LOCAL AREA
Discover Norfolk with our local tips on where to go and what to do…
LOCAL PUBS
The Dabbling Duck (12 mins drive)
Beautiful country pub with a consistently delicious menu in the idyllic village of Great Massingham, complete with kids play area. Dogs are welcome (they even have a gourmet dogs menu!) and the Sunday Roast is phenomenal.
LOCAL PUBS
The Brisley Bell (15 mins drive)
The Brisley Bell is newly renovated to an exceptional standard and offers delicious food with a fine-dining evening menu.
LOCAL PUBS
The Newton George & Dragon, Castle Acre (5 mins drive or 20 minute walk)
Our closest pub, just down the road. Newly renovated with outdoor seating and play area. They also serve breakfast from 8am to 10am.
NEAREST
SUPERMARKETS
Spar Village Shop, Castle Acre (5 mins drive or 30 minutes walk)
Waitrose & Tesco Supermarket, Swaffham (10 mins drive)
Great Massingham Village Store (10 mins drive)
CAFES & FOOD
Apple Café at West Acre Garden Centre (12 mins drive)
This hidden gem is a best kept local secret, nestling in West Acre Garden centre in a converted Apple store. Get your flat white fix and smashed avos on sourdough (a rare Norfolk find), or opt for a hearty bowl of soup and a slice of home-made cake.
CAFES & FOOD
CoCo’s Café & Deli, Swaffham (15 mins drive)
Head to Swaffham market on a Saturday morning and round off your trip with a visit to CoCo’s. The homemade food is both nourishing and delicious, with outdoor seating in a sunny courtyard. You can also purchase their homemade cakes and conserves.
CAFES & FOOD
Castle Acre Fish & Chip Shop (10 mins drive)
Next to Castle Acre Village Shop, the perfect pit stop after a walk around Castle Acre Priory.
NEARBY BEACHES
Check out our blog here for our teams favourite beaches
Wells Next the Sea (30 mins drive)
Be sure to take a stroll around this classic seaside town when visiting Wells’ beach. Go crabbing off the harbour whilst eating fish and chips, then descend into the hull of ‘The Albatross’ dutch barge for pancakes and live music on weekend evenings.
NEARBY BEACHES
Check out our blog here for our teams favourite beaches
Burnham Overy Staithe (35 mins drive)
Generally less busy than Holkham as the meandering walk towards the beach takes around 20 mins. This is a great spot to collect Samphire for supper and at low tide, you can descend down the river bank and swim in the warm waters of ‘Dead Man’s Hole’.
NEARBY BEACHES
Check out our blog here for our teams favourite beaches
Brancaster Staithe (35 mins drive)
A picture postcard beach with undulating sand dunes perfect for setting up your picnic spot for the day. Head to the White Horse Pub for a fantastic view over the harbour and pop into The Fish Shed for some fresh fish to bring home.
NEARBY BEACHES
Check out our blog here for our teams favourite beaches
Holkham Beach (40 mins drive)
Holkham Beach is what seaside dreams were made of. The spectacular view as you pass through the pine forest onto the beach is breathtaking. This is a great spot to watch horse riders gallop along the shore line and the new ‘Hideout’ cafe offers drinks and snacks with zero-plastic packaging.
HISTORY & CULTURE
Castle Acre Priory (10 mins drive)
Just down the road, Castle Acre priory is one of the largest and best preserved monastic sites in England dating back to 1090
HISTORY & CULTURE
Houghton Hall & Gardens (15 mins drive)
Houghton has become a cultural hub for modern art in the Norfolk countryside. Discover the vast and impressive toy soldier collection and descend on the gardens to behold the spectacular collection of sculptures including the famous ‘SkySpace’ by James Turrell. In summer you can visit Norfolk by Design exhibiting talented local artists.
HISTORY & CULTURE
Wiveton Hall & Cafe (40 mins drive)
Family home of Desmond MacCarthy, star of the BBC’s ‘Normal for Norfolk’. There’s a vibrant café, a pick-your-own fruit farm, a wonderful shop, art exhibitions and beautiful gardens.
HISTORY & CULTURE
Holkham Estate (40 mins drive)
Family home of Desmond MacCarthy, star of the BBC’s ‘Normal for Norfolk’. There’s a vibrant café, a pick-your-own fruit farm, a wonderful shop, art exhibitions and beautiful gardens.
