Enjoy a Royal Easter in Norfolk

With the Royal wedding approaching, Easter gives visitors to Norfolk the perfect opportunity to discover the county’s royal associations, as well as enjoy many of the fun family events on offer and explore the North Norfolk Coast’s award-winning attractions. Royal Links Visit Sandringham http://www.sandringhamestate.co.uk/, HM The Queen’s private home in West Norfolk (closed Good Friday) and enjoy the house, museum, gardens and estate walks. Or head for The Thursford Collection, http://www.thursford.com/, which hosted Prince William and Kate Middleton’s first public engagement last December. See the world’s largest collection of steam engines and organs, hear Robert Wolfe play the mighty Wurlitzer and ride on fairground carousels and the gondola. The Custom House, home of King’s Lynn Tourist Information Centre, http://www.visitwestnorfolk.com/, is staging a Royal Connections exhibition (runs 9 April to July 22) featuring photographs dating back to 1946 (many loaned by the Lynn News) plus commemorative china, magazines and memorabilia. HRH The Duke of Edinburgh is Patron of the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust http://www.pensthorpe.com/. There’s an Easter eggs-travaganser at Pensthorpe Nature Reserve from April 9 to April 25 – a family fun trail round the reserve. HRH The Prince of Wales opened the gazebo/viewing tower at The National Trust’s Sheringham Park, http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/, in February 1988. Climb the tower for fabulous views of the North Norfolk Coast. There’s also a special Easter family trail in the Park from April 9 to April 25. The Forum, http://www.theforumnorwich.co.uk/, Norwich’s landmark Millennium building was officially opened by HM The Queen on 18 July 2002. Visit the Master of Art Easter Exhibition, including artwork from artists working in all media, in The Forum Atrium from April 21 to April 24. Coastal Winners Walk sections of the Norfolk Coast Path, www.nationaltrail.co.uk/PeddarsWay, voted Best Coastal Path in the 2011 Coast Awards promoted by Coast Magazine and use the Coasthopper Bus, http://www.coasthopper.co.uk/. Visit Holkham Beach http://www.holkham.co.uk/ voted Best Beach for the third year running. Cromer Pier was also voted Best-Loved Pier in the awards. The pier is home to The Pavilion Theatre http://www.cromer-pier.com/, which is staging Thank You for the Music, featuring the music of Abba and the Bee Gees on April 23. Family Fun RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide has an Easter Egg-splorers trail on April 21, Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham, http://www.fairhavengarden.co.uk/ has an Easter Egg Trail on April 22 and the Bure Valley Railway, http://www.bvrw.co.uk/ is running the Easter Eggspress daily from April 22 to 25 April. Circus Hilarious, starring father and son duo Clive Webb and Danny Adams, returns to Yarmouth’s Hippodrome Circus http://www.hippodromecircus.co.uk/ from April 22 to April 26. Great Yarmouth Racecourse has its Easter Family Fun Day on April 25, the first race meeting of the season (racing begins at 2.10pm), http://www.greatyarmouth-racecourse.co.uk/. Fakenham Racecourse also has an Easter Monday meeting, April 25 with racing beginning at 1.50pm, http://www.fakenhamracecourse.co.uk/. For more event and days out ideas see http://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/.