Norwich Christmas Lights

As a family we used to go out one evening before Christmas and drive around local villages looking for Christmas displays and houses decorated up. Ever since moving to Norfolk we haven't done that. Instead, we tend to have an evening wandering around the city to see the lights and get into a festive mood.

We missed the Big Switch On on November 17th as Harry had just begun suffering with an infection and I was really tired. Politician, Strictly contestant and NCFC chairman Ed Balls switched the lights on and performed Gangnam Style with Santa, to the delight of the crowds, but after seeing photos of the thousands of people crammed into the streets of the city I was quite glad we didn't go as none of us like crowds!

Sitting there after dinner on Friday night with nothing planned I told the children to wrap up warm and we'd head into the city to see the lights. Harry had been off school all week so he & I had been stuck indoors most of the week so it seemed like a lovely way to end the week. We were supposed to wait until my Mum came over with us but I've been in the Christmas mood for a couple of weeks now (absolutely unheard of since I was 14!!) and I'd been itching to see the lights.

We parked in Chapelfield and began our festive walk from there. We like this tree but it seems a lot smaller than the ones they've had in the past. I'm rather glad there isn't music on a loop like previous years though!  

Next stop was Assembly House (which looked so much better IRL)

After a short walk we stood outside City Hall for a few minutes watching the projection show. 

Again, apologies for the poor photos. My aim for next year is to learn to use my DSLR properly!

The children were wowed by the vibrant patterns rolling across the hall. Even hubby recorded the show- he rarely photographs or videos anything.

Jarrolds department store always looks amazing at Christmas. 

"I'd like that, and that, and that.....and that"

Harry loved the pavement art outside Lloyd's Bank.

Norwich Castle is also hosting a fab projection show. Last week there were cascading poppies and from November until early January 2017 the castle has 2 shows, each about 10 minutes long and are set to music.

When the castle shows had finished we went to visit the Tunnel of Light, a 45 metre long, 4 metre high and 6 metre wide tunnel made of 50, 000 twinkling and pulsating LEDs. It's absolutely stunning and the children loved walking through it.

At one point Santa and his reindeers 'flew' across the top of the tunnel.

The Forum looks fabulous in the dark.

Can you spot Claudia and Tess? 😉

On our travels we're constantly on the lookout for beautiful autumnal colours, particularly in leaves and Charlie was really pleased to spot this one. 

On the way back to the car Harry ran ahead and laid down on these benches. It was a very late night and after a lazy week I think it was just too much for him! 

We were really impressed with the lights in Norwich this year and had a great evening out. What are your local Christmas lights like? Do you travel far to see displays? 

This post is linked up with Coombemill's linky about children enjoying the great outdoors. Head over to see lots more posts.