20 Attractions to Explore Near Thursford

Pensthorpe Natural Park is a modern day nature reserve with a focus on inspiring the next generation to enjoy wildlife and the great outdoors. Explore 700 acres of woodland walks, nature trails, lakes and a variety of habitats teaming with wildlife including wetlands, woodlands, farmland and grassland. The site was created as a nature reserve by Bill Makins in the 1980s, before being bought by Bill and Deb Jordan in 2003, of Jordans cereals.

Walsingham Priory was a monastery of Augustinian Canons regular in Walsingham, Norfolk, England seized by the crown at the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII.They contain the ruins of the Augustinian Priory of The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one of the premier shrines to Our Lady in England, up to its dissolution in 1538.The priory is perhaps best known for having housing a Marian shrine with a replica of the house of the Holy Family in Nazareth.

The Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a protected landscape in Norfolk, England. It covers over 450 km2 of coastal and agricultural land from The Wash in the west through coastal marshes and cliffs to the sand dunes at Winterton in the east. It was designated AONB in 1968, under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.

Holt Country Park is set in 100 acres of mixed woodland and is a Green Flag award winner. Open all year round for the public to enjoy. It is situated on the edge of the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. They regularly offer seasonal activities during half terms and other holidays always aimed at kids, and they can include things like mini-beast safaris, treasure hunts, guided ranger walks learning about conservation, natural material arts and crafts sessions plus shelter building

Bircham Gallery is a light and spacious contemporary art gallery situated on the Market Place in the Georgian town of Holt on the North Norfolk coast. The gallery was established in 1988 by Christopher and Deborah Harrison and over 25 years has developed an enviable reputation for exhibiting the best of contemporary and modern British art.

Blakeney National Nature Reserve and Blakeney Point is home to wildlife and England's largest grey seal colony in Norfolk. The Nature Reserve is internationally recognised as an important breeding area for sea birds and a wide variety of other birdlife that changes with the seasons. The salt marshes supports an interesting range of seaside plants creating an intriguing habitat and surroundings for refreshing long or short walks for all visitors.

The famous Wells & Walsingham Light Railway steams between the Norfolk seaside town of Wells-next-the-Sea and the beautiful Abbey village of Walsingham*.Visit the longest 10 1/4" narrow gauge steam railway in the world and see the unique Garratt locomotives "Norfolk Hero" and "Norfolk Heroine" built specially for this line. A great adventure for all the family in the delightful countryside of the north Norfolk coast.

Cley Marshes is a 176-hectare nature reserve on the North Sea coast of England just outside the village of Cley next the Sea, Norfolk. A reserve since 1926, it is the oldest of the reserves belonging to the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, which is itself the oldest county Wildlife Trust in the United Kingdom.

Foxley Wood is a nature reserve in Foxley, Norfolk, England, the largest ancient woodland and coppice in Norfolk. The Wood is thought to be about 6,000 years old, and is even mentioned in the Doomsday book! In 2002 it was recognized as a National Nature Reserve. It is a hotspot for butterflies including a white admiral, meadow brown, speckled wood, ringlet, purple hairstreak, and silver-washed fritillary.

Baconsthorpe Castle is a moated and fortified 15th century manor house, that are a testament to the rise and fall of a prominent Norfolk family. It was established in the 15th century on the site of a former manor hall, probably by John Heydon I and his father, William. Part of the castle was later converted into a textile factory, but it fell out of use in the 20th century. Today Baconsthorpe is one of the most picturesque - and relatively unknown - moated castles in England.

Holkham Hall, an 18th Century Palladian, Stately home, is privately owned and a lived-in family home. It is home to the 8th Earl of Leicester and his family. It is one of England's finest examples of the Palladian revival style of architecture, and the severity of its design is closer to Palladio's ideals than many of the other numerous Palladian style houses of the period.

The Muckleburgh Military Collection is the finest private Museum of military memorabilia in the United Kingdom. It includes tanks, armoured cars, bombs, artillery and missiles used by the allied armies during World War II. It incorporates the Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry Museum of uniforms, weapons, photographs and documents.

Whitwell and Reepham railway station, also known as Whitwell station, is a former station situated in Norfolk, England. The station closed in 1959 and is a notable stop on the Marriott's Way long-distance footpath. It is being restored as a railway museum, including the re-laying of track.

Marriott’s Way is a 26-mile footpath, bridleway and cycle route. It provides a lovely green corridor from the heart of Norwich into the countryside along a disused railway. The surrounding area is rich with wildlife, including jays, magpies, wrens, primroses and wild strawberries. Several concrete public works of art can be seen along the way a constant reminder of the lines connection with the concrete industry and of its last days as a freight line carrying concrete products.

Holkham is one of the most unspoiled and beautiful stretches of sand in the country. Behind the shoreline lies a semi-circular basin, which, at very high tides, rapidly fills to form a spectacular shallow lagoon. As part of Holkham National Nature Reserve, the beach is home to large flocks of wintering birds and is an important site for breeding Little Terns, Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher. The extensive dune system is rich is wildlife with colorful carpets of yellow flowers in the summer which

Holkham Bay is the finest stretch of beach on the North Northfolk coast. There is something magical about this beach that just takes your breath away, and it is extremely difficult to capture in words how beautiful it is. The long drive way called ‘Lady Ann’s Drive’ guides you directly to one of the most unspoilt, beautiful stretches of sand in the UK.

Sheringham Park is an adventure playground for all ages, with some of the best walking and running trails in Norfolk across its 1000 acres of varied terrain. There are fine mature woodlands and a large variety of rhododendrons and azaleas. In the early 20th century, Henry Morris Upcher obtained rhododendron seeds of various types from plantsman Ernest "Chinese" Wilson. The hall is privately occupied, but Sheringham Park is in the care of the National Trust and open to visitors.

This is a unique museum hosting a traditional working farm, home to the magnificent Suffolk Punch horses and rare breed livestock. Enjoy a fascinating journey through the story of rural Norfolk. With a thrilling woodland adventure playground, a historic workhouse, traditional farm, many indoor displays and a café

The North Norfolk railway line is an 8km-long heritage line running between Sheringham and Holt. It passes through Weybourne and Kelling Heath. It offers a spectacularly scenic ride from Sheringham along the coast to Weybourne and through the heathland to Holt. It was described by the Daily Telegraph as one of the UK's great five heritage railways