🏡 Family Days Out in Norfolk for Under 5's

Norfolk is full of wonderful days out for little ones, and Poolside Lodges is perfectly placed for family adventures. Here are some of our favourite under‑5s attractions - all within a 20 minute drive from our cosy, family‑run lodges.

🌳Imagaination, play and woodland adventure at BeWILDerwood

BeWILDerwood Norfolk is one of the most enchanting family attractions in the county - a magical, award‑winning outdoor adventure park set in 20 acres of woodland near Wroxham, just 10 minutes away from Poolside Lodges. Inspired by the children’s books of local author Tom Blofeld, it’s designed for imaginative, active play — no noisy rides, no screens, just treehouses, storytelling, and adventure in the woods.

BeWILDerwood Treehouse

🌳 A Magical Day Out at BeWILDerwood Norfolk

BeWILDerwood Norfolk is one of the most enchanting family attractions in the county — a place where little imaginations run wild and grown‑ups get to join in the fun too. Set in 20 acres of beautiful woodland near Hoveton, this award‑winning adventure park is inspired by the whimsical world of Tom Blofeld’s children’s books. Instead of noisy rides or screens, everything here is built around natural play, storytelling, and exploring the outdoors together.

🚤 Start Your Adventure With a Boat Ride

One of the loveliest parts of a visit is the gentle boat ride across “Scaaaary Lake,” where you drift past quirky characters and colourful scenes from the books. It’s a wonderful way to begin the day, especially for younger children who enjoy the excitement without anything feeling overwhelming. Once you arrive at the main woodland area, the adventure really begins.

🧗‍♀️ Treehouses, Slides, and Toddler‑Friendly Play

BeWILDerwood is packed with treehouses, wobbly bridges, mazes, zip wires, and imaginative play structures that encourage families to explore together. For under‑5s, there are dedicated toddler zones like Toddlewood on the Hill, offering smaller slides, gentle climbing, and plenty of space to play safely. The whole park is buggy‑friendly, with wide woodland paths and lots of shaded spots to rest.

📚 Storytelling and Characters That Bring the Woods to Life

Throughout the day, families can enjoy live storytelling shows featuring the beloved Twiggles, Boggles, and the famous Crocklebog. These sessions are brilliant for little ones, offering a calm moment to sit, listen, and soak up the magic. The characters also appear around the park, adding to the sense of stepping into a storybook world.

🍃 Perfect for Families Staying at Poolside Lodges

BeWILDerwood is just a short drive from Poolside Lodges, making it an ideal day out for families with young children. Many of our guests tell us it’s the highlight of their holiday, especially those with toddlers and preschoolers. It’s a full day of adventure, imagination, and fresh air — and a lovely way to make memories together before heading back to your lodge for a relaxing evening in the hot tub.

🧺 Tips for Your Visit

• Arriving early helps you make the most of the day, especially during school holidays.

• The boat ride is usually quieter first thing in the morning, and there are plenty of picnic spots if you prefer to bring your own lunch.

• The park is mostly outdoors, so comfortable shoes and weather‑appropriate clothing are essential.

🐑 A Fun‑Filled Family Day Out at Wroxham Barns

Wroxham Barns is one of Norfolk’s most loved family attractions, especially for toddles, pre-school children and under 5's. Just a 10 minute drive from Poolside Lodges, it’s a brilliant mix of hands‑on animal experiences, gentle rides, soft play, and open space — ideal for toddlers, preschoolers, and young families looking for a relaxed, easy day out. The attraction has a friendly, local feel, with plenty to explore at your own pace.

🐐 Meet the Animals at the Junior Farm

The Junior Farm is always a highlight for under‑5s. Children can meet and feed friendly animals including goats, sheep, pigs, ponies, and rabbits. The staff are wonderful with young children, and the whole area is designed to be safe, calm, and interactive. Seasonal activities like lamb feeding and chick handling make it even more special, and there’s plenty of space for little ones to wander and explore.

🎡 Toddler‑Friendly Rides and Play at the Fun Park

Right next to the farm is the Fun Park — a colourful, toddler‑friendly area with mini rides, sand play, jumping pillows, and gentle attractions perfect for younger children. Everything is designed with little legs in mind, so families can enjoy a full day without anything feeling too big or overwhelming. It’s one of the best places in Norfolk for under‑5s to burn off energy in a safe, cheerful environment.

🍦 Shops, Crafts, and Treats for the Whole Family

Beyond the farm and fun park, Wroxham Barns has a lovely selection of small shops and craft studios, perfect for a quiet browse while the children enjoy an ice cream. There’s also a café serving family‑friendly meals, snacks, and drinks — ideal for a relaxed lunch or a quick break between activities. The whole site is buggy‑friendly, with plenty of seating and shaded areas.

🌿 Perfect for Families Staying at Poolside Lodges

Wroxham Barns is only a short drive from Poolside Lodges, making it an easy, stress‑free day out for families with young children. Many of our guests visit year after year because it offers such a good balance of fun, learning, and gentle outdoor play. It’s especially popular with families staying in our hot tub lodges during spring and summer, when the farm is full of new arrivals and the Fun Park is in full swing.

🧺 Tips for Your Visit

• Arrive early if you want to enjoy the Junior Farm before it gets busy.

• Bring spare clothes for little ones — the sand and water play areas are irresistible.

• Check seasonal events such as lambing, pumpkin picking, or Christmas experiences.

• The Fun Park is mostly outdoors, so dress for the weather.

🐛 A Colourful, Unexpected Day Out at The Bug Parc

The Bug Parc is one of Norfolk’s most unique family attractions — a vibrant, educational, and surprisingly toddler‑friendly day out. Located in Lenwade, it’s the UK’s largest all‑invertebrate zoo, home to hundreds of fascinating insects, beetles, butterflies, millipedes, and more. Whether your little ones are bug‑obsessed or a bit unsure, the Parc is designed to be welcoming, gentle, and full of wonder.

