Hickling Broad Nature Reserve
ENTRY
from £5
WHERE
Norwich
What it’s like
Boardwalks, bird hides and guided boat trips across reedbeds and open water on the Broads.
This is proper wetland country: boardwalk, grass and gravel trails weaving through reedbeds, with bird hides and viewing points dotted along the way for spotting whatever's out on the water that day. The guided wildlife boat trips are the bit worth building the visit around, getting you out onto Hickling Broad itself rather than just looking at it from the bank. There's also a monthly Wildlife Watch event that digs into a specific bit of wildlife, which is a nice excuse to come back rather than treating it as a one-off.
Kids under 16 get in free, which takes the sting out of the £5 adult price (or £5.50 if you add Gift Aid). The visitor centre runs 10am to 5pm from March through to the last Sunday in October, then drops to 10am to 4pm over winter. Worth knowing the café shuts half an hour before the centre does, so don't leave your flat white to the last minute.
It suits a slow, wander-and-look kind of day rather than anything high-energy, so it's better matched to kids who'll happily scan a reedbed for a marsh harrier than ones after climbing frames. There's a car park at the entrance, an accessible toilet and baby change, and picnic tables if you fancy bringing your own lunch rather than relying on the café.
Booking is essential for most of the family events, including that monthly Wildlife Watch session. Dogs aren't allowed at family events either, which is worth knowing if you were planning to bring one along on a session day. The visitor centre is closed over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and there are also planned drainage works closing it on 21 September, reopening 22 to 25 September.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Car park at entrance
- Dogs
- No dogs permitted at family events
- The café shuts half an hour before the visitor centre, so don't leave lunch too late.
- The visitor centre closes for drainage works on 21 September, reopening 22 to 25 September.
- It's shut on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
- Dogs are barred from family events even if you'd normally bring one on the trails.
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Children 16 and under go free. Adults are £5, or £5.50 if you add Gift Aid.
Do we need to book?
Booking is essential for most family events, including the monthly Wildlife Watch sessions. General trail and hide access doesn't need booking.
What are the opening hours?
10am to 5pm from March to the last Sunday in October, then 10am to 4pm through winter.
Is there food on site?
There's a café, but it closes half an hour before the visitor centre, so time your visit accordingly.
Can we bring a picnic?
Yes, there's a picnic area if you'd rather bring your own food.
Is it accessible with a pushchair or wheelchair?
The site is wheelchair accessible with an accessible toilet and baby change on site, and there's blue badge parking at the entrance.
Can we bring the dog?
Dogs aren't permitted at family events, so check what's on before you bring one along.
What do kids actually do there?
They explore boardwalk, grass and gravel trails, watch wildlife from bird hides, and can go on guided boat trips across the Broad.
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