Activities for larger groups

You'll have seen how much there is to do when staying at White Lodge Farm but organising activities for larger groups can be daunting. This page aims to suggest activities, requiring varying degrees of (or negligible) physical exertion, and some rather more gentile and refined than others, which are particularly suited to larger groups.

The order in which they appear is random.

Please bear in mind that, whilst pre-booking will be necessary for most activities listed, many will provide special rates or facilities for large groups (by which they usually mean 10 or more people). If you're looking to make a day or half a day of it many offer corporate (if you're not a 'corporate' group don't be deterred by the label!) packages which include light refreshments or more substantial meals.

If you're not travelling by bike or train, you may want to hire a minibus. We can provide details of private hire firms in the area.

Ten-pin bowling

Hollywood Bowl in the Riverside complex in Norwich (where there are also restaurants, a mulitplex cinema and a large multi-storey car park) is a modern facility with 26 lanes. Packages to include bowling and a meal are available for groups. It's a 35 minute drive from White Lodge Farm. Please check with Hollywood Bowl or Helen & Tony before planning a trip as it was closed for remedial works and no definite date has been set for it to re-open.

A little closer, but smaller, with 10 lanes, is Strikes in Dereham.

Ice skating

The Ice Experience on the Norwich Ring Road offers two hour sessions throughout most days, the first staring at 10am and the last ending at 10pm. For parties of less than 20 it's simply 'pay and skate' - with no booking needed as the rink can accommodate 450 skaters.

Paintball

You're a bit spoilt for choice here with paintballing at Necton, 40 minutes' drive from White Lodge Farm, at paintballing at Thetford, about 30 minutes away, and paintballing at Norwich, about 40 minutes' drive.

Cycling

For information about hiring cycles to be delivered to your cottage, from where you can cycle on country lanes to village pubs and pretty villages, see the Cycling page. Cycling maps are available at White Lodge Farm and we'd be happy to suggest some routes.

Or perhaps go to Blickling Hall, Thetford Forest , the North Norfolk Coast or the Norfolk Broads and hire bikes when you get there to explore around your destination. Travel by train is possible to some of these destinations.

Ballooning

This one is weather-dependant, of course!

Balloons are available with baskets carrying up to 12 people and they take off from several sites with 30 minutes' drive of White Lodge Farm.

Long walk

You might set off directly from White Lodge Farm onto the miles of stewardship tracks which surround us. For example, there's a round trip walk of two to three hours mainly on grass tracks, with the only road walking being on an unclassified country lane.

If you want to go further afield, how about a drive to Wells or Holkham, around an hour away, followed by a walk on Holkham or Wells beaches? Depending on the state of your finances, you might finish with lunch, dinner or tea at The Victoria at Holkham, in the Holkham tea shop, or with fish and chips at Wells.

The fit and adventurous might consider walking out to Blakeney Point or along the marshes, but appropriate clothing and footwear is needed.

An afternoon's (or evening's) horse racing

Newmarket, Great Yarmouth and Fakenham racecourses are all within an hour's drive of White Lodge Farm. Take a look at the Horse racing page for more information. Why not take a box and have a meal to make it more of an occasion?

Clay pigeon shooting

Try you hand-eye co-ordination with some tuition and practice at Mid Norfolk Shooting School or the Suffolk Shooting School. Both are less than an hour away from White Lodge Farm.

If you're coming from the south you could drop into the Suffolk Shooting School whilst en route. One for the girls and boys, but for girls who are new to the sport, why not try the lighter 20 gauge guns if they are available.

Groups can generally benefit from a hospitality package including coffee and bun or bacon butty on arrival and lunch or tea afterwards and complete beginners are catered for.

Off-road driving

Fancy driving a 4x4 over some challenging terrain? Off-road driving is available at Suffolk Shooting School, less than an hour from White Lodge Farm. You could also go for a corporate package or try your hand at some other sports as well.

River boats

A double decker river boat leaves Wroxham for a jazz night every Thursday from 19 June 2008 to 28 August 2008. Whereas on Wednesday nights from 18 June to 27 August the same vessel offers the 'dance sounds of the last four decades'.

If you want to have a stylish evening you could have a private hire of the Southern Comfort, a double-deck paddle boat purpose built for the Broads, with capacity for 100 passengers and moored at Horning. To add to the experience a 3- or 5-piece jazz band can also be booked.

Go karting

Go karting is available at Anglia Karting, 35 minutes from White Lodge Farm, at South Pickenham. "Turn up and drive" sessions are offered, but you might want to book the track for your party's exclusive use for an hour or two.

Bad weather rarely closes the track, but it does make for some interesting karting!

Yachting

How about a half day or days' sailing tuition at Norfolk Sailing School?

