Fun for Kids

Child-friendly Activities in Norfolk

Here’s a selection of some of the best things to do with children in Norfolk – all within reach of our Barsham Barns family holiday barns.

Sea Life Sanctuary at Hunstanton

The Sea Life Sanctuary has otters, penguins and more than 30 permanent displays all showcasing the rich diversity of life under the waves. There’s a rescue sanctuary too.
01485 533576
www.sealsanctuary.co.uk

Banham Zoo in Attleborough

This Zoo has 35 acres of beautiful parkland and gardens with innovative and exciting enclosures, providing sanctuary for almost 1000 animals ranging from big cats to birds of prey and shire horses.
01953 887771
www.banhamzoo.co.uk

The Thursford Collection in Thursford Green

The Thursford Collection has traction engines, mechanical organs, Wurlitzers and fairground rides.
01328 878 477
www.thursford.com

North Norfolk Riding Centre in Holkham

The North Norfolk Riding Centre offers lessons for all ages from beginners upwards and hacking in beautiful countryside. Occasional rides at Holkham for experienced riders only.
01328 820933

North Norfolk Railway

This steam railway takes you through some lovely Norfolk countryside on the trip from Sheringham to Holt.
01263 820800
www.nnrailway.co.uk

Wells & Walsingham Light Railway

Another great day out for railway fans on this narrow gauge steam railway from Wells. Just a 20-minute drive from our family friendly cottages at North Barsham.
01328 711630
www.wellswalsinghamrailway.co.uk

Sea Life Sanctuary at Hunstanton

Splash Swimming Pool, Sheringham

A great swimming pool with wave machine and waterslide.
01263 825675

Hunstanton Oasis Swimming Pool

Hunstanton Oasis is a leisure pool with flume and spa pool, squash court, sunbeds, cafe and fitness studio
01485 534227

Doodle Pots Café, Holt

A great day out and a chance to get creative by decorating your own pots and taking home a present you made yourself!
01263 713135
www.doodlepotsnorfolk.co.uk

Dinosaur Park, Weston Longville

Life size dinosaurs hiding in the undergrowth plus activities for children and a playground.
01603 876310
www.dinosauradventure.co.uk

Glandford Shell Museum

The Shell Museum was built to house a collection of shells made over a period of sixty years by the late Sir Alfred Jodrell.
01263 740081
www.shellmuseum.org.uk

Crabbing

Get kitted out with a crabbing line, bucket and some bacon!
You can get kitted out with the essential equipment at shops in Wells, Blakeney, Brancaster and Burham Overy. Try Blakeney Quay, Burnham Overy Staithe, Wells Harbour Quay or any of the bridges on the marshes at Morston.

The Great East Barn
(sleeps 14)

Our flagship property sleeping up to 14 in spacious luxury

High Barsham
(sleeps 12)

A stylish and spacious barn on 3 floors sleeping up to 12/13

Greys Court
(sleeps 10)

Once the old stables, now a spacious holiday barn

Long Meadow
(sleeps 8)

Long Meadow dating from 1715 is our oldest property.

Little Barsham
(sleeps 4)

Cosy Norfolk barn with exposed beams and contemporary design.

The Loose Box
(sleeps 4)

The most recent barn conversion at Lower Farm Barns.

“We had a lovely time, thank you for your warm hospitality.” – Karina Ajayi, August 2019

“Amazing place and fab venue. We would love to stay and never leave. Beautiful surroundings have made our weekend extra special. You have also given me some ideas for home décor! We’ll be back.”

“Amazing location for exploring the stunning north Norfolk coast line. Stylish and comfortable living space and dining area both inside and out. Well equipped kitchen to make the most of all the local produce. Comfy beds and relaxing environment make it a restful retreat and the steam room and spa pool add an extra dimension.”
– Dionne, June 2019

“A beautiful barn property in the middle of the countryside. This barn is furnished to a high standard and with everything you could possibly need, including a number of extra facilities available on site- spa room and games room.”
– Sue, June 2019

“The most happy and peaceful few days imaginable. Thank you very much.”

