoor pool and pub with fantastic views across the river from the deck. http://www.waveneyrivercentre.co.uk/

Attractions

Get Connected!
In Wi-Fi settings select 'Free-Wifi-NorwichBID'. Registration is available through four options (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and registration form).  Registration is only required once; afterwards the device will automatically connect to the free WiFi whenever it is in range.

East GalleryNUA , Norwich
 The gallery is Norwich's newest contemporary art space and free to enter from Norwich University of the Arts. The gallery excels at showcasing some of the region's brightest artistic talent, and offering an invaluable resource for local artists, as well as an interesting attraction for the general public. Its annual programme of exhibitions and events makes an important contribution to the cultural life of the University and the city and attracts a wide audience from the UK and overseas.
http://www.nua.ac.uk/thegallery/

Venta Icenorum, outskirts Norwich
The predecessor of Norwich city was the impressive site of Venta Icenorum, the largest and most important Roman town in northern East Anglia. Venta Icenorum laying 3.5 miles north of Norwich, became famous in 1928 when aerial photography revealed its hidden pattern of Roman streets, still visible today in dry summers. Explore for free town wall ruins and its NEW interpretation scheme which includes augmented reality for visitors with smart phones and tablets to view 3-D digital reconstructions of the town superimposed onto the landscape.  http://www.norfarchtrust.org.uk/

Murals, Norwich
The first of the Norwich, City of Stories murals will be launched in January 2016. The project will see 14 murals in total around the city centre. These large scale mural public art works will add to the cultural tourism offer in Norwich using buildings as a canvas's, local artists and Norwich stories. Norwich is England's first UNESCO City of Literature, the City of Stories murals will portray stories in images rather than words.     

Herbert Woods
Bridge Road, Potter Heigham, Norfolk
Herbert Woods was theman who invented the template for the broads light cruiser.  2016 is the 90th Anniversary of Herbert Woods - the oldest Broads cruiser company in continuous operation with a fleet of approximately 130 boats. The company manufactures boats for use in their fleet and for sale. At Easter 2016 their newly constructed line of picnic boats (day boats with kitchenette and WC) will be launched, these will be the first such of their class/type to be constructed on the broads for 40 years. www.herbertwoods.co.uk/

Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse Museum of Norfolk Life
Is situated in a 50 acre site including a working farm featuring rare breeds and heavy horses. Gressenhall is centred as one of the best preserved workhouses in the country and holds a nationally significant collection of workhouse objects and archives.  In May 2016, Gressenhall will reveal the first phase of Voices from the Workhouse a project part funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The first phase includes new engaging, experienced-based workhouse displays, which will interpret their rare workhouse collections and archives within original workhouse spaces. Rooms will be reconstructed, real characters will appear using audio and visual projection technology and hands-on activities will be available. The new experiences will be immersive and exciting to all ages.
www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/Learning/Gressenhall/index.htm

Holkham Hall 
For visitors to Holkham Hall, the magnificent 18th century Palladian hall on the north Norfolk coast, 2016 will reveal a £4.5m transformation of the former stables and pottery buildings into new and improved visitor facilities. Working with one of the UK's leading names, Hopkins Architects, the project has created many new features and visitor facilities.

A new Courtyard Café has doubled the amount of indoor seating for visitors and will provide the perfect atmosphere for enjoying the café's homemade, locally produced food and drink. A spacious, elegant shop has been created to bring together a tempting and eclectic blend of gifts and souvenirs and to extend the opportunities to showcase the work of many talented local artisan suppliers and producers.

Mid-summer will see the completion of the project with the conversion of the former pottery building into 'The Lady Elizabeth Wing'. This will provide an indoor events facility capable of seating over 250 guests. This will enable the estate to host all types of events, from weddings and conferences, to parties for both large and small numbers and which will extend the visitor season beyond the busy summer months.  Holkham Hall opens to visitors on 20th March to 31st October 2016. www.holkham.co.uk/visiting/welcome

Headline events 2016

Fiji: Art and Life in the Pacific
Sainsbury Centre, University of East Anglia, Norwich
12 March – 7 August 2016
The largest and most comprehensive exhibition about Fiji ever assembled, it will take the visitor on a journey through the art and cultural history of Fiji since the late 18th century. A highlight of the exhibition will be a beautiful, newly commissioned, eight metre-long double-hulled sailing canoe that has been built in Fiji and shipped to Norwich for display and sailing on the Norfolk Broads. Made entirely of wood and coir cord, with no metal components, the canoe results from a project to encourage canoe-building skills and is a small version of the great 30-metre-long vessels of the 19th century, the biggest canoes ever built. Over 270 works of art, including European paintings and historic photographs, are being loaned by exhibition partner the Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology at Cambridge, and by the Fiji Museum, the British Museum, the Pitt Rivers Museum (Oxford) and museums in Aberdeen, Birmingham, Exeter, London, Maidstone, as well as Dresden and Leipzig in Germany.  http://scva.ac.uk/

Alberto Giacometti: Man in a Raincoat
Sainsbury Centre, University of East Anglia, Norwich
23 April – 25 September 2016
This marvellous exhibition will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the artist's death. Giacometti is one of the giants of twentieth century art and the Sainsbury Centre holds the largest collection of works by Giacometti in the UK. The exhibition will feature all of these works but also a significant number of complimentary loans from other institutions. The exhibition will explore a number of themes including the patronage of Robert and Lisa Sainsbury and the influence and legacy of Giacometti on British art in the post war period. The exhibition will also examine his approach to materials and processes across his whole working practice which incorporated, sculpture, painting and drawing, all equally celebrated.  http://scva.ac.uk/

