Historic SiteEast of EnglandEnglish Heritage4.4
Ordinary admission is free for everyone. Separately arranged events may have their own terms.
Arrive on foot, by bike or by public transport.
EH recommends charged parking at Norwich station or the Riverside multi-storey across the road. The driving pin uses Riverside Car Park. Current tariffs are unconfirmed; walk along the Wensum from the city centre.
Named arrival listing Riverside Car Park, compared with the official visitor approach.
Cow Tower stands beside the River Wensum as an early example of a purpose-built English artillery blockhouse. Constructed around 1398-99, the brick tower protected a strategic point in Norwich's defences, its position beside the water explaining why this stretch of river mattered to the medieval city. The exterior is the focus of a visit because the interior is closed for safety reasons. Take time to look at the tower's form and read the interpretation before continuing along the river. Visitors particularly enjoy combining the monument with the Wensum Riverside Walk, a two-mile route through the city centre identified in the official visitor guidance. Flat paths make the outside relatively easy to reach, although parking is elsewhere in Norwich. The station and Riverside car parks provide a walking approach, with shops, cafes and toilets in the city. Dogs on leads are welcome.
Exterior viewing only, open any reasonable time during daylight hours.
Exterior open during reasonable daylight hours. The interior is closed to visitors for safety reasons.
Flat paths reach the exterior. The tower interior is not open to visitors.
Dogs: Dogs on leads are welcome.
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Dog access not confirmed
EH identifies a two-mile riverside route through Norwich city centre, with access from the station or Riverside car parks. Parking is separately charged; the tower exterior is free. Flat paths reach the tower; dogs on leads at the site, wider route-specific rules unconfirmed.
