Norwich

I live in Costessey, OP, and have a 5 year old son. If you're ever stuck for things do, I'll happily meet you sometime somewhere like Eaton Park. Or we could do a cheap lunch in Sainsbury's cafe near me.

I agree there is a lot that is great here but so expensive. We used to go to the Dinosaur Park a lot more when we had a membership but at £100 per trip now, we just can't afford to go.

I loved taking my eldest daughter to gymnastics at UEA Sportspark a few years ago too, but again, we had a membership which meant it was more affordable.

I will rack my brains and see if I can think of anything child friendly, cheap and cheerful 😊

Oh FFS I've managed to revive an old thread as MN insist on having the 'related threads' section where the keyboard is

Quite agree, I'm just outside Norwich. Just been away on holiday to Yorkshire and was amazed by the amount of stuff to do in comparison. We love the beaches and Thetford Forest etc but after tens of trips it's all much the same!

😂

Sports clubs are quite well represented in Norwich,
Norwich Rugby club is near Catton
Gymnastics, climbing, swimming, athletics at UEA
Skiing, snowboarding and tubing as well as watersports at Whittingham in Trowse area.
Drama at the Theatre royal
I believe there's a circus club in the city too along with various theatre, dance and football teams

Norwich has so much to see and do, I can’t understand how you can be bored?

Attractions are always expensive, I agree, but they are so many things to do.

Personally, I love Yarmouth, so much going on, fabulous beach, the circus at The Hippodrome is great, world class IMHO, St George’s Theatre, mini golf, museums, fair rides, model village, newly built swimming pool gym, climbing wall on the seafront, Venetian waterways, fabulous architecture and many blue plaques, the minister at Yarmouth has wonderful history, inc body snatching, connections to the fishing industry etc, my DS’ were very interested when we visited.

Hmmm compared with Cambridge there is a lot to do in Norwich. We have a lot of green space, but not a lot else apart from museums

OP, what exactly is it that you think bigger cities offer for children that Norwich doesn't?

Is it ideas you are looking for to do free/very cheap things?

You can get very imaginative with children.
You can take a picnic and do an outdoor bingo style adventure where they have to tick off things such as a flying plane, telephone box, dog, red car etc etc

You could also start some low cost/free group activities if you feel there is a gap there.

It's Alan Partridge references @Xrays

I’d just like to fly a helicopter all around Norfolk. You know, swoop down over a field. Scare a donkey so that it falls into a river. Hover over one of those annoying families that go on holidays on bikes. And shout at them “get out of the area!” and watch them panic!

maybe you could try that too?

Do you think they'd help chickens? If there were 20ft high chickens, and these chickens are scared because they don't know why they're so big, and they're going, "Oh why am I so massive?" and they're looking down at all the little chickens and they think they're in an aeroplane because all the other chickens are so small.

Yes, I'm really sad about this 😞

I’m not being goady, unlike you. I’m genuinely failing to see the issue with the owl sanctuary, who rescue and rehabilitate birds. If someone local finds an injured bird they will come out and rescue that bird. If I’ve made some huge error or I’m misunderstanding the work they do I would appreciate someone actually explaining this to me. Rather than just responding like a child.

Ok can you actually explain what the issue is? I’m confused.

For cheap crazy golf you definitely need to hit Yarmouth. There’s a good cheap indoor one and several outdoor ones.
Mousehold Heath for walks etc
Norfolk and norwich festival is coming up, the first weekend in chapel field gardens in particular always has lots of free things for kids.
The science festival has just happened which had lots of free things for kids
This month there’s a literacy themed food trail around the county
Paddle board hire is cheap in the city in the summer and you can easily stick a kid on the front of you board.
Whitlingham is great
Some of the Broads have free visitors centres etc. For example ranworth
We have amazing beaches round here - lots of chances for walks/ swims/ crabbing etc
Theres a free splashpark at Waterloo Park in the summer
Norfolk wildlife trust/ wildlife watch do some cheap kids events
The theatres do kids events
The sainsburys centre has some free/ cheap kids activities

Theres loads here. Really recommend joining relevant Facebook groups/ following norwich based instagram pages. It sounds like maybe you’re just missing the good stuff.

I’m really enjoying all the owl sanctuary references. Cracking.

I'd rather go to Silverstone and shake Jackie Stewart's hand.

Back of the net @Justanotherlurker

This is the owl sanctuary’s website -

www.owl-help.org.uk/about-us

What has that got to do with my post? 🤷‍♀️

If you tried to hang a hawk, they could always hover so the rope went slack. So, I suppose if you were going to execute a bird of prey the most human way would be death by firing squad.

What on earth are you talking about?!

Suffolk owl Sanctuary in Stonham is an amazing place. Certainly not death row! 🙄🙄 They rescue and rehabilitate birds and those that they can’t rehabilitate they provide a good home for. It’s a lovely place to visit and the staff do as much as they can to make the lives of the birds as enriched as possible. And no I don’t work for him - my son (who has autism) is obsessed with owls and it’s one of the places we regularly visit. It’s very cheap and a lovely afternoon or morning out.

We could go shopping?