Information About the Area

Wroxham, the capital of the Norfolk Broads, has a range of riverside restaurants and pubs to choose from, along with a good selection of local shops - including Roy's, 'the world's largest village store', founded in 1899. Boats can be hired by the day or hour from Wroxham Broad and Horning, while the riverside park has public moorings, bridges, paths and seating areas for those who prefer to feed the ducks from dry land! The historic market towns of Aylsham (close to the Boleyn estate at Blickling), Coltishall (home of the World War II airbase) and North Walsham are within easy reach, as is Cromer, with its renowned end of the pier shows and summer carnival.

Norfolk’s heritage coast stretches from Hunstanton, via Holkham, Sheringham, Cromer, Bacton, Happisburgh, Waxham, and Winterton on to the sands of Great Yarmouth’s ‘Golden Mile’. The Blakeney National Nature Reserve is one of the largest undeveloped coastal habitats in Europe, and the Norfolk Broads National Park offers a unique variety of wildlife. Close to St. Gregory’s, Hoveton Hall Gardens, or the beautifully designed grounds of East Ruston Vicarage, developed as a labour of love from bare, redundant farmland offer a treat for gardeners, while enthusiasts of the steam age will be in their element on the Bure Valley (Wroxham-Aylsham) and North Norfolk (the Cromer-Holt ‘Poppy Line’) railways. There are also many country estates and National Trust properties to discover, from Sandringham and Blickling Hall, to Sheringham Park and the Horsey Wind-Pump.

Beside the delights of messing about in boats and playing on golden sands, children have the even more energetic prospect of the recently opened Bewilderwood Adventure Park just a few minutes away (and guaranteed to provide parents with a sound night’s sleep), the traditional funfair and Pet’s Corner at Wroxham Barns (while parents tour the craft units – including Chris’s artist’s workshop), or Great Yarmouth’s famous Pleasure Beach amusement centre. We are 25 miles from the Pleasurewood Hills theme park with its white-knuckle Wipeout ride. Horse riding is available at West Runton's Shirehall Centre, and other riding schools nearby, while riding on the beach is an option at the Pakefield Riding School on the Suffolk coast (30 miles).

Norwich, with its magnificent Norman cathedral (its foundation stone laid in 1096) and castle keep (erected to pacify the troublesome locals in 1075), its pedestrian-friendly medieval town centre and award-winning Chapelfield Mall shopping centre offers a huge variety of shops, pubs, clubs, restaurants, museums and cinemas, all within easy walking distance. From Morrocan and Thai, to sea food and vegetarian, all tastes are catered for. Trips to the Castle's battlements and dungeons vie for attention with civilised alfresco dining opportunities or major shopping expeditions. Renowned as the city with more pubs and medieval churches per square mile than any other, Norwich really does have something for everyone.

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