The parish of St Giles lies in the western part of the city of Norwich, along the route of the B1108 road which leads from the city westwards to Hingham & Watton. In common with most of the city parishes St Giles covered a very small area of the city centre, no more than a few city blocks, and was tight to the line of the city walls. The parish was a fairly wealthy and well-to-do part of the city with fathers holding jobs such as solicitor or accountant as well as many "makers"; it is noticeable that the ever present labourers and weavers of city parishes are thin in number in this parish. The parish suffered a decline in numbers towards the end of this transcript as the wealthy moved out to the newly spreading suburbs.

St Giles' church has a very commanding position over western Norwich, a position that is emphasised by its tall tower (at 120 feet the tallest in the city). The church is a very restored building although enough remains to show that it must have commenced during the Decorated period and was largely complete in the Perpendicular, indeed the latter style predominates as it does in so many Norfolk churches. The major restoration of 1866-7 largely rebuilt the chancel but only renovated the remainder. The building stands adjacent to one of the major traffic accesses to the city and indeed stands opposite the library of the Norfolk Family History Society. A major feature of the grounds is the flowering wisteria that make a splendid sight in the spring.