Shakespeare at 400 mini festival
The Maddermarket Theatre, St John's Alley, Norwich
Events include; The Dresser and King Lear as full stage productions as well as Time out of Mind, a new play written to celebrate Shakespeare's 400th anniversary; a combination of speculation, comedy and pathos guaranteed to both surprise and entertain.  REDuck proDUCKtions present a new writing evening which is Shakespeare themed, and Dreamcast productions present Songs inspired by Shakespeare.  Intellectual Hooligans will present comedy improv with a Shakespeare theme, and there will be a walk around historical Norwich strolling with Shakespeare.  Last but not least Shakespeare's Greatest Bits will be performed on the theatre's Elizabethean Style stage. http://www.maddermarket.co.uk/

Shakespeare in the Cloisters
Norwich Cathedral
15 – 16 July 2016
Enjoy open air Shakespeare in the beauty of Norwich Cathedral's Cloister celebrating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. As well as a number of talks themed on this, the Cathedral will once again be staging the Shakespeare Festival. Performances of Much Ado about Nothing by The Lord Chamberlain's Men will take place on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 July 2016.  www.cathedral.org.uk

Mahler Symphony No. 8
Norfolk Showground
21 May 2016
Price range: £28 £24 £18 £12
To celebrate its 175th Anniversary, the Norwich Philharmonic Society presents a spectacular staging of Mahler's epic and rarely-performed Symphony of a Thousand, with vast orchestra, multiple choirs and eight outstanding soloists. The Showground Arena will be converted into a huge concert hall especially for the event to create a powerful musical experience that will live long in the memory. An audience of over 2,000 plus 500 on stage will be the largest classical music concert ever performed in Norfolk. www.nnfestival.org.uk

British Art Show 8
Norwich University of the Arts and Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery
24 June – 4 September 2016
The British Art Show is widely recognised as the most ambitious and influential exhibition of contemporary British art, with artists chosen for their significant contribution over the past five years. The curators Anna Colin and Lydia Yee made their selection after extensive research and travel across the UK. Many of the artists have a strong international presence, reflecting the increasingly globalised networks operating in the art world. More than half of the participating artists are making new work for the exhibition, while others will present recent work not previously seen in Britain. www.britishartshow8.com

For more information, images, individual press releases and press trips please contact Melanie Cook, Public Relations Manager, VisitNorwich on 01603 727939 or melanie.cook@visitnorwich.co.uk .

Christmas & New Year hours; Melanie Cook will be available until 23rd December and from 11 January. The office is closed from 24 December and open again Monday 4th January 2016 please call 01603 727979 or email tourism@visitnorwich.co.uk.

About VisitNorwich

• VisitNorwich is the destination management organisation for the Norwich area. It is a private/public sector partnership and a not for profit organisation whose sole focus is to promote and develop the destination and support its membersthrough collaborative marketing, research, information and business advice.
• For the benefit of the area as a whole, VisitNorwich strives to achieve: better profile and reputation locally, nationally and internationally; increased visitor spend; more investment; more jobs and better quality experiences for both visitors and residents.
• Tourism is worth around £700 million per year to the Norwich area, supports over 9,000 jobs (Tourism South East, 2010).
• In 2014 VisitNorwich- funded by the Norwich Business Improvement District (BID) - launched Norwich, the City of Stories a digital campaign which reached finalist status in the EDP Norfolk Tourism Awards 2015, www.cityofstories.co.uk.
• In 2014 Norwich was named as one of Britain's Top 10 cities in The Telegraph Travel Awards.
• In 2014 The Norwich Lanes was crowned Great British High Street of the Year in the city category. 
• The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts was one of the six finalists for the prestigious Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year 2014.
• The Millennium Library, based at The Forum in Norwich was named in 2014 (for the eighth year in a row) the busiest library in the UK. Figures collected by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA).
• Annually the Writers' Centre Norwich and the University of East Anglia hold Literary Festivals which attract acclaimed authors from all over the world. The University of East Anglia's (UEA) first literary festival took place in 1991 and over the last 22 years has welcomed a host of award-winning authors, journalists, illustrators, scientists, economists, broadcasters and more.
• In 2012 Norwich became England's first UNESCO City of Literature and the sixth in the world joining other great cities; Edinburgh, Dublin, Melbourne, Iowa City and Reykjavik. This accolade is a permanent status.
• Norwich was a finalist in the Group Leisure Awards 2012, in the Best UK City category.
• Norwich was placed 6th in volume of tourism day visits in England in 2011 (after London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Liverpool) and ahead of popular destinations like York, Brighton, Bristol, Sheffield and Chester.  17 million day visitors spent over £1/2 billion in 2011. Data from the 2011 Great Britain Day Visits Survey (GBDVS 2011).
• Norwich was in the top 10 of UK places to shop (Venuescore 2011-12, The Javelin Group), having also been previously ranked 9th in the Experian Goad retail index and 8th on the CACI index.  The outstanding quality and diversity of the city's retail offer presents a major draw for visitors to the Norwich area.
• VisitNorwich Ltd is a company limited by guarantee, a private/public sector partnership and a membership organisation representing the interests of a broad range of businesses across the visitor economy.  Its principal public sector stakeholders are Norwich City Council and South Norfolk Council.
• VisitNorwich has been operational from 1st April 2005

For further information on Norwich and its surrounding area visit www.visitnorwich.co.uk, www.cityofstories.co.uk