Historic castle in city near Cambs named one of the best places for a winter break

Norwich Castle in Norfolk recently featured in The Times' list of the top 25 best winter breaks. The historic castle can be found in the bustling centre of the city and is surrounded by independent shops, cafés, and restaurants to visit and is easy to reach from Cambridgeshire.

Norwich Castle often holds events and has temporary exhibitions running throughout the year meaning there is likely to be something new to look at each time you visit. If you are looking for somewhere to take the whole family over the Christmas holidays which is also educational, Norwich Castle might be worth a visit.

The castle was originally ordered to be built by William the Conqueror after the Norman Conquest over 900 years ago and took the form of a motte-and-bailey. From 1220 to 1887, parts of the castle were used as a prison and witnessed the executions of a few notorious criminals including Robert Kett, who was the leader of Kett's Rebellion.

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In 1894, the castle became home to Norwich Museum and now holds a range of objects of historical importance from across the region. The castle was given Grade I listed status in 1954 and is part of the city's 12 heritage sites.

By visiting Norwich Castle, you can learn about a variety of different times periods from the story of how Boudica led the Celtic rebellion against the Romans to an insight into ancient Egyptian culture. As the site's special exhibitions are always changing, it is best to check the castle's website so you don't miss out on anything.

Tickets to the castle cost £7.80 for adults and £6.60 for children between the ages of four and 18. Tickets can be purchased in advance via the website here or on the day of your trip.

After spending some time wandering around the museum, you can visit the surrounding area, which is packed with restaurants and cafés to enjoy a meal at including Yalm, an indoor food hall where you will find a variety of different award-winning chefs and their restaurants.

Or take a walk down Norwich Lanes and visit the many independent shops in the area. Whether you like spending hours sifting through old records or are looking for a new vintage clothing piece, there should be something for everyone to enjoy.

Norwich Castle is around an hour and 18 minutes drive away from Cambridge via the A11. You can park in the Castle Quarter car park next to the castle, which costs from £1.75 to £25 depending on the length of your stay.

Alternatively, you can take a Greater Anglia train from Cambridge station to Ely and an EMR train to Norwich station, which takes around an hour and 38 minutes.