6 best things to do with kids in Norfolk
With stunning countryside, gorgeous beaches and miles and miles of unspoilt coastline, Norfolk is a great place for a holiday with a baby, toddler or older kids. The Norfolk Broads holds a unique charm, as do the county’s charming villages and cities, all of which hold the potential for adventure.
Then there are the countless attractions and historical sites, wildlife parks, nature reserves, seals and dinosaurs that are sure to be a hit, not only with kids of all ages, but also with parents and grandparents too. We know that with so many options it can be difficult and time-consuming to choose your ideal destination and that’s why we’ve compiled this list of the best things to do with kids in Norfolk. These locations are all found within range of some of the best Haven holiday parks, so there’s no need to go out of your way to visit.
1. Sea Life Great Yarmouth
Sea Life is found right on the seafront in Great Yarmouth and features family-friendly exhibits with a variety of fabulous sea creatures in its aquariums. The ocean tunnel winds through a huge tank holding a whopping quarter of a million litres of seawater, where the inhabitants swim around the lost city of Atlantis. Sealife Great Yarmouth is also home to African dwarf crocodiles, blacktip reef sharks, and clownfish of Finding Nemo fame. Your kids can discover more of the world of jellyfish in the Jelly Invaders display, as well as watch the aquarium’s regal Humboldt penguins.
Opening times vary throughout the year (though typically the aquarium is open seven days a week) and pre-booking tickets online is essential, so please visit the website before your trip to this aqua arena.
2. BeWILDerwood Norfolk
BeWILDerwood is a huge, award-winning forest-based theme park filled with family fun and outdoor adventure located on the edge of Bure Marshes National Nature Reserve. Based on the magical children's books written by local author Tom Blofeld, the park is a wonderland of treehouses, enchanted boat rides and intriguing characters, bringing a magical atmosphere to the Norfolk Broads.
The park is friendly to both little and big people with adults being encouraged to join the kids on the treehouses, zip wires and jungle bridges. This means that everyone who comes to play, including the grown-ups, needs a ticket, though admission is free for those under 92cm. There is value for money at BeWILDerwood however, as parking, entry to the park, boat rides, storytelling, crafts and den building is all included in the ticket price. The park is only open on selected dates from February to October and there can be queues for some attractions such as the boats, so it's worth planning ahead and arriving early to make the most of this wild and imaginative day out!
3. Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure
Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure based in Lenwade just outside of Norwich, is undeniably one of the best things to do with kids in Norfolk. With numerous attractions such as Predator! High Ropes, Dippy’s Theatre, animal enclosures, an indoor adventure playground, a deer park and East Anglia’s biggest outdoor waterpark, Dippy’s Splash Zone, your kids are sure to be entertained. Young dinosaur enthusiasts will also love the Dinosaur Trail which houses 110 life-sized dinos.
Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure also released a park app in 2021 to help guests get around and find the best special offers and discounts. Be sure not to miss out on the park’s excellent range of dining options either including Jurassic Snacks, Dinomite Café, The Explorers Restaurant, Dippy’s Snack Shack and Nautilus Fish and Chips. The best prices are usually available online so be sure to book before you go and check for the Gift Cards and Season Pass options.
4. Pettitts Animal Adventure Park
Tucked into the Norfolk Broads near Reedham, Pettitts Animal Adventure Park is a family friendly wildlife park home to domestic and exotic animals, kids' rides, live entertainment and a cafe. The park is an animal-lovers heaven with opportunities to see a number of different species of snakes, ferrets, reptiles and birds of prey, and meet animals from around the world such as wallabies, raccoons, macaws, lemurs and alpacas. Older kids can enjoy the park’s super fun Adventure Rides including the Crazy Caterpillar Rollercoaster and Bouncing Kangaroo Ride, Alice in Wonderland train, Safari Adventure, Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups, and a pirate ship, while tots can venture in to three of the large play areas.
The park is open from late March until late October and there is free parking for your convenience. It’s worth checking online before you go as prices are always cheaper if purchased in advance with discounts also available at certain times.
5. The Norwich Mystery Treasure Trail
This whodunnit self-guided treasure trail is a wonderful activity that starts in the historic Cathedral District and will take you and your kids through the town looking for answers on local landmarks, signs and buildings, all the while edging closer to the answers. If you think you’ve got what it takes to solve the case, then begin by downloading your trail PDF which has an easy-to-follow route and hard to crack clues.
