Places to visit and things to do
Links to web sites of some local attractions within easy reach of Thorpe Market:
Alby Crafts
Spend a day among some of Norfolk’s finest craftspeople surrounded by four acres of carefully tended gardens and ponds. The attractive brick and flint Norfolk farm buildings also accommodate a gallery and gift shop, furniture showroom and tearooms.
Blickling Hall
One of England’s great Jacobean houses. An absolute must.
The Bure Valley Railway
Norfolk’s longest narrow gauge railway runs through beautiful countryside between Aylsham and Wroxham.
Felbrigg Hall and gardens
Spectacular 17th-century hall with fine furniture and paintings. The park is renowned for its fine and aged trees. The former deer park is being restored to woodland pasture. There are way-marked walks to the church and lake, and through the woods.
Langham Glass
The team of glassmakers can be seen working with molten glass, using blowing irons and hand tools. Buy beautiful glassware as a souvenir of your visit.
The Muckleburgh Collection
Famous collection of tanks, artillery and military vehicles. Take a bone shaking ride along the cliff tops on the Gama Goat or even learn to drive a tank! Voted North Norfolk’s top attraction twice.
Norfolk Broads
Britain’s largest protected wetland has similar status to a national park, mixing wildlife and natural beauty with leisure. The inland waterways of the broads cover a huge area, much of which can be explored by hired boats.
North Norfolk Railway (The Poppy Line)
Steam engines of a bygone age haul carriages along the poppy line from Sheringham to Holt through an area officially designated as being of outstanding natural beauty.
Norwich City
A fine historic city with many interesting places to visit, including cathedral, castle and museum and excellent traditional and modern shops, including an impressive mall. The city is listed amongst the top ten places for shopping in the UK. The state of the art Millennium Library at the city’s forum building is a must. The cosmopolitan city of Norwich has a lively mix of nightlife, a good variety of restaurants and a range of clubs catering for all tastes.
Sandringham House and Estate
The country retreat of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. Well worth a visit.
Sheringham Park
Landscape park contains of mature woodlands. The large woodland garden is particularly famous for its spectacular show of rhododendrons and azaleas flowering from mid May to June.
Wroxham Barns
Craft Centre situated just outside Wroxham. If you have an interest in seeing craftsmen and women producing top quality items, this is the place to visit.
Sports and Leisure
There are golf courses at Cromer and Sheringham, a leisure pool at Sheringham and an indoor pool available to non-residents at Pinewoods caravan park, Wells. Tennis courts are available in Cromer, Sheringham and North Walsham. Good fishing can be found at a number of beaches close by, with coarse fishing at Letheringsett lakes near Holt and the lake within Gunton park just 2 miles away.
Nature reserves and bird watching
There are nature reserves at Titchwell, Cley, Minsmere, Hickling and Ranworth Broad.
Art and Theatre
Theatres can be found in Cromer, Sheringham, Great Yarmouth and Norwich. Art galleries include the widely acclaimed Sainsbury Centre of the UEA and Norwich Castle Museum’s gallery. There are a number of a number of private galleries in Norwich and towns close by.
Local towns
- Cromer (5 miles)
Popular Victorian seaside town with fine church and a pier. - Sheringham (10 miles)
Upmarket seaside town with a good range of local shops, pubs and restaurants. Attractions include the North Norfolk Railway and Splash (fun / swimming pool). - Mundesley (6 miles)
Small cliff top town with range of local shops and restaurants. - Holt (12 miles)
Pleasant Georgian market town, with the renowned Baker’s and Larner’s departmental store, established over 200 years ago. Many antique shops and a good selection of cafes and restaurants. - Aylsham (10 miles)
Small market town with well-known weekly auction and market on Mondays. - Wroxham (12 miles)
Popular broads town with marina for boat hire and river trips. Home of Roy’s of Wroxham, reputed to be the biggest village store in England.
