Theatres

Norwich has six theatres including the Theatre Royal, one of the most successful regional theatres in the country which puts on major touring shows, opera and ballet; the Playhouse, which offers big names from the world of stand-up comedy; and the Maddermarket Theatre Company which, according to actor Simon Callow, “performs a repertory that would shame the National Theatre”.

Norwich Arts Centre offers a great range of music, poetry readings, art exhibitions, craft fairs and short courses in areas such as writing and web design.

Museums and galleries

Norwich Castle (pictured above), one of the city's most famous landmarks, is a museum and art gallery with collections of fine art, archaeology and natural history. On campus at UEA is the outstanding Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, which hosts regular exhibitions and displays, as well as collections of modern and world art. For details of Norwich's many other museums, check out the Visit Norwich museum guide.

The Norfolk and Norwich Festival

An event not to miss is the annual Norfolk and Norwich Festival, an internationally acclaimed arts festival which takes place in May every year. The 2011 festival was 16 days long and featured hundreds of performances at over 40 venues.