What's on during May 2024 Half Term

Take a look at our round up of events and things to do this May 2024 half term in north Norfolk. There's lots to enjoy, whatever the weather. Take a look at our 2024 discount vouchers here so you can have more fun for less!

Events during half term
 

Power of Pollination at Pensthorpe: 25 May to 2 June 2024.
Be a brilliant explorer at Pensthorpe this May half term and uncover the Power of Pollination. Did you know butterflies use their feet to taste? Or that one honey bee colony can pollinate 300 million flowers in a day!? Or, that in fact moths are the largest pollinators?! Learn more about our wonderful and whacky pollinators with a fun and interactive trail on the reserve. There will also bee FREE crafts, pond-dipping, flamingo talks, bee and butterfly themed treats in the cafe and so much more! Find out more here.

Late Night Opening at ROARR!: 25 May 2024 (6-10pm)
Have a twilight adventure and roam the ‘Park in the Dark’. Are you brave enough to tackle Predator High Ropes, or enjoy the thrills of the rides? With over 25 ROARR-some attractions to try, you’ll be guaranteed an action-packed evening. Find out more here.

Junior Farmers' Discovery Week at Wroxham Barns: 25 May to 2 June 2024
Join a week of family fun at the Junior Farmers' Discovery Week - a fun, cute experience designed to bring families closer to animals and the heart of farm life on Junior Farm. This exciting event is perfect for those eager to meet and learn about our farm animals and engage in hands-on Junior Farm activities. Children can have a go at mucking out the animal barn, bottle-feeding the calves, dressing up as a vet and grooming the friendly ponies. Find out more here.

Nature by Rail with Bure Valley Railyway: 25 May to 2 June 2024

Get closer to nature around the railway this May half term! Enjoy an I Spy children's trail on the train journey with a free prize on completion. The Whilstlestop Café will be decorated and Woodland Lunch Boxes will be available to purchase (not included in ticket price). Find out more here.

Spring Bank Holiday with North Norfolk Railway: 25 May to 2 June 2024

Enjoy unlimited travel on all the steam and diesel locomotives in action, allowing you to hop on and off all day! There are free trails for younger visitors to enjoy. Journey through unspoilt countryside and enjoy stunning coastal views and delightful forests. Save money with discounted fares when you book in advance. Find out more here.

Ruby Plants a Radish Garden Adventure at Blickling Estate: 25 May to 30 June 2024

Head out on a garden adventure at Blickling Estate inspired by the book 'Ruby Plants a Radish', written by Kate Petty and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Explore the various activities in the walled garden and find out how radishes grow. Spin the tiles to play the weeding game, go on a hunt for hiding ladybirds, and have fun in the muddy play patch. Head into the house to search for the crocheted radishes as you explore each room, and visit the kitchen to play with the weather station - can you show what the weather is like outside? Standard admission prices apply, no booking required. Free entry for National Trust members. Find out more here.

May's Mini Feast in the Park at Holkham: 25 May to 2 June 2024
Mini Feast in the Park returns this May half term! Visit some of Norfolk’s favourite food concessions for a bitesize Feast in the Lady Elizabeth Wing courtyard (near the Courtyard Café and Gift Shop). You can expect, loaded fries, gourmet burgers, milk shakes, ice cream and Thai food (and more!). Find out more here.

Anthony Gormley's Time Horizon at Houghton Hall and Gardens: running until 31 October 2024. Time Horizon, one of Antony Gormley’s most spectacular large-scale installations, will be shown across the grounds and through the house at Houghton Hall; the first time the work will be staged in the UK. Featuring 100 life-size sculptures, the works are distributed across 300 acres of the park. The cast-iron sculptures, each weighing 620kg and standing at an average of 191cm, are installed at the same datum level to create a single horizontal plane across the landscape. Some works are buried, allowing only a part of the head to be visible, while others are buried to the chest or knees according to the topography. An amazing sight! Find out more here.

Attractions to visit during half term
 

There are a host of attractions open over half term. You can see a complete list of attractions here. For getting close to nature and animals, head to award-winning Watatunga Wildlife Reserve, set in 170 acres of breathtaking woodland, grassland and lakes. Dedicated to the conservation of endangered deer, antelope and birds, Watatunga is home to the most varied collection of deer and antelope in Europe, free to roam at their will. 

Have a woodland adventure at BeWILDerwood with magical treehouses and hints of intriguing characters. Build dens, take lazy boat rides across Scaaaary Lake, dress up and join in with the enchanting daily story telling, cross jungle bridges, visit treehouses, whizz down wobbly wires and so much more!

Amazona Zoo is home to over 200 birds and animals from tropical South America including monkeys, pumas, peccaries, macaws, capuchins and snakes. Visit the aquarium and interactive ‘Amizone’ educational area, outdoor and indoor play areas plus there's a café and a giftshop.

Visit the rescued horses, donkey, ponies and mules at Redwings, Aylsham. After making plenty of new four-legged friends, you can also enjoy a relaxing stroll around the centre’s peaceful wildlife walks – perfect for keen ramblers and dog walkers! Hot drinks and warm lunches are available from Gulliver’s Café, and the gift shop is open with a wide range of souvenirs to browse, with all proceeds supporting the hundreds of rescued donkeys, mules, ponies and horses in Redwings’ care.

Sealife Hunstanton is one of Norfolk's leading seal sanctuaries and a state of the art marine aquarium taking visitors on a memorable undersea odyssey filled with amazing close encounters. Home to over 2,000 creatures, from tiny shrimps to Amazonian Piranhas and jaw-some sharks! 

Thrigby Hall is home to a collection of Asian Mammals, birds and reptiles in pleasantly landscaped grounds and gardens.  Get up close to Snow Leopards, rare tigers, gibbons, deer otters, crocodiles in a swamp house, waterfowl, as well as visit tropical and forest houses, gift shop and cafe. 

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is an award winning organic garden open all year round with 130 acres of cultivated, wild and natural plantings, four miles of woodland pathways and stunning views over the private Broad. The Tearoom offers inside dining and takeaway and browse the gift shop for local produce, gifts.

Explore the natural surroudings of the Broads National Park, take a trip with Broads Tours on a scheduled river trip. All trips include live commentary about the origins of the Broads, with sights of interest pointed out, and an abundance of wildlife to spot along the way. 

Museums and historical attractions
 

Wroxham Miniature Worlds is the largest indoor modelling attraction in the UK stretching over 10,000 square feet with some of the largest model railways in the world on permanent public display. Have a go on the flight and train simulators and the Old Penny Arcade.

The Muckleburgh Military Collection is Norfolk's largest working museum of military vehicles including tanks, guns and a large range of other weapons. There are some post-war aircraft on display with a unique collection of model ships. Tank demonstrations and rides make it an exciting days visit. 

Museum of the Broads enables you to enjoy a day at the only museum of Broadland life at the historic Stalham Staithe.  Discover iconic boats, the landscape and wildlife, see how people lived and worked, and find out how invaders and windpumps shaped the Broads.  Take a river trip on a steamboat, or an accessible electric boat.

Thursford Steam Museum houses the world’s largest collection of steam engines and organs. Listen to Robert Wolfe, one of the world's leading theatre organists, play the mighty Wurlitzer at 12.30pm and 2pm daily, ride on a fairground carousel and gondola, and watch silent movies.