Prior to arrival, guests will receive access to our app that details many ideas about where to go and what to do for your stay, we also try to showcase local things to do through our social media channels - browsing pages we have liked on Facebook is probably the most efficient way of finding things that might interest you as there's a huge variety!

Be part of the community: You'll find out about what is going on in the villages of Neatishead and Horning through the following pages. Activities include Cinema evenings in both Neatishead and Horning village halls, farmers markets and other activities. https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/4739/page/46052/view/ for activities in Neatishead, Irstead and Barton Turf https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/4739/page/46914/view/ For activities in Horning.

Our facebook page has also linked to a number of local businesses in Neatishead and Horning. Shopping local is also a great way to give back to the community. The village shop in Neatishead uses many local suppliers and also has a small range of gifts and postcards.

Nature: There are many walks you can do from the cottage that will surround you in nature, but you could also hire a motor boat to see the rivers and broads from a different angle! Horning is the nearest location for boat hire on the River Bure and Wayford Bridge or Stalham are the nearest for boat hire on the River Ant. The Yare and Thurne rivers are also nearby and each river has different characteristics and attractions, so it's worth exploring.

There are many boat hire companies and prices are very seasonal. All companies will hire out life jackets and abide by strict safety protocols, so don't be afraid to google and find one that suits exactly what you are after. You can also explore the river by sailing boat, canoe or Paddle Board. Canoes and Paddle Boards have access to otherwise non-navigable stretches of river so if you're looking to spot more nature they are an ideal choice, although even in a motor boat you can see a host of wildlife including otters and kingfishers.

Family Activities: Bewilderwood is a wonderful adventure park that is just two miles away. It emphasizes the natural environment and has a number of treehouses, slides, sky walks and other activities suitable for all ages.

The Bure Valley Railway is a miniature railway that runs from Wroxham (4 miles away), through various villages, to Aylsham which is a traditional market town that is also home to Blickling Hall. Aylsham and Blickling Hall are well worth exploring, and for the adventurous, there is a footpath/cyclepath that runs alongside the railway so you can walk or bicycle all, or parts of, the way home too.

Even smaller than the Bure Valley Railway is the model Railway collection also in Wroxham, at Miniature Worlds. Wroxham Barns has a host of activities, including a miniature farm, mini golf, cafes, shops and a host of arts and crafts. In the spring there is the option to feed the lambs and other young-stock as well as learn about many different farm animals.

Slightly further afield there are beaches, zoos, museums and a host of options in Norwich which can all be reached within about half an hour.

Arts, Architecture and Historical: Locally, St Benet's Abbey celebrated it's one thousandth birthday in 2019 and Norwich, also in 2019, won the prestigious Stirling prize for Architecture for a newly designed social housing scheme; there really is something for everyone! In fact, Norfolk has a history of human habitation going back an astonishing 850,000 years, with the oldest human footprints outside Africa having been discovered about 10 miles away on the beach at Happisburgh!

Also local is the Museum of the Broads, where you can find out about what makes this part of the UK so unique and explore more about the history of people and wildlife in broadland. The Norfolk Museums website gives a good overview of many of the other local museums, many of them Norwich based.

The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts is a leading art gallery with a couple of permanent exhibitions as well as visiting exhibitions of extremely high calibre. Norwich Castle also frequently has art exhibitions as well as its fascinating museum, details of which can be found in the museums link above.

Norfolk also has a wealth of National Trust and other stately homes to explore as well of course as Sandringham House, home to the Royal Family and locally you can explore Hoveton Hall Gardens and East Ruston Gardens.

Norfolk is perhaps most famous for its churches and Cathedral. Whatever your religious beliefs you can't help but appreciate the unique architecture of these great buildings.

Music, Theatre and Film: The parish newsletters in the 'community' section above, will give the best details of local events but Norwich has a greater choice of venues. Norwich has five theatres and several cinemas - we highly recommend Cinema City and there are many music venues, depending on your preferred genre but some favourite locations are listed here.

Food and Drink: Almost as famous as Norfolk churches are Norfolk pubs! In fact it is said that Norwich used to have 52 churches, one for every Sunday in the year and 365 pubs. It is true, Norfolk has a wealth of ancient pubs full of wood fires (can you tell I'm writing this in bad weather? There are also some great pub gardens....!) and delicious food. Norfolk has also seen a real rise in independent tea and coffee merchants meaning you can almost always find a delicious spot for a cuppa.

There really are too many to choose from - but some of our favourites within a five mile radius of Irstead Cottage are: The White Horse in Neatishead - a lovely traditional pub with its own microbrewery and even their own gin. Bure River Cottage - in Horning and the (seasonal) Garden cafe at Hoveton Hall. A little further away in the village of Ingham is the Ingham Swan, serving delicious, higher end, meals. And for a really special meal out 1812 in Stalham is definitely the place to book.

There are numerous great spots for food and drink, really too many to list, but there are some further ideas in the app that is sent once you book.