FAQ’s

Tickets for Shoebox Experiences are available to purchase here. Sign up for alerts on future Shoebox Experiences  here.

Norwich’s Hidden Street Tour ticket prices:

Adult – £15
Child 4-12 – £8
Children under 4 – free

The Norwich Knowledge Tour ticket prices:

Adult – £15
Child 4-12 – £8
Children under 4 – free

The Chronicles of Christmas Tour ticket prices:

Adult – £15
Child 4-12 – £8
Children under 4 – free

The Tavern Trail Tour ticket prices:

Adult (over 18 only) – £15

The TIPSY Tavern Trail Tour ticket prices:

Adult (over 18 only) – £45

Magnificent Marble Hall Tour ticket prices:

Adult – £15
Child 4-12 – £8
Children under 4 – free

The Matriarchs, Mayors and Merchants Tour ticket prices:

Adult – £15
Child 4-12 – £8
Children under 4 – free

City of Centuries Tour ticket prices:

Adult – £15
Child 4-12 – £8
Children under 4 – free

Secrets of the Tunnels Escape Game
From £16.25 per person. Find out more here.

Lantern Light Underground Tour ticket prices:

Adult (aged 13+) – £15

Ticket prices are inclusive of VAT and may be subject to change.

Norwich’s Hidden Street Tour is available 7 days a week.

Other Shoebox Experiences run on selected dates all throughout the year. If you would like to be first in line for tickets when new dates are available, please sign up for our newsletter here.

Our Lantern Light Underground Tours are available for select dates in during Autumn and Winter. The Chronicles of Christmas Tour is available from November to January.

For Team Days please contact us and will do our best to accommodate your required dates.

Norwich’s Hidden Street Tour

Our  Hidden Street Tours take place in a historic setting with uneven floors and some sharp surfaces. For safety reasons, young children need to be carried or supervised as appropriate throughout the tour. Unfortunately, the tour is not suitable for prams but these can be stored safely on-site before the tour and collected at the end.

The Chronicles of Christmas Tour

The Norwich Knowledge Tour is suitable for the whole family. Children must be supervised throughout the tour.

The Norwich Knowledge Tour

The Norwich Knowledge Tour is suitable for the whole family. Children must be supervised throughout the tour.

Magnificent Marble Hall Tour

Our Magnificent Marble Hall Tour is suitable for all ages, babies must be carried and children supervised. 

The Matriarchs, Mayors and Merchants Tour

The Matriarchs, Mayors and Merchants Tour is suitable for the whole family. Children must be supervised throughout the tour.

City of Centuries Tour

City of Centuries Tour is suitable for the whole family. Children must be supervised throughout the tour.

Secrets of the Tunnels Escape Game

Our Secrets of the Tunnels escape game is suitable for children age 10 years+, when accompanied by adults. Find out more by scrolling down to read the Secrets of the Tunnels section.

The Tavern Trail Tour and The TIPSY Tavern Trail Tour

The Tavern Trail Tour and The TIPSY Tavern Trail Tour are not suitable for children. Strictly 18 years+ only due to the tour ending up in a pub.

Lantern Light Underground Tour

Our Lantern Light Underground Tour is only suitable for ages 13 and up.  It includes considerable content about public executions that may not be appropriate.

Our current experiences are not specifically designed for children and do include some content about public executions and other stories that may not be appropriate for all children. If you would like more information, please get in touch. We are looking at the possibility of developing more family-friendly experiences in the future.

Details of where to go for your tour and other additional information can be found in your order confirmation email.

Norwich’s Hidden Street Tour, The Lantern Light Underground Tour and Secrets of the Tunnels Escape Game take place at The Shoebox Experiences, 21-23 Castle Meadow, Norwich, NR1 3DH. 

The Chronicles of Christmas starts outside All Saint’s Church on Westlegate, opposite John Lewis.

The Tavern Trail Tour will start on Bishop Bridge, just off Riverside Road, which is next to The Red Lion Bishopgate pub (postcode NR1 4AA).

The TIPSY Tavern Trail Tour will start in The Red Lion Bishopgate pub, just off Riverside Road (postcode NR1 4AA).

The Magnificent Marble Hall Tour will start under the Norwich Union clock on Surrey Street (NR1 3NX).

