Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
Things for families to do in Norfolk during summer 2020
Check out this selection of activities this summer in Norfolk.
**Due to the current Covid-19 situation, we always recommend that you visit the website and social media of any attraction or venue that you are planning to visit for updates and any restrictions**
Jump to Hirsty's Farm Park/ Hemsbys Mega Maze
1. Bewilderwood - Get ready to run WILD again… BeWILDerwood is open for the Summer!
The WILD and imaginative adventure park with magical treehouses and a hint of intriguing characters is open from the 18th July.
The 20-acre adventure park is filled with zip lines, slides, mazes and lots of climbing through magical treehouses, where ALL the family can run WILD together in the fresh air.
The Twiggle Team have been working their socks off to get everything as safe as possible so people can play in the woods again.
You can read about the measures BeWILDerwood has put in place on their website. www.BeWILDerwood.co.uk – prebooking is now essential!
Award-winning Hirsty’s Family Funpark will be open from July 14 to September 3. This popular family attraction will this year host an Alice in Wonderland maze – it’s loads of fun and has the added bonus of painting the roses red!
The list of play equipment is constantly growing and includes the hay bale mountain, Hemsby hill slide, a football game, swings, trampolines, bouncy fun, the tyre-run challenge, Hirsty’s activity combine harvester, zip wire, a new upgraded pedal go-cart track and farmyard crazy croquet. New for 2020 is the Barrel train – take a bumpy ride through the maze!
For very small visitors there is a sand pit, pedal tractors and new animal-themed rockers. All covered by the entrance price. Tractor and trailer tours are available on some days, dependant on the availability of a tractor during busy harvest times. Plus Nerf gun games run throughout the day for an extra charge. Afterwards, settle down for one of the farm’s own-reared beef or lamb burgers. Also on offer in Hirsty’s Hunger Hut are a range of sandwiches, toasties, baked potatoes, hot and cold drinks and Farmer Dann’s locally produced ice cream.
Another new attraction is the Outdoor Live Cinema, open 4 evenings a week for a fun filled night of entertainment with live music, light show and 1980’s Classic Films all in the comfort of your own car.
Find out more here: http://hirstysfamilyfunpark.co.uk/
(Photo credit: Mike Page Aerial Photography)
3. The Garage - Performing Arts activities at The Garage
Keep active and your performance skills alive this summer by taking part in The Garage’s performing arts activities for all ages.
Want to develop your skills? Their Performing Arts Week will have you working with professional performance practitioners, which will include bespoke one to one and group sessions in musical theatre, acting and street dance!
How about trying something new? They are also running two weeks of online ‘Try It Out’ Tasters in theatre, dance and fitness for just £4.
More information and bookings: https://thegarage.org.uk/new-summer-activities-performing-arts
4. Amazona Zoo - Visit South America in Cromer this summer!
.Amazona Zoo offers a unique and day out where families can explore and learn about a varied and fascinating selection of animals native to South America.
Home to over 200 tropical animals, including Jaguars, monkeys, snakes, caimans, parrots, flamingos and tapirs, the zoo is committed to helping visitors discover nature and providing education on conservation issues set within 15 acres on the north Norfolk coast. The café is open offering a range of takeaway hot and cold snacks, meals and drinks. The Tropical House is open and the resident Spider House and the Guinea Pig Village provide a scary and sweet opportunity to get a close look at these beautiful a docile creatures. Book your tickets online only. For more information to plan your day out, visit www.amazonazoo.co.uk, call 01263 510741 and follow @AmazonaZoo on Twitter and AmazonaZoo on Facebook.
From early September Dotty Pottery will be operating from White House Farm Sprowston.
In the meantime, they will continue to provide their usual services at their current location until they close in early August in preparation for their move.
They are also offering their takeaway caddies which include all equipment necessary to paint in the comfort of your own home.
They are operating a strict booking only policy as well as strictly adhering to government guidelines regarding Covid-19.
For more information please see their website.
To book in please email dottypottery12@hotmail.co.uk or call on 07495397165.
