Top Attractions in Norwich and Norfolk

Top Attractions in Norwich and Norfolk

by Katie Thompson

Whether it’s the school holidays, a long weekend away, or you’re visiting friends and family, Norwich and Norfolk are packed with amazing attractions to keep the whole family occupied! And with many holding special activities during half terms too, there’s even more reason to check them out.  

From history to wildlife, outdoor adventure to arts and culture, there’s something for all tastes and all ages (and all pockets!). Plus, for summer 2026, most attractions (and places to eat) are making the most of Great British Summer Savings– meaning tickets are more affordable and accessible!

Keep reading for our list of the top attractions in Norwich and Norfolk!

(Prices shown not part of Great British Summer Savings. For more details, please visit individual attractions’ websites.)

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Norwich

Norwich Castle

Part museum, part art gallery, Norwich Castle is undoubtedly a go-to city centre attraction and it’s the UK’s most accessible castle. As a medieval royal palace, you’ll get a true sense of what life was like when it was built by King Henry I- from basements to battlements. With a 900-year-old history and displays spanning Anglo-Saxons, natural history, Egyptians, modern art and more, it’s bursting with treasures and stories! 

Adults from £15.30, children from £13.05, family discount adults from £13.95 with a paid child ticket. Pre-book online for the best prices. Twilight ticket 1 hour before close £2.50. Open daily, 10am – 5pm.

Museum of Norwich 

There’s nowhere better than the Museum of Norwich to learn about the city and its people. Through interactive displays and immersive exhibits, you’ll easily spend 2 – 3 hours here. There are plenty of must-not-be-missed moments- including a recreated early 20th century chemist’s shop and restored 19th century handloom! 

Adults from £7.74, children from £6.57, family discount adult from £6.93 with a paid child ticket. Pre-book online for the best prices. Twilight ticket 1 hour before close £2.50. Open Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 4.30pm. 

Strangers’ Hall 

As one of Norwich’s hidden gems, Strangers’ Hall is well worth a visit. This well-preserved 14th century house is like a living doll’s house, where each room transports you through eras from Norwich’s past, from the Tudor Great Hall to a Georgian dining room and Victorian nursery. Step into its secret walled Knot Garden (free entry when open) and soak up this great building’s history. 

Adults from £6.75, children from £5.85, family discount adult from £6.12 with a paid child ticket. Pre-book online for the best prices. Twilight ticket 1 hour before close £2. Open Wednesday and Saturday, 10am – 4pm. 

Norwich Cathedral 

Norwich Cathedral: a beautiful Romanesque building with 900 years of history set in 44 acres of well-kept grounds. Its spire (the second tallest in the UK) towers above our city skyline- you can’t miss it! Discover its secrets with a free 1-hour tour as you wander through the magnificent monastic cloister (the largest in the country) and into the nave. Look up at this landmark’s brilliant roof bosses!

FREE to visit, donations appreciated. Open daily, 7.30am – 6.30pm. 

The Cathedral of St John the Baptist 

We’re a city with not one, but two, cathedrals. The Victorian Gothic Revival architecture of The Cathedral of St John the Baptist is an impressive sight to see. Inside, even more so, thanks to stunning arches, vivid stained-glass windows and marble details. Our top tip? Take a tower tour for sky-high panoramic views of Norwich (various dates, adults £12.50, children £7.50), then make sure you stop by their garden and Narthex cafe! 

FREE to visit, donations appreciated. Open daily, 7.30am – 6pm. 

Sainsbury Centre 

As the only art museum in the world to recognise art as living, you can be sure the Sainsbury Centre will offer something new and intriguing. Set in a futuristic Norman Foster-designed building, pieces span from Mesoamerica to modern day Europe, including works by names like Degas, Picasso and Bacon. Experience their forward-thinking exhibitions or explore the outdoor Sculpture Park- this is a fantastic day out.  

Pay what you can. Open Tuesday – Friday, 9am – 6pm and Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 5pm. 

The South Asia Collection 

Tucked away in Norwich’s city centre, The South Asia Collection is a celebration of South Asian culture- home to an eye-catching array of objects, art, textiles and furniture from India, Indonesia and more. Not to mention their Country & Eastern shop, where you can take a piece home for yourself! (We love the block print textiles.)

FREE to visit. Open Monday – Saturday, 9.30am – 5pm. 

The Julian Shrine 

The Julian Shrine is the site of medieval mystic Julian of Norwich’s anchoress cell, who lived here 650 years ago. Close to death, Julian translated her 16 visions into her book Revelations of Divine Love, the first to be published in English by a woman. Discover the reconstructed cell, contemplate her legacy and find out more at The Julian Shrine next door. 

FREE to visit. Open daily, 9am – 6pm. Visitor centre open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday, 10am – 3.30pm.

The Cat House 

Feline lovers take note. Norwich’s welcoming cat lounge The Cat House is perfect for a relaxing session surrounded by furry friends. Play with the lounge’s residents, let them claim your lap for their next nap and enjoy cat-themed board games. Plus, there are feline-themed art workshops to take part in too! Cat crochet anyone? 

Sessions from £10. Over 10s only. Open Wednesday – Saturday, 10am – 6pm.

Taverham Mill

Just a stone’s throw from the city centre, Taverham Mill is a dog friendly nature reserve, home to fishing lakes, a cosy cafe, and friendly Highland cattle! Amble along rustic boardwalks through wildflower meadows, shaded woodland and grassland, spotting birds of prey, butterflies and more. 

