A 2-hour guided walking tour celebrating CJ Sansom’s best-selling novel Tombland, featuring Tudor lawyer Matthew Shardlake’s visit to Norwich at the time of Kett’s Rebellion (1549).
The tour starts and finishes at the Maids Head Hotel and includes Tombland, the ancient Anglo-Scandinavian Market Place, Augustine Steward’s House, Norwich Cathedral Close, Bishopgate (Holme Street in the novel) and the Great Hospital, Bishop’s Bridge, the site of Bishop’s Gate and Lollards Pit, followed by a climb up to Kett’s Point, the remains of St Michael’s Chapel, with its fabulous view across the city.
The return journey follows the north side of the river with views of the medieval Cow Tower and surviving city walls, near the location of the Pockthorpe Gate, before crossing the river and passing the Adam and Eve pub, where Lord Sheffield was taken after he had been mortally wounded, and seeing the site of the Battle of Palace Plain.
The tour finishes at the Maids Head Hotel with coffee or tea and biscuits.
- Maximum size of group 20
- Cost £8.50 per person, includes coffee or tea and biscuits at the Maids Head Hotel
- Minimum charge £35
You can also book a special 3-hour Shardlake’s Norwich tour, which includes the possible site of the Battle of Dussindale, with a coffee/tea stop at Cafe Britannia on the way round. The tour costs £12.50 per person, with a minimum charge of £45.
Scroll down for public bookable tours
Shardlake’s Norwich Tours
Friday 9 August at 10.30am, starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £8.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. FULLY BOOKED
Saturday 24 August at 10.30am, starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £8.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. FULLY BOOKED
Saturday 21 September at 10,30am, FREE Heritage Open Days tour, starting from the Maids Head Hotel. FULLY BOOKED
Saturday 28 September at 2pm, starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £8.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. FULLY BOOKED
Saturday 26 October at 10.30am, starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £8.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. FULLY BOOKED
Saturday 16 November at 10.30am starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £8.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. Book here
Saturday 30 November at 10.30am starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £8.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. Book here
Saturday 21 December at 10.30am starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £8.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. Book here
Wednesday 1 January 2020 at 11am starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £8.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. Book here
“We had a brilliant Tombland/Shardlake Tour with Paul. He was engaging and very knowledgeable and brought the book to life. We learnt so much about Norwich and loved every minute of the 2 hours. We would definitely book another tour with Paul when we come back for another visit.” Jo, Janet & Annette Oxfordshire/ Berkshire