Places to go/to stay in Norfolk/Norwich

[stressed2007]

We are thinking of trying to go next week to Dinosaur Adventure in Lenwade, Norfolk and maybe staying overnight and going somewhere else the next day (anywhere en route between there and North London really).

Lenwade is the following distances from these places:

Fakenham - 20 minutes
Norwich - 25 minutes
Cromer - 40 minutes
Great Yarmouth - 50 minutes

Can anyone please suggest:

1. somewhere nice we might stay for one night with 2 small children (if it had a pool even better though not a necessity).

1. somewhere else to visit with the kids on day 2?

Many thanks

Norwich castle museum, strangers hall and brideways alley museums in Norwich are all fab.

Muckleburgh tank museum between on the coast road near sheringham also good day out.

Pleasurewood hills at lowestoft is a theme park.

Bewilderwood outside adventure thingy nr Norwich, never been but has good reports.

Will think of more.....

Can't help with places to stsy I'm afraid (PIL live in Norwich)

But our kids adore bewilderwood which is a great day out if distance is ok for you

Or if your children are a little older try Go Ape

The dinosaur park is my dc's favourite place in the world. You'll have a fab time! Make sure you get there early because there is loads to do.

I'm not sure where you'd stay, but there are loads of hotels in Norwich.

What do do on the second day...there's not much in Fakenham, just a small market town. Cromer is quite difficult to get to from Lenwade, although if you're staying in Norwich not too far. Sheringham, the next seaside-y place along is, I think, nicer than Cromer, and although there's no pier, there is a really nice old fashioned train station with steam trains that go to Holt (The Poppy Line)., also loads of nice little shops and a good beach.

There's also the Broads in striking distance. Depends what you want to do b ut Wroxham isn't too far from Norwich and you can hire a small boat and have a pootle around.

Great Yarmouth is a big seaside resort with everything you expect from one. Not good, or bad, just not to everyone's taste.

Hope that helps, and no, I don't work for the Norfolk tourist board!!!

Bewilderwood is just outside Wroxham and although it is very good, it does get very very busy in peak times so you can't go on all the climbing frames.

I was just thinking that bobblehat, We're heading back to Norwich this weekend and will be giving it a wide birth for that reason.

Much better out of season when you'll have the run of the place

Thanks very much for all this feedback.

Children only 3 1/2 and 2. Does this make any difference to the recommendations?

Deffo wouldn't bother with bewilderwood then. Take them to the seaside for chips and ice cream - yum!

that would amuse my kids for about 60 mins - I want something for them to actually "do" - the dinsoaur park looks great, lots of activities, so just looking for something similar really.

Why don't you take them to the seaside? Sheringham has a lovely beach, good fish & chips amusement arcades, a fab leisure pool and a market twice a week.

They are not allowed on arcades(!), they hate chips and a market wont appeal. It would be fine if it was just us but I don't think it would appeal to a 3 year old.

Has anyone been to Banham zoo or Africa Alive which seem to be owned by the same people as the Dinosaur Park? Thanks v much

Ummm, in Sheringham they have toddler steps for the machines and actively encourage families in... even though they have a big sign saying 'over 18 only'

Dinosaur park is better than Bewilderwood if your dcs are under 4- only went for the first time the other week with 4 yr old ds and it was great, really good climbing equipment and swings. He loves Bewilderwood too but it's expensive and there is variety at the dinosaur park.
Castle museum Norwich v v good esp. if rainy. Cinema across road too in castle mall. Then have pizza at Pizza Express in forum.
Beautiful coast all around for fish and chips and sandcastles. Holkham fantastic for just wild expanses of sand and dunes, though not a lot else
Sea life centre at Gt Yarmouth (I hate Gt Yarmouth but it is a kids paradise in many ways- all nightmarish ways though!)
Easter Eggspress on the steam railway starting at Aylsham, could then hire boat at Wroxham as suggested, and catch train back maybe. Go to Blickling Hall in Aylsham before catching the train even.
Horse rescue place is quite good nr Cromer- shire horse centre - and you can take in the Splash centre swimming pool on the same day (it's a bit grotty though, but kids we took from school never noticed that and always had a whale of a time- there's a slide, wave machine etc)
Banham zoo if you like zoos?

