Looking for some great things to do? Well, this list is a good place to start! There’s a huge range of attractions in Norwich and Norfolk to suit all tastes and pockets. Many include special activities during school holidays so be sure to take a look at their websites for further information.
Norwich Castle
Part museum, part art gallery, completely – a wonderful place to visit. Norwich Castle is over 900 years old and bursting with treasures, including archaeology and natural history to inspire and intrigue visitors of all ages.
The medieval Keep is currently closed and is due to re-open in 2024 making the castle accessible for the first time from dungeon to battlements.
Norwich Castle is full of fun for all ages!
Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral is FREE to visit (donations accepted) and it also offers free 1-hour tours too, which is something we highly recommend to get the best out of any visit! With the largest monastic cloister and second tallest spire in the country, all set in 44 acres of grounds, there’s a lot to see and do. It’s Norwich’s top attraction – not just because of its height!
City Escape Games
Liking the idea of a challenge for your brain, but not so keen on being indoors? City Escape Games offers the perfect solution. Book a self-guided city adventure and solve cryptic puzzles across Norwich’s top sights. From only £24.99.
Mulligans
Mulligans is the ‘par’-fect daytime activity or an epic night out for friends and family! With a mind-blowing crazy golf experience like no other – think larger than life games, abandoned fairgrounds, a sneaky jailbreak, tv shows, freaky movies and so much more! It’ll be 18-holes of utter madness! Crazy golf prices, Adults £10.00, children £7.75
The Museum of Norwich at The Bridewell
The Museum of Norwich tells the story of Norwich and its people in imaginative ways through film, interactive displays, interpretations and original scenes, take 2 to 3 hours to explore. This is a bijou museum with a lot to offer. One of the stars of the show is the recreated early 20th century chemists shop with all its potions, packets and pills. From one man’s amazing collection!
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts (Norman Foster building)
With it’s ‘pay if and what you can’ policy this is a fantastic day out. The Sainsbury Centre is the only museum in the world to recognise art as living. And with this, there are some wonderful interactive displays to get you thinking – as well as being huge fun. See artworks from Picasso, Edgar Degas, Alberto Giacometti, Henry Moore, Francis Bacon, Jacob Epstein and so much more. Plus, there are acres of parkland and riverside walks and the Sculpture Park to explore.
The Sainsbury Centre and the Sculpture Park are filled with incredible works of art!
Castle Quarter
Castle Quarter offers an 8-screen Vue cinema and a 12 lane Superbowl UK bowling alley with Crazy Club soft play area. This is a great place to visit at any time but especially when the weather is wet, or even too hot! Dive into other activities as well such as Putt Putt Social, Si5 SpyMissions, Vector Virtual Reality and Retro Replay a retro arcade and gaming lounge.
Chantry Place
Escape Hunt at Chantry Place is home to a series of challenges, including virtual reality games. Great for day or night, teams are from 2 people and from the age of 8. The VR games are from the age of 12.
Plantation Garden – Norwich’s secret garden in the heart of the city
Plantation Garden is a great place to spend some time with smaller children so they can have a run around. Entrance is £2 in an honestly box with accompanied children under 16 FREE. Open 9am-6pm in summer and 9am-4pm in winter.
The gorgeous Plantation Garden is great for a picnic under the sun.
Strangers’ Hall
Celebrating its centenary in 2023, Strangers’ Hall is a myriad of rooms decorated from all the eras. We describe it as a living doll’s house. With a secret Knot Garden at the back, this is a perfect place to bring a picnic when visiting in summer.
The Cathedral of St John the Baptist
The Cathedral of St John The Baptist is Norwich’s second cathedral. A Catholic cathedral which is one of the finest examples of great Victorian Gothic Revival Architecture in the UK. The beautiful stained glass and stonework make it one of the most impressive architectural buildings in Norfolk. FREE to enter, there are also Tower Tours available on particular dates.
