Hippodrome Circus Gt. Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth has a unique structure in the Hippodrome Circus, the only surviving total circus building from 1903.  This Edwardian structure was built by circus showman George Gilbert as a permanent home for his circus.  Today visitors can still enjoy a circus style show complete with dancers, aerial acts, clown, acrobats, and contortionists.  The floor lowers and is filled to become a 700,000 gallon swimming pool for the synchronized swimming show.
Over the decades, the Hippodrome Circus saw a wide range of entertainment in the arena.  Water shows, cinema, variety shows and it even became a military shooting range during wartime.  Many famous names such as Lloyd George, Lily Langtry, Little Titch, Max Miller, and Harry Houdini have performed there. There is even a rumour that Charlie Chaplin once performed at this unique venue when he was a child.  For eight weeks each summer the circus returns to the Hippodrome in Jack and Peter Jay’s production.  2008 will mark the 27th year of circus performances at the site.  Rock’n’Roll shows, opera performances, wrestling and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra have all performed there and it is a popular spot for filmmakers, video producers and photographers.
The famous swimming show at the Hippodrome circus is one of only four similar shows still left in the world.  Moscow and Blackpool still have synchronized swimming shows and Las Vegas recently introduced the fourth one on the Strip.
The Hippodrome Circus current schedule of performances is located on their website and it is recommended that visitors get their tickets early as they usually sell out quickly.

Holkham Hall

Built between 1734 and 1764, Holkham Hall is the ancestral home of the Coke family and the Earls of Leicester.  This stately home was built by Thomas Coke, the first Earl, and it reflects the Palladian style of architecture that was very popular in Europe at the time.  Lord Burlington and his apprentice William Kent helped Coke design Holkham Hall and the estate today is the way they had designed it in the 1700’s.  It is now filled with manuscripts and statues that Coke brought back with him during his many international travels.
Thomas coke died in 1759, five years before Holkham Hall was finished.  His widow Lady Margaret Tufton made sure the house was finished and properly furnished, and ruled the manor for the next seventeen years with an iron hand.  When she passed away, the estate was passed on to the Wenman Roberts, the next living male relative.  He changed his name to Coke and his son, Thomas William Coke, inherited shortly thereafter.  Thomas William Coke is best known as ‘Coke of Norfolk’ and was an active and energetic Member of Parliament for fifty-three years.
The estate is not a museum or under the National Trust because the current Viscount, his family, and three other families still reside in the house and on the land.  The hall is closed to the public in the winter but the grounds remain open; academic researchers are allowed access to the library and other artifacts all the year round by appointment.  Many of the items that reside in the house have toured the world and the estate is part of the Historic House Association.

The King of Hearts

A 16th century Tudor styled merchant’s mansion, the King of Hearts is an arts centre complete with medieval halls, courtyards, contemporary art gallery, craft shop, music and arts activities, and more.  It’s located on the river near Norwich Cathedral and also includes a craft shop, meeting room and café.  The architecture and historical ambience of this beautiful venue is very attractive to everyone who has the opportunity to visit it for business or pleasure.
The King of Hearts is home to a contemporary art gallery that is the perfect place for artists to put on a small show, private or public.  There is a formal music room for concerts and the craft shop features pieces of art from displayers as well as books on art, poetry, and stories for children.  Training sessions, lectures, corporate events, working meetings and social occasions are all welcome at the King of Hearts.  Their four meeting rooms are specially set up for these types of meeting.  There is a Café on the grounds as well as a courtyard garden that will provide guests with a relaxed area to sit and talk.
The King of Hearts was opened in 1990 specifically as a venue for meetings and other arts events.  This building not only lends itself to the needs of the community, it also instils the heritage of the area into the visitor.  The environment was created specifically in a relaxing manner that tries to dispel any notions of it being an elite establishment.  The quality of the service from the staff at the King of Hearts is second to none and they strive to make every visitor to this Tudor mansion complex feel welcome.

Pleasure Beach Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth in the county of Norfolk, England, has some great tourist attractions that are perfect for a family day trip.  One of these sites is the Pleasure Beach that covers nine acres of the seafront area.  Amusement rides, children’s rides, crazy golf, and water attractions are all complimented by hot doughnuts, candy rock, and candyfloss.  This seafront attraction is one of East Anglia’s most popular.

