One of the leading hubs for Norfolk Broads boating holidays and boat hire, the lovely village of Potter Heigham is an attractive destination for anyone interested in exploring the area. Besides boat hire, the town has excellent places to eat and drink and many natural and historical attractions. If you’re visiting for the day or are staying in Potter Heigham for a week or two, you’ll have more than enough to keep you occupied!
The Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden comprise 53 hectares (131 acres) of water gardens, rich ancient woodland, and a private broad at South Walsham in the Norfolk Broads heart. The park was given in trust by the 2nd Lord Fairhaven in 1973 and unrolled to the public in 1975. The garden is famous for its fantastic collection of candelabra primulas – the best- naturalised group in the UK – seen in May. It is also well recognised for its magnificent Autumn Colours in late October and early November. Fairhaven also coordinates events during the year, such as jazz music.
Thurne (near Great Yarmouth) is a small village and beauty spot northwest of the Borough at the intersection of the River Thurne and River Bure.
The village sits at the end of a dyke alongside the famous white- painted tower Thurne Drainage mill (open days in Summer and National Mills Open Weekend in May). Additionally, the village has some small shops and a pub. Many local paths offer good walks, including “The Weavers Way”. There is a bike hire centre in the next-door village of Clippesby.
This small zoo just outside Cromer is full of exciting animals. There’s also a children’s play area (indoor and outdoor), along with some jumping pillows. As with all zoos, the timing of your visit and weather conditions are essential. Like us, many animals retreat to their beds if they’re cold or face the prospect of getting wet!
Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens have 250- year-old landscaped gardens with an elegant willow pattern garden and a play area. Attractions include Snow Leopards, gibbons, rare tigers, crocodiles in a swamp house, an aviary, a gift shop & cafe.
Award-winning spot in the Broads with something for all. Craft Studios where visitors can watch and meet the craftspeople. From handmade fudge, stained glass, woodcraft, artwork & photography, ceramics, needlecraft and jewellery to delicious food and drink, including probably the most extensive range of bottled Norfolk beers.
Junior Farm provides a daily programme of activities to join in, and families also love the Championship Mini-Golf Course, Funfair and Made By You craft studio. The Restaurant and Coffee Shop with an outdoor Terrace are perfect for “foodies”, serving homemade and freshly prepared food all day with seasonal and local produce featured on the menu.
Holkham is a unique area where beautiful coastal scenery meets one of England’s renowned farming estates. Holkham Hall stands at the core of this flourishing 25,000-acre estate on the north Norfolk coast, based on William Kent’s designs and built by Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester. Its elegance is the 18th-century Palladian-style house that stands out against the green background. The house is the home of the Earls of Leicester and continues to be privately owned.
A summary of the estate; This house has superb grounds to walk around, a striking lake that looks onto the house, a fantastic garden, and a wonderful and historical place to survey at your leisure. Moreover, there is good food at the pub or the cafes.
We admire and praise the National Trust and everything they have accomplished at this magnificent property. It should take your breath away. Furthermore, its beautiful backdrop holds numerous events and functions throughout the year.
The award-winning beach at Wells is wide, unblemished and beautiful, famous for its dunes, pine trees and vivid beach huts. If you take a walk for a couple of miles along the shore, you’ll end up in Holkham. Whether you choose to swim, fly a kite, sunbathe or build a sandcastle, Wells beach has something for everyone!
You can see wading birds on the foreshore, including oystercatchers, avocets and terns, and if you’re fortunate, you can spot common and grey seals lazing in the sun’s rays.
Both of these towns have great beaches which can be utilised all months and in all weather. You can take a winter walk next to the sea whilst walking your dog or come to paddle in the refreshing waters when it’s warm and sunny.
The villages are similarly charming, with Cromer displaying a more comprehensive range of services than its quieter cousin. However, they both have pubs/takeaway, gift shops and bathrooms (the beach essentials). Cromer has some great mentions for food, such as the renowned NO.1 Fishbar and the Bucket List, which serve tasty chips.
