by Katie Thompson
Whether it’s a trip during the school holidays or a weekend away for some quality time together, a family break in Norwich is sure to be special.
For starters, there are plenty of attractions to keep all ages entertained (not to mention an exciting line-up of events). Whether you’re into history, love to dress up or can’t get enough of a certain cuddly character (hint: he loves a marmalade sandwich)! Go with the flow and see where Norwich takes you- this is a chance for everyone to relax and enjoy themselves.
Here’s our guide to a 3-day family break in Norwich- where to stay, what to do and, importantly, where to eat!
Family Holidays in Norwich & Norfolk | Norwich for Little Bears | Norwich with Little Walking
Poolside Lodges is self-catering accommodation made for families
When you’re looking for somewhere to stay, chances are you’ll want a home away from home. That’s what makes a self-catering cottage so appealing- a living room to play board games, a dining room for meals together and maybe even a garden to get outside.
Poolside Lodges is just 4 miles from Norwich’s centre (a 14-minute drive or 22-minute bus journey). Their Poolside and Woodside lodges both sleep 4, are fully equipped with all the necessary appliances, and have their own hot tub and outdoor areas. And there’s a shared pool (May – September) and games room!
Elsewhere, Go Norfolk Cottages boasts three family-friendly options to choose from, while Norfolk Cottages and Kett Country Cottages have a brilliant range of accommodation located in Norwich’s village-feel suburbs- meaning public transport links to the centre are efficient, easy and often!
You can also check out our Stay page for more accommodation options.
The Museum of Norwich is packed with fascinating and interactive displays
After travelling to the City of Stories, the best way to spend your first day is with a gentle visit to the Museum of Norwich (family discount adult £7.30 with paying child £6.90, under 4s free). The museum tells the story of the city’s history, its people and its industries through ten fascinating galleries.
There’s lots to keep children entertained, from interactive galleries to immersive displays, hands-on areas and a recreated cinema. While you’re here, make sure to explore the shopping and trading display- set out like real-life shop windows with drawers to open and new stories to find- and the recreated 20th century pharmacist’s shop, whose shelves are packed with original packets and containers. And for the adults? You might find the array of Start-Rite school shoes familiar…
Spend a relaxed evening with great food and fun games at Slice + Dice
End your first day with a tasty meal out before heading back to your accommodation in anticipation of a full day in Norwich tomorrow. At Slice + Dice, pair tasty plant-based dishes with a board game or two to truly make the most of this quality time together. Slice + Dice’s huge variety of games are organised based on theme and difficulty. Share nachos and wings while you try your hand at cards or tuck into a bowl of pasta while you build a new world.
And if you’re looking for dessert, look no further than Cafe Gelato. Here, there are so many flavours to try for the little ones and big kids, including classics like Madagascan vanilla, Norfolk strawberry and chocolate, and exciting flavours like cheesecake, tiramisu and coconut!
If you want a lovely walk on a summer’s evening, just 2 miles from the city centre you’ll find Whitlingham Country Park, part of the Broads National Park. Here, discover open expanses of water as well as acres of countryside walks filled with nature and spaces for a family picnic or ball game.
The Details
Visit: Museum of Norwich; Whitlingham Country Park.
Eat: Cafe Gelato (Tuesday – Sunday); Slice + Dice.
You won’t want to miss out on all that’s on offer at Norwich Castle!
A family break in Norwich (or any visit to Norwich for that matter), isn’t complete without stepping foot into the iconic Norwich Castle (family discount adults £7.30 with paid child £6.90, under 4s free). You’ll quite easily while away a morning here (and maybe even a whole day once the keep reopens on 7 August 2025- when you will be able to explore from basement to battlement for the first time in 900 years!).
Here you can really immerse yourself into local history, with galleries spanning archaeology, history, art and more. Start off with the Romans as you make coin rubbings and ride on a wooden chariot just like Boudicca leading her people into battle! From here, you can dress up like Anglo-Saxon villagers, find the hidden natural history jokes and use touchscreens to discover more information. This really is a fully interactive experience, catering to parents, little ones and older children.
Get outdoors in Chapelfield Garden
When you start to feel peckish, head direct to Norwich Market through our stunning Art Nouveau Royal Arcade. You won’t be disappointed! This is the street food destination in the city. And certainly, a feast for your senses. There are New York-style sandwiches for a twist on a classic lunch, fluffy fish and chips with lashings of vinegar, and crispy samosas too. Follow this with churros and chocolate sauce if dessert is on the cards!
