The Hills

Holidays in Norfolk with the Kids

Spending your holidays in Norfolk with children in tow can be a nerve-wrecking and frustrating experience. This is true especially for younger kids that need constant supervision. Although an outing on a boat will be a thrill at first, kids tend to get bored very easily and then the boat trip becomes a battle of wills and pacifying the children.

There are, however, some activities and places of interest that parents and children can go to together to have a fun day out. These can be found across the Norfolk county and are either reasonably priced or even free to go to.

The activities available for kids for your holidays in Norfolk fall in various categories and details of all the activities are readily available on the internet. It is always worthwhile to research these activities before going on holiday so that you have an itinerary of sorts for your holiday.

The following categories of activities are available – a few examples are given to illustrate the extent of the availability of the activities:

• Theme Parks: These include the Dinosaur Adventure Park and Bewilderwood. Here the ages of the children are important for the types of rides and activities chosen. Some activities may be suitable only for older children.

• Animals and Nature: in this category there are a number of places to go e.g. Banham Zoo, the Sea life Centre Great Yarmouth, Thrigby Hall wildlife gardens, Pensthorpe Nature Reserve and gardens etc. These are places that will entertain the whole family and leave them in awe of the beauty and majesty of Mother Nature.

• Museums and Galleries: This category includes places like the Nelson Museum, the Ecotech Centre, Time and Tide etc. Here the kids will learn about the history of man, the horror of wars and other important facts of the world.

• Waterfun: Splash Sheringham, Marina Leisure Centre etc. provide the whole family to cool off and have fun on those sweltering summer days. Here young children will require close supervision.

• Play centres: Here there are several options like the Elephant Playbarn and Planet Zoom.

• Educational and Historical: Norwich Castle, Grimes Graves etc.

• Active: Strikers ten pin bowling, Extreme Adventure etc.

• Transport: Mississippi paddle boat, Well Harbour Railway etc.

• The Great outdoors: Sheringham Park, Holt Country Park etc.

• Entertainment: Norwich Puppet Theatre and various movie complexes.

• Artistic: Sticky Earth Café and Doodle Pots Ceramic Café.

• Other fun things to do: Merrivale Model Village, Sheringham Treasure trail etc.

There are many activities that will liven up your holidays in Norfolk with the children. They are fun, interactive and suitable (mostly) for all children. The secret is to plan ahead.