We - two grown ups and three kids under the age of 10 - drove from East London up to Norfolk to enjoy a lovely few days at the end of May half term at gorgeous Gorsey Meadow. Here's our Q and A all about our stay...
What was your favourite thing about Gorsey Meadow?
Our favourite thing was how small the site is, with just five tents. This made for a lovely and secluded spot which felt safe for the kids (9, 8 and 6). The location was brilliant too, well-located for exploring Norfolk with the children, and with supermarkets conveniently located just a short drive away.
What did you get up to during your stay, what activities were there on-site and in the local area?
We think that Gorsey Meadow is in a perfect location.
On-site, we enjoyed just spending time outdoors. The children enjoyed exploring the field, collecting wood, riding the little bikes that had been left out for guests, playing on the tree swings and spotting wildlife. We had a BBQ together, roasted 'mallows over the fire pit and told stories. There were sacks for sack races and the children loved doing this
Off-site, we went crabbing at Wells-next-the-sea, which was a 40 minute drive away. We went for a play at Holkham Hall's Woodland Play Area (it's fantastic) and then for a splash in the sea at Holkham Bay. If we'd had more time, we would have paid a visit to Pensthorpe Natural Park which we had read about and had been highly recommended by the hosts. Roar Dinosaur (the dinosaur adventure park in Norfolk) is also 5 minutes drive away and is a fantastically-fun family day out.
We found a retail park with a Lidl, Morrisons and a Tesco a short drive from Gorsey Meadow and this is where we stocked our very large cool box that was kindly provided by the hosts who bought round ice packs daily.
What age of kids would you say Gorsey Meadow is well suited to?
We love camping/glamping so would take children of any age! However, for those less used to glamping or camping with kids, it's worth noting that there's just one shower, one loo and one composting loo. You need to be prepared to walk from the car park to the site, and to the bins too. So it may prove trickier for those with the youngest children, though it's completely down to individual families and what they expect and are used to. But we think it would be perfect for 3+!
What tips do you have for families to get the most out of their stay?
There's plenty of outdoor space so we would advise taking some entertainment such as board games or outdoor play toys to fully make the most of it. We brought our own croquet set, badminton and some card games. There are two tree swings and a bug hotel so if there are any creepy crawlie enthusiasts, some bug hunting equipment and magnifying glasses would go down a treat.
There are chairs available in the communal tent but if the site is fully-booked, it may be worthwhile packing some camping chairs. We also brought our folding camp table and a picnic blanket which worked as a great space for the kids to dine, though there are picnic benches in the centre of the field that can be used.
Would you like to go back?
Yes, absolutely! We love Norfolk and would recommend Gorsey Meadow for a lovely base for your adventures.
Looking for more inspiration? Visit Away with the Kids for a great selection of family luxury hotels, family friendly hotels, and even child friendly glamping. Take a look for some help deciding where your next family holiday will take you!