How to Spend a Nostalgic Break in Norwich & Norfolk

13 February 2026

How to Spend a Nostalgic Break in Norwich & Norfolk 

by Katie Thompson

From family trips exploring Norwich’s many museums to beach hut days on the Norfolk coast and gliding gently along the Broads National Park. Reacquaint yourself with sun kissed memories of your childhood with a break in Norwich and Norfolk.  

Add a sprinkle of nostalgia to your stay, whilst making new memories with your nearest and dearest. Instead of sandy picnic sandwiches, try next-level NYC-style sarnies from Norwich Market. Take traditional big tops to new heights with Rock N Roll Circus. Or recreate boating on the Broads with popular pastime Pub & Paddle. Whether you’re here on a multi-generational trip or rediscovering your footsteps with your own friends or family. 

And Norwich makes the ideal base thanks to its mix of buzzing city streets and tranquil green spaces. Not to mention its proximity to the coast, Broads and countryside beyond, perfect for a (road) trip down memory lane. 

Here’s how to spend a nostalgic break in Norwich and Norfolk!

Top Tip: For getting around the City of Stories, don’t forget to pick up or download our FREE Norwich Map!

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In the City 

//See & Do: Norwich Castle, Monday – Sunday, adults from £15.30, children from £13.05; Bishy Barney Boats, from £25 for 1 hour for 4 passengers; Pub & Paddle, from £14pp for 2 hours; Norwich Market,, Monday – Sunday.

No matter how old you are, one of the most iconic and enduring things to do in Norwich is, of course, a visit to Norwich Castle. And following a £27.5 million redevelopment, when the Keep reopened in 2025, a trip to this must-visit landmark brings the past and present together.  

With its reinstated floors and authentic furnishings, you’ll be immersed into life of a medieval royal palace. Incredible immersive projections illuminate the walls, whilst the battlements are now open to everyone- offering breathtaking panoramic views of the city beyond. And you can still expect family favourites like dressing up, interactive displays on Romans, natural history and more, and the all-important well! 

Then it’s time for lunch on 900-year-old Norwich Market. With its fantastic array of multicultural food stalls, take a trip around the world with your tastebuds. Long-standing names like Lucy’s (a market mainstay since 1971!) offer traditional, vinegar-soaked fish and chips, while relative newcomers like The Bodega, offer their take on the everyday sarnie, NYC-style.  

And while you’re here, pick up a classic souvenir from Harvey’s Cards & Souvenirs, whether you’re a collector of postcards, magnets or tea towels! Or for something a little quirkier, head to nearby Lazy Lobster in the Royal Arcade for fun Norwich-themed prints and homeware. 

After lunch, take to the River Wensum and emanate long days sailing along the waterways of the Broads National Park from here in Norwich! With Bishy Barney Boats, you can motor into Norfolk’s luscious countryside, where fronds of grasses and bushy leaves embrace you and kingfishers flit and wide-winged herons soar beneath our county’s wide skies. 

Or if you want to stay in the city, hire a canoe with Pub & Paddle and glide alongside swans and local landmarks like Cow Tower. All before a delicious lunch in one of our city’s many waterside pubs- we recommend the Red Lion Bishopgate. 

If you’re visiting in summer, take note of Rock N Roll Circus (21 – 23 August, adults from £77.65, children from £33.75). Just like it says in the title, this is circus- but not as you know it. Beneath a big top in Earlham Park, come face to face with fire breathers, acrobats, aerialists, contortionists, stilt walkers and more, before seeing live headliners like The Streets, The Vaccines and Madness! Plus, there are free circus workshops to try (in case you didn’t already want to join the circus)! This is a spectacle for all ages, whether you grew up with your parents’ taste in music or have yet to step foot in a big top, elevating traditional circus with incredible live performance.

City and the Countryside 

//See & Do: Bure Valley Railway, Monday – Sunday, adults from £15, children from £7.50; Pensthorpe, Monday – Sunday, from £9.95; Wroxham Miniature Worlds, Thursday – Sunday, adults £13.95, children £10.95.

Just moments into Norfolk’s countryside, whether you’re in the Brecks, the Broads National Park or beyond, and it feels a world away from the bustle of everyday life.  

There’s nothing more nostalgic than chugging along the county’s blanket of fields in a traditional steam engine. With Bure Valley Railway, you can journey from the charming market town of Aylsham along Norfolk’s longest narrow-gauge heritage railway to the heart of the Broads, Wroxham. This scenic ride meanders alongside the River Bure, through peaceful villages. In springtime, the tracks are lined with daffodils; in summer, the view is awash with rich greens, sunshine yellows and clear blues overhead. Stop for a bite to eat in their quaint Whistlestop Cafe before carrying on your journey. 