The South Asia Collection at County & Eastern
This is a small free museum housed within an incredible shop. If you love South Asia this is a good place to visit. The building itself is worth looking around as it’s a vast Victorian skating rink. It’s another of Norwich’s hidden gems.
Wroxham Miniature Worlds
Are you a lover of model trains? Or perhaps you have a Lego fan in the household? Head to Wroxham Miniature Worlds – the largest indoor modelling attraction in the UK – to discover some of the largest model train railways in the world on permanent display, a whole city made of Lego and so much more. There’s 10,000 square feet to explore! Children under 5 go FREE, children 5-15 £8.95 and adults £11.95.
Explore Wroxham Miniature Worlds and feel like a giant!
Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden
With 130 acres of cultivated, wild and natural planting, Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is the place to be for wildlife enthusiasts. Take a wander through miles of woodland pathways and enjoy stunning views over its own private broad. Perfect for getting out and about when the weather is nice and you’re after a peaceful day out. Book ahead online for discounted tickets. Adults £8.95, children £4.75, concessions £7.95
BeWILDerwood
Get ready to run wild at BeWILDerwood! Experience a huge and award-winning forest with a range of delights – treehouses, storytelling, marsh walks, boat rides and delicious food! Just on the outskirts of Norwich, it’s well worth popping out to enjoy. Under 92 cm FREE, 92 – 105 cm £19.50, over 105cm £21.50, 65 years + £13.50. Book tickets online here.
Amazona Zoo
With over 200 animals to see and learn about, Amazona Zoo is ideal for a family fun day out. Jaguars, monkeys, otters, owls, parrots, spiders and more are all waiting to be discovered. Located in Cromer, you need to book tickets in advance online. Adults £14.00, children £10.00, or grab a family ticket (2 adults 2 children) for £42.
What animal will be your favourite at Amazona Zoo?
Holkham Hall
Travel a little further out to the North Norfolk coast and you’ll find Holkham Hall, a magnificent estate with gorgeous parkland to explore. Take a stroll through the grounds and see if you can spot the deer that live there, or perhaps make the most of their cycle hire and see all the grounds on a beautiful bike ride? However you want to see Holkham, the choice is yours.
There’s also lots of events on, whether you’re looking for family fun or want to discover the history of the hall. Find out more here.
Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens
Have a peek at a collection of rare animals at Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens in Great Yarmouth. Tigers, red pandas, snow leopards and more are waiting for you. You can even get a unique view of some of the animals from the wooden walkways. Adults £16.50, children £12.50, under 3 years FREE. Tickets must be booked in advance.
From cute meerkats to fearsome tigers, Thrigby is a must-visit for animal lovers!
Pensthorpe Natural Park
Need some space for the kids to run around? Pensthorpe Natural Park in Fakenham, a 700-acre nature reserve, could just do the trick! With a woodland conservation park, interactive trails and eco play areas as well, there’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained. Adults £14.95, children and seniors £13.95.
Bure Valley Railway
Hop on board Norfolk’s longest narrow-gauge railway at the heart of The Broads. Travel between the historic market town of Aylsham and Wroxham on an 18-mile round trip aboard a steam engine. Soak in the sight of the pretty and idyllic Bure Valley countryside as you fly past meadowland and ancient pastures. Return tickets £19 for adults, £10.00 for children and FREE for under fours.
Travel back in time on Bure Valley Railway’s Boat Train!
ROARR!
This 85-acre park offers true family fun adventure of a Jurassic nature, including animatronic dinosaurs in natural settings, Dippy’s Splash Zone, Predator High Ropes, Secret Animal Garden and Dinomite – Norfolk’s largest indoor play area. Plus, there’s Dippy’s Theatre – a 228-seat venue which houses a large 2D screen and stage which brings Dippy to life with live stage shows and performances!
Bug Parc
How about exploring the largest invertebrate parc in the country? Here you can see hundreds of incredible tropical insects, millipedes, spiders and tarantulas and so much more. Old or young, this Norfolk-based attraction is a great place to visit. You can also book a one hour handling session!
