There is no better time of the year to visit the Norfolk Broads than at Christmas. This is particularly true of the town that is often called the ‘gateway to the Broads’: Wroxham. The beauty of the Wroxham broads have been featured on this blog before, however whilst many people choose to visit Wroxham and the Norfolk Broads whilst they are in full bloom during the spring and summer months, they simply don’t think to spend time in the region during the Winter. However, by not doing so, they are making a grave mistake: Wroxham is arguably at its most beautiful when it is covered in frost or snow.
If you’re travelling with young children and are hoping to visit Santa during your magical winter wonderland trip to Wroxham then you’re in luck, because this jewel at the heart of the Norfolk Broads has several different wonderful Santa experiences for children of all ages to enjoy. Despite the fact that it is a small town, Wroxham’s Santa experiences attract visitors from all over Norfolk, and the rest of the UK. Here are the three most popular:
Visit Wroxham Barns
Perhaps the highlight of a festive trip to Wroxham is the opportunity to visit Wroxham Barns. Wroxham barns champions locally sourced produce, meaning that there is no better place to source your Christmas produce, such as jams and chutneys. The barns also feature a host of wonderful shops manned by experts and artisans making it ideal for starting your Christmas shopping. If you like to get hands on, you can try your hand at pottery painting in the ‘Made By You’ store, and if you’re travelling with Children then the Barns Farm is sure to be a highlight: here you can see and feed a host of farm animals and, at weekends during December, you can also meet Santa and listen to him tell enchanting stories. It is a magical and enchanting experience for Christmas lovers of all ages. As an added bonus, Wroxham Barns is also home to a delicious café and restaurant where you can finish your day by enjoying a truly delicious homemade and Norfolk-produced meal.
Take a Ride on the Santa Express
Head to the Bure Valley Railway and take a ride on the Santa Express: a must for steam train enthusiasts. Visitors take a ride from Wroxham through the heart of the Broads, passing through countryside and picturesque villages until they arrive in Aylsham, where they will meet Santa, enjoy a host of children’s entertainment, and be given the opportunity to explore inside the railways workshops. For grown-up visitors who don’t want to see Father Christmas, there are also ‘mince pie express’ journeys available during the Christmas period: a chance to enjoy a steam train ride and then eat a delicious mince pie (or two) when you arrive at Aylsham station before making your journey back to Wroxham, without any men in red suits in sight. It’s important to note that both Wroxham and Aylsham stations are very small with limited amenities, so if you are travelling from abroad and need fast access to your travel money, or you’re a native and simply need a cash machine then you should considering doing this either in Wroxham (for a cash machine) or in the nearby city of Norwich (for travel money services) before your journey to avoid disappointment: it would be a shame to be unable to buy a light snack or a souvenir because of a lack of prior planning.
Enjoy a Santa Cruise
You can’t talk about Wroxham and the Norfolk Broads without talking about the myriad of waterways they include. If you’d like to enjoy these waterways in the winter then it is possible to enjoy a Santa Cruise from Wroxham. Hosted by Broads Tours, visitors enjoying a Santa Cruise will be given the opportunity to have a one to one meeting with the main man himself, enjoy a mince pie and a glass of mulled wine (or a soft drink), and take part in a Christmas quiz, all whilst enjoying beautiful views of the Broads. It is a wonderful experience, and an opportunity to create unique and magical family memories.
With so many different opportunities to experience and enjoy Christmas, there really is no better place to visit for a weekend during the festive period than Wroxham.