With the cost of living rapidly rising, most of us are feeling the pinch. Days out to entertain your little ones don’t have to cost the earth and to prove it, we’ve scoured Norfolk and put together some ideas for cheap (and some times FREE) days out all year round, which we hope will be useful.
If you know of any others, please let us know by getting in touch at [email protected] .
1. Sandringham Estate
Visit Sandringham Estate, the beautiful country retreat of Her Majesty The Queen. For £7 to park all day, you can enjoy woodland walks, picnics on the grass and the fabulous children’s playground in the Royal Parkland and treats from the cafe and ice-cream shop in the Sandringham Courtyard.
(If you did want to splurge, it is £23 per adult (kids free) for entry into the house and gardens. However, there is plenty to do without spending the extra.)
Cost: Parking £7
The Ffolkes pub is nearby, if you wanted a drink and a play at their play area!
2. Holt Country Park & Baconsthorpe Castle
NR25 6SP/NR25 6LL
Combine a trip to the ruins of Baconsthorpe Castle followed by a trip to Holt Country Park which is less than 4 miles away. HCP is £2.30 for parking and Baconsthorpe is £2, but no entry charge for either. The country park offers picnic areas, children’s play area as well as toilets and a tea room.
*UPDATE 28.07.22* Baconsthorpe website says the inner keep is currently closed due to maintenance works. Nearby Binham Priory is apparently open and is FREE entry.
Cost: Parking £2.30 and £2
3. Hillside Shire Horse Sanctuary & West Runton Beach
NR27 9QH/NR27 9QR
Combine a visit to the shire horse sanctuary where you can see five breeds of heavy horse, a bygone farming museum and play areas with a stop off at West Runton beach. This beach features in our “Just a beach” post. No faff. Just sea, sand, rock pools and fossil hunting.
4. How Hill/Hickling Broad
NR29 5PG
Situated on the Norfolk Broads (just through Ludham), is How Hill. The house itself is used for school residential trips, however, the house garden, the secret garden & toad cottage are open to the public. Free to park. So, pitch up with a picnic and make the most of the beautiful surroundings.
You could then head over to Hickling Broad for some trail walking and bird spotting!
Cost: How Hill- Free entry, donations welcome
Hickling Broad – Kids free, Adults £4.50
5. Sheringham Park
NR26 8TL
Sheringham Park is National Trust owned. For the price of a parking ticket, you have acres of beautiful woodland to roam. There are marked routes, some more suitable for pushchairs than others, or just go on an adventure and get lost, build dens, look for bugs and other wildlife. There is a cafe and toilets at the entrance as well, as plenty of space to sit and have a picnic.
Cost: Parking £6.50
6. Holkham Hall
NR23 1AB
Take your bikes or walk the trails around Holkham Hall. There is also a lovely park too. Take a picnic and it will just cost you £5 to park (plus petrol). During the summer months, street food vendors provide delicious food and drink options, if you wanted to buy whilst you’re there.
(Prices from £8 if you want to visit the Hall, £5.50 for the walled garden and £21 for the rope course)
Cost: Parking £5
7. Castle Acre
PE32 2XB
Castle Acre is a rural village in West Norfolk that features the ruins of a 12th century castle. There is plenty to see and do for free.
Visit the castle ruins, the bailey gate, the local park and enjoy a picnic in the surroundings. A little walk out of the village is a lovely little paddle spot too.
It’s an English Heritage owned site and there is a charge for entering the Priory if wishing to visit it.
Pic: Routes for Little Boots
Cost: Castle Acre Castle is free (Family ticket is £21 if you want to go into Castle Acre Priory).
8. Redwings Horse Sanctuary
NR15 1SP
Located near Aylsham is the Redwings Horse Sanctuary. Free entry although donations gratefully received if able to do so. Visit the horses in their paddocks or stables, take a look in the education centre and learn about horses and the care they need; and have a play on the play area. There is a cafe on site too. Probably not a full day out but if you wanted to explore a little further, the centre of Aylsham is less than 5 minutes by car with lots of cafes/a pub if you wanted to make a pit stop before heading home.
Cost: Free entry, donations welcome
9. Thetford Priory/Charles Burrell Steam Museum
IP24 1BB/IP24 1BN
Thetford Priory features the remains of the lower walls of the church and cloister, together with an impressive shell of the prior’s lodging and an almost complete 14th century gatehouse. Lots of space for children to run around and explore. There are no facilities on site, but why not head nearby to the Charles Burrell Steam Museum to see their display of steam engines to make a day of it.
