Underground street tour saved after risk of closure

The Hidden Street Tours have been running since 2017 and seen more than 40,000 visitors

An underground medieval street tour which has had more than 40,000 visitors since it was launched in 2017 has been saved from closure.

The Shoebox Experiences in Norwich is based at Castle Meadow in the city centre and hold history tours throughout the medieval street below them, which helps fund community projects.

The group was given a notice by its landlord in November telling them they would need to vacate the building by mid-April. However, the lease has now been extended for a further three years.

Holly Smith, the experiences and events co-ordinator, said: "So many people are so elated for us."

The notice issued to the social enterprise in November stated the landlord wanted a "better use of the facility" and that conversations about the building's future were ongoing.

Ms Smith said: "It was a really uneasy time... so many people were devastated for us."

She said there was delight that the group's future had been secured.

"So many people are so elated for us and coming in to congratulate and support us," she said.

The money from the tours go towards community projects in Norfolk - which Ms Smith said have seen a "huge uptake" since Covid.

The social enterprise hoped it could one day buy the building

'Change of heart'

The enterprise lease a building in Castle Meadow in Norwich city centre, which provides access to the underground medieval street.

It is thought the underground street used in the Hidden Street Tours was originally a dry defensive ditch that was used to protect Norwich Castle.

It served as a narrow street for local traders for about 400 years, starting in the early part of the 15th Century, before being built on in the 1930s.

On social media The Shoebox Experiences said: "We're proud to be stewards of the hidden street; a rare, fascinating and historically significant landmark that helps to make Norwich such a unique city."

Ms Smith said the social enterprise feared for the future once the lease ends in three years' time.

She said it was now working towards eventually buying the building.