The Literature House, Dragon Hall, is the physical home of National Centre for Writing and the centrepiece of Norwich UNESCO City of Literature: a place of storytelling and story making dedicated to the development of writing, new and emerging writers and literary translators, and the power of words and ideas to connect communities and shape our futures.
Housed in Dragon Hall, a Grade I Listed Medieval trading hall, the Literature House shares the stories of Norwich’s literary heritage, connects Norwich to the global UNESCO Cities of Literature network, and shapes the stories of tomorrow, today.
Step into Dragon Hall
Step into one of Norwich’s most significant medieval buildings and discover the fascinating stories of the people who have lived and worked within its walls for hundreds of years.
Dragon Hall is now open to the public outside of our events and creative writing workshops.
Our drop in visitor hours are Sunday – Wednesday, 10am – 3pm. Please note that we are closed on the 7th & 8th May. Our public entrance is on King St, opposite the The Butterfly Café.
National Centre for Writing
Dragon Hall
115 – 123 King Street
Norwich, NR1 1QE.
Learn about the history of the site through self-led tours and take part in family activities during the holidays. You can also ask our staff about upcoming NCW events and creative writing opportunities.
Visit our What’s On page to view our public programme of events, guided tours, workshops and activities for adults, families and communities.
To become a City of Literature Volunteer and support our events and venue please click here.
Getting here
Dragon Hall is a short five-minute walk from Norwich train station; cut through Riverside and over Lady Julian Bridge to reach us. We are a ten-minute walk from Norwich Bus Station.
There are Beryl bikes available nearby for short hire from 5p a minute – you can find them on Music House Lane, St. Julian’s Alley, and on Rouen Road, which runs parallel to King Street. Get the app here.
There is no parking available on site. The nearest car park is Rouen Road Car Park, NR1 1QU or Rose Lane Car Park, Mountergate, NR1 1PY. Blue Badge holders should follow Norwich City Council advice.
About us
National Centre for Writing is a contemporary literature house in the heart of England’s first UNESCO City of Literature, committed to the transformative power of stories for personal, social and community development. Rooted in Norwich and open to the world, we’re a writing development agency with a local, national and international footprint.
Explore our mission and values, our history, and find out more about our talented team.
Dragon Hall
National Centre for Writing is based in the magnificent medieval Dragon Hall on King St. There have been buildings on the site for more than a thousand years.
Dragon Hall has a fascinating and colourful history – starting life as a medieval trading hall, then a crowded residential building for 500 years, it has also housed a butcher’s shop, rectory, and pub, and is now home to our Literature House. Learn more about one of Norwich’s 12 iconic buildings, and get a flavour of the stories that live within its walls.
The Cottage
The Dragon Hall Cottage is our accommodation for writers and translators in residence. The cottage dates from the late 19th century; originally, it was the family home for the head brewer from the former brewery next door to Dragon Hall.
We can host up to two residents in the Cottage at a time. You can find out more about our residents, residency opportunities and Dragon Hall Retreats by clicking the button below. You can also meet our writers and translators in residence in person at monthly Dragon Hall Socials.
Access
We want to ensure that Dragon Hall is open and accessible for all. It is largely wheelchair accessible and is equipped with two raising platform lifts, disabled access toilets, hearing loop facilities and some dimmable lighting. Due to age and layout, the Cottage is not wheelchair accessible.
Click below for details on parking, access into the building, a breakdown of terrain, facilities, ticketing and concessions, and more.
The NCW team are here to help and are happy to answer any questions you may have about your visit to us. You can email [email protected] or call us on 01603 877177.
Hire Dragon Hall
Dragon Hall is available to hire year-round for weddings, parties and corporate events. Blending historic detail with sleek contemporary touches, it’s the perfect creative canvas for important gatherings that seek to do things a little differently.
Dragon Hall is a stone’s throw from the city centre marketplace, and is very easily accessible by public transport, with several public car parks nearby.
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