“Amazing accommodation – we wish we were here longer! Great evenings in the front garden – we love the planting and the table! Will definitely return one day.”

“Thank you! We absolutely had a fabulous time. It was just what we needed for the last weekend of the summer before school and all that it entails. And all the recommendations provided in your email and information binder were terrific.” – David Kirkpatrick, August 2019

“We had a really fabulous holiday – everything in the barns was so thoughtfully considered it made for a thoroughly comfortable and relaxing holiday. We particularly loved the spa room which has spoilt the kids for any future holiday!” – Benita Shepperson, October 2019

“Thank you for a truly wonderful weekend. Not a single complaint to make! I’ll certainly recommend these beautiful barns to friends.”

“Thank you again for everything, we had a wonderful stay, we would definitely highly recommend the barns. It was actually our first holiday as a family of three and it was perfect!” – Chloe Ireland, September 19

“Fantastic week and stunning weather given the time of year. Excellent barn and the perfect place for a relaxing week with a 9 month old! Thanks for making us feel so welcome and rested.”

“We had such a nice time in Little Barsham – a home from home. This is our second visit (we were in Long Meadow last time) and really wished we could have stayed longer!”

“Twelve of us stayed in High Barsham and had sunshine from the morning we arrived. Sipping wine in the garden on the first evening felt like we were in the South of France! The barn was really fantastic and after a day on hired bikes and at the beach to come home to the spa was perfect. So much space and light and your interior was perfect for the occasion. We highly recommend Kelby the chef who cooked up a fantastic BBQ and we were pampered by Jacqui and Emma… the back massage comes highly recommended!”

“I really write with a smile on my face from this weekend. Whether you want to walk/relax/bike or bring in entertainers, this barn is perfect for people who appreciate quality and great taste… thank you Barsham Barns, I am sure we will see you again!!”

“Just a short note to say a big thank you for our stay over the weekend, we had a fantastic time. The barn more than lived up to our expectations and we really enjoyed ourselves.”
Nick Dakin & guests, April 2019

“We have loved every minute of our stay here – this barn accommodation is so pleasing in every way; light, modern and incredibly well-equipped, but we also love its seclusion, the ducks, and views over the fields.”

“This place has restored our faith in self catering in Britain. What a beautiful, well equipped and comfortable barn. The swallows have been a pleasure to babysit and it was a real treat to see all the sheep being sheared in the opposite field. We hope to be back.”

“Lovely surroundings, luxury barns, good company, fine food and wine. Laughed so much it brought a tear two to our eyes. A big thank you to the High Barsham team.”

“We have found our accommodation to be quite superb. It’s beautifully situated and and really peaceful. We have really enjoyed this wonderful weather, and have been so lucky. Today we visited Binham Priory, had a picnic on Weybourne beach, visited Holt, and then went back to Cley to pick up the fresh crab for supper and some smoked fish to take back home.” – Carol Crotty, September 2019

“My three year old boy woke up this morning and said “Mummy I love this house. Can we buy it and stay here forever?” It is true – I couldn’t agree more. It is a most tastefully converted barn with a wealth of charm and character. A really relaxing stay has been had by all and we are already planning our return.”

“Wonderful stay! Home from home for us with a 2 year old and 8 week old baby but a change of scene did us the world of good. Great location and fabulous barns! We will certainly be back with a bigger crowd to use another gorgeous barn! Thank you.”

“We’ve had a fab time in this lovely barn. The children have loved the upstairs den. The swallows, house martins and barn owls have kept us all entertained. Been so lucky with the weather!”

“Lovely short break – great weather and lovely base. Thank you for making it so welcoming.”

“A lovely weekend – a very sympathetic and impressive conversion. We enjoyed ourselves enormously – the beaches at Wells and Holkham were lovely and the weather was kind.”

“What a lovely place to arrive! Positive film star stairs and sofas, and the dining table is a joy, really big enough for 14. We had some good coastal walks, long happy meals round said table and a lot of sitting around! Thanks for an excellent venue.”

“We all loved the barns and their setting – especially the space, design and comfort of the interiors.”

