…It’s a regular topic on the Mumbler Chat group with some really great suggestions regularly coming up so we thought it would be helpful to collate them into a handy post for reference. Whether you are without a car, cutting down on car usage (for costs / environmental reasons) or simply thinking outside the box for a family day out, these ideas should give you a nudge in the right direction.
There is also the Good Journey website in partnership with Norfolk County Council.
Earlham Park, NR4 7TJ
Bus 25 or 26A from Red Lion Street (Stop BM)
Beautiful park great for pond dipping, paddling and a cafe
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, NR4 7TJ
Bus 25 or 26A from Red Lion Street (Stop BM)
Visit the exhibitions, enjoy the Sculpture Park & lake walk and keep an eye out for family friendly events such as Free Family Sundays
Spring Gym, UEA Sportspark
Bus 25 or 26A from Red Lion Street (Stop BM)
Brilliant gymnastics hall with options of free play / taught sessions, visit website for details on session times & ages. Booking ahead recommended.
Plantation Gardens NR2 3DB
Bus 26A from Red Lion Street (Stop BM) or 15 minute walk
One of Norwich’s great treasures, a 3 acre Grade II English Heritage registered garden with huge gothic fountain, flower beds, lawns, Italianate terrace, ‘Medieval’ terrace wall, woodland walkways, 10 metre long Victorian-style greenhouse and rustic bridge.
£2 per adult. Accompanied under 16s free.
Eaton Park NR4 7AU
Bus 25 from Red Lion Street (Stop BM)
A fantastic open space: watch the boats whizz around the boating lake, grab a snack at the cafe, go wild in the playground, catch a train ride (on Sundays), use the paths for bikes and scooters and so much more.
Whitlingham Park / Trowse NR14 8TR
Bus X2, X22 or 502 Park & Ride from Norwich Bus Station plus 10-20 minute walk
A beautiful village on the outskirts of Norwich, grab a pizza (and a pint…adults) at Redwell Brewery, have a play in the amazing playground, stomp through the woods on a bear hunt or venture up to Whitlingham Park for the lake walk, water sports galore or a cake in the café.
Mousehold Heath
Many Options – i.e. Bus 11A from St Stephens Street (Stop BB) to Gertude Road, walk up Gilman St to enter the woods
One of our favourite family walks, the woods are great for a family adventure – spot the wildlife, build dens, hunt down the tree swings and bike tracks – and stop for a cheeky treat at Zaks mid way round.
Catton Park NR6 7DB
Bus X55 Castle Meadow (Stop CA) plus 10 minute walk
Another lush park on the outskirts of the city, loads of room to explore and great for den building. Often a coffee truck near Buxton Lodge as well for refreshments.
Waterloo Park NR3 3HX
Bus 21 Rampant Horse Street (Stop BH)
Great park for kids especially in the summer with the splash pad – big playground, paths for biking, The Feed Café and plenty of space for ball games. Also check out their family events in school holidays including treasure hunts and craft days.
Wroxham Barns NR12 8QU
Train from Norwich to Wroxham, leave the station up the hill to Tunstead Rd and take the roadside path or path alongside inner field.
Fun day out for the family, small farm with animals, fun park, soft play. Visit website for details and bookings.
Pensthorpe NR21 0LN
Bus X29 St Stephens Street (Stop BE)
Another favourite for a day out, beautiful walks, plenty of wildlife (including flamingos, cranes and a LOT of ducks to feed), amazing outdoor and indoor play areas, den building and a café to boot. Plus you get a little discount off your entrance ticket for travelling via bus.
Bewilderwood NR12 8JW.
Bus 12 St Stephens Street (Stop BB) to Roy’s Department Store and change onto Bus 5B to Palmer Lane
An award winning forest of wild family fun and adventure. Treehouse, zip wires, jungle bridges, Crocklebogs, boat trips, storytelling, marsh walks and really yummy food!
Bure Valley railway NR12 8UU
Train from Norwich to Wroxham
Hop aboard the idyllic steam train with the 18-mile round trip. Running from the stunning Bure Valley countryside to the meandering River Bure, meadowland and ancient pasture! Along the line are wayside halts serving the picturesque Broadland villages of Brampton, Buxton and Coltishall.
