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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Norwich

82 replies

WindowGazers · 04/03/2023 19:14

Name changed for this. I live in Norwich. Have done for a few years. Moved to be near family. For anyone who lives in Norwich, AIBU in thinking there's not much 'fun' stuff to do here with kids that doesn't cost an arm and a leg? Having lived in London, Sheffield, Nottingham and Birmingham throughout my career, I am bored here. Places I loved when I was little like donisaur Park are extortionate now for what they are. Bewilderwood which my son loves costs us £40 which I don't have. Loads of parks and playgrounds which is great but sometimes need to do something a little more exciting. Am I looking in the wrong place? Can anyone suggest anything for a lone mum and a 4yo?

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Original poster
WindowGazers · 04/03/2023 20:00

QuizzlyBears · 04/03/2023 19:56

There’s a good soft play in Rose Lane car park I think - weird place, but it is there! The Slice and Dice cafe is fun - on St Benedict’s, board games and pancakes!

Slice and dice you have to pay an extra £7 to play board games, and that's on top of your food and drink. It's got really good reviews but I wasn't that impressed. Possibly better if it's just adults going though. We tend to go to Williams kitchen soft play which we like but will have a look at rose Lane.

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Starseeed · 04/03/2023 19:57

QuizzlyBears · 04/03/2023 19:56

There’s a good soft play in Rose Lane car park I think - weird place, but it is there! The Slice and Dice cafe is fun - on St Benedict’s, board games and pancakes!

Labyrinth - soft play and laser tag

QuizzlyBears · 04/03/2023 19:56

There’s a good soft play in Rose Lane car park I think - weird place, but it is there! The Slice and Dice cafe is fun - on St Benedict’s, board games and pancakes!

Starseeed · 04/03/2023 19:50

Further afield there’s Felbrigg Hall, Blickling Hall, Sheringham Park - NT membership is £7.60 a month for a single parent plus children.

marchdays · 04/03/2023 19:48

There's an outdoor play at the nest which is quite good and cheap and a cafe there.

www.thenest.org.uk/facilities/challenge-woods/

Whitlingham Broad has an orienteering route

Nice walks and safe place to swim in river with rope swings at marston marshes

Danby woods is a disused quarry so has steep sides which are fun for kids to explore and climb and is next to the marshes

Caister st edmunds and the Roman ruins - there's an app

Bracon ash park

Starseeed · 04/03/2023 19:46

The monkey is definitely still there!

I’m hoping the castle will be good for kids once it reopens properly but agree it’s looking so sorry for itself at the moment. If you pay for the Castle you get a free ticket to the Bridewell at the moment (now branded the Museum of Norwich).

I'm always SO envious of the stuff that's on in holidays as a lone parent who works but understand this is my problem and nobody else's.

me too! Is so annoying not qualifying for the discounts that family tickets get and missing out on lots of stuff in the holidays as working.

I’m the winter months/wet weather we tend to go to

  • children’s library then Marzano for a cuppa
  • Gravity (££)
  • labyrinth (small - quickly exhausted)
  • cinemas (££)
  • soft play - Broadland Brewers Fayre or Salhouse Road Castle Carvery - not the most salubrious but it’s a cheap couple of hours. You don’t have to eat, just get a refillable cuppa.
  • swimming at Riverside - look out for the inflatable stuff in the holidays

When they’re a bit older you can do climbing at Highball.

There’s Funky Monkeys (skating/soft play) too but haven’t been for a long time.

PerpetualStudent · 04/03/2023 19:42

Norwich Puppet Theatre for shows and workshops: puppettheatre.co.uk

Original poster
WindowGazers · 04/03/2023 19:41

Whilst we're here did anyone see that Frank's Bar has closed? Absolutely devastating!

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Original poster
WindowGazers · 04/03/2023 19:41

SqueakyDinosaur · 04/03/2023 19:39

And the toy boating lake and mini golf at Eaton Park. And in the summer paddling in the river at Earlham Park.

The animatronic gorilla in the shoe shop in Royal Arcade seems to have vanished, sadly.

The Puppet Theatre and the Maddermarket both have good kids' shows, and there are regular activities in the Forum.

What! The monkey is gone! That's gutting.

OP posts:
Justanotherlurker · 04/03/2023 19:40

WindowGazers · 04/03/2023 19:23

It's not just me is it? A couple of my friends with kids have said the same about it being really quite a dull city in terms of fun stuff to do with kids. I'm hoping I'm just completely naive as to all the stuff there is to do here that may have passed me by!

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Yeah, I was always dead against it, People forget that traders need access to Dixons.

Original poster
WindowGazers · 04/03/2023 19:40

bellac11 · 04/03/2023 19:39

We did the traffic free one to Aylsham, its lovely, and long, very long!

