Places to stop off in Norfolk and explore for an afternoon.

Places to stop off in Norfolk and explore for an afternoon.

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skip_1

Original Poster:

3,459 posts

189 months

Monday 21st July 2014
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Hi all,

We are attending a wedding in Essex in early August and want to stop off somewhere in the Norfolk region on the way down and back to break up the journey for little Skip_1 who is a year old. We have never really visited the area other than Cromer, but would want to be not too far off the main routes south to Essex.

What I am looking for are any recommendations for places/attractions to stop over at for an afternoon on the way down and back. Somewhere where there are some nice walks to do or a town to wander around. Any recommended visitor attractions?

I look forward to some recommendations smile

iluvmercs

7,541 posts

226 months

Monday 21st July 2014
quotequote all
If you are skirting the county, then I guess you would want places in the north west and west of the region.

Best walking will be King's Lynn to Hunstanton and a bit further round the A149, up to Holkham Hall - the hall itself is a lovely place to spend some time, although may be too far east for a fleeting visit.
RSPB reserves and the like are that area, plus beaches galore.

Burnham Market, perhaps Fakenham and Swaffham are good for wander. The priory at Castle Acre, just north of Swaffham, is lovely.

Thetford and Downham Market may be decent for a fleeting visit. Theftord has its forest areas surrounding it.

The Queen's residence of Sandringham (north of King's Lynn) offers a lovely place to stop.

Also worth considering just out of Norfolk are Bury St Edmunds, Wisbech, Newmarket and Ely. All have rather pleasant old centres to spend a little time.

Darren

Wicker Man

789 posts

242 months

Monday 21st July 2014
quotequote all
Oxburgh hall is well worth a visit Could easily be on your route too. There are also a couple of pubs in the village that are worth a look for lunch.

woodytype S

691 posts

236 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Norwich is a nice city,lots to see and do,and not out of the way to get to Essex.

skip_1

Original Poster:

3,459 posts

189 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Thanks for the suggestions so far, will do some research into these places tonight.

Simpo Two

85,147 posts

264 months

Tuesday 22nd July 2014
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Ely is very attractive with a pretty waterfront where you can buy ice cream and watch boats smile

skip_1

Original Poster:

3,459 posts

189 months

Monday 11th August 2014
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Quick update to say thank you for the suggestions. We stayed in Huntingdon at the Falcons Nest and used this as a base to go to the wedding but also visits to Thetford Forest and Ely as suggested. Ely was a bit of a hidden gem, somehow we hadn't heard of it before!

We are already planning to come back down to see Oxburgh Hall and IWM Duxford.

KelWedge

1,278 posts

184 months

Monday 11th August 2014
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Don't expect to do Duxford in an hour or two! Great place combine the visit with the car show in the spring and get the best of both worlds check out piston heads East Anglia www.phea.co.uk shows bit for previous stuff. wink