Self-drive day boat on the Broads

How about a self-drive launch (or two if your party is larger) on the Broads?

Garden trip

A number of the gardens and nurseries on the Gardens and growers page will be happy to organise a guide if you wanted to visit as a party, or you might simply visit and wander as the mood takes you.

Theatre trip

Party booking rates are available at most theatres in the area. See the Performing arts page for more ideas. Why not take a picnic to one of the many outdoor performances (in the summer!).

Private charter

If a self-drive hire is not your thing, how about hiring a boat on the Broads with a skipper, with tea served on board, perhaps? See the Norfolk Broads page for more information.

For something really different you could charter The Excelsior, a traditional sailing trawler, for a day. The boat is crewed, but help is seldom refused!

Catering

If you're looking to have a celebratory or special meal without stepping outside your cottage there are a number of caterers willing to prepare a meal and serve it to guests at White Lodge Farm. We'll be happy to provide you with details. We can also provide you with details of local pubs and restaurants serving food, some with private dining rooms.

Skiing

Yes, we are serious. There's a dry ski slope in Norwich operated by Norfolk Ski Club, which offers day membership. There's a 180m long main slope, a 140m intermediate slope, a large nursery slope, a fun park with quarter pipe and a mogul run. These are served by a Poma lift and/or travelators.

Guided tour of Norwich Cathedral

The magnificent Norwich Cathedral dates from Norman times.

The roof bosses in the nave and throughout The Cathedral, which number 1,106 in total, are unparalleled in Christendom in their range, quantity and theological comprehensiveness.

Booked guided tours are available for groups who wish to book private guided tour with their own Cathedral Guide all year between 10.00am and 4.00 pm any day. Tours last 1 hour (approx), or longer, depending upon group requirements.

Haunted Norwich walk

Ghosts walks leave from the Adam and Eve Public House, Bishopgate, Norwich on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings throughout the summer, putting an interesting slant on a walk around some of the medieval heritage of Norwich.

Go Ape!

Situated in Thetford Forest, about 45 minutes from White Lodge Farm, Go Ape! is an assault course set in the tree canopy, with cargo nets, rope ladders and zip wires. Only moderate fitness is required but there is a minimum age and height limit. It's great fun and may tell you a lot about your friends. Allow half a day.

Those preferring to stay on the ground can walk or cycle in the forest with bike hire available from Bike Art adjacent to Go Ape!

A round of golf

There are 13 18-hole golf courses within as many miles of White Lodge Farm. All offer "pay and play", subject to pre-booking, although some require proof of handicap. The three courses nearest to White Lodge Farm Cottages are only a 10 minute drive(!) away.

If you're not a golfer and are looking for something else to do whilst the otehrs paly golf, the two most local clubs have a spa and/or swimming pool and offer day memberships. Treatments are also available 15 minutes from White Lodge Farm at Park Farm, Hethersett, which also has a pool.

Open air theatre

Why not take a picnic to one of the many outdoor performances or concerts (in the summer!). See the Perfoming arts page for more ideas.

Norwich charabanc tour

Hire a charabanc for a summer's evening private tour of the more historic parts of Norwich (12 people max).

These are just some thoughts. Let us know if none is to your taste and we'll think some more!

Contact details

• Hollywood Bowl (10 pin bowling) 01603 631311
• Paintball, Necton 01603 715141
• Paintball, Thetford 0800 849 4911
• Paintball, Norwich 01508 481841
• Park Farm, Hethersett 01603 810264
• Broadland Balloons 01603 495004
• Breckland Balloons 01362 687006
• Virgin Balloons 0871 663 0047
• The Victoria at Holkham 01328 713230
• Mid Norfolk Shooting School 01603 860436
• Suffolk Shooting School 01638 751985
• Anglia Karting 01760 441777
• Norfolk Sailing School 01692 582864
• The Excelsior 01621 851433
• Jazz boat, Wroxham 01603 782207
• Southern Comfort 01692 630262
• Norfolk Ski Club 01603 662781
• Go Ape! 0870 444 5562
• Bike Art 01842 810090, or 07818 417267
• Norwich Cathedral 01603 218440
• Norwich Charabanc 07917 664472
• Blickling Hall 01263 738030
• Broadland Cycle Hire 01603 783096
• Huff and Puff Cycles, Sheringham 07747 012616
• Fakenham Racecourse 01328 862388
• Great Yarmouth Racecourse 01493 842 527
• Newmarket Racecourse 01638 675500
• National Horse Racing Museum 01638 667333

Guests say ...

"As a local, I can thoroughly recommend the extremely beautiful Thetford Forest. You will appreciate the size and beauty of the place if you go and explore."     P,K G&F