Norwich City Hall

Norwich City Hall stands on the western side of the Market Place, its long brick frontage and 202-foot clock tower dominating the centre of the city. Opened in 1938 by King George VI, it was designed by architects Charles Holloway James and Stephen Rowland Pierce in a restrained Scandinavian-influenced style, often compared to Stockholm City Hall. The building replaced a warren of older municipal offices and was intended as a modern civic centrepiece for one of England's largest regional cities.

Visitors will notice the pair of bronze lions flanking the main entrance, sculpted by Alfred Hardiman, and the decorative bronze doors depicting scenes from Norwich's history and industries, from weaving and shoemaking to mustard and printing. The clock tower houses a bell weighing over four tonnes, the largest municipal bell in England. Inside, the council chamber and reception rooms feature Art Deco detailing, though public access to the interior is limited to open days and pre-booked tours.

The steps in front of the building offer a fine view over Norwich Market, one of the largest and oldest outdoor markets in the country, and across to the medieval Guildhall and the flint-walled Church of St Peter Mancroft. City Hall remains the working seat of Norwich City Council, so the surrounding square is a natural starting point for exploring the lanes, cathedrals and cobbled streets of the old city.