Take the plunge...
I’ve recently discovered the joy of a reinvigorating short break, with a trip to Norfolk with my daughter. The county is just over two hours from Kent, so perfect for a weekend getaway.
Our first day was spent in the county city of Norwich, which has an impressive castle and a Norman cathedral with a towering spire plus, it seemed, a medieval church around every corner (I checked later – there are 30 within the city walls alone). To complete your magical history tour, there’s the 15th century Guildhall, a 17th century flinthouse by the city’s River Wensum and the Art Nouveau Royal Arcade.
Norwich is also a shopper’s paradise, with two centres and all the usual high street ‘names’ as well as smaller, independent stores in the cobbled lanes to be found off the main routes. Then there’s the largest undercover market in Europe, held six days a week under brightly-coloured wooden roofs.
Feeling the need to be pampered after a day’s sightseeing, we spent the night at the four-star Sprowston Manor Marriott Hotel and Country Club, just a short drive from Norwich.
The 16th-century building and its grounds provided a beautiful setting for our stay with a golf course and well-maintained gardens offering quiet views.
It was a joy to discover that a twin room at Sprowston Manor meant two double beds with piles of pillows – so much nicer than trying to keep from falling out of a single bed all night. The rooms also offer WiFi, premium cable TV on the flatscreen television, a fridge and tea and coffee-making facilities.
The hotel has 75 rooms and 19 suites. If you’re planning a romantic break, there’s a fourposter suite with separate living and dining areas and an oversized bath. You could make the most of the round-the-clock room service for food and never have to leave your love den!
As well as elegant and very comfortable rooms, Sprowston Manor has a restaurant, an indoor pool with loungers both inside and outside, a fitness centre and a spa.
Having booked a spa treatment for the following day, my daughter and I headed to the hotel’s 1559 Restaurant for dinner. The mouthwatering selection on the seasonal menu uses both fish and