Southwold/Walberswick not really on your way back but definitely by a mile the best seaside experience with young kids

Banham zoo is fine- took ds when he was nearly 3 and his cousin 18 months and they had a lovely day. Animals seem reasonably cared for, there are lions and tigers as well as lots of cuddly things, a little train etc.

Oh yes, the 'hillside animal sanctuary' at West Runton- used to be the 'shire horse centre'. It's lovely and has (as well as lots of animals) a cafe, ride on tractors/diggers (toddler size), space hoppers, a playground. You can spend quite a lot of time there too.

this is a fun place

Redwings horse sanctuary is free and worth a look and easy to get to from Norwich, it's at fritton where there is fritton lakes country park too.

We love Thrigby we have just gone there again and DS loved it (he is 2). The beaches in Norfolk are fab and worth a visit. We went to Caister, Winterton and Sea Palling. If the weather is good its fun for a little while.

Trip on the broads didn't appeal to 2 year old though it is lovely to see.

If you are pepared to go up to the N Norfolk coast fo the second day you may be able to go on a ferry trip to see the seals on Blakeney point - google Bishop's Boats or Temple's boats seal trips f times and booking (the timetable is subject to tides.

Wells Next the sea would be a good seaside place to visit with small children - follow the beach road to the beach car park, lovely beach, pinewoods right behind with fab trees and fallen trees for climbing, trampolines by the beach car park, and then back to the Quay in the little town for fish and chips from French's chip shop (NOT the other one!) and hot donuts. There is a little train that runs alongside the road from town to halfway to beach, but not sure what time of year it starts.

Steam Train from Sheringham Station to Holt and back?

V close to the Dinosaur Park is the ROOTS museum at Gressenhall - google to see if it is open.

There is an Amazonian zoo just outside Cromer.

It's a long drive from London because the roads get progressively smaller one you leave the M11. And there will be caravans. And farm vehicles.

good link for accommodation on N Norfolk coast

Pensthorpe is where springwatch is flmed for the bbc so that may be fun on a nice day in an outdoorsy way?

Always forget about the completely brilliant Inspire Science Centre in Norwich. It's in an old church and looks unprepossessing but ds has always loved going there,since he was about 2. It's really engaging with loads of little experiments to do, lots of space to runb about, very physical and hands on.

Oh, I see chips are a no-no!
Plenty of nice delis in Wells.

N Norfolk is not really a place with big 'attractions' - more outdoorsy, and a smattering of smaller attractions.

Take a kite to Wells beach, it is a most fantastic beach. Dunes, huts, pine trees, easy access to toilets - I wouldn't necessarily take smaller kids to Holkham beach unless v sunny.

Petitts animal park used to be lovely for smaller children.

Def agree with thrigby.

Not sure if I'd do pleasurewood hills, it's a bit sparce now and not sure there enough to jsutify the price for little ones.

Fritton Lake is beautiful.

If they don't liek chips, try them on a tub of cockles from Yarmouth Market with salt and vinegar!

I live about 50min. drive NE of Dino Park.

Banham zoo is good for little ones and the most en-route for you coming from London. But if it's supposed to be a relaxing holiday break, most the other 2nd day suggestions are just a bit too far to drive with such LOs, imho.

Pettits & Africa Alive are both good, and the most en-route, but still probably too much out of your way. Pettits would be the better of the two for those ages, I would have thought, if you're still keen.

I would end up taking them to Ely, tbh. Or Cambridge. Plenty of old buildings to run wander around and look at, boats to watch on the river, very nice cafes including some with big gardens.