The Norwich Knowledge Tour will start at the entrance to Quayside, opposite Ribs of Beef (NR3 1HY).

Matriarchs, Mayors and Merchants Tour will start outside St Clements Church on the corner of Colegate and Fye Bridge Street NR3 1HZ.

City of Centries Tour will start outside The Forum, NR2 1TF.

Of course! Norwich’s Hidden Street Tour and Lantern Light Underground Tours are currently limited to a maximum of 12 guests (this can be raised to 15 by arrangement).

The Tavern Trail Tour, The TIPSY Tavern Trail Tour, The Nowich Knowledge Tour, City of Centries Tour, Matriarchs, Mayors and Merchants Tour and Magnificent Marble Hall Tour are limited to 15 guests.

If you would like to arrange a private tour please email team@theshoebox.org.uk or call 01603 850309.

Gift Vouchers can be purchased here.

eGift Vouchers can be redeemed against all Shoebox Experiences.

All gift vouchers purchased from 1st February 2024 will be valid against any experience for one year.

We had previously amended our gift voucher terms in response to the uncertainty about our Castle Meadow lease. Therefore:

•  all new gift vouchers purchased from 1st November 2023 to 31st January 2024 are valid against any experience for two years rather than one.
• as at 31st March 2024, if you are the recipient of an unused eGift voucher that expires between 1st April and 31st October 2024, we will automatically be extending these by a further year.

Please allow time to comfortably book and attend your experience before the expiry date on the voucher. eGift Vouchers will only be extended in exceptional circumstances if you contact The Shoebox before the voucher expires.

Details of where to go for your tour and other additional information can be found in your order confirmation email.

Norwich’s Hidden Street Tour takes place at The Shoebox Experiences, 21-23 Castle Meadow, Norwich, NR1 3DH. 

The tour lasts one hour.

Norwich’s Hidden Street Tours take place in a historic setting with uneven floors and some sharp surfaces. For safety reasons, young children need to be carried or supervised as appropriate throughout the tour.

Unfortunately, the tour is not suitable for prams but these can be stored safely on-site before the tour and collected at the end.

Many of our current experiences, including our Family Fun tours, include some content about public executions and other stories that may not be appropriate for all children.

If you would like more information, please get in touch. We are looking at the possibility of developing more family-friendly experiences in the future.

Unfortunately, this tour is not accessible as it involves two flights of stairs and uneven floors. There are handrails on the two flights of stairs. 

However, some of our other experiences are fully wheelchair and pram accessible. 

Norwich’s Hidden Street Tour takes place in a historic setting with steep stairs, uneven floors, and some sharp surfaces. For safety reasons, we only allow small dogs which can be carried throughout the tour or assistance dogs to attend.

Details of where to go for your tour and other additional information can be found in your order confirmation email.

Lantern Light Underground Tour takes place at The Shoebox Experiences, 21-23 Castle Meadow, Norwich, NR1 3DH. 

The tour lasts one hour.

The Lantern Light Underground Tour includes many dark stories and content about public executions that may not be appropriate for all children. The spaces are dark only lit with candles and lanterns.

Tickets are only available for children aged 13+ but this experience may not be appropriate for all children, we advise parents to make this decision.

If you would like more information, please get in touch.

Unfortunately, this tour is not accessible as it involves two flights of stairs and uneven floors.

However, some of our other experiences are fully wheelchair and pram accessible.

The Lantern Light Underground Tour takes place in a historic setting with steep stairs, uneven floors, and some sharp surfaces.

For safety reasons, we only allow assistance dogs to attend.

Details of where to go for your tour and other additional information can be found in your order confirmation email.

The Chronicles of Christmas Tour starts outside All Saint’s Church on Westlegate, opposite John Lewis. 

The tour will take approximately 1.5 hours. The route is 1.3 miles long. It’s not a sprint, we will go at a relaxed pace.

The Chronicles of Christmas Tour is suitable for all ages.

If you would like more information, please get in touch.

Yes, it is fully wheelchair and pram accessible. 

Yes.

Yes, be prepared for winter weather though!

Our tour guides are waterproof, so unless it’s blowing an absolute hoolie (as we say here in Norfolk!) or in unsafe conditions to run a tour, we suggest you dress for the unpredictable weather – bring your umbrella and your sense of adventure with you. Sensible shoes at any time of the year are recommended.

