Norwich Castle Draws Over 110,000 Visitors After £27.5m Transformation
- Chalani Himasha
- 6 hours ago
- 1 min read
Himasha Dissanayake, JadeTimes Staff
H. Dissanayake is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Travel & tourism
Source: Qmin (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Norwich Castle has welcomed more than 110,000 visitors in the first three months since reopening its historic Norman Keep, following a major £27.5m refurbishment project. The castle, which reopened on 7 August after construction began in 2020, saw a surge in footfall during the summer holidays, with over 42,000 visitors recorded in that period alone. Dr Robin Hanley, assistant head of Norfolk Museums Service, said the team was “delighted to see visitors really enjoy what we’ve created” after a complex and challenging restoration journey.
Source: Rusty Barnet - Grey Arrows Drone Club
The ambitious revamp introduced a new glass atrium, shop, café and learning space, and was documented in a Channel 4 series narrated by Stephen Fry. While annual visitors previously averaged around 120,000 following the pandemic, the new figures suggest a significant rise in public interest. The Royal Palace Reborn project overcame delays from the Covid pandemic and material shortages linked to the war in Ukraine, ultimately exceeding its original budget by £7.5m.
Visitors have been particularly drawn to the recreated Norman interiors, including the great hall, the king’s bedchamber and the chapel, as well as the British Museum Partnership gallery. Kay Mason Billig, leader of Norfolk County Council, praised the public response, saying the turnout reflects the castle’s status as a “world-class heritage attraction.”
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