Photo: Chensiyuan (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Things to do in Norfolk
The best holidays are planned around great days out. Here's what's on the doorstep in Norfolk, from big-ticket attractions to rainy-day savers.
Showing museums, aquariums and attractions with indoor areas — the ones that work whatever the forecast.
🎟️ This weekend near Norfolk
Events from
Skiddle
Fri 13 Nov · 19:30
Norwich - Dutty Moonshine Big Band - Second Distillation Tou...
Epic Studios, Norwich · 13.1 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 19:30
Speed Dating in Norwich @ Be At One | 30s-40s
Be At One Norwich, Norwich · 13.4 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 23:00
Hoa Hoa Hoa Rave (Norwich)
CTRL ROOM, Norwich · 13.5 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 18:00
Big Mad Andy's Peep Show Quiz - Norwich
BOX22, Norwich · 13.5 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Aquariums
Museums & Galleries
2.9 mi from Norfolk
Bishop Bonner's Cottage Museum
Building and museum in Dereham, Breckland, Norfolk, England, UK
3.4 mi from Norfolk
Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse
Museum in Gressenhall, Breckland, Norfolk, England, UK
10.2 mi from Norfolk
Wymondham Heritage Museum
Museum in Wymondham, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom
10.8 mi from Norfolk
Fakenham Museum of Gas and Local History
This is the only surviving town gasworks in England and Wales, housed in Fakenham's former gasworks and preserved as a Scheduled Monument. You can see the original equipment used t...
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11.6 mi from Norfolk
City of Norwich Aviation Museum
The City of Norwich Aviation Museum is an aviation heritage museum at Horsham St. Faith and Newton St. Faith in Broadland, Norfolk, with an outdoor space housing nearly 30 aircraft...
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12.5 mi from Norfolk
Aylsham Heritage Centre
Aylsham Heritage Centre is a small museum in the Norfolk town of Aylsham, part of Broadland, run by a registered charity. Its current exhibition explores the town's historic Market...
13.1 mi from Norfolk
The South Asia Collection
The South Asia Collection is a museum and research centre in Norwich dedicated to the art, craft and living traditions of South and South East Asia, caring for around 10,000 object...
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13.3 mi from Norfolk
Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell
Grade I listed building in Norwich, Norfolk, England, UK
13.4 mi from Norfolk
Norwich Castle Museum
Norwich Castle is a medieval royal fortification in the city of Norwich, in the English county of Norfolk. William the Conqueror (1066–1087) ordered its construction in the afterma... — Wikipedia
13.6 mi from Norfolk
Dragon Hall
Dragon Hall is a Grade I listed medieval merchant's trading hall located in King Street, Norwich, Norfolk, close to the River Wensum, and since 2018 home to the National Centre for... — Wikipedia
13.6 mi from Norfolk
Swaffham Heritage
Swaffham Heritage is a small, independent museum run by volunteers, telling the social history of Swaffham and the surrounding villages from the Stone Age to the present day. You c...
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14.4 mi from Norfolk
Shirehall Museum and Abbey Grounds
Walsingham Abbey brings together the Shirehall Museum with the Abbey Grounds, a historic site centred on the spectacular ruins of the medieval Priory of Our Lady of Walsingham. The...
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14.6 mi from Norfolk
St Seraphim's Icon and Railway Heritage Museum
Museum in Little Walsingham, Norfolk, United Kingdom
15.8 mi from Norfolk
Forncett Steam Museum
Forncett Steam Museum is tucked away in the South Norfolk countryside and brings the age of steam to life with a collection of stationary steam engines, including the one that once...
16.1 mi from Norfolk
The Shell Museum
The Shell Museum in Glandford is a small, historic museum housing the finest seashell collection in the UK, alongside fossils, birds' eggs, pottery and local archaeological finds,...
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16.4 mi from Norfolk
Gunton Park Sawmill
Gunton Park Sawmill is a historic working sawmill in Alby with Thwaite, North Norfolk, where you can see a wooden-framed saw, a circular saw from Holmes of Norwich, and a small cor...
16.4 mi from Norfolk
Langham Dome
Langham Dome is a small wartime gunnery training museum on the edge of the former RAF Langham airfield in North Norfolk, built in 1942-43 to teach anti-aircraft gunners using proje...
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Theme Parks
5 mi from Norfolk
Roarr!
Roarr! is the UK's largest dinosaur theme park, set across 85 acres of Norfolk woodland in Lenwade. You'll find over 25 attractions, from life-size animatronic dinosaurs along a st...
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17.1 mi from Norfolk
Playbarn
Playbarn is an indoor and outdoor adventure centre in Poringland, South Norfolk, designed especially for children aged seven or under. You'll find a tractor courtyard with ride-on...
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Zoos & Wildlife
9.7 mi from Norfolk
Melsop Farm Park
Melsop Farm Park is a family-run farm attraction near Scoulton in Breckland, Norfolk, home to sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, waterfowl and cattle, including rare breeds such as the G...
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Where to stay near Norfolk
Places to stay within easy reach of these days out.