Thrigby Hall NR29 3DR
Take X1 Coastlink Bus to Kings Head, Acle. Switch onto 72A bus to Wildlife Park Gates
Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens, near Great Yarmouth has 250-year-old landscaped gardens, play areas and superb willow pattern garden. Attractions for all age groups include Snow Leopards, rare tigers, gibbons, deer otters, crocodiles in a swamp house, avaries, waterfowl, gift shop & cafe. Tropical & forest houses give good all-weather cover.
Amazona Zoo NR27 9JG
Train from Norwich to Cromer, walk around 20 minutes or take the X55 bus to North Walsham, switch onto 6A to Amazona Zoo
Amazona is a Braziliant zoo and it’s a fun visit for the whole family! We are located on the north Norfolk coast in Cromer where we are home to over 200 birds and animals from tropical South America.
Pettitts Animal Adventure Park NR13 3UA
Train from Norwich to Reedham, walk around 20 minutes
Family adventure park with domestic and exotic animals, kids’ rides, live entertainment and a cafe.
Stubbs Farm Alpacas NR14 6EA
Take the X22 Coastlink bus to Gunton Road, walk around 7 minutes
Welcome to Stubbs Farm Alpacas … Home to a super friendly herd of alpacas in Loddon, South Norfolk and they cannot wait to meet you!
Blickling National Trust NR11 6NF
Visit by bus for just £2 each way: Buses stop at the hall from Aylsham (10 mins) on Mondays and Fridays. Direct buses run to Aylsham from Cromer (about 35 mins), Norwich (45 mins) and Sheringham (50 mins). Its then 10-minute bus ride or about a 30-minute country walk to Blickling Estate. Enjoy 20% off your entry ticket when you arrive by train, bus, bike or foot (excluding pre-booked or ticketed events)& a voucher for 10% off in the café (valid for that day only).
Beccles NR34 9QJ
Bus X2 Coastlink from Norwich Bus Station
If you are lucky with the sun, try a day trip to Beccles Lido with 3 swimming pools all heated to 28 degrees including Main Pool and Toddler pool. Plus children’s adventure play and café.
Beccles Farmer’s Market on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month
Play park at Beccles Quay
Wroxham & Hoveton NR12 8UR
Train to Wroxham from Norwich (The Bittern Line that runs from Norwich to Sheringham stops at the Hoveton and Wroxham station)
A picturesque day on the broads: Check out Wroxham Miniature Worlds, Hire a boat / take a boat tour (Richardson’s Day Boat Hire offers 5% off if arriving by public transport) or simply watch the boats, visit the Norfolk institution flagship that is Roy’s.
Great Yarmouth NR30 1SD
Wherry Line Train to Great Yarmouth from Norwich or X1/X11 Coastlink Buses from Norwich Bus Station
Lots of kids attractions here; Pleasure Beach, Sea life Centre, Hippodrome Circus, Time & Tide Museum, Tolhouse Museum, Doughnuts on the pier, hit the arcades, etc…
Sheringham NR26 8RA
Train to Sheringham from Norwich or Bus X44 Coasthopper from Castle Meadow (stop CE)
Beautiful seaside town with beach, restaurants, theatre, steam train and museums.
Cromer NR27 9EB
Train to Sheringham from Norwich or Bus X44 Coasthopper from Castle Meadow (stop CE)
Enjoy the beach, hunt for shells & fossils, catch some grabs, eat delicious fish & chips, check out the Henry Blogg museum. 20% off at Cromer Pier for those arriving by public transport.
Cambridge
Train from Norwich to Cambridge, roughly 15 minute walk into city centre or multiple buses available from the station
Always a fun day trip: check out the Zoology & Sedgewick museums (free), walk round the Backs or many parks (Jesus Green, Midsummer Common), grab a Gelato from Jack’s Gelato (you won’t regret this), feed the ducks along the River
London
Train from Norwich to London Liverpool Street
Too many options to list – Museums (Natural History Museum, Science Museum, London Transport Museum, V&A, Tate Modern to name a few), explore Covent Garden and watch the street entertainment, hit up one of the many amazing parks, see a show, explore London Southbank, catch a river cruise, be a tourist for the day…
Let us know if we’ve missed anything HERE and we can add it on!
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