Cost: Free admission, donations welcome
10. Taverham Mill/Urban Jungle
NR8 6TA/NR8 5BG
The River Wensum flows through Taverham Mill making a wonderful backdrop for some picturesque walks. Lots of pushchair friendly routes, but can be muddy in winter. Your children can enjoy the play area and pond dipping and events are sometimes put on during school holidays throughout the year.
Combine a trip to Taverham Mill with a visit to Urban Jungle garden centre! There is a cafe, but wandering round looking at all the plants is always a winner…if you can resist the urge to buy any.
Cost: Taverham Mill Family ticket £12 (2 adults and 2 children).
11. Salhouse Broad/Ranworth Broad
NR13 6RX/NR13 6HY
If you fancy a day along the Norfolk Broads, both Salhouse and Ranworth are fab options and only a few miles apart if you fancy a trip to both and making a day of it.
The view at Salhouse is lovely. Plenty of picnic space, a small play area and The Hungry Otter food truck offers hot drinks and pastries. If you’re lucky, the ice-cream boat may also make a stop. Check out the website for some street food evenings planned across the summer too.
Head to Ranworth Broad and walk along the boardwalk to the viewing platform for a gorgeous view across the water. Cafe and a shop for an ice-cream in the village and you can climb the church tower for free!
Cost: Salhouse – £3.50 to park all day; Ranworth – Free parking.
12. High Lodge, Thetford Forest
IP27 0AF
High Lodge has so much to offer for a fun day out. There is a charge of £12.50 to park all day giving you access to miles of walking and cycling trails, a vast children’s play area spread out in the forest and lots of picnic space. If you wanted to spend a bit more you can pre-book BBQ pitches, have a go at Go Ape (if you’re brave enough!), try your hand at the new crazy golf course or hire bikes if you don’t want to bring your own. With a café and toilets on site, you’re set for a full day of fun.
Cost: £12.50 parking.
13. Cromer Pier
You don’t have to spend a fortune going to the seaside. Cromer has so much to offer for free. Parking can vary. If you can get a space on a side street, it’s free. Otherwise, there are pay & display car parks signposted throughout the town. There is no charge to go on to Cromer Pier. Try your hand at crabbing and take a look at The Lifeboat Station. Just off the pier there is the RNLI Henry Blogg Lifeboat Museum which is free entry, as well as the lovely beach. Don’t forget to save your 2p’s and have some fun in the arcades. Of course, if you did want to indulge, there are cafés, seafood stalls and ice-cream aplenty!
*** Cromer Carnival takes place 13th-19th August. Lots of family fun. Take a look at their website.***
14. Ladybelt Country Park/Mulbarton
NR18 9RT
Miles of woodland and grassland to walk, take some binoculars and see what birds you can spot, or how many frogs you can count in the ponds. Picnic tables spaced around to enjoy your lunch alfresco. Car parking is free although it is small so best to get there early. If you wanted to extend your day, 10 minutes by car and you’re in Mulbarton, where there is a children’s play area on the village green and Blakey’s Bus Café serving all kinds of delights (free parking).
Cost: Free
15. Pretty Corner Woods/Sheringham Town
NR26 8PA
Acres of heathland for walks and nature spotting. Walk to the highest point of Pretty Corner and you will get a wonderful view of Sheringham and the sea. There are two free car parks and a tea room. However, closest toilet facilities are in Sheringham.
Either take a short drive and park in the pay & display or if you fancy walking from Pretty Corner, it will take approx 15 minutes. Once there you will find the pebble beach, ice-creams, bakeries, the North Norfolk Railway steam trains and lots more.
Cost: Free parking at Pretty Corner Woods
16. Wymondham’s Market Place/Wymondham Abbey
NR18 0AX
Explore the local area with the ‘Wymtrails’ app which can be downloaded for free. All you need to immerse yourself in these and other stories, is a smart phone or device. This free trail will take you on a walk through Wymondham’s past, bringing its rich and varied history to life through augmented and virtual reality visual experiences. There is a trail for over 12s and younger children to explore.
Don’t forget to check the website regularly for events, activities, classes, clubs, days out ideas – we’re always updating it.
And if you’re on Facebook, follow the Norwich Mumbler FB page and join the Norwich Mumbler Chat Group for lots of support & ideas.
We’ve got you covered!