There are over twenty adult rides available as well as some ‘awe-inspiring white knuckle classics’ for those visitors who enjoy a deep seated thrill.  Over 1.4 million people spent the day at the Pleasure Beach in 2007 alone, elevating its status to one of the United Kingdom’s top ten free entry amusement parks.  Management is hoping to attract more visitors with new rides, innovations, and attractions.

There is an extensive garden attached to the Pleasure Beach and it’s a great place for everyone to just relax during a busy day.  There are tearooms and kiosks serving food, an eleven hole safari golf course, twelve hole adventure golf course, and ten care junior driving school.  This is also a great place for large groups to gather for meals or to decide on the next day’s plans.

Amenities at the park include a first aid station with trained and qualified attendants, assistance for disabled guests, baby changing rooms and lost property office.  There is a system in place to find ‘misplaced parents’ by the General Office staff.  All major credit cards are accepted for tokens and wristbands for the attractions.

Princess Theatre in Hunstanton

Originally a hotel and then known as the Capitol Cinema, the Princess Theatre in Hunstanton, Norfolk, England, opened in 1932 with the showing of ‘The Desert Song’.  It was built by Ben Culey to be used as a live theatre and cinema and it has the largest gable wall made of carrstone in the world.  The theatre remained active as the Capitol until it closed in the 1960’s before being sold in 1974 and the name changed to the Kingsley Centre.  It served as a Bingo Hall and then was left derelict for years until the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk purchased it in 1981.

The theatre was re-opened on July 5, 1981 and renamed the Princess Theatre in honour of Lady Diana Spencer’s marriage to Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales. The Wurzels played the first concert under the new venue name.  By 1988, the Princess Theatre was actually showing movies again.  That is not the only thing the theatre presents; pantomimes are preformed at the Princess Theatre and ever since December of 1988 some members of the Royal Family continue to attend the Christmas performances.

The Box Office is open every day except Christmas and the theatre provides the community with a wide range of entertainment from variety shows to dramas, dance, music concerts, pantomime and, of course, films.  It is also the home of the Hunstanton & District Festival of Arts event in June and July.  It is wheelchair accessible and has recently been renovated to include a new foyer, central heating and air conditioning, raked seating and new toilets.

Fakenham Racecourse

The first races ever held at the Fakenham racecourse were on Easter Monday in 1905 and were conducted by the West Norfolk Hunt.  Located in rural Norfolk, the course provides a softer soil that is very conducive to horse racing and the first race saw 37 runners.  The races here have been a tradition ever since, only missing the years during World War I and II when they were forced to take a break because of the hostilities.  The first hurdle races were introduced in 1926 after a decline in three mile steeplechase and by 1945 six annual race meetings were being held here.

The popularity of the hurdle racing caused the need to have a grandstand erected and the paddocks enlarged.  The Racecourse Ltd. was formed to get Levy Board support and in an effort to keep the racecourse from being closed, a new sports complex was designed in and around the course.  This complex included tennis and squash courts, improved racecourse facilities, and, of course, Fakenham Golf Course, one of the nicest courses in this area of England.

The racecourse has always had Royal patronage and up until 2000 when HRH The Prince of Wales took over the task, Queen Elizabeth II supported the complex.  The Members’ Stand was named after Prince Charles and he opened the new facility on March 15, 2002.  Admission prices to the racecourse during races are £9.00 for course enclosure, £14.00 for grandstand and paddock, and £20.00 for a day member.  Children under the age of 16 get in free.  Members’ car park costs £8.00 and other car parks are free.

Blooms of Bressingham

In 1946 Alan Bloom bought Bressingham Hall and began the process of building a world-renowned gardening industry in the eastern portion of the United Kingdom.  He had been gardening since the age of 16 and is considered by many to be one of the great plantsmen of the 20th century.  Today his legacy has spanned three generations and his gardening dynasty is still growing.

Bloom was the founder of the Blooms Nursery and the mastermind behind the Dell Garden with its ‘Island Beds’ between 1955 and 1962.  The garden has over 5,000 species of perennials all in as many varieties and colours.  The garden is designed to remind visitors of a park like meadow filled with bright colours and a wide range of shapes.

The Dell, Foggy Bottom, and Plant Centre are located in Bressingham, outside of the town of Diss in Norfolk, England.  All three are open every day from April 3 to November 2.  The Dell Garden is open form 10:30am to 5:30pm (4:40 pm in April and October) and the Foggy Bottom Garden is open from 12:30pm to 4:30pm.  The Plant Centre is also the home to Alan Bloom’s collection of Steam Engines, the second largest in Europe.  With 11 kilometres of working railway, visitors can take a fun ride to other rides along the line as well as to a Dad’s Army collection that has been launched for 2008.  Group tours are also welcome and it is recommended that visitors contact the gardens to ensure that they will open on the day they wish to visit.