Adults £7, children £5. Open daily, from 10am. 

Norfolk 

The Bug Parc 

This award-winning attraction is unique to Norfolk. The Bug Parc is home to hundreds of incredible insects, millipedes, spiders and butterflies. Equally as exciting as it is educational, you’ll get to see these tropical creatures up close and maybe even handle one or two! 

Adults £14.50, children £12.50. Open Wednesday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm and daily during school holidays and bank holidays. 

ROARR! 

As the largest dinosaur-themed park in the UK, you can guarantee a ROARR-some day out at ROARR!. There’s so much to see and do at this family adventure park, including animatronic dinosaurs, Dippy’s Splash Zone, Predator High Ropes, all-new ride Fossil Fuels and Dinomite- the county’s largest indoor play area! 

Adults and children from £15. Please refer to the park’s opening calendar to see when the attraction is open.

Pensthorpe 

Getting outdoors is easy at Pensthorpe. This 700-acre nature reserve is made for budding wildlife enthusiasts, veteran bird watchers and garden lovers alike. With woodland walks, nature trails, lakes and thriving habitats, you can enjoy a day immersed in Norfolk’s wonderful natural landscape. In summer Pensthorpe, is known for their exciting Maize Maze (as is the Goat Shed)! Will you find your way out?

Adults and children from £10.95. Open daily, 10am – 5pm, January – October.

BeWILDerwood 

There’s nothing like a magical day out- and that’s just what BeWILDerwood offers. Deep in the woods of the Norfolk Broads, you can discover a land of enchanting characters, packed with treehouses, marsh walks, zip wires, boat trips and delicious food! 

Adults (over 105cm) from £22.95, children (92cm – 105cm) from £20.95. Opening days vary, 10am – 5pm, February – September and 11am – 6pm, October – November. 

Go Ape 

Go Ape is an exhilarating outdoor adventure awaiting you in Thetford Forest. See how high you can go on their thrilling aerial assault course of wobbly bridges, Tarzan swings and the grand finale: a soaring zip-wire. And for those who prefer to stay on solid ground, how about Segway along the forest floor?

Courses from £21.95. Opening days and times vary. Go Ape is open daily throughout summer.

Wroxham Miniature Worlds 

As the largest indoor modelling attraction in the UK, Wroxham Miniature Worlds was made (quite literally) for lovers of LEGO, model trains and toys! There’s 10,000 square feet to explore, including huge model railways, a 130,000-birck LEGO world, over 100 vintage toys, classic vintage arcade games, knitted sculptures and more.

Adults £14.95, children £12.95. Opening days vary throughout the year, from 10am.

Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens 

Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens is home to a special collection of rare animals from Asia, many of them critically endangered. You can support their conservation by visiting these tigers, red pandas, snow leopards and more. See them close up from a network of raised walkways and appreciate their magnificence. 

Adults £19.95, children £15.95. Open daily from 10am.

Bure Valley Railway 

All aboard the Bure Valley Railway! This is Norfolk’s longest narrow-gauge steam railway, taking you from the lovely market town of Aylsham to the bustling hub of the Norfolk Broads, Wroxham. Along this picturesque 9-mile stretch, take in wide-open vistas of rural countryside, the river Bure, meadows and ancient pastures. 

Adults from £15, children from £7.50. Open daily, 9am – 4.30pm.

Thursford 

A truly all-year-round attraction, Thursford is a brilliant day-out for every age. From their Steam Museum in summer- the world’s largest collection of steam engines and organs- to their winter wonderland at Christmas, which includes the Christmas Spectacular, Santa’s Magical Journey and Enchanted Journey of Light, this is an unforgettable place to visit. 

Adults from £8, under 15s FREE for the Steam Museum. Open Sunday – Wednesday (some Thursdays), 11am – 4pm, April – September and throughout November and December with Christmas Spectacular performances at 2pm & 7pm.

Cromer Pier 

Home to the only full-season end of the pier show in the world, Cromer Pier is a must-visit for awe-inspiring variety performances (not to mention an iconic Norfolk sight!). With a West End-level of production, choreography, vocals and more, this is an intimate venue made for breathtaking and laugh-out-loud moments. 

FREE to visit, performances ticketed. Open daily. 

Holkham 

Along a beautiful stretch of the Norfolk coast is Holkham. This sprawling estate is home to a grand Palladian-style Hall, flower-filled walled garden, green parkland with a resident deer herd, mile-long lake, and plenty of cycle paths and walking trails to take you into its nature reserve and wild sandy beach. 

FREE to visit, parking £6.50. Open daily, 10am – pm. Holkham Hall is open Sunday, Monday & Thursday, 10am – 4pm, March – October, adults £21, children £2.15.

Fairhaven Woodland & Water Garden 

Nestled in the heart of the Broads National Park, Fairhaven Woodland & Water Garden is a beautiful natural space, home to ancient King and Queen oaks, colourful flowers and thriving wildlife. Whenever you visit, you’ll be greeted by twittering birds and a placid lake (where you can take boat trips in warmer weather)! 

Adults £12, children £5.70. Open daily, from 9am.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary 

Home to over 70 residents, Redwings is an award-winning horse sanctuary where you can meet loveable donkeys, ponies and horses- from handsome Callisto to the adorable Arya. And whilst you’re here, take a stroll along peaceful wildlife walks and sit down for a tasty lunch in their cafe! 

FREE to visit. Open Friday – Monday, 10am – 4pm.