The Best Things to Do in Norwich With Kids
Enjoy a surprisingly fun family holiday in Norwich
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Norwich is one of the UK’s most vibrant cities. Situated in Norfolk, just an hour and a half from London and forty minutes from Cambridge, it’s well connected and is rich in art, culture and history... as well as the kind of activities that kids love and adults, well, tolerate. With family-friendly activities galore, the location near the seaside means that there’s always plenty of things to do in Norwich with kids, and here at Plum Guide, we've listed the very best of them. As usual, we've gone above and beyond to provide you with the ultimate guide to your travels, so heed our advice and you're sure to have a trip to remember.
Norwich countryside, Norwich, UK
Visit Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure
If your little velociraptors are obsessed with all things dinosaurs, head to Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure to let them run wild. Here, you’ll be transported back thousands of years to see the creatures which once ruled the earth up close. The dinosaur trail is a highlight, as well as the high ropes and the assault course - all of which are, of course, dinosaur themed. If the weather is bad (and it probably will be, let’s face it) head inside to Dippy-Ville, an indoor play space with interactive games. Hot tip: if you book tickets online, you’ll get a discount.
The Old Chequers, Plum Guide Home in Norfolk
Meet the animals at Wroxham Barns
Open since 1983, Wroxham Barns knows exactly what your bambinos want - cute animals, and lots of them. Unless you’re the kind of adult who shivers at the sight of anything furry, you’ll love it here too. Children can take part in feeding the lambs, collecting eggs, meeting sheep and cuddling everything from rabbits to guinea pigs to chicks. Inside, there’s a soft play centre, play houses, ride-on tractors and more. If you’re worried about your kids not learning enough, fear not - you can all learn about the farm animals and how to milk a cow, which is always a useful skill to have.
The Duck Pond, Plum Guide home in Norfolk, UK
Head to Gravity Trampoline Park
The kids are bouncing off the walls. You’ve already tried giving them stickers, turfing them into the garden and pouring yourself a large G&T, and nothing is working. When all else fails (or if it rains), go to Gravity Trampoline Park. Trampolines literally line the walls here. There are special platforms to jump off, slam dunk zones for getting out some aggression and organised games such as Dodgeball. For tiny tots there’s a toddler zone, so everyone can have fun safely. We recommend you bring your most supportive upper body wear for this one.
The Barn Owl, Plum Guide home in Norfolk, UK
Explore the Norwich Mystery Treasure Trail
Whodunnit? That’s the question you and your family are trying to solve on the Norwich Mystery Treasure Trail. If you're the type of parent who just loves your little darlings to learn something while on holiday, you’ll love this. After downloading a PDF of the trail, you’ll walk an easy-to-follow route and start cracking the code. With clues on local landmarks, buildings and signs, it’s tricky but not too tricky (hopefully).
The trail takes around an hour and a half to complete, but feel free to stop into one of Norwich’s many cute cafes to refuel with coffee and an iced bun. Our picks? Biddy’s Tea Room is a quaint, quirky place to refuel with a pot of tea and a huge slice of homemade cake. The cute, mismatched decor will keep your Instagramming teen happy. If you’re more of a coffee family, beloved Norwich mini-chain The Little Red Rooster is a very stylish (read: hipster) place to grab your caffeine hit to keep you raring to go. At the end of the trail, you’ll feel like Miss Marple.
Quay Cottage, Plum Guide home in Norfolk, UK
Take the family to BeWILDerwood
Playing on the playground? Meeting magical characters? Screaming your heart out on rides? If you just can’t decide what to do today, BeWILDerwood is for you. It has all of the above and even more. You can try to solve the sky maze, take a boat ride, whiz down zip wires and climb trees. For the less adventurous, there’s a craft tent and indoor play area, and a regular calendar of events with frequent appearances from The Curious Critters of BeWILDerwood. One thing: make sure your kids are the right height to ride certain rides, otherwise you risk tears in the queue, and that’s never a good thing to have on holiday. And rest assured, there are also plenty of comfortable benches where you can rest your weary, aged bones. Your kids will sleep like angels after a day running wild here.
Wander through Thetford Forest
Thetford Forest, Norfolk, UK
We know you're looking for things to do in Norwich with kids, but Thetford Forest is fun for adults too. One of the UK’s most beautiful forests, outdoorsy types will have the time of their life here. With four walking trails, three cycling trails, an archery field and outdoor play areas galore, your kids can really run off some steam. There’s also a Go Ape here, but the thing your children will really be begging you to let them try is the Forest Segways. Use your judgement as to whether your offspring would manage to ride a Segway or risk falling flat on their face. Pack a picnic, bring the dog and some wellies and set off for a great adventure.
