Elm Hill, Norwich, Guía del visitante y qué hacer cerca

Elm Hill is a cobbled lane of Tudor houses in the centre of Norwich, in Norfolk. It is one of the best-preserved old streets in the city, and the place most people picture when they think of historic Norwich. It looks the way it does because of a great fire in 1507.

The story behind it

In the 15th century this part of Norwich was home to prosperous merchants, and the street was lined with medieval buildings. In 1507 a fire swept through the area and destroyed most of them. Almost everything you see today was built after the blaze, which is why the street feels Tudor rather than medieval.

One building came through the fire: the Britons Arms, towards the top of the hill. It is the only thatched building on the street, and it is the oldest-looking house on the lane. Over the centuries the street has been admired, photographed and used as a backdrop for film and television, and its crooked timber frames and uneven cobbles have barely changed in outline.

What to look for

• The thatched roof of the Britons Arms, which stands out because every other building on the street has a tiled roof.
• The leaning timber-framed fronts of the Tudor houses, where upper floors and doorways sit at slightly crooked angles.
• The cobbles underfoot, which slope up the hill and give the street its old-fashioned feel.
• The view back down the lane, which is the classic photograph of Elm Hill, with the rooflines stepping down the slope.

Tips for your visit

• Give yourself 15 to 30 minutes for the street itself, longer if you stop for a drink or browse the small independent shops.
• Go early in the morning or later in the day for the quietest cobbles and the best light for photographs.
• Wear comfortable shoes, because the surface is uneven and the hill is steep in places.
• The street is close to Tombland and the cathedral quarter, so it combines easily with a wider walk around the old centre. Check current opening hours for any shop, cafe or pub you want to enter.

See it on a quest

Medieval Norwich Walking Tour: A Stranger Escape Game brings you to Elm Hill on foot as one stop on a longer route through the old streets. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Timeline Tour of Norwich is a good way to place Elm Hill in the wider story of the city. You walk between the stops, hear about each one when you get there and solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.