Runs the scenic 9-miles, 45-minutes, from Hoveton & Wroxham Station to the quaint market town of Aylsham, stopping at picturesque Broadland villages of Brompton, Buxton and Coltishall. Trains run four times a day in season, including a special Santa train with mince pies over Christmas. Full details here. Aylsham is a bustling market town with many fine 17th-century buildings and an impressive Victorian watermill. Combine with a visit to the magnificent National Trust Blickling Hall and Gardens, just 1.5-mile taxi ride away – making a never-forgotten day out from Bure Cottage.

No holiday in Wroxham is complete without taking to the water. Take a river cruise in the day or boogie nights, jazz nights, evening music trips during the summer - or self-drive picnic and electric boats. The pretty riverside village of Horning, with 3-pubs, is just 1-hour along the river. Or take your dayboat an hour under Wroxham Bridge to the village of Coltishall, where there are 3 pubs, two river-side. Click for more at Wroxham Boat Trips.

Tranquil woodland and lakeside walks among weeping willows, mature rhododendrons, and other flowers first planted during the 18th-century. Combined with formal gardens, glasshouses, dykes, lakes and ponds which attract many different dragonflies, butterflies and over 100 species of birds. Visit the tearooms and take home a souvenir from their plant sales. Open April till October. Under 2-miles from Wroxham, along Norwich Road towards Stalham: NR12 8RJ. Full details at Hoveton Hall & Gardens.

Is a 50-acre fun forest and water adventure park for children and all the family, with mystical march walks and boat rides, just 1 ½ miles from Wroxham on the Horning Road, NR12 8JW. Special Halloween and Christmas events. More at Bewilderwood Park.

Is the most picturesque village on the broads and only 3-miles road from Wroxham, or an hour by boat. The village has three outstanding pubs, especially The Swan with log fires (even in late summer) and a riverside beer garden. Moored outside is a reproduction Mississippi paddle cruiser with hourly trips to Ranworth Broad. Horning Windpump (pictured) is one of the most photographed on the broads is, ironically the least authentic looking. More on Horning.

Salhouse Broad (left picture) is a wonderful spot to moor your boat. Over the grassy bank is a playground for children, canoe hire, and a small campsite. Reached on foot from the carpark at NR13 6RX - or a path to Salhouse Village, where the Bell Inn offers free transport to/from the broad. From the broad, 20-minute woodland walks lead from the right to Salhouse, and the left to Woodbastwick. A beautiful little village with a green, shop and church. Woodfords Brewery is based there, serving ales from it’s thatched pub. More at Salhouse Broad or Woodbastwick.

Fairhaven Woodland & Water Garden, near South Walsham, is 130 acres of beautiful water garden with boat rides, rhododendrons, tearoom and lakes, only 5-miles from Wroxham. More at Fairhaven Water Park.

Is viewed best from the tower of St Helen’s Church (picture left), known as the “Cathedral of the Broads”, dating back to 1370. It’s exciting to climb the narrow stairway and open a hatch door to stand on the roof! Near the church is a nature reserve, winding its way through woodland to a floating thatched Conservation Centre. Offering information and viewing windows with binoculars for bird watching. More at Ranworth Broad.

The gatehouse is all that remains of this huge monastery, rebuilt 1,000 years ago in 1022 on the grounds of a 9th-century abbey. The Bishop of Norwich is abbot, and still sails there every August to conducts open-air services. You can literally feel the solitude. Surrounded by marshland, rivers, and an abundance of wildlife like Swallowtail Butterflies and Hawker Dragonflies. Reached best by boat from the River Bure, or 20-minutes’ walk from Ludham Bridge. A huge cross stands where the main altar was, beside a bench playing a recording of how the monks used to sound. More at St Benet's Abbey.

An enchanting nature reserve of public gardens, picnic areas, thatched cottages, and fen walks. Visit the tiny Victorian cottage, left as it was when a marshman and his family lived catching eels. Take a break at the teahouse, and get close to the wildlife on the Electric Eel boat rides. Arrive by boat along the River Ant, or 20-minutes’ drive from Wroxham. More at How Hill.

These two are the largest of the broads, 20-minutes’ drive from Wroxham. Barton Broad is reached by boat from the River Ant. Surrounding villages are Neatishead, where the White Horse offers food; and Irstead and Barton Turf, with shops for supplies and crafts. Hickling Broad is situated along the River Thurne, close to the village of Hickling with two pubs. Both broads are good for walking - with an abundance of wildlife, like cranes, bitterns, and other birds.

Is a yesteryear experience for all the family, over 10,000 square feet of gardens with steam engines, narrow gauge railway, children’s playground and 1930s fairground rides. Camping and refreshments in Strumpshaw Hall Gardens. Close to Brundall, Buckenham Railway Station, and Coldham Hall Tavern on the banks of the River Bure. Visit on the way to Norwich - just 20-minutes’ drive from Wroxham.

Is a bustling medieval city of culture, a must to visit, and only 20-minutes’ drive or train from Wroxham. A captivating blend of old and new, boating two magnificent cathedrals, a 1,000-year-old castle, outdoor market, three rivers, and cobbled pedestrianized alleys. With the finest shops and restaurants outside London. Norwich is famous for a pub for every day of the year and a church for every week, and was once only second in wealth to London. For more click Norwich.

This National Trust windmill is ½-hour drive from Wroxham, and offers fine views of the reed-beds at Horsey Mere. Break in the teahouse, then cross the road and walk to Horsey Beach, home to hundreds of seals. More at Horsey Wind Pump.

Is a large seaside town with sandy beaches, funfairs, shops, horse and banger racing, and much more for all the family. Half-hour drive or train from Wroxham. Don’t miss the unique 100-year-old Hippodrome Water Circus. More at Great Yarmouth.

An un-spoilt Victorian seaside town on the North Norfolk coast, 20-miles from Wroxham. Created from a herring-fishing village, by the hordes of tourists brought by the railways in 1844. Famous for its dressed-crab, fish-and-chips and its lifeboat museum. Children love crabbing from its award-winning pier, built in 1902 - and still hosts all year shows at the Pavilion Theatre. The 2-mile walk from Cromer to Overstand is spectacular – when the tide’s out, walk one way along the beach (sea to your left), and back along the 20-feet clifftop. More at Cromer.

Sheringham
Sheringham is 5-miles west of Cromer, the end of the train line north from Wroxham - well worth the 40-minute ride. The Poppy Line there also runs steam trains to Weybourne and Holt. It’s a wonderful one-hour walk along the clifftop from Cromer to Weybourne – in season, catch a steam train back, but book-it in Cromer first. More at Sheringham.