Center Parcs-Elveden Forest

[oxfordrocks]

We will be going here next week. I understand the on-site activities are rather expensive. Does anyone know what activities thre are to do in the local area eg Thetford, Ely etc..? TA!

[Buenchico]

(2-part post):

I'm in Suffolk and I know the area around Center Parcs well.

Thetford is a rather boring town, which tries to promote itself through its links with the Dad's Army TV series (which was filmed in the area). There's not a lot to see but you could call in there on your way to somewhere else:
http://www.explorethetford.co.uk/

Ely is best visited during the summer months, when the riverside is at its best. The town's principal attractions are the cathedral (which charges �5.20 for admission) and Oliver Cromwell's house (which is an interesting museum, although the �4 admission charge is quite steep for such a small place):
http://tourism.eastcambs.gov.uk/

Bury St Edmunds is an absolute jewel of a town. The Abbey Gardens are delightful at any time of the year. Moyse's Hall museum is interesting and offers good value for the �2.60 admission charge. There are some good (up market) independent shops and loads of great places to eat and drink. (Real ale lovers should head for the Greene King visitor centre and perhaps take a tour of the brewery. However, the best real ales in Bury St Edmunds are brewed in the Old Cannon pub, on one of the back streets, which also serves superb food):
http://www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/sebc/visit/
and
http://www.greeneking.co.uk/visitor_centre.htm
and
http://www.oldcannonbrewery.co.uk/

[Buenchico]

Don't bother with Newmarket. It's fairly dull and it's main attraction, the National Horse Racing Museum, is closed until the end of March.

Stowmarket has nothing to offer except the Museum of East Anglian Life (which is best visited when there's good weather):
http://www.eastanglianlife.org.uk/

Downham Market and Swaffham aren't worth going out of your way for (unless you want to try to spot the locations for the TV series 'Kingdom', much of which was filmed in Swaffham).

For excellent theatre, arts and sports facilities, together with great shopping and some superb eating and drinking experiences, it's worth the 30 mile drive to Norwich:
http://www.visitnorwich.co.uk/

If the weather's good, it would be worth driving to Southwold, which is the jewel in Suffolk's crown. It's a delightful seaside town, which is well worth exploring:
http://www.exploresouthwold.co.uk/

Chris

[vehelpfulguy]

If you take a bike you can cycle round Centre Parks for free (or hire a bike when you are there - for a fee).

These parks are also nice to walk round, being sited wthin forrests.

The one I went to had swimming in an amazing indoor (and heated outdoor) pool which was free.

[vehelpfulguy]

The Welney Wetland Centre is about 28 miles from Elveden Forest and is open all year.

It is run by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (started by Peter Scott).

http://www.wwt.org.uk/centre/124/welney.html

Even if you are not interested in bird watching it is an amazing place to visit.

In the winter thousands of ducks and swans migrate from northern Russia, Greenland and other cold places as it is warmer here.

Many of them settle in East Anglia (the Wash for example) and now is a great time to see them all.

The place is famly friendly and you are allowed to buy food and feed the ducks and swans.

It is a great family day out.

[Buenchico]

Another 'fair weather' suggestion for you:
http://www.banhamzoo.co.uk/template.php?langua geId=1

The aviation museum at Flixton is well worth a visit. It's open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays at this time of the year:
http://www.aviationmuseum.net/
(It's best to go in good weather but there's plenty to see indoors as well).

Chris

[Petal~flower]

I live in Norfolk, but have been to Centre parcs at Thetford (dont believe in travelling far!) from what I remember the only free activity was the swimming. But its a nice relaxing place to go to, although it was a few years ago when I went.

[annie0000]

Haven't been to the one in Elveden, but have been regularly to the one in the lakes, I don't think that the activities are too bad if you are careful in what you choose, swimming of course being free.

If you book asap, you can get bowling in the morning (up 'til 10 - i think) is half price - you can get a treasure map from the rangers that is free or is only a pound or two - the table tennis and soft tennis is quite cheap ( I think about �6 a session inc equipement hire) and if you go to the golf driving range, and just hire 1 or 2 clubs and a tub of balls that is also good fun. Don't know if you are kids or adults or a mix of both, but we go quite a lot and don't spend a fortune. The trick is to phone up before you go or as soon as you get there and book the activities that you want, or you could end up with only expensive things left.