Out and about: where to take the grandkids
The holidays always give grandparents the chance to spoil
their grandchildren rotten, with a huge choice of great days out to choose
from. Grandpa Michael Hughes tracks down good places to go
If we’ve missed your favourite, leave a message on the message board
and let us know - our readers will appreciate your views too! Message
board
Creatures
Oasis Camelid Centre
Cratfield Road, Linstead Magna, near Halesworth, Suffolk IP19 0DT. Llamas,
alpacas, guanacos and camels, rare breed sheep and goats. Paddock walks
with a llama. Coffee shop, picnic/play area and gift shop Open daily 10am
to 5pm. Tel: 01986 7855777.
Linton Zoological Gardens
Hadstock Road, Linton, Cambridgeshire CB1 6NT. Tigers, lions, lemurs, parrots,
giant tortoises, tarantula spiders and many others in 16 acres of gardens.
Coffee shop and gift shop, children’s activities. Open daily 10am
to 5pm. Tel: 01223 891308. Weblink: www.lintonzoo.com
Banham
Zoo
The Grove, Banham, Norwich NR16 2HE. Five acres of parkland and gardens
are sanctuary to almost 1,000 animals, from big cats to birds of prey and
siamangs to shire horses. Open daily 10am to 5pm. Tel: 01953 887771. Weblink:
www.banhamzoo.co.uk
Mole Hall Wildlife Park & Butterfly Pavilion
Widdington, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 3SS. Deer, otters, flamingos, primates,
birds, wallabies and butterflies. Children’s activities, café
and gift shop. Open daily 10am to 5.30pm. Tel: 01799 540400. Weblink: www.molehall.com
Africa Alive!
White’s Lane, Kessingland, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 7TF. Lions and
cheetahs, ibis and vulturs, pythons and creepy crawlies. Special talks,
trails and children’s activities. Cafe. Open daily 10am to 5pm. Tel:
01502 740291. Weblink: www.africa-alive.co.uk
Colchester Zoo
Maldon Road, Stanway, Colchester, Essex CO3 0SL. Elephants and giraffes,
rhinos and zebra, seals, and penguins, birds and monkeys. Special activities
with an educational theme. Café. Open daily 9.30am to 6pm. Tel: 01206
331392. Weblink: www.colchester-zoo.co.uk.
Hunstanton Sealife Sanctuary
Southern Promenade, Hunstanton, Norfolk PE36 5BH. See the underwater world
through the eyes of experienced divers. The centre cares for seals, otters,
penguins and even sharks, seahorses and rays. Open daily 10am to last admission
at 4pm. Tel: 01485 533576. Weblink: www.sealsanctuary.co.uk
Train
rides
Bressingham Steam & Gardens
Thetford Road, Bressingham, Norfolk IP22 2AB. Europe’s leading steam
collection. Ride on a narrow-gauge railway and visit the official Dad’s
Army exhibition. Take a picnic or eat in the café at Blooms of Bressingham
garden centre nearby. Stroll in the famous Bressingham gardens, including
Foggy Bottom, this year celebrating its 40th anniversary. Open 10.30am to
5pm daily for the first two weeks of April, then Wednesdays to Sundays from
April 16. Tel: 01379 686903. Weblink: www.bressingham.co.uk
The Poppy Line
The Station, Station Approach, Sheringham, Norfolk NR26 8RA. More than five
miles of track running through a designated area of outstanding natural
beauty, with trips by steam trains or vintage diesels. Flowers along the
track are a sight to see. Trains most days. Tel: 01263 820800 or email:
enquiries@mandgn.co.uk. Weblink: www.poppyline.co.uk
Wells to Walsingham Railway
Well-next-the-Sea Station, just off the A149, or Walsingham station in Egmere
Road. The longest 10¼" narrow gauge steam railway in the world.
Trains leave Wells daily at 10.30am, noon, 2pm and 3.30pm. Tel: 01328 711630.
Weblink: www.wellswalsinghamrailway.co.uk
Cycle
rides
High Lodge Forest Centre
Thetford Forest. Follow signs on the B1107 Thetford to Brandon road. Cycling
tracks from family trails to more challenging routes. Shop, café,
picnic area and cycle hire (01842 810090). Open weekdays 9am to 4pm, weekends
9am to 5pm. Weblink: www.forestry.gov.uk
Rendlesham Forest
near Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 3NF. Follow signs from B1084 Woodbridge to
Orford road. Up to 11 miles of marked cycling paths and tracks. Easy access
trails at Rendlesham Forest Centre. Picinic area and cycle hire. Open dawn
to dusk. Tel: 01394 450164. Weblink: www.forestry.gov.uk.
Marks Hall Country Park
Markshall, Coggeshall, Essex C06 1TG. Follow brown and white signs from
A120, north of Coggeshall. Designated cycle trails. Visitors centre, with
café and shop. Open Tuesdays to Sundays 10.30am to 5pm. Tel: 01376
563796, or email; enquiries@markshall.org.uk. Weblink: www.markshall.org.uk
Playbarns
Moo Play Farm
Low Farm, Locks Road, Brampton, Suffolk NR34 8DX. For all ages up to 12
years. Indoor, outdoor and soft play areas, tractor rides, farm animals
and café. Open daily 9.30am to 6.30pm, Sundays 9.30pm to 5pm. Tel:
01502 575841. Weblink: www.mooplayfarm.co.uk.
The Playbarn
West Green Farm, Shotesham Road, Poringland, Norwich NR14 7LP. For the under-sevens.
Farmyard theme, beach barn, snacks, pony rides, nature trail, maze and tractor
rides. Open Mondays to Fridays 9.30am to 3.30pm, Sundays 10am to 5pm. Tel:
01508 495526. Weblink: www.theplaybarn.co.uk.
