Hugging the North Sea on England’s east coast, Norfolk is a largely rural county that centres around the lively city of Norwich. It’s home to the Queen’s country estate at Sandringham and wildlife-filled nature reserves, as well as an adventure playground that kids will love.

Things to do

From discovering the county’s cultural heritage at Norwich Castle to seal spotting in Blakeney, Norfolk is sure to charm.

Tour the Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery. Boasting an outstanding collection of Norwich silver and Lowestoft porcelain, the 11th-century Norwich Castle serves as the main museum in Norfolk. Learn about the region’s Viking past and see a reconstructed Anglo-Saxon gravesite before admiring paintings from the Norwich School of artists.

See the Queen’s residence at Sandringham Estate. Serving as the country retreat of Queen Elizabeth II, Sandringham House is surrounded by an 8,100-hectare estate in the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You can follow in the footsteps of royalty while touring the ground-floor rooms and explore the beautifully landscaped gardens, then stretch your legs on the walking trails that lead through Sandringham Country Park.

BeWILDerwood Norfolk. Families shouldn’t miss a visit to the adventure park at BeWILDerwood, which comprises several treehouses, rope bridges and zip lines in a natural woodland setting. Toddlers can play safely in the Tiptoe Valley or at Toddlewood-on-the-Hill, with all of the equipment and attractions based on children’s books written by Tom Blofeld.

Spot wildlife in Blakeney National Nature Reserve. Encompassing salt marshes, tidal mudflats and reclaimed farmland, this nature reserve is home to England’s largest colony of grey seals. A variety of birdlife can be spotted along its shingle and sand dunes, including sandwich terns, black-headed gulls and ringed plovers.

Getting around

Norwich International Airport is the main aviation gateway to Norfolk and has flights to destinations across Europe, while a network of trains connects the county to London and Birmingham. Buses travel throughout Norwich’s urban areas, although the city centre can be explored on foot. Norfolk’s terrain makes it an ideal destination for cycling.