Discover beetles

🦋 Explore the Tropical Butterfly House and Indoor Zones

One of the highlights is the beautiful tropical butterfly house, where colourful butterflies flutter freely around you. It’s warm, calm, and magical for younger children. Inside the main building, you’ll find a series of themed zones showcasing everything from glowing scorpions to leaf‑cutting ants marching through their tunnels. Each area is clearly laid out, easy to navigate, and perfect for curious little explorers.

🐞 Friendly Staff and Hands‑On Experiences

The Bug Parc team are brilliant with children, offering gentle, informative introductions to the creatures in their care. For families who want to get a little closer, there are optional handling sessions where you can meet some of the larger insects in a safe, supervised environment. These sessions are relaxed and child‑friendly, making even the most nervous visitors feel comfortable.

🌿 Outdoor Play and Space to Explore

Alongside the indoor exhibits, The Bug Parc has a lovely outdoor play area with a huge jumping pillow, pedal karts, a sandpit, and plenty of space for little ones to burn off energy. It’s a great balance — a bit of learning indoors, followed by fresh air and playtime outside. There are also picnic benches and shaded areas, making it easy to settle in for a relaxed family afternoon.

🧡 Perfect for Families Staying at Poolside Lodges

The Bug Parc is an easy drive from Poolside Lodges and makes a brilliant half‑day or full‑day trip for families with young children. It’s especially good on mixed‑weather days, as most of the attraction is indoors. Many of our guests are surprised by how much their little ones enjoy it — even those who aren’t usually keen on creepy crawlies! It’s colourful, friendly, and full of memorable moments.

🧺 Tips for Your Visit

• The butterfly house is warm — layers are a good idea.

• Handling sessions are popular, so check times when you arrive.

• The outdoor play area is great for toddlers, so bring comfy shoes.

• Ideal for rainy days, as most of the attraction is undercover.

🦕 Family time at ROARR! Dinosaur Adventure, Norfolk

ROARR! Dinosaur Adventure in Lenwade is one of Norfolk’s biggest and most exciting family attractions — and a huge hit with children who love dinosaurs, adventure play, and big days out. As the UK’s largest dinosaur‑themed adventure park, it’s packed with activities for all ages, from gentle toddler play to high‑energy outdoor fun. It’s an 20 drive from Poolside Lodges, making it a brilliant choice for a full family day out.

🥾 Toddler Thursdays - cheaper tickets of peak

Toddler Thursdays are a NEW midweek experience at ROARR! designed especially for pre-school children. Taking place every Thursday during term time from January to April, these sessions offer age-appropriate play and relaxed family fun. For more information check out their website.

🦖 Explore the Valley of the Dinosaurs

One of the highlights of ROARR! is the Valley of the Dinosaurs, where life‑sized prehistoric creatures line the woodland trail. Some even move and make atmospheric sounds, adding to the excitement. Children love spotting their favourites, posing for photos, and discovering fossils along the way. It’s a great mix of adventure and imagination, and perfect for little explorers.

🎢 Indoor and Outdoor Play for All Ages

ROARR! is designed to keep families busy all day, whatever the weather. There’s Dinomite Indoor Adventure Play, a huge soft‑play area ideal for younger children, and plenty of outdoor attractions including climbing frames, slides, and themed play zones. For warmer days, Dippy’s Splash Zone is a big favourite — a colourful water play area where children can cool off and burn off energy.

🦜 Rides, High Ropes, and Animal Encounters

For families with older children, ROARR! offers even more adventure. Attractions include the Swing‑O‑Saurus and Raptor Contraptor rides, plus the Predator High Ropes course for those who want a challenge up in the treetops. There’s also the Secret Animal Garden, where little ones can meet friendly animals and enjoy a quieter moment away from the excitement.

🍃 Perfect for Families Staying at Poolside Lodges

ROARR! is a fantastic option for families staying at Poolside Lodges, especially those with children who love dinosaurs or active play. With indoor and outdoor attractions included in the ticket price, it’s easy to spend a full day exploring without worrying about add‑on costs.

🧺 Tips for Your Visit

• Arrive early to make the most of the rides and play areas.

• Bring swimwear and towels for Dippy’s Splash Zone on warm days.

• The park is large - comfy shoes are a must.

• Most attractions are included in the ticket price, so you can enjoy the whole park without extra charges.

Norfolk is full of brilliant family attractions, and we’re so lucky to have them right on our doorstep — from enchanting woodland adventures to hands‑on animal fun and colourful indoor play. After a busy day exploring, guests can return to the calm of their lodge, relax in the hot tub, splash in the pool, or enjoy a cosy evening together. It’s this blend of adventure and relaxation that makes Poolside Lodges the perfect base for your Norfolk getaway.

🌴Poolside Lodges - Norfolk Cottages with hot tubs

Cosy family-run Norfolk accommodation featuring three holiday hot tub lodges, perfect for

• Family getaways

• Weekend escapes

• Special celebrations

• Group accommodation

Lodges can be booked individually or together for group of up to 10, making our site ideal for extended families and friends looking to relax and reconnect.

Every lodge includes its own private hot tub, available all year round, and guests can enjoy our shared seasonal pool from May through to the end of September. Whether you’re planning a sun‑soaked summer break or a cosy winter getaway, Poolside Lodges offers a welcoming escape in every season.

Norfolk Cottages with hot tubs

Web: www.poolsidelodges.co.uk

Email: info@poolsidelodges.co.uk

Address: Poolside Lodges, South Lodges, Salhouse Road, Rackheath, Norwich, Norfolk NR13 6LD

Call us on 01603 720000