Bressingham Steam Experience and Gardens

Bressingham Steam Museum and Gardens located near Diss, Norfolk was built by Alan Bloom, the same man who started the firm Blooms of Bressingham.  He purchased Bressingham Hall and began designing his garden around the hardy perennial plants that seemed to always take second place to the trees and shrubs in other gardens around the country.  In an effort to allow the plants to grow as naturally as possible, Bloom planted what he called ‘Island Beds’, miniature meadows where the flowers grew naturally without being inhibited by hedge rows or walls.  Today, the garden with all of its island beds contains 5,000 species and varieties of flowers amidst mature trees, giving the entire garden the feel of a park.

The Steam Experience offers visitors a chance to take a train ride from Bressingham through the woodlands around the gardens or a chance to ride a steam carousel, one of the few left in the United Kingdom.  Visitors can see the steam exhibit in the locomotive shed that was part of Alan Bloom’s collection as well as being able to view the new Dad’s Army collection that includes props and vehicles from this popular television show.  The 6100 Royal Scot locomotive has also returned to its home of Bressingham after a successful tour of the United States.

The Bressingham Steam and Gardens open daily at 10:30am and close at 5:00pm in March, April, May, September and October.  In June, July, and August the site closes at 5:30pm.  All rides close at 4:30pm unless there is a special event happening.  The Dad’s Army Exhibit has closed for the year.

Broadland Arts Centre

The Broadland Arts Centre is a creative arts establishment designed to help the beginner and advanced artist refine their skills.  Led by qualified tutors, visitors can take a craft or painting holiday and explore their artistic side.  It is located at the village of Dilham near North Walsham, Norfolk. Potential visitors can request a virtual reality DVD in order to get a glimpse of the courses they offer, the facilities, and the two operating locations.

Courses that are available at the Broadland Arts Centre include: painting; drawing; textiles; painting and art appreciation; printmaking; holidays abroad; sculpture; and sailing and painting cruises.  Each class is taught by a professional artist or craftsperson and the atmosphere is fun while being structured at the same time.  The classes will take place at the Norfolk centre, but there could be a field trip to Leigh-on-Sea in Essex or a few days aboard a traditional sailing boat.  They welcome non-painting partners as well.

Students of the centre can stay at the Norfolk school quite cheaply and they get a full breakfast plus a tea making facility in their room.  Another option is for the student to stay at one of the many accommodation places in the town, including B&Bs, self-catering, caravan parks, and hotels.  Campervans and tents can also be accommodated on the grounds of the centre by prior arrangement only.  A light lunch is provided for all courses and tea or coffee and snacks are also provided.  Evening meals are at the expense of the student.  The centre remains open until 10pm for the student’s convenience.

Sheringham Little Theatre

The town of Sheringham has its own community venue in the Sheringham Little Theatre.  Committed to getting the residents of the community involved in artistic pursuits of all types, it is a valuable resource that provides plenty of fun and educational opportunities.  The theatre was completely remodelled and reopened in June of 1997.  Plays, literary performances, workshops, and musical concerts can all be found at the theatre throughout the year.

This professional theatre has the smallest stage in the country and only 180 seats.  The land that the theatre was built on was once occupied by six small cottages.  Shops, a library, and a town hall were all on the site at one time since 1887 and it was first used for artistic endeavours in 1902.  An art and craft show was held there to raise money for the fishing boat disaster fund.  After that, entertainment and artistic shows for all ages were held in the building, including Christmas parties and magic shows for the children.  It also held a silent picture movie house during World War I.
The Little Theatre Society was formed in 1973 by the Honourable Robin Walpole in an effort to save the building from being demolished.  It has survived dry rot, seat replacements, a crumbling balcony, and has gained both a modern café and bar.  The theatre is kept running by grants and donations from the community and it is one of the few repertory groups left in the United Kingdom.  There is a busy schedule of shows and performances throughout the year.

Somerleyton Halls and Gardens

One of the earliest Victorian homes in Norfolk County, England, is Somerleyton House and Gardens.  These take up twelve acres of land seven miles outside of Great Yarmouth.  Beautifully tended gardens, picnic areas, tearooms, and a well known yew hedge maze compliment this estate which has become very popular for weddings and wedding receptions.  There is also a gift shop available for visitors.

