Bewilderwood is an enchanting adventure park for the whole family. We enjoyed a day out at Bewilderwood Norfolk and loved it so much we were tempted to go back the next day! Here’s our review of Bewilderwood, with everything you need to know for a wonderful day out.

Disclaimer: I was gifted tickets in exchange for this review but it is an honest review of my experience at BeWILDerwood. As an Amazon Associate I earn from any qualifying purchases.

What is BeWILDerwood?

That’s a good question. Described as the curious treehouse adventure, BeWILDerwood is also actually a series of books that truly come alive in the marshes, lakes and forest of Hoveton, a village in the Norfolk Broads. The stories follow the adventures of Swampy, a young Marsh Boggle who loves eating sweetsludge pie and going boating in the pongy swamps of BeWILDerwood. Local children’s author Tom Blofeld, wrote the first book whilst building the outdoor adventure park in Norfolk. BeWILDerwood is ideal for all ages for healthy outdoor play.

Both younger children and big kids will love the forest adventure that can be found here, especially the treetop adventures! It’s so different to conventional theme parks. The natural surroundings and magical treehouses really lets’s young imaginations run wild. It’s a wonderful way to tire the kids out too. In fact it’s so popular that BeWILDerwood Cheshire in South Cheshire has also now opened.

What to expect at BeWILDerwood Norfolk

Before we visited BeWILDerwood I couldn’t quite work out what it was. Was it a theme park, was it outdoor soft play, were there rides? Well I’m happy to say my first time here exceeded my expectations. It’s an enchanting setting in the wood with so much fun and natural activities for kids. It lets them rediscover the joys of the great outdoors whilst being active and using their imaginations.

On arrival

BeWILDerwood was easy to find, well sign posted and had it also plenty of free parking. We parked in a field but it was flat and well maintained with staff showing us where to go. We had a short walk to join the queue. As we were visiting in half term it was quite busy. We had to wait about 15 minutes to get in but there were things to look at in the queue and it was worth the wait!

The Treacherous Trail

Once you’re in the adventure park you have two choices. You can either take a boat trip through the marsh or you can walk along the treacherous trail. As the queue was quite long for the boats (with a very handy warning sign along the lines of ‘if the queue is this long you might want to try again later’) we decided to take the treacherous trail. It’s a delightful way to enter the woods and as the boats are running all day it wasn’t a problem.

The trail is great fun and you can see the Boggle village, Twiggle Houses and Mildred the Crocklebog in the Scaaaaary Lake on the way. There are giant storybooks throughout the park and you see your first one on this trail. It’s a wonderful way to learn about the stories if you’re not already familiar with them.

Storytelling Stage

Once your off the Treacherous Trail you are spoiled for choice! But the first thing my son wanted to do was head to the storytelling stage to watch one of the shows that run throughout the day. The stage is outdoors with amphitheatre style seating around it. Lots of characters made an appearance including the thornyclod spider. The shows are great fun and bring the characters from the BeWILDerwood stories alive. All the children were really engaged and it was a lovely start to our day here.

We saw the Parasquawks show and my son is still making the noise of the Parasquawk a month later “Perquaaar”! It really stayed with him and made such an impact, just what magical childhood moments should be like!

Slippery Slopes

If you like huge slides, fun slides, bumpy slides or extra fast slides you’ve come to the right place! There’s lots of slides throughout the woodland park. that are extra special either because they are really high and fast or they are really wide so you can race or go down together.

Wobbly Wires Zip Lines and Twiggle Whizzers

The zip wires are extra long for a thrilling experience! You have to be at least 105cm tall to have a go on the zip wire – and remember the grown ups can have a go too! For little ones who are too small to go on the big zip lines, they can try the basket zip lines (Twiggle Whizzers) next to wobbly wires.

The Sky Maze

Confession time, I totally underestimated the sky maze. And yes we did get lost! Set on different levels, at first it seemed like it would be easy but it took us ages to get to the top. And we need to get to the top as we needed our clue for the treasure trail we were given on arrival, so we couldn’t give up!

