We appreciate the hotel is not exactly central England, but it’s reasonably easy to get to. 🙂
By Car
You will likely be coming from west or south of Norwich – all routes pretty much wind up on the A47, turn off at the Sainsbury’s/Premier Inn roundabout near the Showground and follow this route.
Driving along the A47 (Norwich Southern Bypass) to the west of Norwich, leave the A47 at the junction with the A1074 and head towards the city (signposted Norwich). (Note – there is a large Sainsbury’s close to the junction – good for shopping and for petrol).
After three quarters of a mile, turn left at the traffic lights onto Longwater Lane (the Roundwell Medical Centre is on the left, immediately before the lights).
Towards the lower end of Longwater Lane the “traffic calmed” area starts – 20 mph, speed bumps, and pinch points.
Longwater Lane ends at a T-Junction – turn left onto West End and follow it through to the end of the speed restrictions. Beware that there a couple of small, very discreetly positioned speed cameras to enforce the 20 mph limit; these are a new design that you may not have seen before (but they are yellow).
Immediately after leaving the speed restrictions and the “traffic calming”, turn right onto Taverham Lane. This is through trees and is a bit twisty in places.
The road crosses the river Wensum – be careful as the bridge is not too wide. The road becomes Costessey Road.
A couple of hundred yards later, at the mini-roundabout (with the church set back to your right) turn left onto The Street, which becomes Ringland Road. This section has a 20 mph limit and is a bit twisty.
At the top of the “hill”, turn right at the T-junction, onto Beach Avenue.
After a few yards (or metres, if you must), turn left into the long drive for the Wensum Valley Hotel, Golf and Country Club. There is a sign for the hotel entrance but be careful not to take the entrance into the small industrial estate which is *immediately* before it (it’s not the clearest of entrances).
The distance from the A47 to the hotel drive is about four miles.
By Train
- London: 2 trains an hour from Liverpool St, journey time 1h45
- Cambridge: 4 trains an hour (1 direct), journey time 1h20
- Stansted: 1 train an hour, journey time 1h52
- Peterborough (for points on the East Coast Main Line): 1 train an hour, journey time 1h30
- Manchester (direct (same train as above), stopping Sheffield, Nottingham, Grantham among others): 1 train an hour, journey time 4h30
- Birmingham: 2 trains an hour (either via Peterborough or London), journey time 4h00
If you are going to be arriving in central Norwich by train or bus and would be interested in a taxi share, please email the committee - c37@contabile.org.uk - with an expected arrival time and permission to share your email address with other filkers aiming to arrive at around the same time.
By Bus
Buses to Norwich from elsewhere
- Heathrow, Cambridge, Stansted: National Express 727 – 4h20
- London (Stratford) direct: National Express 490 – 2h45
Using the bus is not recommended if you arrive at Norwich airport, as it means catching a bus all the way into the city centre then another bus all the way out to Taverham. Buses or coaches from London airports may be cheaper than the trains depending on times and where in London.
Buses to the hotel from Norwich centre
If you’re feeling really intrepid you might be tempted into using the bus to get to the hotel, though we should warn you that it will involve walking some distance whilst carrying ordragging your bags. Note that the distance along the hotel’s drive (which has no pedestrian pavement) and across the car park adds up to a fifth of a mile and also that none of the buses stop right outside the hotel!That being said, the First Bus Co. offers three bus services from the city centre to Taverham, no.s 28, 29, and X29 (Yellow Line – 28/29/X29). They all follow the same route through and out from the city centre but take different routes through Taverham (where the hotel is).
From Norwich railway station
First you have to get from the railway station to the city centre, a distance of half a mile. You can catch bus no. 25 or 26 to Castle Meadow (just one stop, alighting at Stand CS).
Alternatively, you can walk up Prince of Wales Road (and it is “up”) to Castle Meadow (Stand CE) or, at the top of Prince of Wales Road, turn right onto Upper King Street and through to Stand CM at Tombland. Note that Prince of Wales road is rather dingy and not the nicest of streets to walk up in the dark, even if it’s only late afternoon or early evening.
From the bus station
The nearest bus stop is about three hundred yards away from the bus station - Stand BE on St. Stephen’s Street. Go downhill through the bus station and turn left onto Surrey Street. This takes you to St. Stephen’s Street and Stand BE is across the street, just outside the Lakeland store.
The buses
Bus no. 28 will get you closest to the hotel. On reaching Taverham it leaves the main road, forking left off onto Taverham Road, and then winds its way through the houses. Get off at the first stop on Beach Avenue (if in doubt, ask the driver); this is outside the High School. Walk back a short distance to the hotel. The service runs about every hour and a quarter (or so) on Mondays to Saturdays in the morning and afternoon. There is no service in the evenings nor on Sundays. Distance to hotel reception is two fifths of a mile.
Bus no. X29 gets you second closest to the hotel. It follows the main road through Taverham and onwards to the town of Fakenham. Get off at the stop for Beach Avenue (if in doubt, ask the driver - the next stop is not for another two miles, out in the sticks). Walk onwards towards the traffic lights (with Lidl next to them), turn left onto Beach Avenue, and walk most of its length until you arrive at the hotel entrance (on your right). The service runs every half hour or so though this reduces in the evenings and on Sundays. Distance to hotel reception is twthirds of a mile.
Bus no. 29 drops you the furthest from the hotel. It follows the main road through Taverham but then turns right onto Kingswood Avenue before reaching Beach Avenue. Get off immediately after the turn (stop is for Broadgate - if in doubt, ask the driver). Backtrack to the main road, turn right (out of the city) and up towards the traffic lights (with Lidl next to them). Turn left onto Beach Lane, and walk most of its length until you arrive at the hotel entrance (on your right). The service runs every quarter to half hour thought this reduces in the evenings and on Sundays. Distance to hotel reception is three quarters of a mile.
By Air
Direct flights to Norwich Airport from Manchester, Exeter, Aberdeen, Amsterdam
You might prefer to fly into Stansted (as usual for some). In the latter case, there are both train and coach connections to Norwich.