In 1844 this Jacobean manor was remodelled into the Anglo-Italian style it is now, a tradition during the Victorian era.  The yew hedge maze was created in 1846 and is complimented by a garden that is the home for a wide range of trees, borders, plants, and shrubs.  There is a twelve point trail through the garden, but visitors can explore it at their leisure.  A concrete lined pond can be found on the eastern side of the garden, complete with its own island.  Marginal plants of hostas, ligularias, iris and more have been planted there.

Six richly appointed rooms make up the Hall proper, starting with the entrance hall with its twelve oak columns, walls panels in Devon marble and owl and boar carvings about the doors.  The staircase hall is decorated in the Italian Classical style and the windows are decorated with the coat of arms of the fourteen families that have lived at the Hall.

The Ballroom is the largest reception room and is in the Victorian style while the Library contains a twenty-eight feet high ceiling covered in a dragon motif.  The passageway between the Ballroom and the Staircase Hall contains artworks and the dining room was refurbished in the 1960s.

The Thursford Collection

Located in the small village of Thursford, Norfolk, England, the Thursford Collection Museum is an interesting attraction that, amongst other things, simulates an old-fashioned fairground.  Amusement park rides, such as carousels, occupy the same large space as the steam engine collection and visitors will be amazed at the variety of mechanical organs that are exhibited there.  These organs range in size from the smallest street organ to the huge dance and fairground organs that were once found all over the United Kingdom.

There is a daily musical show with the resident organist (currently Robert Wolfe) at the Wurlitzer Cinema organ and he entertains fans of all ages. The music from today is played along with some stretching back to the silent movie days.  The entire attraction is housed in old farm buildings that have been renovated specifically for this use.  In November and December the entire establishment is prepared for the huge Christmas show which visitors from all over England travel to see.  Gift, tea and Christmas shops are also available and are decorated as if sets in a Charles Dickens novel.

The Thursford Collection is open from Good Friday through September 28th from noon to 5pm daily.  They are closed on Saturdays.  All of the fairground rides are included in the admission price and there is a children’s play area and picnic grounds outside.  Admission is £7.50 for adults, £7.00 for senior citizens, £7.00 for students, £3.50 for children 4 through 14 and under 4’s are free.  Christmas events are heavily pre-booked so contact the Thursford Collection for more information if you wish to attend an event.

Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens

Just eight miles outside of Great Yarmouth are the Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens.  This is a progressive zoo that takes in the casualties of construction and development, possibly one of the few last refuges for species who have nowhere else to go.  Thrigby Hall is a big supporter of the World Zoo Conservation Strategy of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the animals that live at Thrigby were some of the first to be given over to the Joint Management of Species Programme.

Thrigby’s animals range from large cats, including tigers, small mammals, snakes, crocodiles, primates, red pandas and birds.  Brave visitors can walk in the tiger tree.  This specially constructed walkway takes visitors up and over the tiger pen and provides them with a great view of the big cats in their natural habitat.  The Lime Tree Walk gives the visitor a bird’s eye look at the wildlife around the lake at Thrigby.

Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens is open all year long, every day, from 10:00am.  Animal feeding in the summer starts at 3:00pm ending with the tigers at 4:15pm.  Visitors are welcome to feed the deer and ducks around the lake, but management asks that they do not feed any of the other animals in the park.  There is a café and gift shop for visitor’s convenience and picnics are welcome.  Large groups of twenty or more are also welcomed to the park and reduced rates are available.  Admission fee is £8.90 adults, £6.90 child ages 4 through 14, and £7.90 for senior citizens.

Woodforde’s Brewery Shop

If you love beer then you will want to tour Woodforde’s Brewery in Norfolk, England.  Located near the county seat of Norwich, Woodforde’s recently found out that they were one of four brewers chosen to supply M&S with bottle-conditioned beers.  This is a big honour for the company that has only really been known in East Anglia for the 4.5% bitter they specially brew for the local pubs and stores.  They supply several outlets in the county with their very popular range of draught beers.

Tours of the Brewery are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7:00pm and they are approximately an hour and a half long.  Visitors will learn the history of the Woodforde’s Norfolk Ales, see how the brewing is done including descriptions and explanation of all the equipment, and then be able to ask questions for more information.  From there, visitors will able to sample many of the different ales the company makes and look over the exhibits detailing the history and advertising campaigns.  This part of the tour is for visitors aged 18 or older.

