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Original poster

Bugparc Norwich- anyone been?

30 replies

Stressedgiraffe · 29/09/2024 10:29

I'm thinking of taking dc2 ( who is obsessed with bugs)
As its about 4 hrs from us we'll need to stay over.
Has anyone been? Is there enough to do for a day?
Thanks

OP posts:
DAndreBarksdale · 29/09/2024 10:35

I've never heard of it but it being on Nowhere Lane made me laugh- such a Norwich name.
Even if it lasts half a day, Norwich is lovely.

Original poster
Stressedgiraffe · 29/09/2024 10:39

I'm hoping it be worth it. Otherwise it's going to be an expensive trip. Train £75, hotel £100 tickets £25 and taxi £40.
They have a bug handling experience so that should be good.

OP posts:
Forgottenmyphone · 29/09/2024 10:47

We took my nephew (4) and combined it with a trip to Roar! which is really close by. If my nephew had been younger, I don’t think he would have got as much out of it, and we wouldn’t have been there as long because he wouldn’t have been able to do as much. For example, at age 2 he wouldn’t have been able to do the dipping ponds or the pedal go-karts!

Original poster
Stressedgiraffe · 29/09/2024 10:50

Dc is 15. Will that be too old?
I'm hoping that if we go during school times it'll be quiet. Dc has autism and will panic and meltdown if there are too many people.

OP posts:
Nannyoggapple · 29/09/2024 10:51

DAndreBarksdale · 29/09/2024 10:35

I've never heard of it but it being on Nowhere Lane made me laugh- such a Norwich name.
Even if it lasts half a day, Norwich is lovely.

I mean, Norwich isn't that nice.

Its very small , boring and it takes ages to get there from anywhere else.

Pigeonqueen · 29/09/2024 10:54

Norwich is lovely but it’s not really “in” Norwich. It’s quite a way out. I think you’re going to struggle having enough to keep you busy for more than an hour or so, it really isn’t that big. ROAR is close ish to combine it with that but it depends whether you think that would appeal to your Ds. (My Ds is 13 and has autism too, he isn’t a fan of Roar as he feels a bit old for it now, but that may not be the case for your son of course).

Pigeonqueen · 29/09/2024 10:56

If you are driving and fancy a trip somewhere else with lots of bugs / reptiles etc Swallow Aquatics at East Harling is worth a trip. It’s actually a shop rather than a tourist thing but it’s well known locally as a sort of mini zoo - you can spend a good hour wandering round. We prefer that to the bug park!

Nannyoggapple · 29/09/2024 10:56

Pigeonqueen · 29/09/2024 10:54

Norwich is lovely but it’s not really “in” Norwich. It’s quite a way out. I think you’re going to struggle having enough to keep you busy for more than an hour or so, it really isn’t that big. ROAR is close ish to combine it with that but it depends whether you think that would appeal to your Ds. (My Ds is 13 and has autism too, he isn’t a fan of Roar as he feels a bit old for it now, but that may not be the case for your son of course).

Can I ask what do you think about Norwich is lovely?

I had to go a couple of times there to visit relatives, and. I thought that it was a very boring city,

Small, boring, and not much to do.

The market is the focal point. And a market is not very interesting! It had a lot fish and chip stalls

Nannyoggapple · 29/09/2024 10:57

Stressedgiraffe · 29/09/2024 10:39

I'm hoping it be worth it. Otherwise it's going to be an expensive trip. Train £75, hotel £100 tickets £25 and taxi £40.
They have a bug handling experience so that should be good.

Is there not a place with bugs nearer to you?

I was sure I saw a tourist information leaflet about one somewhere else in England. I can't remember exactly where, but a quick Google would find it.

Pigeonqueen · 29/09/2024 10:57

Nannyoggapple · 29/09/2024 10:56

Can I ask what do you think about Norwich is lovely?

I had to go a couple of times there to visit relatives, and. I thought that it was a very boring city,

Small, boring, and not much to do.

The market is the focal point. And a market is not very interesting! It had a lot fish and chip stalls

Show quote history

The castle, the cathedral, Eaton park, the art gallery at the UEA, the shopping centres, Riverside with lots of restaurants and a trampoline park and indoor mini golf if your dc like that sort of thing, and then all the countryside around the edges - what’s not to like! I’ve lived here for 15 years having moved here from London and love it.

We never really even go into the market! There’s so much more to Norwich and Norfolk as a whole than the market!

lljkk · 29/09/2024 10:58

At 15 I imagine OP's son would love Bewilderwood, presuming he can enjoy risk taking.

In terms of Norwich being boring or not, I guess it depends what you like to do.
I enjoy Norwich a lot but I live here so it's safe, easy to live in, closeby & I'm not playing tourist.

Original poster
Stressedgiraffe · 29/09/2024 10:59

I thought as much. Well I guess we can look at the bugs really slowly. There's a cafe and bug handling.
I don't think they'd like roar too loud

OP posts:
TurtlesDoNotPetsMake · 29/09/2024 11:01

Agree, it's definitely outside norwich but we went this summer and DD11 and DS14 loved every minute. Absolutely worth it if bugs are already a firm favourite. My only complaint was they didn't have any fridge magnets in the gift shop.

