If you are fortunate enough to be able to spend some time in the Norfolk area, there are two day trips from Norwich England that I highly recommend. Both are easy to visit in one day for each one of them, getting you back to Norwich in time for dinner on both days. They are also both budget friendly as well. Win-win-win.
England on the Second (Or More) Visit
Maybe you’ve been to England before and have seen the first tier of sights: London, York, Canterbury etc. This visit, you are looking to get off the beaten path, and see something that maybe others haven’t. Look no further– these two day trips from Norwich are perfect for the first-time visitor to England, as well as the repeat traveler.
Day Trip from Norwich #1: The Broads via Aylsham and The Bure Valley Railway
As far as I can tell, The Broads are not well known outside of the UK, but they should be. And hopefully, more people will get to know this beautiful corner of the world on their visit to Norfolk, England, an easy and affordable day trip in Norfolk.
Imagine an area where England meets The Netherlands, with plenty of rivers and lakes, and even a few windmills dotting the land. Along the waterways are small towns and villages. Now you’ve got the Broads, which extend into Norfolk and Suffolk counties. The Broads is a very large area of navigable rivers and lakes, and the lakes are called “broads.” These lakes are actually artificial and were formed by the flooding of peat works.
The area is known for its natural beauty–and during the warm weather season, you can rent a boat and travel from town to town. You’ll quickly learn that getting around and sightseeing by boat is the thing to do in this area. You can sign up for guided tours or rent a boat and take it out on your own for some birdwatching or fishing. (add link to boat tours)
Getting to Wroxham and The Broads the Fun Way: The Bure Valley Railway
The Bure Valley Railway: For Kids of All Ages
Buses from Norwich to Wroxham run all the time and take about 30-40 minutes from the center of Norwich., and you can also take a very quick train ride from Norwich Station to Wroxham.
But consider this alternative travel adventure….
Take a 30-minute bus ride from Norwich to the center of Aylsham- voted one of the most livable communities in Britain. From there, it’s a quick walk over to the Bure Valley Railway Station where you can take a steam train on a gauge railway over to Wroxham.
You’d think that a place with loads of Thomas the Train Engine merch (as well as lots of other collectibles for the train enthusiast) would be crawling with children. But on the day I was there (which was a weekend), there was not a child in sight. Adults were enjoying the train ride as much as any child would!
The Broads Towns of Wroxham and Hoveton
The towns of Wroxham and Hoveton (conveniently so close to each other that you’re never quite sure where one ends and the other begins) are the largest in The Broads area.
Wroxham is happening year round, and is also home to the famous Roys of Wroxham department store. In fact, you’ll swear that Roy’s owns the town or something as it has several Roys-named buildings right in the center of Wroxham’s downtown area: Roys of Wroxham Department Store, Roys Pharmacy, Roys Food Hall, Roys Florist– giving you a 360∘ view of the Roys name if you stand in the middle of the street. If you’d like to read more about Roys, then click here to their website.
Wroxham and Hoveton also have its fair share of restaurants and cafe´s, and has a definitely beach town feel to it, even in November. And maybe most important, there is a launderette on the main road through town! (Guess what else I did besides walk around?)
I chose to walk around both town as much as I could. The town was pretty, but one place I didn’t get to was Wroxham Barns, which is quite the destination and has something for just about anyone. I really wanted to visit to see the local artisan shops at their shopping village. If they were anything like visit I had to Old Hunstanton Barns, I know I would have enjoyed seeing local artists and their creations. However the timing did not work out for me on this visit. All the more reason I need to return to Norfolk as soon as I can.
What You Need to Know About Visiting The Broads Off Season
Off season in the Broads: Is very quiet! If you are set on taking a boat tour (or renting one) to travel from town to town on the navigable lakes and rivers, then definitely visit The Broads during the high travel season. But I enjoy the feeling of quiet towns and if you are like me, off season is a perfect time to visit The Broads!
If you decide to stay in the Broads rather than daytrip from Norwich: I based myself for two nights in Wroxham, the largest town in the area with frequent bus connections to Norwich and the surrounding area. I stayed at the Hotel Wroxham in the center of town and also right on the water.
From Wroxham, I took in the seals at Sea Palling and Horsey Gap, a wonderful afternoon tea at the WWII- themed Poppylands Cafe, and a visit to Caister-on-Sea to see the ruins of a Roman fort. The ruins are small and can be seen in mere minutes, but if you enjoy scouting out Roman ruins in Britain, then this is a destination for you. Otherwise, you can visit Wroxham as a day trip. Up to you and your level of interest in this nearby activities.
Use the map below to view and book a hotel in The Broads:
During my visit to the Norfolk area, I found that the most accurate way to plan public bus travel was to use bus timetable directly from the bus company. Both Google Maps and Rome2Rio did NOT seem to be as accurate. The other thing I did was scan the QR code found at each bus stop which would give me up to the minute arrival and departure time for buses. Here are two additional resources that are available for trip planning in the region:
Day Trip #2: Aylsham and Blickling Hall
Aylsham was recently voted one of Britain’s most livable towns, and it’s really not hard to see why. Rather than large numbers of shops catering to those spending the day and then leaving, Aylsham is where its residents live, work, and play– day in, day out, again and again. Spend some time walking around the town and visit Bon Bons– a terrific old time sweet shop just off the main square on Red Lion Street.
Getting to Aylsham from Norwich
The best way to get to Aylsham using public transportation is taking the bus, which runs every half hour and takes approx. 31 minutes to reach the center of Aylsham.
The only train station in Aylsham is for the Bure Valley Railway discussed earlier in this post.
Walk from Aylsham Town Center to Blickling Hall
Aylsham is home to Blicking Hall, a mile outside of town. While you can certainly take a bus or drive over, the walk to the estate is lovely, not too long (about a mile), well signposted, and on flat terrain- an easy hike. Blickling Hall is the birthplace of Anne Boleyn, though the estate bears little resemblance to the Blickling of Tudor times. That said, it is a lovely place to visit if you are interested in seeing some of the great houses of Britain. I took the guided tour (which was free at the time). And the gardens are worth a walk through no matter the time of year. I did wish for a little bit more information about Anne Bolelyn on the tour.
Travel Tip: Blickling Hall has a discount for visitors who travel to Blickling car free. You can view the information here on Good Journeys. Since I walked to Blickling from Aylsham, I received a 20% discount on my admission fee!
Where to Stay in Aylsham
If you would like to stay in Aylsham overnight to really soak in the feel of the place (seriously, I’m ready to move to Aylsham), then use the map below to book. I had a great stay at The Plough Inn, which is just outside the main area of town, but right next to a bus stop. You can choose the property that best suits you.
Thus ends our daytrip to Aylsham and Blickling Hall. Easily hop a bus back to Norwich, or spend the night. There is also the opportunity to spend the night at The Buck’s Arms— a 17th Century pub and inn next to the Blickling Estate.
The least you need to know about Aylsham and Blickling:
While Blickling Hall is the birthplace of Ann Boleyn and is an important piece of Tudor history, the property really doesn’t focus on this fact. Twenty-first Century Blickling bears almost no resemblance to the 16th Century Blickling, so if going solely for this reason, Blickling might not be worth your time.
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