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Me and my family ran from Norwich to Aylsham in the summer! Would be lovely on a bike (and far less knackering 😅)

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Bunnie007 · 04/03/2023 19:40

Ah I’m sorry you feel like this. My friends and I are always saying how lucky we feel to live in Norwich as it’s so great for kids. We do enjoy lots of outdoor stuff though like beach/woods etc Have you seen the Norwich Mumbler site? Often free stuff on there. What kind of things do you and your son enjoy?

SqueakyDinosaur · 04/03/2023 19:39

And the toy boating lake and mini golf at Eaton Park. And in the summer paddling in the river at Earlham Park.

The animatronic gorilla in the shoe shop in Royal Arcade seems to have vanished, sadly.

The Puppet Theatre and the Maddermarket both have good kids' shows, and there are regular activities in the Forum.

bellac11 · 04/03/2023 19:39

WindowGazers · 04/03/2023 19:32

Yes my son is learning to ride. He goes on the back of mine at the moment.

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We did the traffic free one to Aylsham, its lovely, and long, very long!

Original poster
WindowGazers · 04/03/2023 19:38

WindowGazers · 04/03/2023 19:36

The castle is a bit rubbish atm as the good bits are closed and have been for months but can't wait for it to reopen! We've done strangers Hall (but not bridewell), think it's good for slightly older kids. We don't do zoos as I don't agree with them (but again, that's totally my problem not anyone else's). Googling bridewell museum as we speak.....

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That should say years, not months!

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Original poster
WindowGazers · 04/03/2023 19:36

Chrispackhamspoodle · 04/03/2023 19:32

You have the castle.I think anywhere is expensive to get into now .There is often stuff on at the Forum.I used to love Strangers Hall and the Bridewell Museum when I was a kid. Banham Zoo isnt a long drive away but granted not in Norwich. Loads of great parks.It's a small city so not comparable to say,Sheffield.Then again I'm desperate to move back after leaving in my 20s so I'm biased .

The castle is a bit rubbish atm as the good bits are closed and have been for months but can't wait for it to reopen! We've done strangers Hall (but not bridewell), think it's good for slightly older kids. We don't do zoos as I don't agree with them (but again, that's totally my problem not anyone else's). Googling bridewell museum as we speak.....

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DisneyMillie · 04/03/2023 19:33

You can get a Norfolk museum pass fairly cheaply and there are quite a few museums and they often have event days with kids activities - especially gressenhall.

Wroxham Barns, Pettitts and the smaller zoos like Thrigby and Amazonazoo are also good at that age (although not in Norwich itself)

In the city there’s bowling and indoor crazy golf at riverside and the castle mall.

Christmasbahhumbug · 04/03/2023 19:33

www.sainsburycentre.ac.uk/whats-on/free-family-sundays/

It’s worth looking at Norwich mumbler too for different ideas.

GMOTFW is a great charity that does loads of free or low cost family activities.

I do agree with you though, it can be a bit limited in norwich compared to other cities.

Chrispackhamspoodle · 04/03/2023 19:32

You have the castle.I think anywhere is expensive to get into now .There is often stuff on at the Forum.I used to love Strangers Hall and the Bridewell Museum when I was a kid. Banham Zoo isnt a long drive away but granted not in Norwich. Loads of great parks.It's a small city so not comparable to say,Sheffield.Then again I'm desperate to move back after leaving in my 20s so I'm biased .

Original poster
WindowGazers · 04/03/2023 19:32

bellac11 · 04/03/2023 19:30

Theres good cycling paths isnt there, all round the city?

Yes my son is learning to ride. He goes on the back of mine at the moment.

OP posts:
bellac11 · 04/03/2023 19:30

Theres good cycling paths isnt there, all round the city?

Christmasbahhumbug · 04/03/2023 19:29

The Sainsbury’s centre do free family sunday activities on the first Sunday of the month. They are really good. Tomorrows is an outdoor sculpture trail I think.

Original poster
WindowGazers · 04/03/2023 19:29

Daisy95 · 04/03/2023 19:27

I live in Norwich and I completely agree, the libraries seem to be offering more things on holidays for free but that's about it. Everything as you say costs a fortune, the dinosaur park, bewilderwood, zoos etc. compared to some of our friends who live in other big cities there's definitely not as much free/cheap things to do

I'm always SO envious of the stuff that's on in holidays as a lone parent who works but understand this is my problem and nobody else's. Would be lovely if they continued them through the weekend but usually Monday to Friday.

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Original poster
WindowGazers · 04/03/2023 19:27

Christmasbahhumbug · 04/03/2023 19:26

UEA sports is great. Their drop in gymnastics is just over £4 and then either a snack in the cafe or a visit to the Sainsbury’s centre?

Will have a look! SC is a bit lost on 4yo but I love their exhibitions.

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Daisy95 · 04/03/2023 19:27

I live in Norwich and I completely agree, the libraries seem to be offering more things on holidays for free but that's about it. Everything as you say costs a fortune, the dinosaur park, bewilderwood, zoos etc. compared to some of our friends who live in other big cities there's definitely not as much free/cheap things to do