HISTORY & CULTURE
Blickling Estate (45 mins drive)
Run by the National Trust, Blickling’s beautifully maintained footpaths are inviting all year round – with breathtaking blue bell walks in April being a magical favourite. There’s an action-packed events schedule including the infamous ‘Classic Ibiza’ concert. Head to the Bucks Arms afterwards for a scenic pint in the snug.
KIDS ACTIVITIES
Check out our blog here for more ideas for great days out with the kids
ExTREEme Adventure (5 mins drive)
An outdoor recreation centre with an aerial adventure high ropes course, army-style assault course, real tree climbing and quad biking.
KIDS ACTIVITIES
Check out our blog here for more ideas for great days out with the kids
Award-winning WildRootz & Hootz House play areas (22 mins drive)
Epic indoor and outdoor adventure playgrounds for the whole family whatever the weather! Adventure across rope bridges, scuttle up ginormous tree towers and race down winding slides in this magical wild world.
KIDS ACTIVITIES
Check out our blog here for more ideas for great days out with the kids
Holkham Hall woodland play area (35 mins drive)
Tree houses in the sky, high level walkways, rope ladders and zip-wire. It’s all great fun! Designed for all ages, there’s plenty for toddlers to explore too.
KIDS ACTIVITIES
Check out our blog here for more ideas for great days out with the kids
A huge, award winning forest of family fun and outdoor adventure. Treehouses, Wobbly Wires, Slippery Slopes, Crocklebogs, Twiggles and Boggles, storytelling, boat trips, marsh walks and really yummy food!
NATURE & WILDLIFE
Pensthorpe Natural Park & Play Area (25 mins drive)
A full day out for families, bird watchers, wildlife enthusiasts and garden lovers, Located along the river Wensum, in the heart of North Norfolk, you can explore 700 acres of woodland walks and lakes; four stunning gardens, along with WildRootz – a huge outdoor adventure playground – and the award-winning ‘Hootz House’ play area.
NATURE & WILDLIFE
Beans Seal Tours (40 mins drive)
Book at the Morston Anchor Pub or on the phone. Pick the right time of year and you’re sure to see hundreds of Common and Grey seals with their pups, snoozing by Blakeney point. The knowledgeable helmsman will tell you all about the diverse wildlife you’ll spot along the way. Head back to the Morston Anchor for a hearty bowl of Chowder afterwards.
NATURE & WILDLIFE
RSPB Snettisham nature reserve (38 mins drive)
Panoramic views across the saline lagoons, salt marsh and the vast expanse of mudflats that make up The Wash. On the biggest high tides from late summer onwards, tens of thousands of wading birds take flight as the incoming tide pushes them off the vast mudflats, referred to as the ‘whirling wader spectacle’.
NATURE & WILDLIFE
RSPB Titchwell Marsh (38 mins drive)
With diverse habitats that include reedbeds, saltmarsh and freshwater lagoons where avocets, bearded tits and marsh harriers nest. There’s also a wide sandy beach here, which offers extensive views across The Wash.
LOCAL NORFOLK EVENTS
Norfolk is alive with things to see, do and experience… but with 2020 being a year of anything but normal so many events are being postponed so we recommend you checking with the venue itself before you plan anything.
Here are some venues that we know and love, and run some great events throughout the year
Sandringham Country Estate
From Drive in Cinema experiences, Christmas Craft fairs, Luminate Christmas Trails and Proms in the Garden, Sandringham Estate has a lot to offer
LOCAL NORFOLK EVENTS
Norfolk is alive with things to see, do and experience… but with 2020 being a year of anything but normal so many events are being postponed so we recommend you checking with the venue itself before you plan anything.
Here are some venues that we know and love, and run some great events throughout the year
Thursford
For a Christmas Spectacular not to miss, Steam Engine Museum, and other great events check out Thursford
LOCAL NORFOLK EVENTS
Norfolk is alive with things to see, do and experience… but with 2020 being a year of anything but normal so many events are being postponed so we recommend you checking with the venue itself before you plan anything.
Here are some venues that we know and love, and run some great events throughout the year
Holkham
From Feast in the Park showcasing some of Norfolk’s local food suppliers, Halloween at Holkham, and Open Air Concerts, Holkham has something to offer everyone
LOCAL NORFOLK EVENTS
Norfolk is alive with things to see, do and experience… but with 2020 being a year of anything but normal so many events are being postponed so we recommend you checking with the venue itself before you plan anything.
Visit Norfolk
Keep up to date with Norfolk events on the Visit Norfolk site