I’m not a native Norfolkian (I know, that’s not really a word) and I only moved here in 2013 after graduating from Nottingham Trent University (I’m not from there either). Since then though I have well and truly fallen in love with living in Norfolk and even more so with exploring the county. Norfolk has so much to offer for families and there are some great places to go for a family friendly holiday. We’ve tried out a few places over the years:
Norwich
Norwich might not be people’s first thought when it comes to a family holiday in Norfolk but it’s definitely one of ours. We have stayed in a Travelodge in Norwich several times for a few nights at a time and plan to do so later this year as well. If you’re staying in Norwich city center you have set yourself a great base to explore and to enjoy some wonderful local attractions such as Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure, The Bowling House and Labyrinth, just to name a few.
Of course, staying in the city means that you are surrounded by shopping, parks, cinemas and restaurants. You’ll be able to fill your time in Norwich with ease.
YHA, Sheringham
Norfolk is very well-known for its beautiful beaches and stunning coastal towns. Sheringham is an absolute gem and somewhere we stayed in 2020. YHA Sheringham is a great place to stay as they have private rooms with bunk beds and it’s only a short 5 minute walk into town.
In Sheringham you can enjoy the beach, a variety of restaurants along with the traditional fish and chips and for a nice walk you could head to Sheringham Park. Sheringham is also home to the North Norfolk Railway where you can journey back in time and take a return trip to Holt. Being on the main train line too means that you can easily venture further afield without taking the car.
The Grove, Cromer
The Grove in Cromer offers a few different options for families. With a mix of rooms and yurts there is something for everyone. We stayed in a room with a separate sleeping area for Erin and we had such a lovely time. The Grove is only a short walk from the beach and into town, has a swimming pool for guests to use as well as a small play area for children. There is a restaurant on site but there are plenty of options for food close by as well.
Kelling Heath Holiday Park
Kelling Heath Holiday Park is fantastic if you’re looking for an alternative to Center Parcs. Kelling Heath offers a range of accommodation from holiday homes to woodland lodges but there are also camping places available too meaning options for various budgets.
Guests can go for a wonderful woodland walk, go for a swim in either the indoor or outdoor pool (depending on when you visit) and there are different activities run during the school holidays. If you want to stay on site then there are a couple of different play areas for children to enjoy. Kelling Heath is close by to some other lovely places in Norfolk such as Holt and Sheringham if you fancy a day out somewhere.
Haven Caister-on-Sea
Out holiday to Haven Caister-on-Sea was the first time we ever visited a Haven holiday park and it left such a good impression. Our caravan was much more spacious than I had been expecting and there was loads of different activities for Erin to do. We loved swimming and going to the beach every day as well as watching the free shows in the morning.
There are restaurants and takeaways on site and you can have some food delivered to your caravan too, which is always a great option when you’re away with children.
Haven Seashore
We decided to try the bigger Haven Seashore as it has had a lot refurbished over the last couple of years (2019-2021) and we loved it so much that we went back two years running. Although a bigger park, everything is still within walking distance and the beach is only a couple of minutes walk away.
Haven Seashore has a fantastic swimming pool with slides and a splash zone and this is bound to be a favourite with the children. There are loads of free and paid activities that children can take part in, all of which can be booked on the Haven app. The staff at Seashore are amazing and always make children feel special and make a point of coming to see everyone when they’re walking around.
There are various places to eat at Haven Seashore with deliveries to your caravan possible as well. Erin particularly loved having a pizza delivered to the door as well as eating in the restaurant.
These are just some of the places in Norfolk that we have been lucky enough to visit but there are loads of other places you could visit. You can find some more recommendations below from other bloggers.
Cherry Tree Holiday Park, Parkdean Resorts
As we drove into Cherry Tree, the children’s eyes lit up and we heard squeals of excitement. This was our first holiday, all seven of us together as a blended family. We knew it wouldn’t be easy with five children and two adults, but choosing Cherry Tree as our first destination was perfect. There was so much to do, both on site and in the vicinity.
On the first day, due to heavy rain, we made the most of the swimming pool. The children loved it and, while it might have been somewhat stressful for us to keep our eyes on five, it felt safe and not too big. The older three had a go at zorbing on the water later in the week, which was a huge hit. Crazy golf and the (exhausting!!!) bikes are memories none of us will ever forget. All five children enjoyed taking part in the daytime kids clubs, from dressing as superheroes to decorating toy ducks. The evening entertainment was fantastic, too. All in all, a wonderful holiday just the seven of us – we highly recommend Cherry Tree.
Clippesby Hall, Norfolk Broads National Park
The campsite at Clippesby Hall is our favourite place to go camping as a family. There are a number of different camping fields so you can choose the one that suits your preference. We like South Park as the tents go around the outside leaving a green area in the middle where all the children play together.
The on-site facilities are excellent. There is an outdoor pool, a tennis court, crazy golf, two play areas including a great tree house, bike hire and woods to ride them in. There is a bar and restaurant which serves pizzas and burgers as well as a small shop which bakes bread and pastries every day, you can order and then collect them for breakfast, it’s always our last day treat!
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Camping at Sandringham
Sandringham, found between King’s Lynn and Hunstanton is a large woodland outside of the royal estate. Nestled amongst the trees a number of camping sites can be found. The Camping and Caravan site is ideal to visit with families, with great pitches and facilities for the kids, in amongst the forest you can easily walk from the campsite and explore the woods and playgrounds. Within easy drive of the north Norfolk Coast and fantastic beaches, it’s a great place to stay and visit.
Hickling Campsite, Norfolk Broads
It’s no coincidence that we have just booked our third stay at Hickling Campsite in the Norfolk Broads. It’s the only place we’ve ever gone back to three times, and there’s plenty of good reasons for that!
It is a small and basic site, but it doesn’t lack the amenities that matter. The toilet and shower block are always clean and the new covered washing up area is a great improvement. It is also brilliantly situated, just a few minutes from Hickling Broad and close to the Norfolk coast. The best thing is the fact that there are plenty of braziers available to use free of charge-camping just isn’t camping without a campfire! There are also a multitude of little details-like the small shop on site, the PYO herb garden, the baby baths and the charging station that elevate this campsite from run of the mill to one of our favourites. It’s not for everyone, there is no electric hook up and not a huge amount of space for games etc, but we find that it suits us down to the ground.
Have you been on holiday in Norfolk before? Where did you stay?
It looks like there are so many lovely places to visit and stay in Norfolk. We haven’t ventured there as a family but would definitely love to at some stage so thanks for the info!
I’ve not been to Norfolk in years but it’s lovely there. This will come in useful if I decide to go with the kids. Cherry Tree Holiday Park sounds like fun.
I’ve never been to Norfolk before, but looks like some lovely places to stay and visit. Thanks for the suggestions
We have only been once to norfolk staying just outside of Cromer. I would really like to go back as we were only there for two nights and I am sure there is so much to see.
We have only visited Norfolk once and I would love a revisit, especially as the kids love BeWILDerwood.