Get closer to nature at Blickling Estate this summer.jpg)
With acres of parkland and gardens to explore, secret spaces for hide and seek, and plenty of open areas for picnics, go and enjoy all that Blickling Estate has to offer. Download their Percy The Park Keeper garden trail to enjoy while you’re there then treat yourselves to an ice cream snack from Muddy Boots, before you head home.
Open 9am – 4pm Monday to Friday | 9am – 5pm at weekends.
Head to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/blickling to find out more and download your Percy garden trail.
7. Norfolk Museums reopening details
Norfolk Museums will begin re-opening some of theirmuseums to the general public in August.
This will begin with the three largest sites: Time and Tide Museum of Great Yarmouth Life, Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse and Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery.
Time & Tide and Gressenhall will open to the general public from Monday 3 August.
Advanced booking will be required for entry and tickets will become available on the Norfolk Museum Service website on 1st August. Further details will follow on how to book and what time tickets will go live.
Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery will re-open later in August, with the exact dates still to be confirmed. The remaining seven sites that make up Norfolk Museums Service will reopen when it is safe to do so.
Measures have been put in place to keep you safe and allow you to visit the museums with confidence. That will include access to hand sanitiser and hand-washing facilities, clear signage and recommended visitor routes to allow for social distancing.
Get more updates on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/NorfolkMuseums/posts/?ref=page_internal
8. EXPERIENCE T-REX-CELLENT FUN AT NORFOLK’S LARGEST DINOSAUR PARK
Prehistoric paradise Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure is inviting families from across the land to experience East Anglia’s largest dinosaur park and all-inclusive family day out as it launches a new ride attraction and presents five live, outdoor dino shows, per day throughout August.. The 85-acre park and woodland is situated in the popular staycation destination of North Norfolk and is home to T-Rexes, pterodactyls and reptile creatures
Guests can also face their fears on the world’s first parallel sky rail, Predator High Ropes, make a splash at East Anglia’s biggest outdoor water attraction Dippy’s Splashzone and wander through the enchanting Dinosaur Trail woods, surrounded by beautiful green areas to kick back and picnic. The park’s latest attraction, Dippy’s Raceway, will be opening on 1 August, where children can expect to feel the wind in their hair as they race through the prehistoric track in diddy dino cars.
For the first time in its history, Roarr! launches a new live outdoor show every day throughout August between 10.30 am to 3.30pm. There will be five shows a day, featuring a live show and disco dancing from the park’s mascot, Dippy, and animal encounters all staged within the park.
Visit the website to find out more: https://www.roarrdinosauradventure.co.uk/
9. Family walks in Norfolk
If you are looking to get out and about as a family during the summer months the Norfolk Trails network brings together over 1200 miles of walks, cycle and bridle routes throughout our beautiful county.
Throughout the county there are many trails and routes which will challenge, delight and inspire you. Choose a route which suits your needs and takes you through the type of countryside you enjoy the most.
The Visit Norfolk website details the county's main routes and downloadable maps including short and circular walks, long-distance walks and more. https://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/things-to-do/walking.aspx
10.Fossil Hunting in Norfolk
Fossil hunting is a great activity for all families interesting in local and natural history. Visit the Discover Norfolk website to find out more about the best locations for finding them.
https://www.discovernorfolk.co.uk/story/fossils-on-the-beach-17/
11. Beach days in Norfolk
The Visit Norfolk website has an excellent guide to local beaches across the region. Check them out for info about accessibility and facilities.
https://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/inspire/Norfolk-beaches-ultimate-guide.aspx
12. National Trust Family Days Out
National Trust venues across the county are gradually reopening to visitors in line with social distancing guidelines. Selected National Trust beaches, carparks and parklands are available for visits with their own restrictions and some locations will require pre-booking. Visit the website for more information: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/norfolk
13. Bure Valley Railway is back to steam!
From Saturday, 1st August the Bure Valley Railway will be operating a three-train service five days a week (Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) with trains running every hour from both our Aylsham and Wroxham Stations. All their coaches have been fitted with special screens and passengers will have a reserved compartment for their party for both the outward and return journey. Go and support the railway by travelling with us and enjoy a safe day out by steam.
For train times and online booking visit www.bvrw.co.uk