All things days out

Paul Dickson is an independent tour guide offering walking tours in Norwich and the Broads National Park. Book Paul direct for the following tours: 

Norwich Tours

Historic Pub Tour

River, Merchants and Markets

The Great Market

The Maids Head Hotel and Tombland

 People and Places - Colegate and Elm Hill

 Boardman and Skipper, Victorian and Edwardian architects

Norwich on the Dark Side.

In the Broads National Park groups can book Rails, Trails and Sails - a day tour combining  ‘Monks, Mayhem and Murder in Norwich with a train journey to Reedham and an exploration of the area with stories of the wherries, railways and Romans.

Paul is an official City of Norwich Tourist Guide and a Norwich Ambassador.

Paul is also an independent publisher working with Norfolk writers.

Main photograph courtesy of Daniel Wildey/English National Parks Experiences Collection.

Delightful natural woodland and water garden with a private Broad. 

The Sensory Garden is the first thing you’ll see as you walk into Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden. It has been designed with our visually and mobility impaired customers in mind.

In spring the garden 'springs' into life again. The primroses come into flower along the Broads Walk and the woodland paths. In May the glorious sight of bluebells will delight you, and our spectacular candelabra primulas, together with azaleas and rhododendrons.

There's lots of activity among the water birds and if you are lucky you may see a flash of vivid blue as the kingfisher dives for its prey.

In Summer there are flowers and shrubs including hydrangeas – in particular along our Hydrangea Walk – foxgloves and many other wild flowers. Several varieties of butterflies can be seen on our butterfly path.

Autumn brings its own special pleasure, the glow of the golds, reds and browns of the trees as they shed their leaves. The stark contrast of bare branches in Winter has a different kind of beauty, and withering birds come to shelter in the broads.

In December you can buy Christmas trees, wreaths and gifts and Father Christmas will visit before Christmas with gifts for children.

Fairhaven has three miles of peaceful walks. Boat trips are available on our Private Broad and South Walsham Broad from Easter to the end of October, including trips to St Benet's Abbey.

There is a plant sales area which specialises in woodland and bog plants, a Gift Shop, small provisions shop and the Kingfisher Tearoom for breakfast (from 9.15am) morning coffees, lunches and afternoon teas, using the best of local produce. Free entry to tearoom, shop and plant sales.

Dogs welcome on leads (small charge for poop scoop).

2020 entry charges: adult £7.50, concessions £6.95, child £3.95 (under 4 free).  

Please note we close at 4pm in the winter.

The tearoom opens at 9.15am every day for breakfast (served until 12noon).

We open until 9pm on Wednesdays from May to the end of August.

Did you know that Pensthorpe Natural Park is not just all about ducks? As well as appealing to nature and gardening enthusiasts, wildlife lovers and bird watchers, it also makes for a perfect day out for families and young children. 

Multiple WINNER of Norfolk's Best Large Attraction*, Pensthorpe is a modern day nature reserve with a focus on inspiring the next generation to enjoy wildlife and the great outdoors – without compromising on the tranquility and calmness that the reserve brings to so many regular visitors.

Former home of BBC Springwatch, the 700 acre reserve is a true showcase for British wildlife; beautiful gardens including one of Norfolk’s largest wildflower meadows which is home to the famous harvest mouse who starred in the recent BBC’s Planet Earth Two series and; more recently, inspiring adventure play, no matter what the weather. Encounter Flamingos, Red Squirrels, and cute ducks that will feed out of the palm of your hand; larger than life bugs on the Bug Trail; and learn more about Pensthorpe Conservation Trust’s 'Actively Saving Species' projects including Operation Turtle Dove, the Great Crane Project and their Corncrake re-introduction programme.

Hop on the Pensthorpe Explorer** for a behind the scenes tour to discover the secret side of the Wensum Valley, enjoy home cooked food in the Courtyard café and shop in one of North Norfolk’s largest gift shops. Families can unwind together in WildRootz, an outdoor adventure play area and Hootz House, the award winning indoor play area, complete with soft play for the under 5s.

*EDP Norfolk Tourism Awards

**Seasonal activity with additional charge

OPEN is located in the heart of Norwich in the Grade II listed grandeur of the former regional headquarters of Barclays Bank.

We are one of the largest most versatile function venues in Norwich that can to offer bespoke facilities whether you are looking to book for a small boardroom style meeting, a larger conference, a fundraising dinner, trade fair, concert, wedding or fashion show.  Whatever your event we are an ideally located and within walking distance of the main line railway station and Norwich's international airport just a short taxi journey away.

Our Banking Hall can hold up to 240 cabaret style, 500 people seated theatre style or 1450 standing and benefits from some of the best and most high tech facilities in the region.  We also have four smaller function rooms which can accommodate meetings for two or presentations for 20-50 in a variety of different layouts and are also a great location for private dining.  We can offer a wide range of services designed to complement any event perfectly, including plasma screens, hearing loop systems, flipcharts and technical support, incorporating sound, lighting and audio visual.  We can also offer a full on-site in-house catering facilities along with licensed bars.

