Looking for a day out to treat the children? Whether it's animals, engines, magic or pirates and smugglers, there's plenty of choice. We offer some ideas of what you and your family can do.
• Davenport's Magic Kingdom
Step into Davenport's Magic Kingdom and a world of magical wonder and amazement. Fun for the children and fascinating for the adults, this is a trip through the history of magic.
There are tricks and illusions to try, a legless (or is she?) lady to gawp at, cards that disappear and coins that reappear and friendly witches bringing all manner of magical memorabilia to life.
Leave enough time to browse the posters, props, puppets and historical sets before the magic show itself.
Davenport's Magic Kingdom, North Walsham, 01692 405254, www.davenportsmagickingdom.co.uk
• Caister Castle Motoring Museum
A striking setting for the largest private collection of motor vehicles in Britain, with sports, classic, vintage and veteran cars, motorbikes, bicycles and horse drawn vehicles. They include the first real car in the world, an 1893 Panhard et Levassor, Jim Clark's Lotus and Peter Rachman's Cadillac. Climb the 90ft tower of the castle too.
Caister Castle, Caister-on-Sea, 01664 567707, www.caistercastle.co.uk
• Great Yarmouth Hippodrome
There's always a superb atmosphere at this popular circus, Britain's only surviving total circus building. A rich variety of traditional and contemporary professional circus acts keeps the crowd entertained from the moment they walk in to the amazing water spectacle finish. There's 100 years' of circus memorabilia in the museum too.
Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth, 01493 844172, www.hippodromecircus.co.uk
• Africa Alive!
Africa Alive! is one of Britain's largest wildlife attractions. See giraffe, antelope, zebra, rhino and ostrich roam as they would in the wild. Enjoy a bird's-eye view of the lions and meet some of the animals.
Africa Alive, Kessingland, 01502 740291, www.africa-alive.co.uk
• Redwings Horse Sanctuary
There is plenty to see at this well established rescue charity, from hairy little ponies with bags of characters to super cute donkeys, sleek horses and some very nosey mules. Make the most of a chance to literally rub noses with some and enjoy a great, free, day out. Open daily 10am to 5pm, March until October 30.
Caldecott Hall, near Fritton and Aylsham, 01508 481000, www.redwings.co.uk
• Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens
The tiger tree walk high above the tigers is one of the delights at these beautiful gardens, home to all manner of animals, birds and reptiles, with a particular emphasis on Asia. The 250-year-old landscaped garden includes a play area and willow pattern gardens.
Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens, Filby, near Great Yarmouth. 01493 369477, www.thrigbyhall.co.uk
• Tolhouse Museum
Pirate obsessed children will love this musuem, one of the oldest prisons in the country. With plenty of hands-on activities, it's full of Great Yarmouth's story of crime and punishment from medieval times to the modern day. Discover what happened to pirates, thieves, smugglers, witches, and murderers when punishment included transportation and execution.
Tolhouse Museum, Tolhouse Street, Great Yarmouth 01493 858900. www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk
• Dinosaur Adventure
The dinosaurs and trail may be the main attraction, but there's plenty more to explore. Enjoy the large outdoor play area, deer safari, secret animal garden, pitch and putt, pedal carts and Dinomite.
Dinosaur Adventure, Lenwade, 01603 876310, www.dinosauradventure.co.uk
• Bewilderwood
Marsh walks, boat trips, treehouses, zip wires, jungle bridges, camp building and plenty of story-telling – this is an outdoor adventure wooded paradise of make-believe, climbing, den-making and slides.
Bewilderwood, Wroxham, 01692 633033, www.bewilderwood.co.uk
• Banham Zoo
Masses to see, lots to do, spacious animal enclosures and not too many miles to walk – this is one of Norfolk's much loved wildlife parks. See everything from the tiger family to birds of prey, lorikeets, reptiles, zebras, giraffes, seals, leopards, pandas, kangaroos, wolves, otters, flamingos and penguins. Visit the farmyard area and the colourful bats and doves in the Eureka! Animazing Oasis, and don't miss the antics of the monkeys and apes. There's a play area, high wire adventure course, safari train and various places to picnic or buy food too.
Banham Zoo, Banham, 01953 887771, www.banhamzoo.co.uk
• Amazona
The sights and sounds of the rainforest – monkeys, parrots and macaws, jaguars, peccaries, piranhas and flamingos and more –transport you to the rainforest, just outside Cromer.
There's an indoor soft-play area too and educational information about conservation too.
Amazona Zoo, Cromer, 01263 510741, www.amazonazoo.co.uk
• Grime's Graves
The only Neolithic flint mine open to visitors in Britain is set deep in the haunting, grassy, lunar-like landscape of the Brecks.
A habitat for rare plants and fauna, it's a wonderful place to explore before visiting the interactive exhibition area. Visitors descend nine metres (30ft) underground by ladder into one of the excavated shafts to view the jet-black flint at first-hand.
The mine tour is not suitable for under-fives.
Grime's Graves, near Brandon, Norfolk, 01842 810656, www.english-heritage.org.uk/grimesgraves
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