Whether you want to delve into history or discover nature, there’s plenty to entertain your little explorers at National Trust places this May half-term and let imaginations run wild.
Discover a whole host of activities, events, and trails to get stuck into. Get closer to nature, step back in time at living history events, try your hand at crafts, or enjoy a family picnic in picturesque surroundings. And for those feeling more active, why not bring the family for a bike ride or walk?
Here we’ve rounded up some of the National Trust events and activities to keep the whole family busy in Norfolk this half-term. Start your adventure here.
Blickling Estate
Blickling’s breath-taking Jacobean mansion and ancient yew hedges sit surrounded by a magnificent garden and historic parkland in the beautiful Bure meadows. This May half term, keep your little explorers busy on a family day out with activities across the estate.
• Ruby Plants a Radish – a garden adventure at Blickling Estate
10am – 5pm, daily Saturday 25 May – Sunday 30 June
Ruby the rabbit loves radishes! Join a garden adventure inspired by the book ‘Ruby Plants a Radish’, written by Kate Petty and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Explore 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 and spot the radishes hiding as you discover the different rooms.
Admission charges apply, no booking required. Free for National Trust members.
• Adventure across the estate
Discover the wider Blickling Estate on two wheels! Our cycle hire has a range of bikes for all the family, or you’re welcome to bring your own bikes to cycle across the wider estate on the multi-use trail. Don’t miss seeing the majestic pyramid shaped Mausoleum, and plan a stop for a picnic or a spot of den building along the way. Cycle hire is available 10am – 4pm at weekends as well as Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during half term week.
If all that gives you an appetite, head to Muddy Boots or the Stables café for tea and scones, ice creams and a selection of seasonal savoury food.
Felbrigg Hall, Gardens and Estate
• Garden Gadgetry Day
Thursday 30 May, 11am – 3pm
This May half term, visit Felbrigg and discover a range of garden vehicles and equipment on display.
Used by the garden team to dig, transport, lift and pour, these machines and tools help the team to move and manipulate huge amounts of natural materials to help our gardens thrive and look their best.
Find tractors, mowers and other trusty gadgetry in the meadow area between the Walled Garden and the hall, where members of the garden team will also pop by to answer questions from budding green fingered visitors.
Please note, children are welcome to take turns climbing aboard the garden vehicles but must be supervised by an adult at all times. To ensure everyone’s safety the vehicles will be without power and monitored by staff.
Horsey Windpump
Explore the history of the Broads with a visit to Horsey Windpump, which is also a great base for family-friendly walks in the Horsey area. Pick up a wildlife bingo sheet and see what wildlife you can spot. If you are lucky, you might even see a magnificent swallowtail butterfly.
Children will be invited to get creative and go wild making creature craft masks. This free activity will be available on Wednesday 29 May and Saturday 1 June, from 10am-2pm.
Morston Quay
Morston Quay is a great destination to head to if you are looking for family-friendly walks along the beautiful north Norfolk coast. Details of local walks can be picked up from the Lookout building. Pick up a wildlife bingo sheet and see what wildlife you can spot.
After your walk, you can relax with a cuppa and something to eat from the café, whilst the children play jumbo noughts and crosses and tower block Jenga. Children’s activities available 10am-4pm daily, Saturday 25 May to Saturday 1 June.
Oxburgh Estate
• Hidden Treasures family trail, 25 May to 19 July
• Den building in the natural play area
Join us at Oxburgh Estate this May half term and help us find the Hidden Treasures that the naughty rats have stolen from the collection and hidden them in the gardens. Can you find them all? There’s no need to book and trails cost just £1 per child. Free admission to site for members, standard fees apply for non-members.
After your detective work, why not visit Home Covert and build a den in our natural play area nestled between a 17th-century wood and 18th-century pasture and fenland; it’s the perfect place to try out your wildlife spotting skills too!
With all that hard work, swing by the Servants Hall tearoom for a refreshing drink and a limited-edition Hidden Treasures biscuit and don’t forget to check out the courtyard gift shop too!
Sheringham Park
Visit Sheringham Park over half term and enjoy the final displays of the rainbow-hued rhododendron and azalea collection in the Wild Garden.
Climb two viewing towers, or tackle the taller gazebo, for breathtaking views of the vibrant canopy stretched out before you. How many different coloured flowers will you spot?
Please note, visitor numbers are very high during this period with the car park often reaching capacity by mid-morning. If possible, we recommend enjoying the blooms earlier or later in the day with the park open from dawn – dusk.
