How to Spend May Half Term in Norwich

How to Spend May Half Term in Norwich

by Katie Thompson 

May half term will soon be upon us, so it’s time to get those dates in your diaries! While for some it’s time to revise, it’s also the perfect time to make the most of our (hopefully!) glorious weather and spend the week with friends and family.    

And half term has loads on offer to entertain. From a fantastic games festival to creative workshops. Not to mention getting out and about in Norfolk- where fascinating trails, circus-themed fun and dino-sized excitement awaits! 

And if you’re looking for delicious family eats this half term, check out The Grain Kitchen and Namaste Village for special kids eat free offers!

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Norwich 

Norwich Games Festival
26 – 30 May, citywide, free & ticketed 

One of the city’s most anticipated festivals returns this May! Presented by The Forum and in partnership with Norwich University of the Arts, Norwich Games Festival is back for the whole half term and packed with all-things gaming! Think activities, talks, workshops, a retro arcade and more. 

Our top picks? The Game Cave (25 – 30 May, The Forum, 10am – 4pm, FREE), where you’ll encounter an array of classic video and retro arcade games, including some you won’t have heard of before! In The Game Lounge (26 – 30 May, The Forum, 10am – 4pm, FREE), a range of different hosts, such as Slice + Dice, will teach you how to play new, traditional and locally-made tabletop games. Finally, in workshop It All Flows Somewhere (Friday 29 May, The Forum, 2pm – 3.30pm, children £10, adults £12), you’ll devise a whole new neighbourhood, taking on roles like architect, landscaper and planner. Your final creation will be translated into a digital world that you can visit at home!

Stories in the Dust at The Garage
Tuesday 26 May, 11.30am & 2pm, under 25s £8, adults £10 

“A fun, powerful and poignant family show that beautifully explores human resilience”, Stories in the Dust follows the journey of two travellers crossing a mysterious land.  

Packed with puppetry, live music, songs, stories and games inspired by their collection of precious curios, this is a tale that transports you to another world- one where an ancient book guides your way, a drop of rain changes everything and a mighty lion holds its secrets in an old clay pot.

Workshops at Norwich Theatre Royal
26 – 28 May, various times, pay what you can from £0 

Across half term, Norwich Theatre Royal is holding a series of engaging workshops for any young theatregoers and budding storytellers. 

Begin with Sensory Stories (Tuesday 26 May, 2pm – 3pm, 7 – 11 years), designed with SEND families in mind. This is a journey of imagination and play using an array of sensory materials and props, relaxed, supportive and free to explore.  

Then, set sail on a daring voyage in A Pirate Adventure! (Wednesday 27 May, 10.30am – 11.30am, 4 – 7 years) using immersive storytelling, props, movements and games, before participating in a Play in a Day (Thursday 28 May, 10am – 1pm, 7 – 10 years & 2pm – 5pm, 11 – 15 years). Here, you’ll produce your own original short piece of theatre, whether you’re acting or directing. 

Story Tiles with Lucy Wheeler (8 – 10 years) at National Centre for Writing
Wednesday 27 May, 10am – 12pm, pay what you can from £2.50 

At the National Centre for Writing, Story Tiles pairs a fascinating reading and writing tour of Dragon Hall with a hands-on clay craft session! 

Join ceramicist Lucy Wheeler as she shows you this incredible building, complete with gargoyles, dragons and witches. Jot down any ideas or sketch something that catches your eye. Then, it’s time to design and make your own story out of clay!

Puppet-Making Workshops at Norwich Puppet Theatre
27 & 30 May, 10.30am – 12pm, £12 

Where better than Norwich Puppet Theatre to make your very own puppet and set?  

Start with Create Your Own Shadow Theatre (Wednesday 27 May) to build a tabletop stage and cast of characters that explore the ancient art of light and dark using a special stash of materials, including translucent colour films, articulated joints and spotlights! Then try Biggest, Longest, Tallest (Saturday 30 May) and see what long-bodied characters you create from bendy pipes, giant spring coils, foam tubes and more. Will you create a super tall giraffe, a towering alien or a mysterious Loch Ness Monster?

Paint Party with Creation Station at John Lewis
Thursday 28 May, 11am – 12.15pm, £15 

At John Lewis this May, take part in a fun Paint Party with Creation Station. It’s a fun, hands-on workshop where you’re encouraged to decorate a colourful masterpiece to take home. 

With step-by-step assistance, be confident in your design and see what you create!

Wild Weekend at Waterloo Park
Saturday 30 May, 11am – 4pm, FREE 

Kicking off their 30 Days Wild challenge, which invites everyone of all ages to connect with nature, Norfolk Wildlife Trust has joined forces with Waterloo Park for an exciting Wild Weekend! 

This free event offers a series of hands-on, wildlife-themed activities to discover more about the natural world and take action to protect its future.

Norfolk 

Everything Goes at Bure Valley Railway
23 – 25 May, 9am – 4.30pm, children from £7.50, adults from £15 (unlimited travel) 

There’s nothing like a nostalgic steam journey with all the family! And this half term, Bure Valley Railway’s Everything Goes event means that all engines, coaches and rolling stock will be in operation, chugging past swathes of vivid Norfolk countryside.  

See the inner workings of these incredible locomotives- you’ll be able to visit the Aylsham-based workshop- and travel on a whole host of different models. For younger visitors, complete the special activity trail before a bite to eat in Whistlestop Cafe.

Poo Trail at Pensthorpe
23 – 31 May, 10am – 5pm, £16.25 

It’s back! Pensthorpe’s ‘poop-ular’ Poo Trail is bigger and bolder than ever before.  

Think new trail points, prehistoric poos and the chance to graduate from Professor Poo’s Laboratory! As you follow the trail, there will be heaps of intriguing facts and insights to pique your interest. And you get access to the whole nature reserve with your ticket- including exciting indoor and outdoor play areas, pond dipping and a flamingo flock!

Dippy’s Foam Zone at ROARR!
23 – 31 May, 10am – 5pm, £22 

Looking to make some unforgettable memories this half term? ROARR! has it covered. 

Dippy’s Foam Zone returns! Unleash your energy and dive into a mountain of bubbles, before using your powers of investigation to track down the escaped dinosaurs in the brand-new Dino Hunter Experience. Are you brave enough to venture into an abandoned church to find them all? 

Then set off on ROARR!’s popular stamp trail- refreshed in time for half term. Collect them all for a reward at the end!

Buy One Get One Free at BeWILDerwood
23 – 31 May, 10am – 5pm, 92cm – 105cm £20.95, over 105cm £22.95 

To mark the launch of their newest book, A Holiday at BeWILDerwoodville, BeWILDerwood are offering a special Buy One Get One Free offer when you book in advance this half term!  

From giant slides and towering treehouses to puzzling play areas and curious characters, immerse yourself in a magical land of woodland Boggles and get lost in your imagination! We love the dizzying Sky Maze and Wobbly Wires.

Circus Skills at Holkham
24 – 30 May, 10am – 3pm, children £5, adults £7 

Roll up! Roll up! At Holkham’s Walled Garden, you can experience a riot of circus-themed fun.  

Get involved and test your skills at juggling, spinning plates, diablo, stilts and more! And if that hasn’t tired you out, unleash your creativity with exciting crafts and garden games for all the family.  

To make a day of it, we recommend bringing along a picnic, accompanied by a run around on the Estate’s beautiful parkland- followed by a go on the woodland play area, of course!