North Norfolk in the rain?

[frazzledmumoftwo]

Off for a week at a small cottage in North Norfolk on Friday. Forecast is (yes, you've guessed it) rain ........

Any ideas on things to do in wet weather? I am slightly dreading it.

[bronze]

It's supposed to start getting better Saturday onwards
Pack wet weather stuff and just go out, go see the seals, they love the rain.

[frazzledmumoftwo]

To add, before I sound like a complete wimp, we have lots of ideas usually for what to do in wet weather, but the cottage is absolutely tiny - gets very claustraphobic after much more than half a day indoors.

All my usual North Norfolk options with the kids (DS 5, DD 3) involve beaches or sailing or the coast. We can normally cope with a wet day or two. But a week of solid rain is going to be pretty tough.

[caramel1]

What about soft play areas?

Take some waterproofs and still go to the beach?

Puddle jumping?

Arts and crafts?

Puzzles?

Books?

Shop dodging?

Train rides?

[GobblersKnob]

Where abouts exactly?

Am an expert on both NN and after the last three years NN in the rain

[sweatyscamp]

Whereabouts? We went in the half term holiday and apart from the miserable hovel place we stayed in, we actually did ok. Lots of walking along the marshes, nice local pub, managed to get to the sea - even though it was nasty weather still nice to walk along the beach. We also bought a monopoly set in a charity shop whichdrove us bonkers the kids loved

[frazzledmumoftwo]

Thanks for replies everyone.

Gobblers & Sweaty, we will be in Burnham Market. We normally spend a lot of time down at Burnham Overy Staithe and Holkham, plus the kids like the two railways at Wells (one to the beach, and one to Walsingham).

I have done a search for soft play, so will take some details of that. A friend also suggested the steam engine place at Fakenham, which I think I remember from years back when I was a kid.

Also for 1-2 days I won't have a car (DH has to drive back to London for a meeting). We were going to try the Coast Hopper bus to somewhere that day, possibly Hunstanton, as seemed to have a good waterworld pool and soft play, if the beach is too wet. Have you tried the Coast Hopper with kids? We haven't before, and I'm a bit uncertain what happens re seatbelts (ie are there any at all? or just lap belts), but will try to give it a go.

[caramel1]

What about Thursford?

[juneau]

There's a soft play in Fakenham.

The 'steam' place is Thursford collection right? It's not in Fakenham - Thursford is on the road to Holt.

Norwich Castle Museum
SeaLife Centre, Hunstanton
Dinosaur Adventure in Lenwade has a play centre as well as outdoor stuff, so good for a mixed forecast day.

[WyrdMother]

It's about 10 miles from you but Sheringham has a Steam Railway that goes to Holt and back also a theatre and some good pubs for eating in. We can also reccomend Gressenhall Rural Life Museam, Felbrigg Hall and Hunstanton Sea Life Centre.

I personally like Cromer, it has a pier, amusements and an end of the pier theatre.

[juneau]

Anyway, the forecast's not that bad:

uk.weather.com/weather/10day-Fakenham-UKXX1390

[DontEatTheVolesKids]

Eco Centre at Swaffham.
Castle Acreis fun even in the rain.
Sea Life Centre in Hunstanton is good in rain (rest of town not bad, either).
Is there not still soft play at Wells?
Splash in Sheringham, if not too far.
Greshams nr Dereham, apparently good in the rain, too.

[bronze]

The coast hopper is just a normal bus

[bronze]

Oh. I forgot its holt festival starting Sunday

[MDM]

We're also going to be in the area around the same time, so happy to swap tips at the end of any successful days out in the rain (or equally importantly, any disasters/places to avoid!).

[MDM]

PS I've also read that the forecast is set to improve as the gulf stream finally move northwards (usually happens much earlier in the year).

[MDM]

I can also vouch for Cromer (we went last year) for a wholesome family day out.

[MDM]

Bronze - what is holt festival?

[bronze]

here

I'm annoyed to be missing it but won't miss the gormless tourists and people parking over our drive
There is stuff aimed at kids, story telling, clowns, covent garden performers etc but a lot is starting to sell out

[defineme]

Can I just say that we found the pool in Hunstanton pretty grim and no better than our local leisure pool.
Much prefer the beach in the rain!
National Trust card-Blicking Hall was nice -kids liked it inside and out.

[tkband3]

Pool in Sheringham is quite nice - wave machine every half hour or so. When it's busy they operate a band system so you never have to wait long. Sheringham itself was a bit disappointing. Holt is lovely, but the station for the steam engine to Sheringham is quite a way out.

Houghton Hall was great - lovely walled gardens (even in the rain!). Sandringham also good.

[DontEatTheVolesKids]

Holt is too posh to have a Carnival or Fun Day like rest of NN

[bronze]

Nah it's cos we is down wit the kids innit

[MDM]

Sun, sun, sun!