The Castle is a nostalgic place for us to visit, a place where our parents, grandparents and schools treat us to a trip there. It’s an iconic building in Norwich, recognised by all. The exterior is breathtaking. It’s a big castle with a nice little garden downstairs.
This large, charming museum boasts many themes. Work is currently being done inside the castle, and its new features are set to be debuted soon. You can also view rooms with paintings, history (Nazism), pottery and Egyptian sarcophagi. There are stuffed animals with little games for the children (guessing the animal by touching, guessing the animal by smelling and guessing
the animal by listening), an excellent activity for children’s senses.
Norwich’s brilliant Romanesque Cathedral is open to visitors of all faiths and none. Set on 44 acres of glorious grounds (recognised locally as the ‘village within the city), a welcoming building stands with spectacular architecture, magnificent art and fascinating history. It has the second-tallest spire and largest monastic cloisters in England. The cathedral houses more than a thousand beautiful medieval roof boss sculptures.
This is a delightful cathedral with many unique features and wonderful stained-glass windows
from various periods, old and new. The atmosphere is peaceful and calming, perfect for a stroll.
We recommend taking the extra time to walk around the cloisters as well. The refectory cafe is
also great – tasty food and good service at reasonable prices.
There are several walks you can take on the premises. The park consists of four waymarked routes with lengths varying from one to five miles, guiding you into the park’s varying habitats. Coastal illustrations, imagined by landscape gardener Humphry Repton, are features of all the trails. Of course, you will be provided with a different look for each visit in changing seasons, and you will never know what you may see around the next bend.
This is a magnificent country property combining farmland and coastal scenery. The hall is spotless, set in manicured rolling view, including a lake and cricket pitch. This is such a worthwhile place to visit. The grounds are perfect for long country walks, and it is not far from Cromer if you are heading there for the day.
Stationed near Norwich Castle in the City centre’s core, Castle Mall has five great shopping floors, an eight-screen cinema, and ample parking. Find big name brands such as Tiger, TK Maxx and a wide range of independent shops like The Tea Junction, Gifted and The Java Store. Children are spoilt for choice at The Entertainer. For night entertainment, take the family to see the newest films at Vue Cinema with free parking for up to 4 hours.
Chantry Place is house to over 90 shops, restaurants and cafes, including Apple, House of Fraser and Zara, and provides an unrivalled retail and dining experience in Norwich. With national, international and homegrown brands and convenient, city centre parking. Chantry Place has everything beneath one roof and is the place to shop, meet, dine and enjoy.
If you are seven years and older, you can have loads of fun playing Quasar, a laser game played by two teams of up to 13 players per team. Inside, you will find a glow-in-the-dark area with tunnels, ramps and bridges – this will be your playing field.
There is a great under 16s package (perfect for birthdays), where players can experience at least four games and receive a drink to cool off! It’s vital to book as you often have little luck with spontaneity.
BeWilderwood is a vast, award-winning forest of family fun and outdoor adventure in Horning on the Norfolk Broads. They have various activities such as treehouses, zip wires, jungle bridges, storytelling, marsh walks and boat trips. It is an imaginative and wild adventure park with magical treehouses and captivating characters, bringing a curious difference to the Norfolk Broads.
A wall-to-wall trampoline refuge awaits. You can enjoy a frenzy of fun leaping, bouncing and jumping over the 80 connected trampolines, tumble tracks and jump platforms for 60 minutes. As well as gravity-defying performance on trampolines, you can practice new tricks like flipping, diving, jumping into the foam pit area, or perfecting your slam-dunk skills with basketball hoops. A great day out for the whole family. It’s perfect for little kids and big kids alike!
As well as being East Anglia’s premier beach resort, Great Yarmouth also has a fascinating nautical culture and is a port famous for formerly being the core of the herring industry.