Details of where to go for your tour and other additional information can be found in your order confirmation email.

The Norwich Knowledge Tour will start at the entrance to Quayside, opposite Ribs of Beef (NR3 1HY). The tour finishes on the castle grounds. 

The tour lasts 90 minutes.

The Norwich Knowledge Tour is suitable for the whole family. Children must be supervised throughout the tour.

Our current experiences are not specifically designed for children and do include some content about public executions and other stories that may not be appropriate for all children. If you would like more information, please get in touch. We are looking at the possibility of developing more family-friendly experiences in the future.

Our tour route is fully accessible, for both buggies and wheelchair users. 

Yes, dogs are welcome on The Norwich Knowledge Tour.

The tour will take approximately 1.5 hours. The route is 0.7 miles long. It’s not a sprint, we will go at a relaxed pace.

Start: outside St Clements Church on the corner of Colegate and Fye Bridge Street NR3 1HZ (opposite the Army Careers Office)

End: Anteros, Fye Bridge Street

Unfortunately, this tour is not accessible. We end up in a 16th century merchants house which has steps and stairs. 

This tour is suitable for the whole family. Children must be supervised throughout the tour.

Our current experiences are not specifically designed for children and do include some content about public executions and other stories that may not be appropriate for all children. If you would like more information, please get in touch. We are looking at the possibility of developing more family-friendly experiences in the future.

Our tour guides are waterproof, so unless it’s blowing an absolute hoolie (as we say here in Norfolk!) or in unsafe conditions to run a tour, we suggest you dress for the unpredictable weather – bring your umbrella and your sense of adventure with you. Sensible shoes at any time of the year are recommended. 

Unfortunately, this tour does not allow dogs.

However, exceptions can be made for assistance dogs. If you need to bring an assistance dog with you, please let us know so that we can make the required arrangements.

The tour will take approximately 1hr 45 mins. The route is one mile long. It’s not a sprint, we will go at a relaxed pace.

Start: outside The Forum NR2 1TF

End: Norwich Cathedral

Yes it is suitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, prams and buggies.

This tour is suitable for the whole family. Children must be supervised throughout the tour.

Our current experiences are not specifically designed for children and do include some content about public executions and other stories that may not be appropriate for all children. If you would like more information, please get in touch. We are looking at the possibility of developing more family-friendly experiences in the future.

Our tour guides are waterproof, so unless it’s blowing an absolute hoolie (as we say here in Norfolk!) or in unsafe conditions to run a tour, we suggest you dress for the unpredictable weather – bring your umbrella and your sense of adventure with you. Sensible shoes at any time of the year are recommended.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome but must be kept on a leash at all times.

The Tavern Trail Tour will start on Bishop Bridge, just off Riverside Road, which is next to The Red Lion Bishopgate pub (postcode NR1 4AA).

The tour finished at The Murderers Pub, Timber Hill NR1 3LB. Your ticket includes a half pint of local ale, cider or a soft drink at The Murderers at the end of your tour.

The tour will take approximately 2 hours which includes a Q&A session with your host over a drink at The Murderers pub.

The route is 1.3 miles long. It’s not a sprint, we will go at a relaxed pace!

Our tour route is fully accessible, including access to the pub.

Please note there is no accessible toilet in the pub and the nearest toilet to our final destination can be found at Castle Quarter Norwich; located near the Cattlemarket Street pedestrian entrance / Level J of Castle Mall (on the same floor as Ground level from Castle Meadow or Cattlemarket Street). There are places to rest along the route.

The tour finishes at The Murderers Pub on Timber Hill. Your ticket includes a half pint of local ale, cider or a soft drink at The Murderers at the end of your tour.

If you’re feeling peckish, your ticket will also get you 25% discount off food at The Murderers when you show your booking confirmation, valid only at the end of your tour. Please note their kitchen stays open depending on customer demand and may shut as early as 5pm, so when booking an evening tour we cannot guarantee food will be available to order.

Our tour guides are waterproof, so unless it’s blowing an absolute hoolie (as we say here in Norfolk!) or there are unsafe conditions to run a tour, we suggest you dress for the unpredictable weather – bring your umbrella and your sense of adventure with you. Sensible shoes at any time of the year are recommended.

