White Lodge Farm Cottages, Norfolk
Hardingham Road, Hingham, Norwich
Converted by craftsmen and fitted and equipped to a high standard throughout, each holiday cottage at White Lodge Farm has the English Tourism Council's five star self catering accommodation rating. Dairy Cottage and Stable Cottage each sleep up to six guests plus infants and the Barn sleeps up to 12 guests plus infants. For those seeking a relaxing break, each cottage has its own, lawned and fenced garden with an outdoor seating area and in the warmer weather, garden furniture for resting or al fresco dining.
The cottages are spacious, light and airy, furnished and equipped with the more discerning visitor in mind - furnishings are comfortable, practical and child-friendly. Modern insulation, log burners (with under floor heating the log burner simply adds that little extra touch) and a wide range of other amenities all contribute to the feeling of homeliness in each cottage. Kitchens are well-equipped - each cottage has a dishwasher (the Barn has two), washing machine, tumble dryer, food processor, and double oven (the Barn has a range cooker) and there's plenty of crockery, cutlery and glassware. When it comes to entertainment each cottage has books in abundance, games, TV (two in the Barn), a CD and DVD player and clock radios. To assist guests who are less mobile all cottages have level or ramped access and there are no internal changes of level on the ground floor and all cottages have ground floor bedrooms and bathrooms (The Barn also has a "wet" room).
If you're going to stay at White Lodge Farm you're probably hoping to relax a little and the aim of your hosts, Helen and Tony, is to make that easier too. Although the cottages offer more than a touch a luxury, Helen and Tony have also considered the benefits of making the accommodation child-friendly. So, whilst the cottages are comfortably furnished and well equipped, you'll not find precious antiques or white carpets. What you will find is practically furnished accommodation, with each cottage having direct access to its own garden. High chairs, cots, fire-guards and stair gates are amongst the child friendly offerings, all available without charge, of course. A steam steriliser is also available on request.
Things to do and Family Days Out in Norfolk
Having plenty of things to do is just one factor to be taken into account when holidaying with children. Just a few minutes down the road from White Lodge Farm is Melsop Farm Park, with farm animals, including rare breeds, and the occasional reindeer (in season!), well-used to being petted by children (and for wet days or should the youngsters tire of the birds and animals there's also a ball play area and adventure park).
And further afield you are going to be spoilt for choice. Bewilderwood is 50 acres of wild, imaginative outdoor tree-house Adventure Park with zip wires, jungle bridges, Crocklebogs, boat trips, marsh walks and organic food. In March 2009 the attraction won a THEA as the best small theme park in the world! Children never seem to tire of a trip to the Dinosaur Adventure Park, which, in addition to a dinosaur trail through woodland peppered with large but extinct mammals, offers a deer park, a large adventure play area with a "walk-in" dinosaur, and a petting zoo. Banham Zoo is set amongst 35 acres of beautiful and well-maintained parkland and gardens offering the opportunity to observe almost 1,000 animals ranging from big cats to birds of prey. There's also an adventure play area and daily animal feeding talks with the tigers, cheetahs, fur seals and penguins. Not forgetting to mention horse riding, cycling, beaches, nature reserves and boat trips on the Norfolk Broads.