Media viewing – Tuesday 12 August 2025 from 10.30
Public opening date – Thursday 7 August 2025

Media are invited to an exclusive introduction to one of the UK's largest heritage projects to open this year – the much-anticipated opening of Norwich Castle's spectacular medieval Keep, as the Norwich Castle: Royal Palace Reborn project is completed. Don't miss this unique opportunity to experience Norman England brought vividly back to life.

Media will have the opportunity to see the scale of the transformation that has taken place in a building that was almost unrecognisable as a palace after centuries as the county prison and subsequent conversion to a museum in the Victorian era. This project has turned back the clock 900 years to 1121 when the impressive stone keep was completed by King Henry I, William the Conqueror's son. In doing so a building that had been much altered over time has been reborn as a stunning medieval palace that visitors will be better able to understand and enjoy today.

Media will be able to view the following:

• The Grade I listed Keep, originally commissioned by William the Conqueror, as it reopens its doors to the public. Supported by a £13 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the redevelopment will transport visitors back 900 years to the heyday of Norman England when Norwich was medieval England's influential second city
  
  
• Original medieval floors and rooms that have been meticulously reinstated and are fully furnished, bringing alive the sights and sounds of the Keep and creating an authentic sense of what life was like for its inhabitants

• For the first time in its 900-year history, the Keep is now the UK's most accessible castle. It becomes The People's Palace, with new lifts which will enable visitors to access all five floors for the first time, from the basement to rooftop battlements which boast spectacular views across Norwich

• A spectacular Gallery of Medieval Life, created in partnership with the British Museum, will showcase nearly 1,000 medieval artefacts and treasures of international importance, unlocking the secrets of East Anglia's medieval history and the world beyond

• New interactive experiences and multisensory elements will enable visitors of all ages and interests to immerse themselves into the medieval world and understand what life was truly like in a Norman royal palace

Media viewing details

• Tuesday 12th August 2025, 10:30am arrival for 11am start
• Norwich Castle, Castle Street, Norwich, NR1 3JU
• An introduction to the project will be provided followed by guided tours/the opportunity to explore the Keep, and opportunities to interview a variety of spokespeople and experts associated with the meticulous restoration of this important medieval building
• Full programme and timings to follow
  
  

RSVP

To book your place or to discuss any other media opportunities around the project please RSVP to the Culture Communications Collective or Mel March, PR & marketing manager, VisitNorwich, on:

• Adela Cragg: adela@culturecommscollective.com / 07532 685 614
• Morag Wood: morag@culturecommscollective.com / 07976 081 044
• Mel March: mel.march@norwichbid.co.uk 

Media materials

A full press release will be available. A Dropbox link of high-res images, b-roll (including drone footage and time lapse) will also be available to media.

Notes to Editors

About Norwich Castle: A Palace Reborn

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 and spent at least 500 years as the county prison. Today the Castle site – which sits atop the largest man-made motte in England and Scheduled Ancient Monument – incorporates both the Grade I-listed medieval keep and a museum and art gallery housed in the converted buildings of the Georgian-era prison. The museum is home to some of the most outstanding collections of fine and decorative arts, archaeology and natural history, not only in the region, but the country.

The centrepiece of the Museum is the medieval Keep, which will reopen on Thursday 7 August 2025 after a major redevelopment funded with a grant of over £13 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund – one of the largest heritage projects opening in the UK in 2025.

The project has also created upgraded visitor facilities including a beautiful glass atrium, new shop, café and learning space which opened in 2024.

Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery is part of Norfolk Museums Service (NMS), a multi-award-winning service comprising ten museums and a study centre. NMS is a partnership between Norfolk County Council and Norfolk's district councils, funded through council tax, earned income and grants. www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk

It is regarded as one of the leaders in the museum sector and since April 2018 has been a National Portfolio Organisation for Arts Council England.

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

As the largest dedicated funder of the UK's heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund's vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in the strategic plan, Heritage 2033.

Over the next ten years, the Heritage Fund aims to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment.

The Heritage Fund helps protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are.

The Heritage Fund is passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people's lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy. 

Follow @HeritageFundUK on X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund  www.heritagefund.org.uk

About Medieval Norwich

Medieval Norwich thrived, becoming the second city in the UK to London. The construction of Norwich Cathedral began around the same time as Norwich Castle and was an enormous undertaking. A canal was dug from the River Wensum at Pull's Ferry to bring in limestone from Caen in Normandy. It took 200 years to complete the build.

A wealth of other medieval buildings were constructed such as the Guildhall, Dragon Hall, Strangers' Hall and St. Andrew's Hall. The medieval city walls were begun in 1297 and encircled 2.5 miles of the city, with 12 defensive gates fortified with great catapults. The runs of the walls can still be seen today.

Norwich has long had ancient bonds with the Netherlands, which flourished through trade and cultural exchange during the sixteenth century. The persecution of Protestants in the Spanish Netherlands led to the Norwich authorities endorsing immigration to Norwich. These refugees from Europe were known as 'Strangers', and were mostly weavers bringing their valuable skills with them. They also brought us the famous yellow canaries.

For further information please visit: http://www.visitnorwich.co.uk