“What a fabulous place! There isn’t a single detail that hasn’t been thought of here. My family and I have had a wonderful four days at this wonderful barn. We cannot wait to return and see more of the unspoilt surroundings. Thank you to Susan the housekeeper for presenting Long Meadow to us in such a welcoming way.”

“Long Meadow is the most stunning barn. The rooms are beautiful and the amenities and surroundings are fantastic. 6 of us stayed here this weekend (5th-8th July) as we did the Holkham 70.3 triathlon. It was a fab location, the barn is very spacious and homely, and there are loads of pubs nearby, as well as the coast. The hot tub and spa are amazing and great that you can book each day. We were welcomed with cake, and there are nesting swallows too! A real countryside reTREAT!! Thank you Jenny and Michelle.” – Katie Ewhurst, July 2019

“Amazing house, brilliant fun had by all. Really well equipped and lovely décor. Thank you for a memorable weekend. I would highly recommend to friends.”

“It was such a beautiful time – complemented by incredible architecture, luxury, company, views and all went smoothly. Will most definitely be back!”

“We had an amazing stay, you have lovely accommodation and we will be revisiting.” – Debbie Miles, August 2019

“I just wanted to drop you a line to say how much we all enjoyed our stay at High Barsham from Thursday to Sunday. What a fantastic place, beautifully done! Thank you. Everything we needed was there and we all had a wonderful time together as a big family celebrating my husband’s birthday. Even the weather was good!” – Debra Brown & family June 2019

“Beautiful barn, very clean and great facilities. Lots of little touches. Very peaceful location and close to beaches. Would recommend for a family stay!”
– Tom, August 2019

“Thank you for a wonderful property and location for our Mum’s 70th birthday celebrations! Everything was wonderful and everyone had a lovely weekend. Thank you!”
Natalie & family, May 2019

“We had a great time thank you. The barns are lovely and perfect for what we needed. Also Kelby was lovely and our BBQ was gorgeous!” – Emma Rogers, September 2019

“The barn was everything we had looked for and a little more. The kids loved the spa, my wife loved the lavender garden and I loved the very comfortable settees. The design of the barn was inspiring; we kept looking at things and making mental notes for our new house. Overall 10/10!”

“We had a great time thank you. The barns are lovely and perfect for what we needed. Also Kelby was lovely and our BBQ was gorgeous!” – Emma Rogers, September 2019

“Beautiful barn, very clean and great facilities. Lots of little touches. Very peaceful location and close to beaches. Would recommend for a family stay!” – Tom, Airbnb August 2019

“I’m trying to take a snapshot memory of all these beautiful views! It’s been such a relaxing, fun and inspiring place to stay – thank you! Big thanks to Eileen and David for looking after us so well – they are both so lovely.”

“Thank you! We had a wonderful visit and loved the area and accommodation” – Jill Regan, August 2019

“Such a beautiful location, spacious clean and might I add Warm! I’ve never valued underfloor heating so much in my life. great for large groups looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.” – Valerie Erere, June 2019

“Our third visit to Long Meadow and fifth overall to Barsham Barns. I’m sure we will be back. The children love it and so do we!”

“Just wanted to say how much my family enjoyed our stay at Barsham Barns. It truly is a wonderful place to stay. We all had a very good time and it was just perfect. Thank you."
Pete Mulvey & guests, May 2019

“What an amazing space you’ve created! We’ve had a wonderful weekend and all appreciated the space and facilities. We hope to return. Many thanks.”

“I just want to thank you for providing a truly luxurious base for our first trip to Norfolk. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit, exploring the amazing beaches and towns, before coming back to relax at the barn.” – Farida Hussein, August 2019

“Lovely time, super location. Really good house for children. Spa great for the girls.”

“We stayed at the Great East Barn for a wonderful long weekend. It was the perfect location for hen do activities – yoga class in the garden, BBQs and al fresco dining and lots of space for dancing, sunbathing & garden games. The rooms are beautiful, and architecturally the barn is stunning. It’s a great place for a get together with a large group as lots of social communal areas but lovely rooms for people to have their ‘own space’. It’s also a great location with Wells beach down the road.”
– Laura, June 2019