Wet and Windy Norfolk

[OhWifey]

Having read and saved lots of brilliant recommendations for kids in North Norfolk on a recent thread, I'm dismayed to see the weather forecast for next week. Can anyone suggest good indoor activities? Kids are 5 and 1 but 5 year old best suited to activities for much younger, and can't really manage soft play so that's out. Swimming (Sheringham?) and Sea Life Centre are my ideas so far, as well as cafes including the one with the pottery painting in Cromer. Are there still Children's Centres (SureStart) in North Norfolk? As ours put on things like Messy Play and Music and Movement in the summer. Also leisure centres which have summer activities?

Many thanks

We spent a very wet week in Norfolk a couple of years ago with 3 yo DS. Have you got a National Trust membership? We went to a few different places, looking around houses but also getting out in the garden when it was dry.

Also, got the steam train from Holt to Sheringham as a day trip. You're obviously dry on the train as it's a full steam train. Holt is also nice for a wander, places for lunch/nice cafes.

Holkham hall have a Field to Fork exhibition for little ones. Also just kit them out in cheap wetsuits and go on the beach. Have been up here for the last week, and even if it’s wet, it’s still quite warm. Get kites!
Pennsthorp for bird watching.
Wells next the Sea or Blakeney for crabbing
Morston for seal watching trips

Lots of colouring books / DVDs for chill out time.
Pack an extra clothes dryer to sling wet stuff onto.

Ime, the weather moves through very quickly in Norfolk so the beach is still possible when wind and rain are forecast. I would agree with the train and the sea life centre. I think there is a good place called something like Wroxhan Barns?

Oh yes.
Wells -Walsingham railway. It’s a miniature one.
Langham Glass. I think you can see them blowing the stuff.

Hopefully the forecast will change by then , it’s never that accurate beyond 3 days imo.

Thursford Steam Museum (traction engines, steam dance hall organs that they play , and 2 roundabouts that you can go on, all indoors)

I live in Norfolk and the weather has been pretty good. When it rains it's still warm and the rain doesn't last long. I also suggest holt they have some lovely cafes. Cromer is another good place. Has a pier and arcades. Rock pools too. If you wanted to venture into the city one day there are things such as the trampoline park at riverside or bowling.

Bounce and Rhyme at Sheringham library www.norfolk.gov.uk/libraries-local-history-and-archives/libraries/your-local-library/locations-and-opening-times/sheringham-library
Children’s Tea time Story time at Sheringham Library
The Poppy Line Railway
Cromer carnival

It won't be wet for long, the rain just blows inland. The beach will still be lovely even if it's wet.

Steam train from Sherringham.

Join the NT, it's so worth it.

Wells next the Sea has a lovely second hand book shop further back into the town, near the co-op. It's a converted house (possibly station master's) and has books in the various rooms and lean-tos outside. It's worth an hour to mooch.

Cromer has a cinema, worth seeing if there's any children's films on. Also has a library, museum and small lifeboat museum. Have a look at Cromer sports centre too as they sometimes put things on, there used to be a toddler group in the sports hall but could be term time only.

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g609059-d6413051-Reviews-RNLI_Henry_Blogg_Museum-Cromer_Norfolk_East_Anglia_England.html

If you will still be there on the 23rd sheringhamlittletheatre.com/whats-on/

In Heacham there is a big soft play at Norfolk Lavender, also a rare breeds farm and a cafe. Also shops.
In King's Lynn there's a cinema.

Pottery (and other crafts) in Cromer cafe www.stickyearthcafe.co.uk/#products

Pottery painting Holt www.doodlepotsnorfolk.co.uk/

And should you get really desperate, the Fakenham Museum of Gas
fakenhamgasmuseum.com/

Children's centres are shutting services this month.

You could try the dinosaur park, has an indoor play area

Henry Blogg Lifeboat Museum in Cromer
Lifeboat Museum in Sheringham
Fakenham Market & General Auction on a Thursday...

Iirc there's some barns too..Wroxam Barns?

www.wroxhambarns.co.uk/

I would suggest going into Norwich for the day.

The Millennium Library in Norwich has a big children's area, with a play library etc.

Norwich Castle is good fun too.

Further afield, Gressenhall Museum of Rural Life is good, with some dressing up etc for the children.

The steam train is great fun. The electric boats that sail down the reed beds usually have a roof iirc. The bigger boats that tour the broads do too.