Things to do in Norfolk

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We're going to Norfolk for 2 weeks in August staying at a relatives holiday home in Heacham. We've been there a few times and have done go karting in Cromer, golf and tennis in Hunstanton, bike rides and the beach at Wells but can anyone recommend anything else? we have four boys of 14, 14, 13 and 9. We've had a tough year financially and thankfully are not having to pay for accommodation so would like some recommendations to make this a fun but cheapish holiday...

I did Norfolk a few years ago loved Bewilderwood

Alive Oasis in Hunstanton is an pool with a decent flume.
The Hangar is an indoor climbing centre and bouldering wall with 'turn up and climb' sessions open to the public. www.aliveleisure.co.uk/activities/climbing/
Tilney Sports at Eagles Golf Club just outside of Kings Lynn has a footgolf course where you play with a football and a 'disc golf' course where you play with a frisbee.

Fab! thank you.

Old Hunstanton has a lovely beach and some interesting 'barns' to look around - crafts and arts, called Lestrange Barns.
Brancaster Staithe has a yacht club you can poke around in, and eat some lobster or crab at the same time if the stall is open. You could ask about 'hauling the hole' while you're there if interested (basically helping a fisherman haul in his nets) if you can still do it. Further along is Holkham which has a huge beach with dunes, and then you get to Wells. You can go the other side of the flow out to sea there, but keep an eye out for the tide.

We’ve just come back from a weekend away - Holkham Hall is a great day out. Also, a trip to see the seals at Blakeney is great. Brancaster, Holkham and Wells are great beaches if the weathers OK.

A trip to see the seals from Blakeney!

Bewilderwood is brilliant.

There are loads of things to do in Norwich including the castle. Great shops, restaurants and if you like the theatre, try Maddermarket

You’re very close to Castle Rising, which is ace. It’ll cost about £20 for the lot of you (or free entry if you happen to be English Heretics).

The RSPB reserve at Titchwell has boardwalks so you can get out onto the marshes - I guess birdwatching isn’t necessarily going to every teenage boy’s idea of fun, but there’s a good chance of seeing bloody great big hawks marsh harriers at reasonably close quarters, which they might go for.

Bewilderwood is lovely, but more for younger children, I think even the 10yr old might be pushed to get value for money, and it's quite expensive! Rock pooling at gorleston and Crabbing on Cromer pier is great fun, chips from Mary Janes are a must.

Go crabbing in Wells, great fun for all ages and just a couple of pounds for the bucket and line.

Park Farm in Snettisham is lovely.
Banham Zoo is approx an hour away and a half away and a nice day out.
There's a fantastic pub / restaurant in Heacham too, close to the seafront. Great food, reasonably priced.

As much as bewilderwood is great I think your teens might be a bit old to really enjoy it and it’s not a cheap day out.

Sandringham is great for walks in the wood, lots of open space for a frisbee, football etc plus you can den build etc and all free. Only the house/gardens are charged.

Fakenham has langham glass which you can do your own glass blowing.

Also you can walk from heacham to Hunstanton which is lovely, end up by the arcades for a few games on the 2p falls.

Pensthorpe is our top favourite day out, and only about 30 mins from Heacham!

Oh, and if you do happen to like birds there is an RSPB reserve in Snettisham which is only five minutes or so from Heacham.

...and at Titchwell.

Outdoor lido in Bungay.

Any of the beaches are lovely...my favourite is Sea Palling...lovely beach, great little fish and chip shop, donut shop and toilet facilities. But any of the beaches really...all different...you can google 'Norfolk Beaches' and a list comes up.

Lots to do in Great Yarmouth if you want a more 'seaside town' day out. There's The Nelson Museum there, which is really interesting and a short drive from the museum is the Nelson Monument, which is great if you like history. Kids will love the museum. There's a great little play area outside at the back and free parking at the side.

Enjoy 😊

And obviously The Broads! Definitely rent a boat for a day...it's just a brilliant way to have fun for any age! Need to advance book this though!!

Oh yes, highly recommend hiring a day boat on the Broads. Wroxham is a good starting point. You can take a picnic and the boys can enjoy having a go at steering!
High Lodge at Thetford forest is definitely a good low budget day out. You can even hire a bbq there. Take bikes or hire and they have the Go-ape tree wires too.

Norwich itself is a lovely day out. The castle is really interesting and there is a good museum there too. My dd aged 14 really enjoys going to visit.

Blickling hall - i havent been indide for years but a walk around the estate is nice.
Ranworth church - up the tower and a boat tour on the nature reserve.
Rent a day boat for a day on the broads.
Walk from Sheringham to (can't remember, but done it several times) along the cliff tops anD get the steam train back.
Norwich castle.
Body board surfing seems to be popular at cromer now, the boys could do a course.

Norwich is a nice amble. Good shops especially the TV movie store. Teen boys would love that.

...remembered Sheringham to Weybourne for the steam train. Weybourne has the mucklebury military museum as well (tanks and things).

Gressenhall farm museum is nice.

Shire horse sanctuary near west runton, I second a ride on the poppy line or walk to weybourne station through sheringham park. The park has a look out you can climb for a great view of steam trains going past with the sea in the distance.

Fish and chips on the harbour side at wells is a must.