Great Yarmouth’s Golden Mile is a heaven for people who appreciate seaside fun at its best. Indoor and outdoor recreation venues
border the promenade, and there are rides and attractions for all ages along the seafront. There are attractions such as adventure golf, a ride on one of the giant snails, fish and chips or ice cream, enjoy freshly-cooked doughnuts and then head off on a scream-provoking rollercoaster or catch a splendid show or go racing.
Situated in the heart of Norwich on Gentleman’s Walk, Norwich Market is open Monday to Saturday. This is a melting pot of hustle and bustle for the city, a place which is alive with chatter, people’s footsteps and delicious smells.
Stalls sell a delicious range of quality local food, including freshly cooked bread, meat and fish, chutneys and jams, plus a wide range of cheeses. For some tasty lunch on the go, you can pick up fish & chips, sandwiches, sweets, ice cream or even a hog roast! As well as many more delicious offerings. They also display a fabulous array of goods and services; whether you’re searching for children’s toys, jewellery, clothes, household goods, flowers, keys cut, or shoes mended, the market has it all!
The facilities have a central slope with the Poma lift and a fun park with bumps, 1/4 pipe, and moguls for the bold! There is an intermediate slope with matting, much softer and similar to snow! And the same matting is on the beginner slope. The lessons are excellent, and there is a pleasant bar area with a view of each slope for people to watch.
It’s great fun for skiing, blading, boarding and tubing – our favourite. That entails sitting in a doughnut or rubber ring- type object and being pushed down a slope. This is great for a whole family experience as it’s fun inducing regardless of age.
Salhouse is a large Broadland village stretched out along the road from Wroxham. The central town is not adjacent to Salhouse Broad, but a half-mile path links the town. The village is well served with a pub and shop. It is a pleasant place to moor and take a stroll on the nearby green, grassy bank; it is also the only broad with a “sandy” beach.
The Grosvenor Fish Bar is a long-standing fish & chip shop, having spent 90 years serving the usual chip shop fare.
Since it was refurbished into a fish and chip grotto, they have again established their roots, serving up a selection of wraps, sandwiches, burgers and the usual fish & chip fare – including sea bass, mackerel, tuna, squid and rock salmon.
There is seating downstairs for up to 70 people if you want to tap along to the classics playlist and chow down on some favourites. Or if you want to have a beer or a glass of fizz with your meal they are now fully licenced.
Long awaited fine Indian dining for a fine city. The team at The Merchants of Spice are sure to make your experience a memorable one. Set in a historic venue, a stone’s throw away from the heart of the city in Colegate, our restaurant has undergone extensive renovation to achieve an elegant and naturally relaxing ambience. No attention to detail has been spared, from the custom-made furniture, the selection of exclusive and unique Signature Dishes, and the choice of crockery.
Independently-owned London-style cocktail bar, serving a good range of craft keg, bottled and canned beer, cocktails, and food served every day until 9pm. They have a long single bar to the right, with two elevated seating areas to the left and rear. There are some tables outdoor on the pavement, with great views of the Tombland and Cathedral.
This pub works intimately with the best breweries and brewers worldwide to serve you the freshest, innovative and most exciting beer. They also have a great range of expertly maintained, easy-drinking beer when you want your ideal go-to pint. The knowledgeable and friendly staff are happy to help you find the perfect pint for your palate.
Withdrawn Dutch-gabled pub, which alleges to be the oldest in Norwich (parts date from 1249). A snug complements the tiny low-ceilinged oak-beamed bar and another bar regularly reserved for parties. You can eat good value lunches inside or at patio tables facing the car park, stretching to the river and providing access to the Jarrold pedestrian bridge.
Zaks opened in May 1976, serving the now famous chargrilled burgers in the “Original Zaks Caravan” wrapped in tin foil and cooked fresh to order in the American tradition. If it is an authentic American dining experience you are looking for, then Zaks is your kind of place. Burger, ribs and chicken are standards on our menu. Add to this succulent steaks, fabulous desserts and a vast selection of authentic drinks (including shakes).
