Who doesn’t love a good festive day out in the build-up to Christmas? There’s something special about experiencing something just as festive as it is awe-inspiring that really gets us ready for a visit from Saint Nick himself!
Whatever the reason, here in Norwich & Norfolk, there are plenty of fantastic festive experiences to enjoy. So, be the first of your friends and family to get yourself booked up for the season, it’ll save you plenty of time and help the Christmas budgeting! Read on for our round-up of this year’s best Christmas must-sees and dos in the City of Stories and across the county.
And if Christmas markets in Norwich are more your style, we’ve got you covered with plenty of choices for those too, check out that blog for more info!
If you love history, Norwich, or even better, both, The Shoebox Experiences ‘Chronicles of Christmas Walking Tour’ is made for you! Experience the magic of the festive season in the City of Stories with this fascinating tour.
Along this 1.3 mile, fully accessible 90-minute tour, you’ll join an expert in Norwich as you weave your way through the city’s sparkling Christmas lights to discover how Norwich celebrated through the ages. It’s brilliant fun for the season, and the perfect way to get your loved ones together.
This tour will run on select dates throughout November and December, with more details to follow. Tickets go on sale in October and are available for £15 per adult, £8 per child aged 4-12, with under-4s going FREE.
Santa Claus is coming to Norwich! And the whole family can meet him this December in his Grotto at the Norwich Puppet Theatre. Join Santa in his festive toy workshop at the Theatre and choose your very own puppet gift from his magical tree to take home with you. It’s a fantastic experience for young children to bring the magic of Christmas to life here in the City of Stories.
Santa will be visiting Norwich across select dates in December, with the full details available on the Puppet Theatre website. Sessions can be booked for up to three children at a time, and tickets are not required for any adults in attendance, but please note that a maximum of six people are allowed in Santa’s Grotto at any one time. Tickets for this event cost £10 for one child, £19 for two, and £28 for three.
The magic of Christmas is coming to BeWILDerwood this December! Running on selected dates from Saturday, December 2 – Saturday, December 23, you can venture down The Sparkly Light Trail as you spot Christmas crackers, silly snowmen, and even a giant Christmas pudding! (Don’t worry, it’s not going to be on fire.)
Head down to the Storytelling Stage to watch a mini BeWILDermas Pantomime full of fun and festivities for the whole family to cheer about!
Timeslots for this special event start from 4pm, with tickets available for just £15.50 per person. Booking as soon as possible is advised to avoid disappointment!
What Christmas surprises will you discover at the Sparkly Light Trail?
Just like the Christmas Spectacular, ‘The Enchanted Journey of Light‘ at Thursford is a must-see for lovers of everything Christmas. Take an adventure through the Fantasyland Building and the outside world of the Lantern Light Extravaganza, where you’ll find plenty of creatures and sculptures to take your breath away! You can even watch Santa’s toy wrapping machine work its magic! Tickets are available for £22.
Take it one step further and make lifelong memories as the children can even meet Santa Claus himself! Everyone remembers their first time meeting Santa, and on ‘Santa’s Magical Journey‘, your children can experience the magic for themselves. You might even see a few penguins, polar bears, and giant teddy bears on your journey through… Just watch out for snowballs! Tickets include entry to the Enchanted Journey of Light and are available from £22.50 for children and £15 for adults.
This December at Pensthorpe, bring your children’s imagination to life in a brand-new North Pole experience, complete with Santa Claus! Join him and the mischievous elves as they spread cheer, hum festive tunes, and decide who’s going to be on the naughty or nice list…
Magical storytelling sessions will also take place with the man himself in his specially designed Grotto, followed by a festive crafts session with the elves, making beautiful decorations in the workshop!
And if that wasn’t enough excitement, guests will enjoy hot chocolate and cookies with Santa and his helpers before being shown the much-anticipated present room, where every child can choose a special gift to take home.
This incredible day out is on throughout multiple days of December, taking place at 10:15am, 11:30am, 1:45pm, 3pm, and 4:15pm. Tickets are available from £14.95 per child, £10.95 for adults, and £6.95 for children under two years old. Book your tickets soon to guarantee a spot in Santa’s Grotto!
Meet Santa Claus himself at Pensthorpe’s magical new experience this year!
2023 is the year for brand-new Christmas experiences, and at Roarr!, you can take the season to a new level. We all know Christmas is the time of year to eat, drink, and be merry, right? So, Roarr! have made sure you can do it all in one place at their exciting Christmas market – Sparkle at Roarr!
So, gather the family, and celebrate in a truly magical way as the park opens from 4:30pm with FREE entry, where you can step into Christmas a little early and enjoy activities and workshops, including the award-winning Grotto Experience, a synthetic ice skating rink, and so much more. On top of that, Dippy’s Theatre will remain open into the evening, showing a Christmas film for when it’s cold outside.
Sparkle at Roarr! is open from select dates across November & December, with booking essential on select activities, see the Roarr! website for more details.
For an exciting family trip, hop on board the Festive Express steam train at Bure Valley Railway this December! On this journey, you can enjoy an hour-long experience from their Aylsham Station, including festive treats, a 30-minute steam train ride, and a visit to see Santa in his grotto to finish! Every child will even receive a personalised present from Santa himself, getting the magic of the festive season started early!
This festive experience is available on select dates throughout December, and tickets are available from £22 per person. Book your train ride early to save your spot!
The Festive Express at Bure Valley Railway
There you have it! Just a few of Norwich & Norfolk’s amazing experiences for the festive season this year. Of course, there is plenty more to come, so be sure to come back, check out our Christmas in Norwich page, and keep your eyes peeled for even more recommendations!