The Tavern Trail Tour and The Tipsy Tavern Trail Tour are not suitable for children. Strictly 18 years+ only due to the tour ending up in a pub.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome but must be kept on a leash at all times. The Murderers Pub also welcomes well-behaved dogs kept on a leash.

Please note that The TIPSY Tavern Trail Tour does not allow dogs (exceptions can be made for assistance dogs) due to the restrictions in some venues visited along the route.

Yes, the Tipsy Tavern Trail Tour is an extended version of our popular Tavern Trail Tour – now with an additional hour of adventure and three extra drinks along the way!

We stop at four pubs along the route for an alcoholic drink in each (at the first three pubs you will get a half pint of local ale or cider, and a full pint at the final pub) and discover the history of the venue. You’ll also visit some of Norwich’s hidden gems which we don’t go into on the standard Tavern Trail Tour.

The tour will take approximately 3 hours which includes a Q&A session with your host over a drink at The Murderers pub.

The route is 1.3 miles long. It’s not a sprint, we will go at a relaxed pace!

The Tipsy Tavern Trail Tour will start in The Red Lion Bishopgate pub, just off Riverside Road (postcode NR1 4AA).

The tour finishes at The Murderers Pub on Timber Hill. Your ticket includes a pint of local ale, cider or a drink from a curated menu at The Murderers at the end of your tour.

The pub is open for food every day. Please make sure you have finished your meal in time for your tour to start. 

The tour finishes at The Murderers Pub on Timber Hill. Your ticket includes a pint of local ale, cider or a drink from a curated menu at The Murderers at the end of your tour.

If you’re feeling peckish, your ticket will also get you 25% discount off food at The Murderers when you show your booking confirmation, valid only at the end of your tour. Please note their kitchen stays open depending on customer demand and may shut as early as 5pm, so when booking an evening tour we cannot guarantee food will be available to order.

Our tour route is fully accessible, including access to the pubs and toilet stops along the route. 

While toilets are available in all pubs, please note the start and end pubs do not have accessible toilets.

At the starting point, The Red Lion, the toilet is accessed on the ground level with step-free access but is not suitable for wheelchair users. The nearest wheelchair-friendly public toilet to our starting destination is Norwich Train Station.

The end pub, The Murderers, toilets are accessed via steps. The nearest accessible toilet to our final destination can be found at Castle Mall Norwich; located near the Cattlemarket Street pedestrian entrance / Level J of Castle Mall (on the same floor as Ground level from Castle Meadow or Cattlemarket Street). 

Our tour guides are waterproof, so unless it’s blowing an absolute hoolie (as we say here in Norfolk!) or there are unsafe conditions to run a tour, we suggest you dress for the unpredictable weather – bring your umbrella and your sense of adventure with you.

Sensible shoes at any time of the year are recommended. You can always warm up/cool down/dry yourself off in one of the four pubs we will be stopping at. 

The tour will only run with a minimum of 4 people booked on it. 48 hours notice will be given if a tour does not go ahead and a full refund will be given or a reschedule to another date. The maximum number of people is 15.

If you require a private tour, please contact us with your enquiry. 

 The Tipsy Tavern Trail Tour and The Tavern Trail Tour are not suitable for children. Strictly 18 years+ only due to the tour visiting pubs.

Unfortunately, The Tipsy Tavern Trail Tour does not allow dogs due to the restrictions in some venues visited along the route.

However, exceptions can be made for assistance dogs. If you need to bring an assistance dog with you, please let us know so that we can make the required arrangements.

 The tour lasts one hour.

The tour group will meet under the Norwich Union clock on Surrey Street (9 Surrey Street, NR1 3NX).

This tour is not designed for children although children interested in history or architecture would enjoy the tour. Children must be supervised at all times, and babies must be carried for the duration of the tour. Prams can be left in the entrance lobby at customers’ own risk.

Tours run every Friday (except on bank holidays) at 2.30pm.

To comply with Aviva’s security requirements, we have to provide all tour guest names prior to arrival. Please ensure you complete details on booking. If tour guests change, please email us on team@theshoebox.org.uk or call us on 01603 850309.

