England’s largest festival of history and culture, Heritage open days are back with the 2023 Norfolk Programme from Friday 8th September to Sunday 17th September. With free access to experiences and events, you can discover some hidden gems not usually open to the public and learn more about the cultural heritage in our communities.
This year’s festival theme is Creativity Unwrapped, so alongside guided tours and open days expect events and activities celebrating. With a mix of in-person and online events, the festival is inclusive and accessible to all.
What’s on?
There are more than 300 free Heritage Open Days events taking place across the region. Norfolk Heritage open days are co-ordinated by The Forum, where a special exhibition marking ‘250 years of the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital’ will take place for the duration of the festival, as well as talks which explore the history of medicine. Many events are drop in and you can just turn up on the day. Due to limited capacity, some events must be pre-booked and tickets are allocated on a first come first served basis.
Pre-book Family Friendly Norwich events
There are many family friendly events taking place, the ones that need to be booked in advance are below:
- Step into Dragon Hall, Sunday 17th 2pm-6pm – Book a place to experience our shared heritage. Once a place of medieval commercial exchange, now home to stories told through the lens of the community. Join us to explore and add pages to the next chapter of Dragon Hall’s story. Choose from heritage talks, live storytelling, hands on crafts, community activity or a guided exploration of the hall.
- Creative Explorations at The Garage, 14 Chapel Field North, NR2 1NY. Saturday 9th Times vary – Ever wondered why The Garage
is called The Garage? Come and find out more about the history of this performing arts venue and take part in creative activities by joining creative heritage tours and workshops. BOOK thegarage.org.uk/shows
- East Anglian Air Ambulance HQ, Helimed House, Hangar 14, Gambling Close, NR6 6EG. Saturday 9th 10am, 12pm, 2pm & 4pm – Funded through generous gifts in Wills, East Anglian Air Ambulance’s HQ enables their crews to have the training, rest and welfare facilities required for a 24/7 operation. Enjoy a guided tour of the building and meet the team! BOOK norfolkhods.ticketsolve.com
Drop-in Family Friendly Norwich events
- 100 Years of Mile Cross Street Procession, Mile Cross Phoenix Children’s Project, 132A Mile Cross Road, NR3 2LD. Saturday 9th 6.30pm-7.30pm – A procession and street event by The Common Lot, celebrating the centenary of the country’s first large scale housing estate. Made with school, community and company.
- Beguines to Butterflies – Capturing Community Spirit, St George’s Church, Tombland, NR3 1AF. Saturday 16th 11am-2pm – Discover how the Beguines of Norwich helped the sick, the poor and the dying during the 15th century. Join us for storytelling, interactive activities and meet the Beguine’s modern counterparts, including our butterfly volunteers.
- Floral Fancies Workshop, St Martin at Palace Centre, 15 St Martin at Palace Plain, NR3 1RW. Saturday 9th 10am-4pm – Join students and staff from Stepping Stones in a floral themed workshop, making colourful, layered 3D paper flowers – like the ones you may find in a Norwich Historic Churches Trust churchyard.
- Hungate, St Peter Hungate Church, Princes Street, NR3 1AE. Saturday 9th, Sunday 10th, Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th
9am-5pm – Visit this exhibition, WATER, and the beautiful church and garden. Take part in the free volunteer conservation workshop ‘Archaeology Unwrapped’.
- Morris Dancing in Norwich, Norwich City Centre. Saturday 16th 10.30am–4pm – Colourful Morris Dancers will be taking to the streets. Performers from all over the East of England will be demonstrating traditional dances including Morris dancing with sticks and hankies, and clog dancing.
- Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell, Bridewell Alley, NR2 1AQ. Friday 8th, Saturday 9th, Friday 15th & Saturday 16th 10am-4.30pm – Drop by the museum to learn the stories of the city from Medieval times to modern day, through the eyes of some of the people who worked in the trades and industries which put the city on the map.
- Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery, Castle Hill, NR1 3JU. Saturday 16th 10am-4.30pm – One of the city’s most famous landmarks; the medieval Keep is currently closed to visitors as it undergoes a major transformation to reinstate its medieval floors and rooms so that everyone can experience a Norman royal palace. In the meantime, the museum and galleries are open, showcasing outstanding collections of fine and decorative arts, archaeology and natural history
- Cathedral Library and Family Learning, Friday 15th 3.30pm–5pm – Drop in to have a go at paper marbling, designing a stained glass window and lots more. Designed for primary-school age children who must be accompanied by an adult.
- Norwich Puppet Theatre, St James, Whitefriars, NR3 1TN. Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th 10am-4pm – Discover the unique mix of architecture, heritage and theatre as you explore the nooks and crannies of the former St James Church, now a theatre.
- One More Thyme: A Gardening Fest, St Margaret’s Church, 2 St Margaret’s Street, NR2 4TU. Saturday 9th 10am-4pm – Following extensive conservation work to the church, the medieval garden needs restoring. Come and plant some marigolds, lavender and thyme, meet the Heavenly Gardeners volunteers, learn about creative uses for medieval plants and the church repairs.
- Creative Communities 2023, Monday 11th-Saturday 16th: 10am-3pm – Drop in to see this art exhibition by local artists exploring the theme ‘Creative Communities’.
