Things to do on the Norfolk Broads Part 1

For as long as I can remember my family have been enjoying holidays in the Norfolk Broads, a network of mostly navigable rivers and lakes formed by the flooding of peat workings.

We had a small break (of nearly 10 years!) but this year we packed our bags and set off to our favourite accommodation, a holiday cottage at Martham Boats, for a week of ultimate peace and serenity on the Broads.

There are lots of fun things to entertain the whole family on the Broads and there are a few things that we have always done when visiting, here are the top 8 activities to do when you’re visiting the Norfolk Broads.

Get out on the water

With over 125 miles of stunning waterways, the Norfolk Broads is the perfect place to enjoy the water. There are plenty of places to hire various watercraft such as paddleboards, canoes and sailboats. Don’t worry if you’re a beginner there are instructors available to help you get on your way.

On our recent trip, we hired a Half Decker sailing boat to explore the Broads which was a fantastic experience although my hat blew overboard and sadly sank! My mum and husband did try to locate it via a Canadian canoe but came away empty-handed. I have been inspired to consider taking sailing lessons!

Horsey Water Pump

This iconic Grade II* Listed Building Norfolk Broads landmark with a fascinating (and disastrous) past. Standing at the end of the Horsey Mere you can usually climb to the top for beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, however, at the moment it is undergoing a major restoration project so you can only explore the ground floor.

The restoration project is to repair damage from a lightning strike 75 years ago which rendered the Water Pump silent. Once you have learned all there is to learn about this fascinating building you can relax at the tea room which sells light refreshments, drinks, ice creams and a range of gifts and souvenirs.

Day in Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth is not far away from the Broads and makes for a great day out. A typical seaside town, there are lots of family-friendly activities available from the Sea Life Centre, the Nelson Museum, the Merrivale Model Village, the Pleasure Beach and the Joyland amusement parks with rides. There are even donkeys on the sandy beach that you can ride and a dog-friendly area can be found a short walk from the Pier.

My family love wasting 2ps in the amusement push games trying to win some awful keyring or toy! Over the years we have visited the majority of the entertainment venues. Great Yarmouth also has a fantastic range of shops and restaurants a short walk from the beach for when you’ve run out of 2ps!

Fishing on the Norfolk Broads

Fishing has long been an activity that my family has taken part in whilst on the Broads, one of the finest fishing spots in Britain. The waterways host an incredible array of fish including carp, eel, roach, rudd, bream, perch, pike and tench. We mostly catch roach, perch and bream (like the one below my dad caught this year).

The popularity of fishing on the Norfolk Broads has spawned a large number of tackle shops located around the waterways and in the towns and villages which makes it easy to find exactly what you need. My dad pops in every year to purchase bait (this year a little sparrow was helping him get through his maggot supply) and replace any equipment that might be showing its age!

Want to see more things to do on the Broads? Part 2 coming soon!

Have you been to the Norfolk Broads? Let me know below.