Exciting activities in Norfolk This Summer Holiday
If you are in our area this summer for a family holiday, here are my top tips on what to do in Norfolk this Summer. Our corner of Norfolk offers great variety. Visit beaches for long walks and family picnics. Old seaside towns such as Cromer or Great Yarmouth offer traditional seaside activities. Or get away form it all on the water and visit the nature reserves of the Broads National Park.
What to do in N
orfolk this summer holiday : Your Essential Guide to Holiday Activities
- BeWilderwood is a brilliant day out if your kids are between 4 and 10. Ideal for an overcast day, soak up the energy of the forest whilst your kids (and maybe you too) go wild on the rope swings, high level passes and tunnels. Watch out for the wasps towards the end of August and if the boat queue at the entrance is too long – take the boat on the way back instead.
- I love How Hill and if they are running them the How Hill Trusts family fun days. Set in the most beautiful location in the middle of the Norfolk Broads. These chilled-out days are designed to engage you and your youngsters in the great outdoors and the magic of the wildlife of the Broads. We loved them and went two years in a row. Best for ages 5- 10. Booking essential. If that doesn’t suit How Hill is a lovely day out anyway. Activities include a nature reserve, water gardens, 50 minute electric eel boat trips (not dog friendly), visiting the tiny Toad Hole cottage, a museum dedicated to the life of the marshmen, the traditional workers in the Broads. How Hill also offers the best picnic spot on the Broads in the house’s garden (often open in the summer, you need to walk to the front of the house to check).
- Spend a day in Winterton on Sea – come on a Saturday to go up the church tower as well as spend the day on the beach, eat at the dog friendly pub, café or the new tea rooms at the Post Office. And if you have kids, check out the play area just off Winmer Avenue – it’s great fun.
- Go crabbing – a typical Norfolk pursuit from Gorleston sea wall or Cromer pier. All you need is some bacon, a bucket, and string – make sure you put them back afterwards.
- Get on a boat and experience the Broads National Park – you can go on a kayaking or stand up paddle boarding safari with the brilliant Norfolk Outdoor Adventures or hire an electric day boat from Martham Ferry Day Boat Hire. All the family can go including the dog.
- Ross’s wildlife tour from Horsey is also a brilliant ways to experience the water and local wildlife. Ross’s Tours leave from just up the road in Horsey and operate from Easter to the end of summer. Sailing times are 9.45 am, 11.00 am, 12.00 pm, 1.15 pm, 2.00 pm, and 3.15 pm, 7 days a week until October. To pre-book, contact Ross by TEXT ONLY on 07791 526440 before 9.30 am on the day, please include your surname, number of seats, day, and time required.
- Visit a wildlife park such as Thrigby, near Great Yarmouth, or Amazonia Zoo near Cromer. Both allow you to get close and personal with some amazing wildlife and neither get that busy.
- Norfolk Snow Sports Club offers tubing in 45-minute sessions which are great fun for all the family. Situauted on the outskirts of Norwich in the lovely village of Trowse, you can easily do this as part of a trip to Norwich. You’ll need to book in advance and bring gloves and cover your arms and legs. Kids have to be over 6 years old. Its a great thing to do with all the family.
- Visit Great Yarmouth’s Pleasure Beach or Joyland for some classic seaside action. The Beach Hut cafe is a brilliant pit stop and is near the beautifully restored Venetian Water Gardens. Also on offer in Yarmouth is the Hippodrome circus, whose summer shows are legendary.
- For little kids, check out the Bure Valley Railway in Wroxham – you may only want to take it a couple of stops, then return, particularly if you are tall!
- Learn how to surf in Cromer
- Take a boat trip or do a butterfly tour with Norfolk Wildlife Trust.
- Join the Norfolk Wildlife Trust at Hickling Broad for a trip on our 12-seater boat, Swallowtail, or our historic Norfolk reedlighter, Little Tern, where you’ll look out for marsh harriers, great crested grebes and the elusive bittern. It is a two-hour guided water trail that includes visits to remote hides only accessible by boat and a 60-foot tree tower providing views of Hickling Broad and the landscape beyond. The one-hour guided water trail will visit just one of these locations. Booking is essential for all boat trips: 01692 598276. Thw wildlife trust also run brilliant family events such as a regular Wednesday butterfly walk. They also have rock pooling events near Cromer. Their events calendar tells you more.
- Go up the Happisburgh lighthouse – this normally opens over the summer at the weekends. Kids under 1m can’t go up, and there are 112 steps to negotiate, but this, coupled with a walk and a play area in the car park make this a good day out.
- Take the kids to Sea Palling beach, do a boat tour to see the seals or even hire the beach sauna. We love to walk from Waxham to Sea Palling.
- Grab our Walking Guide, walk around Martham Broad, or choose any of the other 4 walks on offer.
- If it is fine dining and some adult time you want, then book a table at the exquisite Ingham Swan
Mill Farm Eco Barn offers 3 beautiful holiday cottages in Winterton on Sea on the Norfolk Coast, sleeping 8 , 4 and 2. Read our other popular blogs on the seals at Horsey, wet weather ideas (hopefully not needed) on our site and check for availability.
Whatever you do, I hope you have a lovely summer.