LOCAL AREA
Discover Norfolk with our local tips on where to go and what to do…
LOCAL PUBS
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 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)
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)
Waitrose & Tesco Supermarket, Swaffham (10 mins)
Great Massingham Village Store (10 mins)
CAFES & FOOD
Apple Café at West Acre Garden Centre (12 mins)
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)
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)
Next to Castle Acre Village Shop, the perfect pit stop after a walk around Castle Acre Priory.
NEARBY BEACHES
Wells Next the Sea (30 mins)
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
Burnham Overy Staithe (35 mins)
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
Brancaster Staithe (35 mins)
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
Holkham Beach (40 mins)
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
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)
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
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
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
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
An outdoor recreation centre with an aerial adventure high ropes course, army-style assault course, real tree climbing and quad biking.
KIDS ACTIVITIES
Award-winning WildRootz & Hootz House play areas (22 mins)
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
Holkham Hall woodland play area (35 mins)
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
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)
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
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)
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)
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… so we’ve compiled this list of not-to-be-missed local events.
MAY
Norfolk & Norwich Festival | May
Castle Acre Village Duck Race | 12th May 2019
Houghton International Horse Trials | 23rd-26th May
Heydon Village Tug of War | May 26th
Henry Moore at Houghton Hall | May – September
Norfolk by Design | May 1st – September 29th
LOCAL NORFOLK EVENTS
Norfolk is alive with things to see, do and experience… so we’ve compiled this list of not-to-be-missed local events.
JUNE
Mildred’s Magnificent Messy Fete at Bewilderwood | June 1st-2nd
Jarrold Ladies Day at Fakenham Race Course | June 2nd
West Acre Village Fete | June 15th
The Royal Norfolk Show | June 26th-27th
LOCAL NORFOLK EVENTS
Norfolk is alive with things to see, do and experience… so we’ve compiled this list of not-to-be-missed local events.
JULY
Folk in a field festival at Bradmoor woods | July 5th – 8th
Dereham Blues Festival | July 9th-15th
Holkham Country Fair | July 20th-21st
Holt Street Party & Town Picnic | July 21st
Holt Festival | 1st – 27th July
LOCAL NORFOLK EVENTS
Norfolk is alive with things to see, do and experience… so we’ve compiled this list of not-to-be-missed local events.
AUGUST
North Norfolk food festival at Houghton Hall | August 31 – September 1st
Harlequin Fair at Bradmoor Woods | August 1st – 4th
Houghton Festival | August 8th – 11th
The Classic Ibiza Concert at Blickling Hall | August 9t
Blakeney Greasy Pole Competition | August 18th
A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the outdoor theatre at Holkham Hall | August 28th
LOCAL NORFOLK EVENTS
Norfolk is alive with things to see, do and experience… so we’ve compiled this list of not-to-be-missed local events.
SEPTEMBER
Fungi Foray at Holkham Hall | September 27th
LOCAL NORFOLK EVENTS
Norfolk is alive with things to see, do and experience… so we’ve compiled this list of not-to-be-missed local events.
OCTOBER
Fungi Foray at Holkham Hall | October 11th
Halloween at Holkham Hall | October 25th-27th
LOCAL NORFOLK EVENTS
Norfolk is alive with things to see, do and experience… so we’ve compiled this list of not-to-be-missed local events.
DECEMBER
Thursford Christmas Spectacular | November 6th – December 23rd