Yes, please contact us in advance to help us facilitate this. Email us on team@theshoebox.org.uk or call us on 01603 850309. However, due to the size of the lift, mobility scooters cannot be accommodated on this tour. If you are unsure about the impact this would have on your visit, please get in touch.

Please note there is no accessible toilet on the tour and the nearest toilet to our destination can be found within Norwich Bus Station main building. Alternatively at Castle Quarter Norwich; located near the Cattlemarket Street pedestrian entrance / Level J of Castle Quarter (on the same floor as Ground level from Castle Meadow or Cattlemarket Street).

Unfortunately, this tour does not allow dogs.

However, exceptions can be made for assistance dogs. If you need to bring an assistance dog with you, please let us know so that we can make the required arrangements.

Between 2 and 8 players. Be aware that 2 players will really be up against the clock, but the challenge will always be fun! It’s more about how you work and communicate with your team, rather than how many people you have. 

The maximum players shown can’t be exceeded under any circumstances, it’s a safety thing.

Our Secrets of the Tunnels escape game is suitable for children age 10 years+, when accompanied by adults. Due to the complexity of puzzles and the immersive nature of the setting we require a player ratio of at least 1 adult per 3 children under 14.

Children under 8 are not permitted as it’s designed to be played by adults and older children, so does not contain elements suitable to entertain younger children for an hour. In addition, our game is not designed to be child-safe and contains items, such as cupboard doors, small objects, and trip hazards that could be harmful to young children whilst accompanying adults are distracted by the game.

Our current experiences are not specifically designed for children and do include some content about public executions that may not be appropriate for all children. We are looking at the possibility of developing a family-friendly experience in the future.

Please arrive ready to play your game at the start time shown on your booking confirmation email. When you arrive on time we will fully brief you on your mission and give you a full hour to enjoy the game. If you arrive late we may have to start the clock without you, especially during busy periods when we have a game or tour booked into the following time slot.

Escape games are primarily designed for adults, but are suitable for families with children aged 10 years and up, as long as the children are accompanied by adults. Due to the complexity of our puzzles and the immersive nature of our setting, we require a player ratio of at least 1 adult per 3 children under 14, and at least one adult must be present for groups that contain players under 16 years of age.

There’s nothing physically demanding and no upper age limit. If you are in good general health and can negotiate some steps to access the game, that’s all we ask. Our game has somewhere to sit down if you need to.

Yes, your team gets exclusive use of your booked escape game, although you will be monitored by our Gamemaster as we have to look after the historic listed building that we are in.

Please allow up to 1 hour and 15 minutes for the complete experience. You should arrive at your game start time to receive your team briefing, then you have up to 1 hour to complete your escape game. After that we will take your team photo if you wish and be delighted to hear how you got on with the escape game.

Don’t worry, you are not locked in and we’ll come and get you after the hour is up, plenty of people don’t finish the game and it’s the taking part that counts! Of course, you are always welcome to come back and try another time, we’d love to see you again.

Well, there are always some smart ones! Well done, use the rest of your time to bask in your glory. 

Please don’t, it would detract from your own enjoyment of your hour and also it would spoil it for other visitors if our secrets got out. An optional team photo will be taken after your escape game and will be accessible from our Facebook page. Please do feel free to share or tag yourself.

Unfortunately, there are a number of steps and uneven surfaces to negotiate to reach our game room that makes it entirely inaccessible to wheelchairs and the room itself has uneven floors and steps within it.

The game mainly requires problem solving skills but does require an amount of manual dexterity and visual acuity, with reading glasses required if used. Pre-recorded sound effects are used and lighting levels are mostly medium throughout, with torches provided for use in low-light areas. 

Yes, we offer free places for carers and interpreters where that person is specifically there to accompany a player or group to provide the assistance they may need during their game. There are some limitations on this, but they are the same limitations applied to all people for practical reasons, for example, our game can accommodate a maximum of 8 players, which cannot be exceeded under any circumstances. You can simply make your online booking for the number of players you require, then contact us  and let us know how many carers will also be attending.

Our Secrets of the Tunnels escape game is not a suitable environment for pets of any kind. Assistance dogs are welcome to attend, please get in touch to let us know that they will be joining you so that we can make suitable arrangements.