A call has been made for the multi-million-pound transformation of Norwich Castle to be accompanied by a revamp for the street which leads visitors to the historic city landmark.
Norwich Castle's medieval keep will reopen in the summer after the completion of a £15m project called Royal Palace Reborn, which started in the summer of 2020.
Museum bosses hope the National Heritage Lottery money-funded project, which will make the keep look as it did in its Norman 12th century heyday and improve access, will attract 100,000 more visitors to the castle each year.
But, at a Norfolk County Council meeting where the project was discussed, a councillor said the state of the area around the castle should also be improved to make a good impression on tourists heading to the 900-year-old building.
John Fisher, Conservative county councillor for Woodside division, said: "I think the fact we have spent millions on the castle means we should be looking to improve Castle Meadow.
"Anyone visiting from the station and walking to the castle or getting a bus will end up on Castle Meadow.
"I think the spending on the castle would justify having some money spent there to make that a more pleasant experience for tourists that visit the city. That needs to be considered."
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Steve Miller, head of Norfolk Museums Service, said: "We have been working hard with Norwich City Council and we have got a plan to significantly improve the physical appearance of Castle Meadow, which will be one of the main gateways into the castle for visitors once we reopen.
"We hope to make a significant improvement through landscaping, but also through improvements of behaviour of people in and around Castle Meadow to ensure the first experience of coming to the castle is as positive as possible."
HOW IS THE ROYAL PALACE REBORN PROJECT CHANGING NORWICH CASTLE?
Construction of Norwich Castle was begun by William the Conqueror and completed by his son Henry I in 1121 – making it one of the most spectacular palaces in medieval Europe at the time.
Through the Royal Palace Reborn project, the original medieval floors and room spaces are being reinstated and fully furnished, bringing alive the sights and sounds of the palace of the Norman kings.
Through a partnership with the British Museum, the new permanent Gallery of Medieval Life will showcase exceptional artefacts of the period – from the Norman Conquest to the reign of Henry VIII.
It will display more than 1,000 treasures of international importance, with more than 50 on long-term loan from the British Museum.
Museum bosses say, alongside original artefacts and architecture, visitors will be able to take part in immersive experiences throughout the keep.
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Audio-visual projections in the Great Hall will draw on the drama and imagination of medieval art to bring the walls alive, while virtual reality headsets in the basement’s digital zone will allow users to explore a recreation of Norman Norwich.
Other changes include a new glass bridge and lift, which will mean everybody can get access to all floors of the castle, including the battlements.
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