What's nearby at Thorpe Forest, Norfolk
Nearby sites and attractions
Attractions and activities you'll find near Thorpe Forest, Norfolk
Walking and hiking
The Breckland landscape around Thorpe Forest and Thetford Forest is notable for its shallow pools, heathland and more recently planted forests, all of which are great walking country. Here, you can go for short walks, long walks, coastal walks, historic walks and wildlife watching walks.
Walking and hiking at Thorpe Forest
Norfolk cycling trails
Norfolk is great for cycling holidays, with a relatively flat terrain and miles of trails for all abilities. Nearby Thetford Forest is a great place to start and, for longer cycle rides, set out across the countryside on the National Cycle Routes.
- Banham Zoo, Norwich
Family days out
Enjoy a fantastic family day out at BeWILDerwood, an award-winning forest of fun and outdoor adventure. Or head for Banham Zoo, just a 20-minute drive from Thorpe Forest, with over 2000 animals and enough exciting activities for a full day out. The kids will love Dinosaur Adventure, where the prehistoric creatures occupy an 85-acre woodland or, for animals that are smaller and friendlier, visit Church Farm Rare Breeds Centre at Stow Bardolph.
West Stow Anglo-Saxon VillageHistory and heritage
The jewel in the royal crown of Norfolk’s heritage is The Sandringham Estate. The Windsors’ Christmas home, it’s landscaped gardens alone make it worth a visit. There are also acres of parkland and an amazing display of vintage royal motor vehicles. Other historical landmarks to plan into your stay are Pakenham Water Mill, which tells of a thousand years of history, and West Stow Anglo Saxon Village where you can delve even further into the past. Relive the age of steam at Bressingham Steam Room and Gardens or with a trip through the Norfolk Broads on the Bure Valley Railway. Discover Ickworth House, the flamboyant conceit of the 4th Earl of Bristol - a magnificent Italianate palace in the heart of Suffolk.
Eating and drinking
The Nutshell pub in nearby Bury St Edmunds claims the title of Britain’s smallest pub. It’s tiny, with a quirky interior and well-kept beers. Also in Bury St. Edmunds, step through the grand entrance of Harriet’s Café Tea Rooms to an elegant interior, complete with grand chandeliers and soothing piano music on selected afternoons.
Coast and beaches
Thorpe Forest is within easy striking distance of the Norfolk coastline, with everything from big beach holiday towns to unique wildlife havens. Great Yarmouth is a proper seaside destination, with deckchairs on the beach, amusement arcades and entertainment. The quiet, unspoilt wilderness of Horsey Beach couldn’t be more different and is a great spot for seal watching. Further north, on a day trip to Wells-Next-the Sea you can also visit the nature reserve at Holkham, as well as Holkham Hall and Estate.
Ed Catton
General Manager, Thorpe Forest
The best thing to do when it’s raining is get your waterproofs on and get out in the forest, there is something really special about being under the trees when the rain hits the leaves.
- Go Ape, Thetford Forest
Outdoor adventures
Start your outdoor adventures at High Lodge Visitor Centre in Thetford Forest, where you can also find the original Go Ape, for some treetop thrills. If your tribe is still full of energy, head for Combat Paintball where you can let off steam fighting a Zombie attack! Another forest adventure, BeWILDerwood is a must-visit attraction for family fun. Or if you prefer a more peaceful afternoon, go fishing at Blackdyke Fishery, an eight-acre trout lake beside the pretty village of Hockwold-cum-Wilton.
Norwich CastleRainy day activities
Dinosaur Adventure has an exciting indoor play area called Dinomite, which is a great place to let off steam when the weather is poor. A rainy day is also a good time to catch a steam train, so head for Aylsham and the Bure Valley Railway, Norfolk’s longest narrow-gauge railway, which runs through the beautiful Norfolk Broads. Norfolk has plenty of museums, which are always a good fall-back plan; one of the best is Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery. Another excellent attraction is the English Whisky Company, which is well worth a visit, whatever the weather.
Historical Sites in nearby Thetford Forest
Crimes Graves, located in nearby Thetford Forest, is the site of a 5,000-year-old Neolithic flint mine. Over 430 mineshafts were dug here, at what is the largest site of its kind in Britain.
Lynford, also in Thetford Forest, is the one of the best preserved late Middle Palaeolithic sites in Britain and the most important Neanderthal site in the whole of the British Isles - where Woolly Mammoths were butchered 65,000 years ago.
The Norfolk Broads
A stay at Thorpe Forest would not be complete without spending time on the Norfolk Broads. Head to Wroxham, Gateway to the Broads, and hire a launch. Then drift away into this mystical network of rivers and lakes which is home to a quarter of the nation’s rarest species. Cycle, walk, sail, canoe, fish or simply sit and savour; whatever you choose, the Broads will reward.
You can get to the visitor centre for the Norfolk Broads in one hour - the journey is 44 miles.
Charmaine Povey
Deputy General Manager, Thorpe Forest
One of my favourite places to visit in the local area is Banham Zoo with my two young boys, they love it.
Towns and cities
There is plenty to do in local historic market town Thetford, where you can discover the Dad’s Army museum, the Charles Burrell Steam museum or the Carnegie Theatre. Bury St. Edmunds is a town that manages to be both modern and ancient. Here, the cosmopolitan buzz and chic boutiques are set against a backdrop of timbered medieval buildings, and the Abbey Gardens at the edge of the town offer a peaceful retreat. Take a trip to the market town of Diss, which has an oasis at its heart – a six-acre mere surrounded by parkland. Ely is worth the hour’s drive for its stunning cathedral, and Norwich offers all the attractions of a confident city, including a cathedral, castle and some of the best shopping in the UK.
Book your break
There's so much fun to be had at Thorpe Forest, from beautiful landscape to explore to swinging from the treetops at Go Ape, you'll never be short of choice.