One of the city’s most famous landmarks, Norwich Castle’s mighty stone keep was built by the Normans as a royal palace over 900 years ago. Used as a prison for centuries, today it houses a museum and art gallery.

In July 2024 the castle’s new entrance opened to visitors. The design of the new entrance area has opened up previously-hidden views of the Norman keep. A new shop and restaurant enhance the offer for visitors, while a new education room is part of improved facilities for school groups.

During construction, previously unrecorded architectural features were discovered including a complete Victorian prison grille and the remains of the staircase leading down to the treadmill house where prisoners worked. Plans were reworked to ensure these exciting finds were preserved.

Elements of the keep, the main fortified structure of the castle, are due to reopen later in 2024, with the project expected to be fully completed in early 2025. Visitors will be able to access every floor – from basement to rooftop battlements – for the first time thanks to accessibility improvements. Rooms are being recreated, complete with painstakingly researched furniture and furnishings, to help visitors explore what life was like in a Norman royal palace.

Over 1,000 artefacts will be on display in the new Gallery of Medieval Life, developed with the British Museum, while the castle’s immersive digital experiences will help visitors step into medieval Norwich. These include audio-visual projections inspired by medieval art and a digitally-recreated Norman Norwich which visitors can explore through virtual reality headsets.

Councillor Kay Mason Billig, Leader of Norfolk County Council, says: “The new entrance is not only a beautiful space which lifts the spirits as soon as you enter but is also a crucial upgrade to our facilities as we prepare to welcome more visitors than ever before in the Castle’s history. It will play an important role in our ambition to establish Norwich Castle as a must-visit destination regionally, nationally and internationally.”