The Shoebox Experiences

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The Shoebox Experiences Discover the hidden history or Norwich. From captivating city tours to immersive historical adventures, we bring Norwich’s rich past to life like never before.

Perfect for both locals and visitors, our experiences are all about storytelling and discovery.

13/10/2026

What awaits you below at the Ghosts and Folklore of Norfolk experience?

Have you booked your tickets yet?

So apparently whimsy-maxxing has been the latest trend, and we're here to pitch the follow-up: History-maxxing. Think ch...
08/10/2026

So apparently whimsy-maxxing has been the latest trend, and we're here to pitch the follow-up: History-maxxing.

Think chances to explore; think tales you never heard, told by amazing historians and storytellers. Think putting your phone down and touching the walls of a building that is hundreds of years old. Think learning the lessons history has to teach us and being inspired by decades of anti-minimalism.

Because history is all around us; it's in everyone's family tree, all our stories and our memories, our favourite books and shows and every street we walk past.

So join our movement, embrace, love and challenge history all around you.

Question, what's better than an arrow in the eye? Answer... Well literally most other things, but also a Shoebox tour. W...
05/10/2026

Question, what's better than an arrow in the eye? Answer... Well literally most other things, but also a Shoebox tour.

We might not have The Bayeux Tapestry, but history is full of iconic and monumental discoveries in ever corner of the world, so come and explore some of ours and book onto a Shoebox Experience Tour this autumn.

Tickets are selling fast for our brand-new Ghosts and Folklore of Norfolk Experience. Taking place by lantern light in o...
02/10/2026

Tickets are selling fast for our brand-new Ghosts and Folklore of Norfolk Experience.

Taking place by lantern light in our iconic underground space below Upper St Giles. No jump scares, but plenty of atmosphere as you hear about the darker history that shaped Norwich, from murderers to ghosts and more. Take in your surroundings as our costumed storytellers deliver ghastly tales and attempt to answer questions that have gone unanswered for centuries.

With dates in November and December.

The important bits:
Recommended for ages 13+; under-18s must be accompanied by an adult
There are limited spaces on all experiences, so booking early is essential.

Head to our website to find out more and see available dates and times.

Don't miss your chance to visit this brand-new Shoebox exclusive.

In September, Norwich was voted one of the best places to have a city break by The Times. And we're here to influence yo...
01/10/2026

In September, Norwich was voted one of the best places to have a city break by The Times.

And we're here to influence you into taking the plunge and booking a great weekend break because Norwich's history, heritage and beauty stretch far beyond canaries and mustard (though very important parts of who we are!).

So here are our top picks to make your next city break in Norwich not just relaxing, but inspiring and fascinating.

NEW: Ghosts and Folklore of Norfolk 👻Descend beneath Norwich by lantern light for an evening of Norfolk legends, Norwich...
25/09/2026

NEW: Ghosts and Folklore of Norfolk 👻

Descend beneath Norwich by lantern light for an evening of Norfolk legends, Norwich murders and stories best told in the dark.

Take your seat in an old underground r***e range and settle in for 90 minutes of atmospheric storytelling.

No jump scares. No scare actors. Just dark stories in a setting made for telling them.

£20 | Selected dates October - December

Tickets are now on general sale - judging by the response to our presale, we have a feeling this one might be popular!

See link in comments to book

A big thank you from us, to everyone who visited us as a part of the Norfolk Heritage Open Days As part of the event, we...
24/09/2026

A big thank you from us, to everyone who visited us as a part of the Norfolk Heritage Open Days

As part of the event, we held 18 free tours, across 3 historic venues, welcoming 234 people to the world of Shoebox Experiences. We were delighted that every tour was fully booked, with history lovers.

This year's Heritage Open Days theme is Everyday Histories, celebrating the working lives and everyday stories of people through the ages. It feels particularly fitting for the stories we share, from merchants and shopkeepers to craftspeople, factory workers and entrepreneurs whose businesses became known around the world from right here in Norwich.

At Surrey House, our Experience Host Chris was able to take visitors into rooms that even he had never explored before, a real treat for both him and our guests. Chris also captured some great photos while exploring these rarely seen parts of the building. Something we wouldn't have been able to do without the opportunities the open days offer us.

Special thanks also go to Norwich Unity Hub at Carrow House and Aviva at Surrey House, who organised the Heritage Open Days events at their venues and generously opened them up free of charge.

You can help us buy our Hidden Street tour building! Our iconic and beautiful building on Castle Meadow has lived many l...
22/09/2026

You can help us buy our Hidden Street tour building!

Our iconic and beautiful building on Castle Meadow has lived many lives, from medieval street, to weavers cottage, to the iconic Ponds shoe shop and is now home to our fantastic Shoebox team and our exclusive access to our Hidden Street.

And we have a chance to buy the building, securing our home not only for our historical Shoebox Experiences but for the important work that the Shoebox Hub does within the community.

Two years ago, our community came together to raise over £52,000 towards buying the building. That support has helped us get to this point – and now we just need one final push to get it over the line.

After years of conversations, we’ve agreed a purchase and are in the final stages of securing a mortgage. However, a recent valuation came in slightly lower than expected, meaning we now need to bridge the gap to complete the purchase and make essential improvements.

That's why we are asking our amazing community, if you love the building, love what we do, our tours, our ethos, or hub and experiences, your generous support would be so appreciated.

We know times are tough, so even if you can't donate, liking, sharing, or evening just commenting something you loved about our tours on this post will help us get in front of more people to make this dream a reality.

18/09/2026

You don't need AI to bring an old story to life. You need a storyteller.

Imagination, empathy and history combine on our tours, where we take you on a journey bringing to life the stories and memories of the amazing people who walked the halls and streets of our experiences. No AI needed, just a brilliant guide and a bit of imagination.

Reading and hearing about history is one thing, but walking through it is another thing entirely. There is a reason we a...
15/09/2026

Reading and hearing about history is one thing, but walking through it is another thing entirely.

There is a reason we are passionate about securing access to the spaces we have, from the hidden street, to our underground r***e range and Marble Hall to Carrow House. Because reading history is one thing, but walking the halls, seeing, touching and experiencing history directly is another thing altogether.

Shoebox Experiences started out as a way to use the spaces we had access to to generate some interest, share the historic areas we had discovered and support The Shoebox Hub. It's now a thriving community of local, amateur and expert history lovers working together to deliver historical adventures to you all. Sharing what we find along the way, busting our own myths and hearing your stories and histories along with it.

Sharing history together is such a special feeling, we see it in everyone's faces the second they walk into one of our tours. So if you've not visited before, now really would be the perfect time to come and walk through and explore our local history.

Address

The Shoebox, 21-23 Castle Meadow
Norwich
NR13DH

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

01603 850309

Website

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