- Strangers’ Hall Museum, 4 Charing Cross, NR2 4AL Sunday 10th, Wednesday 13th & Sunday 17th Times vary – Strangers’ Hall is a historic house museum located in one of the city’s most beguiling old buildings. Journey around this home of former wealthy merchants as rooms furnished with period pieces will give you a sense of travelling through time.
- Unwrap Your Creativity on Kett’s Heights, Kett’s Hill, NR1 4EX. Sunday 10th 1pm-4pm – Kett’s Heights has been a source of creativity for centuries. Bring your sketching pad or camera and be inspired by the surroundings as well as the amazing view over Norwich. Families can join in making a Green Man sculpture from found materials.
- Waterloo Park, Angel Road, NR3 3HX. Saturday 9th 10am-4pm – Visit this stunning park with panoramic views from the balcony of the Grade II listed Pavilion and exhibition of the history of the park. See the results of our experiments with our own dye plants to reflect the history of dyeing in the area.
Further afield family friendly events
There’s lots to see and do, but here are some ideas suitable for families to explore:
GREAT YARMOUTH:
Anna Sewell House – 26 Church Plain, NR30 1NE. Friday 8th, Wednesday 13th & Friday 15th 10am–2pm
Elizabethan House Museum, 4 South Quay, NR30 2QH. Thursday 14th–Sunday 17th 10am-4pm – Explore this ‘hands on’ museum to enthral all ages.
Great Yarmouth Minster Bell Tower, Church Plain, NR30 1NE. Friday 15th & Saturday 16th 10am-2pm, Sunday 17th 12pm-2pm – Drop in to see a display of ecclesiastical silverware not normally seen by the public.
Time and Tide Museum, 16 Blackfriars Road, NR30 3BX. Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th 10am–4.30pm – Discover Great Yarmouth’s history from the Ice Age to the present day.
Tolhouse Gaol, Tolhouse Street, NR30 2SH. Thursday 14th–Sunday 17th 10am–4pm – Enjoy the displays and hands-on activities and find out about the history of this 12th century medieval merchant’s house
SOUTH NORFOLK:
Becket’s Chapel with Art Exhibition. Sunday 17th 11am–4pm
Browick Road Community, Orchard Heritage Fruit Collection Browick Road Recreation Ground, Wymondham, NR18 0QW Sunday 17th 11am–1pm
Church of St Edmund, The Street, Costessey, NR8 5DG. Saturday 9th 10am–4pm
Tolls Meadow Cemetery Lane, Wymondham, NR18 0BN. Sunday 17th 11am-4pm
Wymondham Abbey Church Street, Wymondham, NR18 0PH. Friday 8th–Saturday 16th 10am-4pm, Sunday 17th 11.45am-4pm
Wymondham Vintage Day Wymondham Town Centre, NR18 0AX. Sunday 17th 11am–4pm7
BROADLAND:
Blickling Estate ‘Now and Then’ Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th: 11am–4pm
All Saints Church, Hemblington Church Lane, Hemblington, NR13 4EF. Fri 8–Sun 17: 10am–4pm (Sun 11am–4pm)
Exploring Hellesdon’s Buildings St Paul’s Church, Hawthorne Avenue, NR6 6LD Sat 9: 12pm-4pm
Girlguiding Norfolk Patteson Lodge Estate, 14 Gt. Hautbois Road, Coltishall, NR12 7JN Sat 9 & Sun 10: 10am–4pm
Hathor Pleasure Wherry How Hill Trust, How Hill Road, Ludham, NR29 5PG Fri 8 Tue 12, Thu 14–Sat 16: 10am–4pm
Norfolk Wherry Maud How Hill Trust, How Hill Road, Ludham, NR29 5PG Sat 16: 10am–5pm
Wherry Albion Norfolk Wherry Trust, Horsefen Road, Ludham, NR29 5QG Sat 16 & Sun 17: 10am–3pm
NORTH NORFOLK:
Felbrigg Hall and Gardens, Wed 13: Hall open 12pm-4pm
Cromer Museum East Cottages, Tucker Street, Cromer, NR27 9HB Sat 9 & Sun 10: 12pm-4pm
Museum of the Broads Poors Staithe, The Staithe, Stalham, NR12 9DA Sun 17: 10am–4pm
St Seraphim’s Trust Guided Tour Station Road, Walsingham, NR22 6EB Sat 9 & Wed 13: 2pm
BRECKLAND:
Attleborough Heritage Group and Town Archives St Mary’s Church, Church Street, Attleborough, NR17 2AH Sat 9 & Sat 16: 10am-4.30pm
Dereham’s Fiery Dragon and Other Railway Relics The Railway Station, Railway Road, Dereham, NR19 1DF Sat 16: 9.30am–4pm
Ancient House Museum of Thetford Life 21 White Hart Street, Thetford, IP24 1AD Sat 9 & Sat 16: 10am-5pm
Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse Gressenhall, NR20 4DR Sun 10: 10am–4pm
Narborough Bone Mill Belgrave House, Main Road, Narborough, PE32 1TE Sat 16 & Sun 17: 11am-4pm
KINGS LYNN AND WEST NORFOLK:
Lynn Museum Old Market Street, King’s Lynn, PE30 1NL Sun 10: 10am-4pm
A full programme of all the events can be found online on the Heritage Open Days website.
