Fabulous Attractions

Norfolk has lots of family-friendly visitor attractions, many of which are open most of the year. Here’s just a selection…

Bewilderwood

Run wild in this award-winning outdoor adventure park in the Broads National Park. Enjoy treehouses, wobbly wires, slippery slopes, storytelling, boat rides, marsh walks and meet the Crocklebogs, Twiggles and Boggles. There’s lots of special events to look out for too.

> norfolk.bewilderwood.co.uk

Pensthorpe Natural Park

Part conservation trust, part visitor attraction, Pensthorpe does an exceptional job of encouraging people to look after the environment and our wildlife… while everyone is also having a lot of fun! Explore the wild side of nature in this stunning 700 acre nature reserve located within the Wensum Valley, just 11 miles inland from the Norfolk coast. There’s epic indoor adventure at Hootz House and at Wildrootz ecoplay area children with energy to burn can push themselves physically whilst boosting confidence and having fun scaling 30ft towers, swinging from zip wires, venturing into underground tunnels and flying down twisty slides.

> pensthorpe.com

Holkham Hall And Estate

With a stunning location on the north Norfolk coast and at the heart of a thriving 25,000-acre estate, 18th century Palladian Holkham Hall is an exceptional place to explore. Discover the ‘Holkham Stories Experience’, the walks and cycle trails, hit the high ropes course, take a boat on the lake, or a wander around the refurbished Walled Garden. The estate also hosts events throughout the year, including outdoor cinema and theatre.

> holkham.co.uk

Go Ape

Unleash your inner Tarzan by taking to the trees at High Lodge, Thetford Forest. Explore the forest canopy 40ft from the floor on wobbly crossings, giant swings and zip wires. While you’re here, tear up the trails on an all-terrain electric Segway, try your arm at archery, enjoy the adventure playgrounds and much more.

> goape.co.uk

Discover an amazing underwater world on Great Yarmouth’s Golden Mile including the Rockpool Explorer Experience and meet the Humboldt Penguins, blacktip reef sharks, Clownfish, and turtles.

> visitsealife.com/ great-yarmouth

Pleasure Beach

Huge fun for all the family, from white knuckle rides to traditional attractions, including dodgems, fun factory and freefall. Don’t miss the wooden rollercoaster, the last one in the UK that needs a brakeman because there are no brakes on the track. Eek!

> pleasure-beach.co.uk

ROARR!

Major investments over the past few years, not least indoor Dinomite and Dippy’s Theatre, make Roarr! the top adventure park in the region. Head out on the Dinosaur Trail, hit the heights on the Predator High Ropes, play Jurassic Putt Crazy Golf, or zip around Dippy’s Raceway after a frolic in Dippy’s Splash Zone. There’s lots of hot and cold food options and indoor and outdoor picnic areas.

> roarrdinosauradventure.co.uk

Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens

Explore the park near Great Yarmouth using the unique network of walkways. Follow the bridges across the lake, climb the Jubilee Tree walk to get magnificent views of the park, and venture onto the Tiger Machan Viewing Platform. Walk through the tree tops with the Gibbons and over the Leopard Enclosures. Animals to be enthralled by are Sumatran Tigers, Red Pandas, Meerkats, Snow Leopards, Otters, Alligators and Crocodiles.

> thrigbyhall.com

Bugz Uk

The largest all invertebrate zoo in the UK, Bugz UK is absolutely unique… especially if you like creepy crawlies! The venue has hundreds of tropical insects, millipedes, spiders and tarantulas… and there are handling sessions every hour. New in 2023 are a huge jumping pillow, a covered sandpit and extra picnic benches.

> bugzuk.com

Redwings

Lovable donkey duo Wiggins and Wacko, real-life Black Beauty Maya and resident troublemakers, the Gangsters, are just some of the 50 rescued residents to discover at Redwings Aylsham, while Caldecott, a Visit England Quality Assured Visitor Attraction, is a must-see for all donkey and mule lovers with a herd of over 30 of the adorable, long-eared creatures!

> redwings.org.uk

Amazona Zoo

This zoo in Cromer is absolutely Braziliant! Meet the 200 animals who call Amazona home, get up close and personal with Brazilian wild animals or visit the education yurt to learn more about the wildlife and ecology of South America. Under 12s will love Jumble Tumbles soft play adventure and youngsters will enjoy Rainforest Springs play area.

> amazonazoo.co.uk

Wroxham Miniature World

The largest indoor modelling attraction in the UK stretching over 10,000 square feet with some of the largest model railways in the world on display. See model railways in various scales, slot car displays and a whole city made from over 130,000 Lego bricks! With model boat displays and toys from across the decades there is something for the whole family.

> wroxhamminiatureworlds.co.uk

Wroxham Barns

There’s great shopping and eating here, but there’s also lots of family fun. Explore the Junior Farm and Fun Park, romp around in the soft play area, and get lost in the Maize Maze. There’s heaps of cute animals to meet including sheep, pigs, rabbits, alpacas, guinea pigs and goats. And pony grooming too!

> wroxhambarns.co.uk

CHURCH FARM, STOW BARDOLPH

Meet the friendly farm animals and learn more about them from the experienced livestock staff, whilst getting to pet some of them. The animals, not the staff. The adventure playground is a must for all younger visitors, with trampolines, climbing frames, a great pedal tractor trail and the enormous undercover sand pit and straw barn, where children can jump and play in the straw bales.

> churchfarmstowbardolph.co.uk

HIRSTY’S FAMILY FUN PARK

The entire family will enjoy this fun park – explore all the fun of the farm, in Hemsby. Perfect for youngsters with lots of energy, Hirsty’s has acres of space to discover. Feeling peckish? Pop over to Hirst’s Farm Shop and Café, the family-run farm, offering fresh, locally sourced produce from the fields and network of local farmers, fishmongers and artisan suppliers.

> hirstysfamilyfunpark.co.uk

Banham Zoological Gardens

A conservation hub for endangered species of animals from around the world, Banham aims to spark a lifelong interest in protecting the rich diversity of our natural world through conservation and education. Set in 50 acres of Norfolk parkland and run by the Zoological Society of East Anglia, you can learn about incredible animals including the Amur Tiger, Red Panda, Grevy’s Zebra and the giraffe.

> zsea.org/banham

When you’re at the seaside there’s nothing more magical than exploring the depths of a coastal rock pool or trying to lure an unsuspecting crab onto the end of your line. But you’ve got to do it properly and, above all, you’ve got to respect and protect the wildlife you come across.