A Walk Through Deep Time with Roxanne & the Lion's Den: Norwich

Come and wrap yourself in deep time and immerse yourself in a restful drink and a discounted sauna afterwards with Roxanne and the Lion's Den. Start in the imagined warm under sea world that formed our chalk beds and acquifers, rise to the grand heights of a glacial bank and Norman keep, take away a grounding new experience of our city, that just might change every stroll you take through her streets. 

We’re so lucky to have one of only 271 chalk rivers in the world with Ice Age archaeology hard to rival, the best collection of medieval churches in Europe, a unique Norman palatial royal residence, a virtually intact Tudor street, second highest spire in the country, and so many stories. Let's immerse ourselves in  these together, working out how they layer on top of each to build the puzzle of the city we know and love today.

Your guide will be Roxanne Matthews, art historian, forest school leader, local history geek and storyteller .Roxanne is the long-time guide of the Assembly House, avid medieval church geek and lover of play, creativity, green spaces and rivers. She's not only interested in people, communities and stories but in how geology and the more-than human-world can interrupt our anthropocentric ways of being, opening our minds and hearts to greater ponderings that might, if we're lucky, help us feel more grounded and less wizzy, in a world that invites us to be so fast paced. She's also pretty entertaining, as guides go and a local to boot and the sauna invitation at the end will help with that wizzy modern life too!. 

Meet in the courtyard of Merchant's House at 5pm if you're keen, the tour will start on Quayside by Fye Bridge at 5.30pm sharp. We'll be at the Lion's Den City by 7pm. 

This tour debuted as part of the Norwich History Festival in July 2026 and is now being run in partnership with the Lion's Den who invite us to sink into their pink sofas and rugs with a view of the city roofs, and have offered us a discount on a sauna afterwards. Why not bookend the tour with a relaxing drink at the historic courtyard of the Merchant's House first, at 5pm; early Friday knock off, home for tea well before sundown!

Ts&Cs

In the event that you no long make the session, your ticket will be moved to another date, if this suits you. No refunds. A 10% discount code for a sauna will be released on booking.