Once you reach Wroxham, why not pay a visit to Wroxham Miniature Worlds? A love of toys is eternal, especially when you rediscover those you used to love growing up. This incredible indoor attraction is the largest modelling attraction in the UK, home to model railways, colourful doll’s houses and amazing LEGO displays made from 130,000 bricks! 

And if you’ve a love of wildlife- maybe you’ve caught your grandad’s bird watching bug or your mum’s skill for gardening, Pensthorpe offers a landscape that everyone can enjoy.  

Across this 700-acre nature reserve, you’ll discover woodland walks and nature trails, bird hides and wetlands, so bring your binoculars! There are five stunning gardens, with a beautiful variety of flowers, grasses and more to see all year round. Take note of Pensthorpe’s newest addition- the Biosonification garden, where you can listen to the ethereal sounds of plants growing. For the little ones, you can feed the ducks, run wild on adventure play areas, and encounter Pensthorpe’s resident flamingo flock- this one’s for the big kids too! 

And in the summer holidays (July – September), Pensthorpe’s pop-up glamping elevates your typical camping experience, immersing you into nature’s sights and sounds, not to mention the chance to see our unspoilt and shimmering night skies.

City and the Coast

//See & Do: Cromer Pier, Monday – Sunday; Holkham, Monday – Sunday, parking £6; Great Yarmouth.

Nothing says nostalgia like a holiday at the seaside. Luckily for us, Norfolk is blessed with everything from vast sandy beaches to pebbled shores and impressive cliffs. So, how about a road trip along the coast road?  

Start at Holkham, whose vast parkland and blockbuster beach are a wonderful way for getting outside. You can hire bikes and cycle through the sprawling Estate, before bobbing on a rowboat on their mile-long lake. Then, stroll down Queen Anne’s Drive and along the wooden boardwalks to the beach. Here, you can build sandcastle forts along the water’s edge or walk east to Wells-next-the-Sea, where you’ll be greeted by a snaking line of pastel beach huts. (It’s also a great spot for a Mr Whippy!) 

For a traditional seaside experience, head east to Cromer. This Victorian seaside town is home to bustling independent shops and cafes, as well as your must-have fish and chip shops and penny arcades. A trip to Cromer isn’t complete without a walk along the pier. When it’s warm and dry, try your hand at crabbing- how many can you catch?- before taking a moment to admire the horizon, coffee in hand.  

While you’re here, don’t forget to paddle and splash about in the shallows! If you walk along the beach far enough, keep your eye out for the town’s very own Banksy! 

Speaking of Banksy, Great Yarmouth is also home to the elusive creative’s street art. Known for its golden sands, it’s the town’s Pleasure Beach you won’t want to miss. With rides for every age, the star of the show has got to be its iconic wooden rollercoaster. It’s the only scenic railway still in operation in the UK and one of only seven in the world! (You might even recognise it from Madness’ House of Fun video!) With belly-flipping drops and 360-degree views of the coast beyond, this is just another memory to share.

Where to Stay

Part of the excitement of a family holiday is staying all together, right? 

At Poolside Lodges (from £220 for 2 nights) on the fringes of Norwich, you can make the most of three comfortable lodges (each with its own hot tub), a seasonal pool (May – September), shared garden (with BBQ) and a shared retro-inspired games room! (PAC-MAN tournament, anyone?) It’s like a home away from home. If you book all three (up to 10 guests), the grandparents can retire to their own lodge while the rest of the family stay up a little later (or the other way around!). 

For a city centre stay, try Red Lion Apartment (up to 6 people, from £574 for 2 nights). Conveniently located in the city’s Cathedral Quarter, this 3-bed, 2-bath apartment if perfect for charming riverside strolls, leisurely pub lunches and paddleboarding on the Wensum. Elsewhere, 115 Onley Street will have you living like a local (up to 6 people, from £574 for 2 nights). At the heart of the buzzing Golden Triangle, this 3-bed, 3-bath house is modern yet cosy, close to pubs, cafes, bars, independent shops and just a short walk from the heart of the city. 

And if it’s a friends getaway, we suggest booking a stay at one of Park Farm’s lodges or their dog-friendly cottage (up to 6 people, from £329 for 1 night)! Just a few minutes’ drive from the City of Stories, you’ll wake up with Norfolk’s spring green countryside right outside your door. In the evenings, there’s a large sofa to lounge on or a secluded patio that’s ideal for rediscovering your love of card games.