OPEN has several modern facilities that provide the perfect backdrop to its activities and functions. The OPEN Gym houses state of the art equipment alongside a full-sized boxing ring and is used for a range of activities and classes – all open to the public. Everyone who signs up for membership of the gym (just £10 per month) allows OPEN to offer access to the gym facilities to young people for free. 

The recently refurbished café provides a spacious and relaxing area to enjoy a meal or cup of tea, even if you are not taking part in an activity and simply wish to enjoy homemade food whilst supporting a local charity. 

The dance studio is home to many of OPEN’s youth activities including performance art and sports and is one of its busiest spaces. Whilst OPEN’s climbing wall, Norfolk’s tallest indoor wall makes a great place for corporate team building events as well as running a variety of climbing courses for young people for free.  Thousands of children every year enjoy and learn here under the guidance of OPEN’s renowned and experienced youth team.

OPEN is also now the home of Future Radio who now broadcast their daytime programmes from the venue, as well as the Norfolk County Youth Orchestra and the Echo Youth Theatre Group having residency within the venue making, OPEN the forefront of musical talent and performing arts in Norfolk.

OPEN also hosts an array of live music events, as well as providing secure storage through CLOSED being the lead agency behind Norwich's SOS Bus, which does invaluable work on the streets of Norwich.

OPEN was established to provide opportunities for young people in Norfolk including those who are most disadvantaged, with the longer-term aim of making a positive difference to their lives.  Through the hire of our facilities, every penny of profit goes to enables the venue to offer a wide variety of activities and services free of charge for young people aged between 7 - 25. 

Step onboard our luxury, skippered, sports cruiser "Norfolk Time" and cruise the Norfolk Broads in style.  The only way to truly experience the beauty of the Norfolk Broads is by boat - there are so many stunning places which are only accessible by river.  Whether you are celebrating a birthday or anniversary, looking for a unique corporate venue or just an excuse to have some fun with friends and a great day out, we can offer you the most glamorous, day boat hire on the Norfolk Broads.  

Simply choose the number of hours you want to cruise ​​and we'll supply the scenery and unlimited refreshments (tea, coffee and water) for the duration OR choose one of our ​THEMED CRUISES and join in the fun.  There's something to suit every taste and occasion including our very first wellbeing cruise, Norfolk Time Out, giving you the time to relax, recharge and re-energise or grab the girls for our Pamper Cruise where we will be joined onboard by our resident beauty therapist for manicures and pedicures afloat. For details of the selected dates for Norfolk Time Out cruises please visit https://www.broadlandcharters.com/norfolk-time-out

Pre-book our special extras and make your Broadland Charters experience extra special.  Whilst we provide unlimited Norfolk tea, coffee and water with every cruise why not check out our onboard refreshments and dining menus before you book and pre-order a bottle of wine or if you're feeling peckish choose from local, handmade chocolates, cheese board or canapes to sample whilst watching the ever changing scenery?  All our delicious onboard food is made to order and locally sourced by our expert chefs.  Whether you want to picnic by the river bank, share a jug of Pimms or need a little something to keep the kids happy whilst you relax - our special extras are just that .... extra special!​

"Norfolk Time" is a local saying that describes the slow and relaxed pace of life experienced throughout Norfolk and the Broads so we thought it rather an apt name for our charter boat.  Why choose a self-drive day boat when you can step onboard a luxury sports boat with a fully qualified skipper and have crew to look after you for the duration? 

The Bure Valley Railway is Norfolk’s longest Narrow Gauge Steam Railway and operates between the old market town of Aylsham and the bustling Broads towns of Wroxham and is within easy reach of Norwich and the coast.   It was built on the track bed of part of the former Great Eastern Railway and the nine mile line runs through a stretch of lovely, rural Norfolk, following the river Bure through meadowland and ancient pastures, stopping occasionally at small country villages.

Trains operate on a daily basis from the beginning of Easter to the end of October with special events throughout the year, including Santa and Mince Pie Specials.   The railway also offers a very popular boat train which gives the opportunity for a journey by steam followed by a cruise of the Norfolk Broads.   For those who would like to realise their childhood ambitions to be a train driver, Driver Experience Courses are available during the off-peak periods.

The railway’s facilities include an 80-seater café at Aylsham, which can provide everything from a cup of team to a full meal, a large souvenir and model railway shop.   The railway’s workshops are also based at Aylsham and often open to the public.   At Wroxham Station there is a gift shop and a large second-hand book shop with over 5,000 books run by the Friends of the Bure Valley Railway.  

All trains have special wheelchair accessible coaches and disabled toilet facilities at both Stations.  Free parking is also available at both Stations. We are also Dog Friendly.