The journey is approximately 1.5 miles long and should take around 1.5 hours to complete, however, you can complete it in your own time and at your own pace, any day of the year. The organisers recommend the trail for kids aged 6+ so this mission would be perfect for a weekend away with the family. Discover Norwich in a novel way and be baffled by the mysteries which are sure to have young and old scratching their heads and smiling from ear to ear!
6. Bure Valley Railway
Riding the Bure Valley Railway has always been one of our favourite things to do in Norfolk. Running from Wroxham to Aylsham, the line runs through some of the county’s prettiest countryside, making stops in the villages of Brampton, Buxton and Coltishall. The line came into existence all the way back in 1864 as part of the East Norfolk Railway Act.
The last passenger train ran in 1952, but it wasn’t until 30 years later that the line was closed after a period of being a freight-only link. In 1986, it reopened as the narrow-gauge miniature railway it is today. Steam locomotives take you from place to place, and we love the view from the bridge of the River Bure, which is of course what the railway takes its widely known name from.
Start planning your Great British break
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Important information
Pre-owned holiday homes from £14,995 – UPDATED 31 JULY 2024 *Holiday home price is based on a pre-owned holiday home and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
Price excludes 2024 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 31 July 2024, price is available at Blue Dolphin, Caister, Cleethorpes Beach, Combe Haven, Craig Tara, Far Grange, Greenacres, Golden Sands, Haggeston, Orchards, Quay West, Skegness and Wild Duck.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
*New holiday homes from £29,995 – UPDATED 29 August 2024
*Holiday home price is based on a new 3-bedroom ABI Horizon holiday home and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
Price excludes 2024 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 29 August 2024, price is available at selected parks Blue Dolphin, Craig Tara, Cleethorpes Beach, Caister, Combe Haven, Far Grange, Greenacres, Golden Sands, Haggerston, Orchards, and Quay West. Price can be withdrawn at any time.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Free 2024 site fees when you buy a Haven holiday home
Offer is applicable to new customer purchases made through Haven from 19 April 2024, completing by 31 December 2024.
Offer excludes part-exchanges or private sales. Available on new & pre-owned holiday homes at the following selected parks only: Kent Coast, Burnham-on-Sea, Cleethorpes Beach, Craig Tara, Far Grange, Golden Sands, Haggerston Castle, Hopton, Orchards, Skegness and Wild Duck.
A credit equivalent to the value of your site fees due during the 2024 season will be applied to your account balance on completion of your purchase for use against your running costs e.g. utilities, after-sale add-ons e.g storage boxes or site fees. It cannot be applied to your purchase or refunded in cash.
Subject to availability and status. Deposit required. Access to your holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Offer cannot be combined with any other offer, discount, or promotion. Offer may be withdrawn or changed at any time without notice. Full site fees will be payable for subsequent years.
Images are shown for representational purposes.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Let2offset - make no site fee payments until 2031
Let2offset is a contractual lettings product that offers eligible owners a guaranteed letting income at a preferential rate (calculated each year) in exchange for a stipulated number of letting breaks. It also allows eligible owners to pay their site fees and receive their letting income in 12 equal monthly instalments; the monthly site fee amount charged by Haven will be after deduction of the letting income.
‘Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031’ is available at 33 Haven parks excluding Burnham, Cardigan View, Far Grange, Garreg Wen, Lydstep Beach, Riviere Sands and Seaview. The letting income received will vary by make, model and location. The monthly site fee payment does not include running costs e.g. utilities, rates & insurance.
“Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031” is applicable to new and existing customer purchases of new Atlas Sahara 3 Bed or equivalent or superior grade holiday home purchases made through Haven where customers have also signed up to Haven’s Let2offset contract. It is not applicable to private sales and cannot be used in conjunction with our free Site Fee promotion. It is available across 40% of eligible Parks and applies when letting a new Atlas Sahara 3 Bed holiday home (or equivalent or superior grade for 15 weeks.
An example of how “Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031” operates under Let2offset is the purchase of an Atlas Sahara 3 Bed holiday home at Primrose Valley with a monthly site fee of £585.00 (includes purchasing discount of £45) and monthly letting income of £803.67. The monthly difference equates to £218.67, which will be credited to the owner's account. Both letting income and site fees are subject to yearly pricing reviews and the monthly site fee costs and letting income shown in the example are based on 2024 figures.
Modelled assumptions on expected annual site fee and letting income charges over the 7-year lettable life of the Atlas Sahara 3 Bed indicate that under Let2offset it is anticipated that these customers will continue to receive a monthly credit during this period, however, this is not guaranteed. The modelled assumptions are based on the historical performance of Haven over the past 5 years of trading.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.