Nannyoggapple · 29/09/2024 11:01

Pigeonqueen · 29/09/2024 10:57

The castle, the cathedral, Eaton park, the art gallery at the UEA, the shopping centres, Riverside with lots of restaurants and a trampoline park and indoor mini golf if your dc like that sort of thing, and then all the countryside around the edges - what’s not to like! I’ve lived here for 15 years having moved here from London and love it.

We never really even go into the market! There’s so much more to Norwich and Norfolk as a whole than the market!

Edited
Show quote history

Well I'm glad you enjoy it!

Different places definitely suit different people.

What I don't like about norwich is its very isolated, its not near any major airport and it takes ages to get to and from Norwich, from any other big city.

My mother was made to live in Norwich for a while by my Dad, and she told me she absolutely hated it aswell, and insisted on them moving out of there!

But I'm glad it suits you

Original poster
Stressedgiraffe · 29/09/2024 11:02

They found the BugParc and now nowhere else will do. They've memorised all the bugs there and know everything about them. Hopefully the staff will tolerate a bazillion questions!

OP posts:
Nannyoggapple · 29/09/2024 11:03

Stressedgiraffe · 29/09/2024 11:02

They found the BugParc and now nowhere else will do. They've memorised all the bugs there and know everything about them. Hopefully the staff will tolerate a bazillion questions!

Awww that's sweet. Well then he will love it

NameChange30 · 29/09/2024 11:08

It is so close to ROARR that I think it might be worth going there as well, it's actually just a really nice place and not too busy or loud there. Especially if going during school time. They have animals there too.

Pigeonqueen · 29/09/2024 11:09

Nannyoggapple · 29/09/2024 11:01

Well I'm glad you enjoy it!

Different places definitely suit different people.

What I don't like about norwich is its very isolated, its not near any major airport and it takes ages to get to and from Norwich, from any other big city.

My mother was made to live in Norwich for a while by my Dad, and she told me she absolutely hated it aswell, and insisted on them moving out of there!

But I'm glad it suits you

Show quote history

Yep, different things, different people.

There’s Norwich airport and you can get to Gatwick or Heathrow on the train fairly easily or you can drive if you have to. But we don’t use airports that often so it isn’t an issue for us really! Maybe once a year?!

Yes it is quite rural but that’s got positives as well as negatives - a low crime rate (on the whole, especially in the neighbouring towns and villages), lots of nature and lovely country walks (we love birds and other wildlife!) and some beautiful beaches. If you’re someone who loves London and living in a huge city then yes you might struggle with it as it’s a completely different world altogether but it’s nice, just different.

Pigeonqueen · 29/09/2024 11:10

Stressedgiraffe · 29/09/2024 11:02

They found the BugParc and now nowhere else will do. They've memorised all the bugs there and know everything about them. Hopefully the staff will tolerate a bazillion questions!

That’s so lovely 😁 I hope you have a fab time.

NameChange30 · 29/09/2024 11:21

NameChange30 · 29/09/2024 11:08

It is so close to ROARR that I think it might be worth going there as well, it's actually just a really nice place and not too busy or loud there. Especially if going during school time. They have animals there too.

roarr.co.uk/secret-animal-garden/

DAndreBarksdale · 29/09/2024 11:32

I'm sorry I've derailed OPs thread by saying Norwich is lovely. I've always enjoyed visiting.
They've recently pumped quite a bit of Monday into Roar! And I think that's a great day out!
If your DC is so excited about it, OP, go for it!

OUB1974 · 29/09/2024 16:47

We went last year and loved it... it's fairly new and part of it hadn't opened, but we really enjoyed it anyway. I'm not sure if the bits they were still doing up are finished now. Our favourite bit was the leafcutter ants, it was so incredible to watch them, completely took us by surprise. It seemed very much a place set up by someone who loved insects and other small creatures, so very quirky. I'd definitely go back.

NameChange30 · 29/09/2024 16:56

DAndreBarksdale · 29/09/2024 11:32

I'm sorry I've derailed OPs thread by saying Norwich is lovely. I've always enjoyed visiting.
They've recently pumped quite a bit of Monday into Roar! And I think that's a great day out!
If your DC is so excited about it, OP, go for it!

No need to apologise at all, FWIW I think Nannyoggapple derailed the thread by arguing with you and other people saying Norwich is lovely, completely pointlessly too as OP is not even going to Norwich itself, they're going to the bug place outside Norwich! 🙄

hoarahloux · 29/09/2024 17:49

I love the bug parc, it is small though, a couple of hours not a full day thing. But if your kid loves bugs he'll be in for a treat. If you see the owner Martin (he's there almost every day) stop him for a chat, he's lovely and he will absolutely talk your ear off and answer a million questions. He gave us a talk on some of the bugs last time :)

The handling experience was really good too.

And Norwich is lovely.

hoarahloux · 29/09/2024 17:51

Btw they are closed monday and tuesday outside of school holidays, in case that affects your planning.