Top UK tourist attraction to reopen this summer following £10million renovation project

BRITS have been invited to step back in time 900 years with a tourist attraction opening this summer following a £10m renovation.

Norwich Castle will be unveiling its medieval keep in time for summer 2024, and hopes to transport visitors “to the heyday of Norman England”.

The Grade I-listed keep in Norfolk is undergoing a huge rebuild and aims to show off the lives of those who would have been alive at the time.

The project will see the castle restored to provide a new immersive experience, while other exhibits, including one put on by the British Museum, will offer further insight.

Norwich Castle want to show visitors what it would have been like to live in such a building in Norman England.

To further educate people, the renovation will also include while accessible learning spaces built across five floors.

However, the refurb hopes to bring the castle as close to how it would have looked when it was first constructed in the 12th century.

Visit Norfolk said: “The original medieval floors and room spaces are being reinstated and fully furnished, bringing alive the sights and sounds of this palace of the Norman kings as well as showcasing its influence and importance in twelfth-century England.”

A new permanent gallery of medieval life, will be created in partnership with the British Museum which will be its first medieval gallery outside of London.

It will house artefacts from the period ranging from the Norman Conquest to the reign of Henry VIII.

In total, more than 1,000 historical objects will be on show, over 50 of which are on long-term loan from the British Museum.

Visit Norfolk continued: “Illustrating life throughout society, the gallery will bring visitors closer to the experiences of people in this fascinating period while unlocking the secrets of East Anglia’s medieval history and the world beyond.

“Visitors will also be able to get to know some of the people who lived in or visited Norwich Castle in the 1100s, via character panels which bring each individual’s story to life – providing a human connection with the period which will help make it accessible to all ages.”

In addition to refurbishing the castle to how it once looked, audio visual instalments and virtual reality will be used to bring it back to life.

Projections are set to show medieval art that will “bring the walls alive”, while headsets in a digital zone in the castle’s basement promise visitors the chance to “explore a recreation of Norman Norwich”.

Norwich isn’t the only place with a historic refurbishment opening up this summer.

Devon

Watermouth Castle in Ilfracombe, Devon is one of the country’s more unique theme parks, with its rides built inside a Grade II listed castle.

From this summer onwards, it will also be home to three new play areas at the cost of £850k.

The new attractions will replace the park’s popular snail ride track, while a pixie museum will also be set up.

Rochdale

Rochdale Town Hall was built back in 1871 by William Crossland, as an ode to the region’s textile industry.

However, over the years it fell into disrepair despite having ornate stylings “only rivalled by the Palace of Westminster,” and was forced to close four years ago.

Following additional £8.9million funding by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, improvements have included restoring many of the original features, as well as opening new spaces and rooms.

A new visitor attraction and community space will also be part of the reopening.

Meanwhile, this new UK attraction was inspired by a famous royal and has a play tree, zipline and go-karts.

And this lesser known theme park is getting a new ride for the summer.