Adam and Eve, Norwich, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Adam and Eve is a pub on Bishopgate in Norwich, close to the cathedral and the River Wensum. It is said to be the oldest pub in the city, with the first references to the site dating from the 1240s. Its flint walls and gabled roofline make it one of the most characterful stops in the old part of Norwich.

The story behind it

The earliest mentions of the Adam and Eve come from the 1240s, when the site was a brewhouse rather than a pub as we would recognise it. The building you see today is credited largely to the 15th and 16th centuries, and that is probably the period when it began to serve as a proper pub.

Like many old inns, it has a reputation for ghosts. The best known is said to be Lord Sheffield, who lost his life during Kett's Rebellion in 1549, when Robert Kett's rebels took control of Norwich. Treat the ghost stories as local legend, but they add a good layer of atmosphere to a visit.

What to look for

• The flint walls, a traditional Norfolk building material that gives the pub its rough, weathered texture.
• The gabled roofline, which gives the building its distinctive shape against the quiet street.
• The pub sign, which shows the first couple of the Bible and gives the pub its name.
• The setting on Bishopgate, where the pub sits among old buildings between the cathedral area and the river.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 20 to 30 minutes for a look at the exterior and a drink inside. It is a working pub, so check current opening hours before you go.
• Visit in daylight if you want to study the flint and gables, or in the evening if the ghost stories appeal.
• It is a short walk from Norwich Cathedral and the Cathedral Close, so the two combine easily.
• The riverside path along the Wensum is nearby and makes a pleasant stroll before or after.

See it on a quest

The Timeline Tour of Norwich passes the Adam and Eve as one stop on a longer walk through the city's history. 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 a pub with this much age, because you see it alongside the other places that shaped Norwich. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like with no guide to wait for.