Church of St Giles on the Hill, Norwich, Guía del visitante y qué hacer cerca

The Church of St Giles on the Hill is a medieval parish church on Cow Hill in Norwich, standing on high ground just west of the city centre. It is one of the many surviving medieval churches that give Norwich its distinctive skyline, and its tall tower makes it easy to spot as you wander the streets around it.

The story behind it

St Giles is a Grade I listed building, a rating given to only a small share of the buildings in England. Most of what you see today comes from the late Middle Ages, when Norwich was one of the wealthiest and busiest towns in the country and its merchants and parishes paid for ambitious church building. The church takes its dedication from St Giles, a saint associated with the vulnerable and the outcast, a popular choice for parish churches across medieval England.

Norwich is often said to have more medieval churches within its old walls than any other English city, and St Giles is a good example of why. Its position on a rise gave it a commanding presence over the streets below, and the tower still plays that role today.

What to look for

• Look up at the tower, which is among the tallest of the city's medieval parish church towers and a useful landmark when you are finding your way around.
• Walk around the exterior and notice the flint walling, the local material that gives many Norwich churches their grey, textured look.
• Take in the setting on Cow Hill, where the church sits among old lanes and brick terraces rather than on a grand open square.
• Notice how the church rises above the surrounding rooftops, then turn around to see how the ground falls away towards the centre.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 15 to 20 minutes for the exterior and the surrounding streets, longer if the church happens to be open to visitors.
• Access inside depends on services and volunteers, so check current opening hours before planning on going in.
• Soft morning or late afternoon light shows off the flint and stonework best, and the lanes are quieter then.
• It is a short walk from the market, City Hall and the main shopping streets, so it fits easily into a wider walk around the centre.

See it on a quest

The best way to appreciate St Giles is as one stop on a longer route through this part of Norwich. Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Norwich is a self-guided walk that passes the church. You reach it on foot, the app tells you about the place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. It suits anyone who likes a mystery with their sightseeing. There is no guide and no fixed start time, and one ticket covers your whole group.