10 amazing maize (and other) mazes in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire

1 The Wizard Maze and Play, Metton, near Cromer.

A 12 acre maze, plus a straw bale mountain, tractor train rides, pedal carts, crazy golf, football and farm animals including sheep and chickens. And new this year, a zip wire and mini tractor karts. Open daily from Saturday, July 14.

northnorfolkwizardmaze.co.uk

2 Southwold Maize Maze. Old Hall Farm, Halesworth Road, Reydon.

The Southwold Maize Maze reveals a new pattern through its cornfields every year – this year it's mini-beasts with a maze shaped like a giant bumblebee.

Find hidden stamp points and solve the mystery of the maze - and then look down on the A walkway above the maze gives visitors an overview of the maze, plus views across the marshes and water meadows to the banks of the river Blyth.

Alongside the giant puzzle of pathways there is a mini maze too, with five coloured finger stamps to collect.

There are also pedal karts, a double zip line, climbing towers and a giant swing and sand-pit. Open daily from Wednesday July 18 to Sunday September 9.

southwoldmaizemaze.co.uk

3 Hirsty's Family Fun Park, Hemsby, near Yarmouth.

The summer mega-maze at Hirsty's is an annual holiday institution. And when you've found your way out of the maze there are climbing frames, bouncy castles, a zip wire, go-karts, crazy croquet and toy tractors, plus the chance to meet Hirsty the farmer and take a tractor and trailer ride around his farm. Open daily from Sunday July 15 to Tuesday September 4.

hirstysfamilyfunpark.co.uk

4 Hundred River Farm, Sotterley, near Beccles.

The maze at this working farm is being shaped to celebrate British wildlife. Previous mazes have been cut in the shape of an owl, a bat, a bee and a bird. There is also a chance to meet animals and a daily feeding time at 10am, plus afternoon workshops, a play area, giant bubbles and a stamp trail. Open daily from Saturday July 21 to Sunday September 2, plus family day and torchlight maze on Saturday September 8..

hundredriverfarm.co.uk

5 Squirrel Maze, Thetford Forest.

Children can climb inside a giant wooden squirrel when they reach the heart of the maze at High Lodge. There are also adventure play areas with equipment to suit everyone from toddlers to teens and beyond, a sound trail with giant musical instruments, bicycle and segway trails, forest canopy adventures and much more. Open daily.

forestry.gov.uk

6 Somerleyton Maze, Somerleyton Hall, near Lowestoft.

The gardens of Somerleyton Hall include one of the finest yew hedge mazes in Britain. The maze was planted in 1846 and has been intriguing and delighting people ever since.

The gardens, include a rose garden, sunken white garden and arboretum and are open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and bank holidays through the summer.

somerleyton.co.uk

7 Priory Maze, Beeston Regis, near Sheringham.

The design of this beautiful copper beech maze is based on the ruins of the next-door priory. Get a birds-eye view of the maze and lovely gardens from a platform where the cloisters would once have been. The maze is set in 10 acres of themed gardens including ponds, streams and romantic and aromatic gardens. Open daily.

priorymazegardens.co.uk

8 Skylark Dino Maize Maze, Manea Road, Wimblington, near March.

There's a dinosaur theme to this year's Skylark Maize Maze and Funyard. And alongside the huge maze there are also tractor rides with added water-gun fun, pig racing, go karts, den building, an obstacle course, zip wire, beach area and brand new castle with mega-slides. Open daily Saturday July 14 to Monday September 3.

skylark-events.co.uk

9 Blake House Maze, Blake House Craft Centre, Blake End, near Braintree.

The challenging 10 acre maze includes the 'lost souls escape map' with a returnable deposit if unopened. There is also a wooden play area with stepping stones and a swinging bridge, plus crazy golf. Open Saturday July 21 to Friday September 9.

blakehousecraftcentre.co.uk

10 Milton Maize Maze, Rectory Farm, Milton, near Cambridge.

There's a magical theme to this year's maze, cut into the shape of a giant unicorn. Wander its pathways to find out more about mythical creatures including unicorns and phoenixes. The imaginative Milton mazes have included a castle, a spitfire, a tyrannosaurus rex and the biggest board game in the world in previous years. Open daily from Saturday July 14 to Monday September 3.

themiltonmaizemaze.co.uk

Bonus mazes:

The earliest known mention of the large turf maze on Saffron Walden common was in 1699 when it was recut. The grass grows each year to form the walls of the maze, alongside a winding brick path which is almost a mile long.

A labyrinth, created to mark the Queen's golden jubilee, lies at the heart of Norwich Cathedral's ancient cloisters. Visitors are encouraged to follow it to the centre, and out again, as a meditative experience.