More around Norfolk
Itineraries
- A weekend in Wroxham: an accessible itinerary · 2 days
- A weekend in Wroxham with the kids · 2 days
- A weekend in Wroxham · 2 days
Haunted Britain
Getting your bearings
Norfolk days out fall into a handful of natural bases: Norwich, Wroxham, Cromer, Hunstanton and Great Yarmouth. Each has its own cluster of attractions, so plan your days around one base at a time rather than criss-crossing the county. The sections below sort the main options by type, then suggest how to combine them.
Family days out
If you're travelling with children, these are the places most likely to fill a day:
- BeWILDerwood in Wroxham is a theme park and an obvious anchor for a family day.
- Pettitts Animal Adventure Park in Great Yarmouth combines animals with a day of rides and play.
- Playbarn in Norwich is a useful choice for younger children.
- Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure is a theme park for dinosaur fans.
- Pleasurewood Hills and Pleasure Beach are two more theme parks for families who want a full day of rides.
Theme parks and wildlife parks take up most of a day on their own, so you don't need to pair them with anything else.
Rainy day options
Norfolk has a good spread of museums, which helps when the weather turns. In Norwich, The 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum tells a wartime story. Around Cromer you'll find The Muckleburgh Military Collection and Sheringham Museum at The Mo. Near Hunstanton, Holkham Stories Experience and Discover Downham Heritage can share a day. Elsewhere in the county are the Wymondham Heritage Museum, the Shirehall Museum and Abbey Grounds and The House of Correction.
Smaller museums can be quick to get round, so plan two in one day rather than one on its own.
Outdoors
For fresh air, Sheringham Park is run by the National Trust and suits a walk. The same goes for Horsey Windpump, another National Trust site. The Norfolk Broads waterways are what many people picture when they think of Norfolk. Give them unhurried time rather than squeezing them in between other stops.
Heritage and grand houses
Norfolk is strong on historic houses. Sandringham House and East Barsham Manor are listed as stately homes. Blickling Hall and Oxburgh Hall come under castles and heritage. A big house with grounds usually makes a half-day at least. Check how far apart they are before you plan two in one day.
How to group a sensible day
Keep each day local, using the towns the attractions are listed under:
- Wroxham day: BeWILDerwood with children. Without them, pair Woodbastwick Forge with Sutton Corn Mill for a heritage-focused day.
- Cromer day: The Muckleburgh Military Collection in the morning and Sheringham Museum at The Mo in the afternoon. This works well in any weather.
- Hunstanton day: Holkham Stories Experience and Discover Downham Heritage together.
- Norwich day: The 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum for adults and older children, with Playbarn as the option for little ones.
- Great Yarmouth day: Pettitts Animal Adventure Park as a full-day outing.
For the landmarks, look up locations on a map before you set off. That way you can pair them with whichever base is nearest.
Where to eat
A few places to eat in the region hold 5-star food hygiene ratings:
- Pear Tree Inn (pub)
- The Fat Cat (pub)
- Warwick Arms (pub)
- Louis Marchesi (pub)
- The Crusty Corner (bakery)
A hygiene rating tells you about cleanliness and food handling, not about the menu or the cooking. Check where each one is, what it serves and when, before you build a day around it. A bakery is handy for picking up something for a picnic before a walk or a day at a park.
Turning it into a short break
With 1,531 places to stay listed on BritStays across Norfolk, you can base yourself close to the days you most want.
A three-night break could look like this:
- A Wroxham day
- A Cromer day
- A Norwich day, kept flexible for rain
On a longer stay, add Hunstanton or Great Yarmouth. Moving bases halfway through can save time on the road if you want to cover both.
Practical tips
- Check opening days and times directly with each attraction before you travel, especially outside the main holiday periods.
- Book theme parks and popular family attractions in advance where you can.
- Keep one museum day up your sleeve and swap it in if the forecast changes.
- If you're a National Trust member, bring your card for Sheringham Park and Horsey Windpump.
- Plan meals near where you'll be, rather than driving across the county to eat.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best family attractions in Norfolk?
Good options include BeWILDerwood in Wroxham, Pettitts Animal Adventure Park in Great Yarmouth, Playbarn in Norwich and Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure. Pleasurewood Hills and Pleasure Beach are two more theme parks.
What can I do in Norfolk on a rainy day?
Try the museums. Options include The 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum in Norwich, The Muckleburgh Military Collection and Sheringham Museum at The Mo around Cromer, and Holkham Stories Experience near Hunstanton.
Which Norfolk places are run by the National Trust?
Sheringham Park and Horsey Windpump are both National Trust sites, so bring your membership card if you have one.
What historic houses can I visit in Norfolk?
Sandringham House and East Barsham Manor are stately homes, while Blickling Hall and Oxburgh Hall are castle and heritage sites.
What is there to do around Wroxham?
BeWILDerwood is the big family draw. Woodbastwick Forge and Sutton Corn Mill suit a heritage-focused day.
Where can I eat in Norfolk?
Places with 5-star hygiene ratings include Pear Tree Inn, The Fat Cat, Warwick Arms and Louis Marchesi, all pubs, plus The Crusty Corner bakery. Check locations and serving times before you go.
More ways to explore
Not booked yet? See the best places to stay in Norfolk.