Cheeky Monkeys
Chaplins Farms, Babraham Road, Fulbourn CB1 5HR. For children up to 10.
Indoor play area, playhouse, sandpit with diggers, mini tractors, pets’
corner, golf driving and tearoom. Open Tuesdays to Sundays, 10am to 6pm.
Tel: 01223 881658. Weblink: www.cheekymonkeysltd.co.uk.
Play Rascals Children's Indoor Play Centre
Rascals House, Telford Road
Gorse Lane Industrial Estate, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 4LP. A 9,000sq
ft indoor soft play area with a dedicated section for the under 3´s.
Raised tunnel, slide and toys, net labyrinth for older children, café
and outside play area. Open daily 10am to 6.30pm. Tel: 01255 475755.
Stately homes
Sandringam House, Gardens, Museum & Country Park
Sandringham, Norfolk PE35 6EN. Visit the house and wander around the gardens.
The museum includes Royal vehicles, rare ceramics, photographs and memorabilia.
Explore the 600-acre country park. Restaurants and cafes, visitors centre
and shops. Open daily from Saturday, April 7, to Friday, July 20, and Tuesday,
July 31, to Sunday, October 28, 11am to 5pm.
Country Park open daily dawn to dusk. Tel: 01553 612908, or email: visits@sandringhamestate.co.uk
Weblink: www.sandringhamestate.co.uk
Wimpole Hall
Arrington, Royston, Cambridgeshire SG8 0BW. Wimpole Home Farm is an
18th century rare breeds farm, with sheep, goats, cattle, pigs and horses,
wagon rides, interactive displays, historic farm implements and café.
Also visit nearby Wimpole Hall. Open Saturdays to Wednesdays 10.30am to
5pm (also open Good Friday). Tel: 01223 206000. Weblink: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Kentwell
Hall
Long Melford, Suffolk CO10 9BA. Take a glimpse into both the past and present
of this unique family home, famous for its magical Tudor and WWII re-creation
days. Check opening days and times for house gardens and farm and also dates
for the re-creation days. Tel: 01787 310207 or email info@kentwell.co.uk.
Weblink: www.kentwell.co.uk
Layer Marney Tower
Layer Marney, near Colchester, Essex CO5 9US. Climb England’s tallest
Tudor gatehouse and pause to admire the exquisite dolls’ house. The
livestock farm, medieval barn and surrounding fields include traditional
breeds of cattle, deer, goats, ducks, chickens or turkeys. Wildlife walk
and 120 acres to explore. Children’s play area and tearoom. Open Sundays
to Thursdays noon to 5pm. Tel: 01206 330784. Weblink: www.layermarneytower.co.uk
Castles
Colchester Castle Museum
Castle Park, High Street, Colchester. Meet a Roman soldier, who will be
showing his weapons and armour. Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sundays
11am to 5pm. Tel: 01206 282939, Weblink: www.colchestermuseums.org.uk
Framlingham
Castle
Framlingham, Suffolk IP13 9BP. Climb to the battlements and relive the tempestuous
history of this 12th century castle. Explore the astonishing earthworks
and visit the nearby mere nature reserve. Open daily 10am to 6pm. Tel: 01728
724189. Weblink: www.english-heritage.org.uk
Orford Castle
Orford, Suffolk IP12 2ND. A unique tower-keep developed by Henry II to counterbalance
the power of turbulent East Anglian barons like Hugh Bigod of Framlingham.
Almost intact from the basement to the turrets. Magnificent seaward views.
Open daily 10am to 6pm. Tel: 01394 450472. Weblink: www.english-heritage.org.uk
Castle Acre
Norfolk PE32 2XD. Impressive earthworks and Bailey Gate. Also ancient Castle
Acre Priory, a pit stop for pilgrims over the centuries. Visitors centre
and parking. Open daily 10am to 6pm. Tel: 01760 755394. Weblink: www.english-heritage.org.uk
Museums
Time & Tide Museum
Blackfriars Road, Great Yarmouth NR30 3BX. This maritime museum stages children’s
craft days on Sundays. Tel: 01493 743930. Weblink: www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk
Bridewell Museum
Bridewell Alley, Norwich MR21AQ. Once a city centre prison for women and
beggars, now home to a collection of historic objects and machinery. Open
Tuesdays to Fridays 10am to 4.30pm and Saturdays 10am to 5pm. Tel: 01603
629127. Weblink: www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk
Natural History Museum
High Street, Colchester, Essex C01 1DN. Housed in the former All Saints
Church. Child-friendly hands-on-displays, live animals plus a churchyard
nature reserve and shop. Open daily Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sundays
Sun 11am to 5pm. Tel: 01206 282941. Weblink: www.colchestermuseums.org.uk
Christchurch Mansion
Christchurch Park, Ipswich. Open Tuesdays to Saturdays 10am to 5pm and Sundays
2.30pm to 4.30pm. Tel: 01473 433550. Weblink: www.ipswich.gov.uk
Museum of East Anglian Life
Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 1DL. This 75-acre site includes woodland and riverside
nature trails, historic buildings, displays of crafts, Gypsy culture and
steam machines. Open Mondays to Saturdays 10am to 5pm, Sundays 11am to 5pm.
Tel: 01449 612229 or email enquiries@eastanglianlife.org.uk. Weblink: www.eastanglianlife.org.uk
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Trumpington Road, Cambridge CB2 1RB. Activity kits are available free for
youngsters, as well as drawing materials. Open Tuesdays to Saturdays 10am
to 5pm, Sundays noon to 5pm. Tel: 01223 332900. Weblink: www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk
Cromer Museum
Church Street, Cromer, Norfolk. Open Mondays to Saturdays 10am to 5pm, Sundays
2pm to 5 pm. Tel: 01263 517965. Weblink: www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk.