Norwich City of Stories Trail: free family hunt from 18 July
Norwich will become a citywide treasure hunt this summer as the free Norwich City of Stories Summer Trail leads families through its literary history. The trail runs from 12am on 18 July until 11.59pm on 31 August 2026 at participating venues across the city.
There is no entry fee, and the activity is designed for families. According to the Visit Norwich event listing, participants can collect a printed trail map from participating venues or use the digital version provided by the organisers.
Storybooks in windows hold the clues
The central challenge is to find storybooks displayed in shop windows around Norwich and use the discoveries to crack a code. Completed entries can then be submitted for a chance to win exclusive prizes.
The route is spread across various city locations rather than contained within a single venue. Families can encounter local landmarks, welcoming shops and independent eateries while following the clues, making it possible to explore the trail in stages during the school holidays.
The trail celebrates the National Year of Reading alongside Norwich’s literary legacy. It is presented through Norwich City of Literature in partnership with Norwich Cathedral, placing the activity within the wider story of the city and its connections with books and writing.
Book-themed activities continue across the summer
The code-cracking hunt is accompanied by book-themed activities at venues around Norwich throughout the event period. Individual venues may therefore offer more than a trail clue, although the source listing does not provide a complete timetable for those activities.
Families following the route are also encouraged to look out for Norwich Summer Sessions, which take place every Sunday in August. Another strand highlights the stories of 20 significant figures from Norwich’s past.
The flexible, citywide format means participants are not tied to one advertised start time on a particular day. The published midnight start and 11.59pm finish mark the overall event period; they should not be treated as opening hours for every participating venue. Anyone planning to collect a map or visit a particular stop should account for that venue’s own availability.
How to collect a map and enter the competition
Printed maps will be available at each participating venue, while a digital download is also offered by the organisers. Participants follow the trail, locate the storybooks and use the clues to work out the competition code.
Once the code has been cracked, entries can be submitted through the organiser’s online form. Completed trail maps can also be placed in the designated postbox in the toy department at John Lewis or at the Hostry entrance of Norwich Cathedral. The source additionally lists email as a submission option.
The trail itself finishes on 31 August, but competition entries must be received by 4 September 2026. Families using a paper map should allow time to reach one of the two collection points before that deadline.
Source: Visit Norwich Events
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Dates, cost, citywide format and competition instructions were checked against the published Visit Norwich event information.
- Confirmed that the trail runs from 18 July to 31 August 2026.
- Confirmed that participation is free and intended for families.
- Checked the printed and digital map collection options.
- Checked the competition submission methods and 4 September entry deadline.
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- Visit Norwich Events
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- Norwich
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- 2026-07-17 14:42
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