The gift shop offers visitors a variety of gift items from beer boxes, bottled beers from the brewery, home brew kits, clothing such as t-shirts and sweatshirts, other items, and memorabilia.  The brewery itself has been awarded numerous awards over the last 20 years for their beer and many of them can be seen in the Visitor Centre.  The tours are based on a booking system of groups of 12 for the regular group price and up to 24 for a large group price.  Check out their website for more information or call them at telephone number 01603 720353.

Town House Museum Of Lynn Life

Located in King’s Lynn, the Town House Museum offers visitors a look into the social history and domestic life of the town’s merchants, families, and traders starting with medieval times and going through the decades and centuries up to the 1950’s.  Visitors can try brass rubbing in the Medieval Room and take home a unique souvenir.  The 17th Century room contains a reconstructed fireplace and displays objects that were used on an everyday basis throughout the town’s siege during the English Civil War.

There is a Victorian nursery in the museum that contains toys and a doll’s house from that period, children are welcome to try them out and play the games that are available.  The kitchen below is also Victorian and shows the everyday items used by the house cook and staff.  A garden with a privvy (outside toilet) completes the setting.  Other exhibits include an Edwardian school desk complete with slate and chalk, displays about life in Lynn during the World Wars, and an original 1950’s television that sits in a fifties living room.

The Town House Museum of Lynn Life is located on Queen Street in historic Old Lynn near the site of the Saturday Market and St. Margaret’s Church.  There is a herb garden and a souvenir shop on the premises.  The ground floor of the museum is the only one that is wheelchair accessible, but visitors with disabilities that can get around with assistance can bring a companion for free.  Assistance dogs are welcome.  Admission is £3.00 for adult, £2.50 for disabled visitors, over 60s and under 4 free and older children £1.65.  It’s open from Monday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm February to April, 10am to 5pm Monday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm and then from 2pm to 5pm on Sundays, and Monday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm in October.  The museum is closed from November 3 through February 13.

Black Sheep Ltd. – Classic British Knitwear

Located at 9 Penfold Street in Aylsham, Norfolk, England, Black Sheep Ltd. are known for their quality knitwear which is made from the best of British wool.  Every article is designed and made in the United Kingdom and exported internationally.  The wool that is used is usually undyed and comes from the Black Welsh Mountain Sheep and their sister breed, the Welsh Mountain Sheep.  The wool is then hand dyed and comes in a wide range of colours, the newest being Moss Green.

The company recently added the Keen footwear collection to the list of products that the Black Sheep Shop sells.  The management felt that the style of shoes in the Keen collection matched the image they were striving for and they agreed that everyone will like the shoes once they try them.  The Weird Fish line is a casual style cotton zip top for both men and women and is one of their best sellers.  The Mat de Misaine line is influenced by the French and was an instant hit when it was added in 2004.  The line includes peddle pushers, dresses, t-shirts, skirts, and shirts.

Other items carried by the Black Sheep Ltd. shop include jerseys, cardigans, hats, scarves, gloves, miscellaneous gifts such as logo coffee mugs, and other bargain goodies that can be had at reasonable prices.  The shop is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5:30 pm, and on Saturdays from 10am to 5pm.  If you are in Aylsham, visit Black Sheep Ltd. and take home your own piece of the British countryside.

Bircham Windmill

Located six miles from Sandringham is Bircham Windmill looking pretty much the same as it did 100 hundred years ago. When the windmill was at the height of its business use there were over 300 mills that ground corn for animal feed or bread. Today Bircham Windmill is one of the only ones that is still in good repair, working, and open to the public. Visitors are welcome to climb the tower and inspect the fan stage, getting a chance to see the sails and milling machinery turning on windy days. The grounds also include a tearoom and bakery.

The Bircham Windmill was built in 1846 and was operated on a daily basis into the 1920’s when it was ultimately abandoned and left to fall into disrepair. The sails were removed when the windmill was closed. It remained that way until the current owners purchased the property and began renovation work on the buildings on the land. By 1979 a new cap was placed on the windmill with the sails being added two years later. Three of the five floors were completely replaced and the inner workings were replaced from machinery and stones bought at farm sales and auctions from other derelict mills.

The Bircham Windmill, bakery, cycle hire, Humprey Cottage and tearoom are open from March 19 to September 30 from 10am to 5pm. There is a small petting zoo and rate plant sale that takes place at the windmill on a daily basis as well as an extensive events calendar featuring craft shows to puppet shows.