Top 3 Antique Shops in Norwich
Our little Norwich escape was all about soaking up the beauty of this historic town, and a major win was discovering its brilliant antique shops. It’s like an old-stuff overload in the best way! You can lose yourself in massive amounts of antiques, collectibles, and vintage finds, and get this – some are in seriously cool locations…churches! What a clever way to reuse a building. While I’m a big fan of keeping historical buildings as they were, seeing them thoughtfully repurposed like this is just fantastic.
So, if you’re heading to Norwich, make sure these top 3 antique spots are on your list:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Norwich’s best antique shops:
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1. Looses Emporium
📍 LOCATION: 23-25 Magdalen St, Norwich NR3 1LP
The unassuming storefront of Looses Emporium drew us right in, a short walk from the Norwich Lanes. But trust me, step inside and BAM! It’s like entering Mary Poppins’ bag of antiques. They claim it’s the biggest in Norwich, and I can totally believe it. I walked in thinking it was a quick browse, only to discover it just kept going… and then I saw stairs! Two whole floors packed with vintage treasures and quirky collectibles.
It’s like a maze of mini shops, around 60 under one roof, each with its own vibe and hidden gems. Just as we were about to leave, I spotted this amazing clown tapestry poster – total love at first sight! Of course, that meant lugging it around Norwich for the next couple of hours, but hey, it was worth it.
2. St Gregory’s Antiques & Collectibles
📍 LOCATION: 2 St Gregorys Alley, Norwich NR2 1ER
St Gregory’s Antiques & Collectibles was the first antique shop we stumbled into, and it completely blew me away. Imagine wandering through a church, but instead of pews, it’s filled with incredible antiques. What I loved is how much of the church’s original character is still there – the inscribed floor stones, the organ… it’s such a unique setting.
Located right in the heart of the Norwich Lanes, they’ve got everything from delicate glass and ceramics to shiny brass, cool furniture, sparkling jewellery, old military bits, vinyl records, elegant silver, and awesome vintage clothes and toys.
A Little History Snippet: St Gregory’s Church
So, this amazing antique shop lives in a Grade I listed medieval church that used to be St Gregory’s Church until it closed its doors in 1971. Parts of it date back to the 14th century, though the tower is even older, and stained glass dating back to the 19th century. It’s famous for its old wall paintings, including one of St George slaying the dragon. There’s even a public walkway under part of it that was rebuilt in 1394. After its time as a church, it was an arts centre for a while before becoming the brilliant antique shop it is today (since 2013).
3. All Saints Antiques & Collectibles
📍 LOCATION: 3 All Saints St, Westlegate, Norwich NR1 3LG
Seriously, two antique shops in former churches in one city? Norwich, you’re spoiling us! All Saints Antique’s & Collectibles is another fantastic spot, housing a huge variety of antique, collectible, vintage, and retro goodies from over 25 different dealers. It’s like a treasure trove waiting to be explored.
A Little History Snippet: All Saints Church
All Saints Church, Westlegate in Norwich, was a former 15th/16th-century parish church. It features flint and brick construction and a west tower. Inside, its medieval nave and chancel retain architectural details like perpendicular windows and heavy arcade piers beneath an open truss roof.
Following its redundancy as a church in 1973, the Grade I listed church initially transformed it into a community centre. Today, this historic building serves a new purpose as the All Saints Antiques & Collectibles, giving it a new lease of life.
Are you ready to explore Norwich’s best antique shops?
So there you have it – my top three must-visit antique shops in Norwich.
Ready to dive into Norwich’s antique delights? Looses Emporium’s endless aisles and the wonderfully repurposed churches of St Gregory’s and All Saints are waiting to be explored. Trust me, they’re not just shops; they’re experiences. Happy treasure hunting!