Fairway Lakes Lodges - Fun Days Out

Norwich Castle was built by William the Conqueror as a royal palace, and later served as a gaol before becoming a museum and art gallery. The medieval Castle Keep has rooms furnished to give an authentic sense of twelfth-century life, along with immersive storytelling.

Inside, The Gallery of Medieval Life, a British Museum partnership, displays over 900 objects. Other galleries cover art, archaeology and natural history, and there is also the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum. Temporary exhibitions and special events run through the year. It suits anyone curious about the Norman era and the castle's long story, from royal fortress to prison to museum.

Tip: Pre-booking tickets online gets you the best price for entry, and a free digital guide is available to help you explore the castle and its collections.

Banham Zoo is a 50-acre zoo in Norfolk, run by the Zoological Society of East Anglia, a registered charity. It opened to the public in 1968 and is the largest zoo in the region. Animals include giraffes, snow leopards, Amur tigers, cheetahs, red pandas, meerkats and California sea lions, along with a well-regarded collection of smaller monkeys.

The day mixes animal encounters with daily talks, live shows, outdoor play areas and seasonal events. There are animal experiences, including hand-feeding giraffes, and a Bird Garden reached by a short walk along a meandering path. Families will find plenty to fill a day, and the activities are designed for all ages. Money from tickets also supports the zoo's conservation work.

Tip: Check the website's what's on page before you go, as daily talks and seasonal events change, and you can book tickets online in advance.

Framlingham Castle is a Norman-era castle in the Suffolk market town of Framlingham, now looked after by English Heritage. Its curtain wall has thirteen towers and no central keep, and you can follow the wall-top walk right round the defences. Panels point out the town, the outer earthworks and the Mere, and the tall Tudor chimneys on the towers each have a different brick design.

Inside, an exhibition tells the castle's stories, from medieval aristocrats and a Tudor queen to the poorhouse children of the Georgian workhouse that once stood here. A free audio guide is available, and families can try on costumes and play interactive games. There is somewhere to stop for a bite too. It suits history fans, families and anyone who likes a good view over a pretty town.

Tip: Book advance tickets online to save money on the gate price, and pick up the free audio guide to get more from the wall walk.

Bressingham is a steam museum and gardens just west of Diss. The museum has several railways running through the grounds, including the Fen Railway and the Waveney Valley Railway, and a locomotive shed where you can get close to the engines. You can also ride the Gallopers, a three-abreast fairground ride built by Frederick Savage in 1897, and see steam rollers, traction engines and other vehicles in the collection.

There is plenty to see on foot too. Walk down the main street of Walmington-on-Sea, with its Dad's Army displays and vehicles, and look round the railway exhibits in the museum. The gardens next door are a separate, privately owned part of the site. They include the Dell Garden with its island beds, and a miniature railway runs through it, giving clear views of the flower beds. It suits steam enthusiasts, Dad's Army fans and anyone who likes a garden.

Tip: Check the train running timetable on the Bressingham website before you go, so you can plan your rides around the day.