All things days out

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.  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.

Enjoy the only waterside Museum of Broadland life at the historic and picturesque Stalham Staithe.  We are family and dog friendly, have an accessible site, with a small café and picnic area.

So why visit?

• Superb displays using a variety of media telling the story of the Broads including Vikings!
• A cracking range of boats ranging from a water bicycle, an airborne lifeboat, racing yachts, punts to an ice yacht and loads more!
• Plenty to do for Children including our play boat, our steering boat and why not try out our new Ellis Eel trails for families!
• Displays of life on the Broads from marshmen, boatbuilders to holidaymakers and including life during the two World Wars.
• Sail back in time and watch Broads wildlife on board our Victorian steam boat, ‘Falcon' or on our electric accessible boat "Marsh Harrier"
• Take a hat selfie during your visit and share it online.
• Our lovely riverside setting is perfect for a picnic
• Free entry to our shop and cafe selling gifts, some great books plus hot and cold drinks, snacks and ice cream.

Don’t just take our word for it check out our Trip Advisor reviews and #makeitstalham 

2022 Opening times and admission prices:

The Museum will open again on 14 April 2022.

Tuesdays - 11am to 3pm

Thursdays 11am to 3pm

Sundays - 11am to 3pm 

Adult: £7, Children and Young People  (5-18): £3.00

Free admission to: Children under 4, Friends of the Museum, a Carer of a Disabled visitor, and members of the Museums Association (please show card).  Please note, we are not part of Norfolk Museums Service and cannot accept their pass card.

Steamboat trips 60 mins: Adult: £8.00, Child: £4.00; 30 mins: Adult: £6.00, Child: £3.00

Under 4's free.  Well behaved dogs are welcome.

Mattishall Golf Club is home to Mattishall Golf Academy, a new building full of indoor golfing fun! The Academy has the latest Trackman simulators and a 9-hole indoor mini golf course, both of which can be played come rain or shine. It’s perfect for individuals, friends, families, birthday parties, stag and hen parties or just a fun afternoon/evening out..

Our Indoor Mini Golf course includes a variety of interesting and tricky obstacles for players to putt through, over, under and around! This of which can be enjoyed by all ages, from 5yrs+. Just grab a score card and start putting your way around our 9 hole fun and challenging Indoor Mini Golf course it’s sure to entertain you all…and don’t forget to take that all important photo for the gram on our floral photo wall before or after your game.

Our Trackman simulators give you the chance to play the courses you have dreamt of playing from all over the world. The Trackman system collects, measures and provides data to help you to unleash your true golfing potential. Themed games are another option on the Simulators which are great for the little ones or for anyone who is just looking for some golfing fun. We offer custom fittings and expert coaching is available with our PGA professional on our Simulators too. 

We know golf is a social game, so we’ve made the Academy a place to socialise with its own licensed bar and on-site food including pizzas, burgers and loaded fries. We offer lots of different packages therefore you can combine a indoor mini golf round with a session on our simulators plus a few drinks and a bite to eat.

Mattishall Golf Academy also has a well-stocked shop containing all the clothing and equipment to ensure that you look good and play even better. Ranges include Taylor Made, Callaway and Titleist. Our experienced team are always happy to assist if you have any questions or need any advice.

Broom Boats has been a part of the Brundall boating community for over a century. Our heritage is boat building, but our future is focused on protecting and opening up the Broads waterways for the benefit of its wildlife and people.

We’re reviewing every aspect of how we do business. We aim to bring a greater range of services to our customers and the Brundall community, and to protect the environment of the Broads.

In addition to providing luxury boating holidays, we also maintain and repair all makes and models of boats. For boat owners, we provide a small number of private moorings at our marina on the South Broads.

We have a fleet of 24 luxury hire boats which can be booked throughout the year, alongside electric day boats and fishing boats which are available to hire for days out on the Norfolk Broads.

You can visit local attractions and amenities using your foldable Broom Bike and explore the peace and tranquillity of Norfolk on two wheels. We have recently added the Food Vault to our site, an on site café which serves a range of freshly cooked food, available to both boating holiday customers and passing visitors from the local community. We have also built an indoor seating area for the café. 

We have expanded our range of services by becoming a floating Waterlodge distributor, the perfect way to have a holiday on the water.

We have great belief in young people and are members of the 5%Club. The 5%Club is an organisation which promotes apprenticeships in the UK and we are proud to say 18% of our workforce are apprentices. We want to ensure the valuable skills which our workforce boast are passed on to future generations, maintaining the level of quality which has always been demanded by Broom. The future is in good hands.

Sustainability is always at the forefront of our intentions at Broom Boats, by protecting and caring for our environment, we can ensure it will be here to enjoy for future generations. By using carbon offsetting, ground, air and water source heat pumps, renewable energy, water monitoring and electric transport, we are helping to sustain the natural environment in which we operate.

We welcome visitors to our site in Brundall, many changes have been made over the last two years and we welcome people to visit to see how our site continues to develop. We are lucky to be situated in such a beautiful part of the Norfolk Broads, so visit us for a coffee and watch our marina in operation.

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

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).