Sunday saw us take a trip to Pensthorpe Natural Park in Norfolk and once again be reminded of how lucky we are to live in this county. I am always talking merits of an annual pass for places close to home and this one is now very firmly on my list as one to have! I would come here ALL the time and never get bored of that I am sure and for the children it’s an idyllic day out in the countryside with just the right balance between the natural environment and the fun and exciting world of play – Hootz House is their indoor play centre which is utterly breath-taking in design and outside, wow! The outside is something else and worth an annual pass for alone!

If, however, you are a visitor to Norfolk and not a local then you will still want to make sure you plan a day out here for summer. Do not let this one go missed while you are on holiday because from the cafe to the countryside and the play, the wildlife and even the shop (the shop is amazing!) you must come to Pensthorpe for a little slice of Norfolk life and a LOT of fun!

Take a look at the video we made of our day out for more of an idea of what to expect when visiting Pensthorpe Natural Park. It really is amazing!

Lots has been invested at Pensthorpe since our last visit and I have to say I wasn’t sure how they could have made it better but better it is and more beautiful at that. The gardens are so delightful to walk around especially in this season (sun or no sun, they can’t make it summer weather no matter how good they are) as everything is in bloom and looking its best.

We took the children through the stamp trail (the wrong way round but it didn’t matter) and they loved the new additions every so often which give children a challenge like how to find out the weight of food local inhabitants need to eat per day compared to them. We sat in our favourite lunch time spot and had a picnic looking out over the river, we found a baby frog, played Pooh sticks, ran and jumped and climbed trees (the children not me) and took in all the natural surroundings with glee. Nothing amazing, nothing flashing just pure and simple walking and talking and discovering.

And then at the end of the trail, when the stamps were collected, the facts found and the mini beasts investigated at every turn, we took the children to the outdoor play area where they entertained themselves in a very safe environment. I loved watching them as they negotiated the shallow stream where Jimmy built a dam and challenged themselves to do the entire obstacle course.

If that wasn’t enough play for them we had a timed session at Hootz House (they time it for busy periods although our day was very quiet with other visitors) which was just as well because minutes before we were to go in the heavens opened (oh that good old British summer again)! An hour and a half seemed like a long time for them to be in a soft play environment but it whizzed by in a flash and before we knew it it was time to leave. They loved being inside Hootz House which isn’t as you may pre-conceive soft plays to be. Not smelly, not dirty and not diabolical for the grow ups… For once! In fact, quite the antithesis… Hootz House is beautifully crafted from wood and metal and consists of lots of climbing areas with massive slides to enjoy. Underneath is a more traditional soft play for younger ones and the adults get to sit down high above the action and watch over the children. It’s actually really rather a pleasant experience – now how many indoor play centers can you say that about?!

We had a lovely day and can’t wait to do it all again. Please do take a look at my video above for a better idea of what Pensthorpe is like but know this: It’s a gentle day but you will go home exhausted and the children will sleep perfectly well having been outdoors for most of the day! With wildlife and birds to see and feed as well as pond dipping and other activities laid on especially for the school holidays (we simply didn’t have enough time to do everything) it’s well, WELL worth the entrance fee (which I’m sure has gone down since our last visit – that doesn’t happen often either)!

Tips for your day at Pensthorpe:

• Take a change of clothes in the summer and wellies and waterproofs in the winter. The water stream in the play area is amazing fun and shouldn’t be missed out on because you might get wet!
• Make a picnic and eat it on the trail but do sample the cafe before you go home because the food is delicious. We have been before so we know and were disappointed to have left it too late for a coffee and cake on the way home.
• We say go the wrong way round on the trail that way you end with the play areas rather than start.
• Make this be a place you say yes to the gift shop for – I know as parents we like to rush through them but this one actually has things you won’t mind having and as for the less child orientated section of the shopping it has some amazing pieces – especially around Christmas time.
• Book your Hootz House timed slot methodically. Really think about when you want it to be. We needed it to be the last one of the day and it was a fab way to end our visit.

Information:

• You can save £1 per person and choose your Hootz House timed slot on line making ticket prices £10.95 for adults and £9.95 for children and seniors (under 3s go FREE).
• Annual membership (which affords discounts in the shop etc.) costs £60 for adults, £65 for children and £55 for seniors.
• You may visit the cafe and shop without purchasing an entrance ticket. For all information on Pensthorpe Natural Park visit www.pensthorpe.com.

We were invited to Pensthorpe.

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