Make the most of this (hopefully) glorious summer weather and spend your afternoon outside in the sunshine- remembering your hats and sun cream, of course! Chapelfield Gardens is a brilliant space for a runaround or kickabout and is equipped with play areas for both young and older children (plus, the kiosk is a go-to for a 99!).
Or get yourself over to Thorpe Green in Thorpe St Andrew (2.7 miles from the city centre) and hire an electric boat from Bishy Barney Boats (from £25 for an hour for 4 people) to discover Norwich’s medieval trading routes and the wealth of nature in the Broads National Park (in summer, boats need to be returned by 6pm).
And if the weather isn’t playing ball, pay a visit to Castle Quarter and Mulligans for fun activities like indoor crazy golf, bowling and shuffleboard.
Yalm is a go-to for different tastes- it’s a spot fit for children and mums and dads!
For families with different tastes, it can be difficult to choose the right place for dinner. Not in Norwich. At Yalm Foodhall, there are 8 different kitchens to choose from, whether your tastes are spicy or sweet, you’re a meat-lover or vegetarian and everything in between. You can’t go wrong with an authentic Neapolitan pizza at Eric’s. And we love the smoky chargrills at Souk. And for dessert? Well, Christophe’s is ideal for crepes and sundaes!
Or how about COSMO? This world kitchen buffet offers everything from Chinese noodles to Indian curries to Italian meatballs. And children are bound to love the chocolate fountain. Not to mention, you’ll be served by a cute cat robot!
The Details
Visit: Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery; Chapelfield Gardens; Bishy Barney Boats; Castle Quarter; Mulligans.
Eat: Norwich Market; Yalm; COSMO.
Norwich Cathedral’s Explorer Backpacks unlock a whole new level of secrets and stories
On your final morning, there’s still time to explore Norwich Cathedral for an hour or two (free). Our striking Romanesque cathedral has 900 years of stories to discover and during the school holidays they hold themed activity days, trails, crafts and performance workshops!
For families, the cathedral’s Explorer Backpacks are a must. Aimed at ages 5 – 11 and free to borrow, this is an exciting way to find out more about the building’s secrets with binoculars, torches, magnifying glasses and more to help you along the way. We love to try and spot the centuries-old graffiti!
Norwich Cathedral is home to the largest monastic cloisters in the country- it’s as though you’ve been transported to Hogwarts! The cloister garden’s labyrinth is a lovely green area to let off some steam- see if you can make your way out again before stopping for a well-deserved snack in the Refectory Cafe. (We recommend the brownie.)
Snap a photo with Paddington before you leave
Heading out into the beautiful Cathedral Close and towards Ethelbert Gate, you’ll pass a familiar face. Norwich is home to the 24th Paddington statue, so it would be rude not to stop for a photo to remember the moment (you might even want to pack a marmalade sandwich or two in preparation)!
And if you’ve still got room (and time) for more cuddly characters, head through Tombland towards Elm Hill. As well as being a picture-perfect cobbled street, it’s home to The Bear Shop, which is a dream for collectors and children alike. Its windows glow with the friendly faces of teddies like Paddington, Charlie Bears and Steiff Bears.
The Details
Visit: Norwich Cathedral; Paddington; The Bear Shop.
Eat: Refectory Cafe at Norwich Cathedral.
Check out Norwich’s exciting line-up of summer events, including Rock N Roll Circus
This summer brings plenty of events to take note of while you’re here in the City of Stories. From July to September, across the school holidays, there are so many fun activities to keep the whole family occupied!
GoGoSafari | 23 June – 30 August | FREE to take part (map £1)
National Centre for Writing Family Activity Days | Mondays from 28 July – 1 September | FREE
Norwich Theatre Summer Activities | 1 August – 29 August | FREE and ticketed
Norwich Castle Royal Palace Reopening | Thursday 7 August | Tickets on sale 24 July
Sainsbury Centre Family Friendly Sculpture Park Tours | 19 July, 8 August & 21 August | FREE
Norwich Theatre Open Day | Saturday 9 August | FREE
Rock N Roll Circus (music & circus festival) | 14 August – 16 August | Adults from £66.10, children from £27.45
Paddington | FREE to visit