Big Hat

This was another favourite for my son. Visiting the Big Hat for some craft fun, making a Parasquawk (a fictional bird from the books). On arrival at the Big Hat you’re shown how to make the craft. You’re then given everything you need to make it. You can then take your Parasquawk to the show to take part in all the actions to help the birds fly.

Play Area

There is a separate play area for younger children, Toddlewood on the Hill, and lots of magical play areas in the woods with wooden walkways, jungle bridges and rope bridges. It seemed like a never-ending forest of family fun! The marvelous muddle maze will have the family laughing together and the magical tree houses are ideal in the beautiful forest setting for this amazing adventure playground.

Tricky Tunnels

My son loved the tricky tunnels and went on this again and again. It was a real adventure climbing along the tunnels and another brilliant element to the park.

Boat trips on the Scaaaary Lake

You can either get on a boat at the entrance of BeWILDerwood or from Scaaary Lake. My son really wanted to go on the boat so we braved the queue which was still quite long despite the fact it was much later on in the day. The boats are really lovely and only take a few passengers at a time. I think one of the boats wasn’t working when we visited hence why the queue was so long but normally I expect it wouldn’t be so bad. The boat trip itself was really lovely with a member of staff talking to you about all the characters from the story. It was much shorter than I expected and if we went again I’m not sure if we would bother if there was still a long waiting time.

Face Painting

There’s the opportunity to get your face painted. The queue was very long for this when we visited though so we decided to give it a miss, especially as there was so much other things to do!

Useful Information if visiting BeWILDerwood

What’s Included?

I was very happy to learn that all the activities were included in the ticket price so there’s no unexpected costs except for (as you would expect) food, drink and gifts from the gift shop. Face painting, den building at the den building area, the craft activity at Big Hat and the stage shows are all included. Parking was also free.

Food and Drink

There are two places to go for food, the cosy cabin and the munch bar. The menu features local and lovingly made food. They are committed to keeping food miles to a minimum so you can have a sustainable and delicious lunch! The menu includes yummy food such as BeWILDer Banger and BeWILDer vegan banger, the Boggle Banger Hotpot, sandwiches and jacket potatoes. My son loved his flapjack from the snack shack by the stage.

There’s also a picnic area and picnic tables, and you are welcome to bring your own food and drinks.

Gift Shop

The Bizarre Bazaar is a great stop for soubvenirs oif your kids have any pcoket money. You cna get the BeWILDerwood books as well as lots of fun gifts.

Facilities

There’s toilets around the park and you can also find well placed hand sanitiser. There’s a discreet area for baby feeding if you prefer a bit of privacy, at the Nursing Nook by The Big Hat.

What ages is BeWILDerwood suitable for?

The recommended age for children to get the maximum fun out of the day is from 2 to 12. But as a grown up, I loved it too so bring the whole family, including Grandparents!

How to find BeWILDerwood Norfolk

BeWILDerwood is located in the Broads just 10 miles from Norwich. Families on a short stay, weekend break or longer holiday in Norwich can easily have a fantastic day out if travelling by car. Family activities in Norwich include Norwich Puppet Theatre, Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery, The Museum of Norwich, Norwich Market and outdoors activities at Whitlingham Country Park, The Marriott’s Way and Eaton Park.

Anything else you should know?

Dogs are not allowed so we found a local kennels for doggy day care for our dog (we got her groomed whilst she was there too)!

All children under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult.

If it rains there’s lots of natural shelter from the trees and some play areas are covered by sails but do dress for the weather and bring waterproof clothing if it looks like it’s going to rain!

Anyone who uses a wheelchair can get free entry but there may be difficulties accessing some areas.

Ticket Price and Discounts

Tickets are priced by height.

Anyone under the height of 92cm is free. Carers and wheelchair users are also free as is anyone over 20 weeks pregnant.

Almost WILD (92-105cm) tickets are £19.50, BeWILD Now (over 105cm) is £21.50 and Still WILD (65+ years) is £13.50.

Is Bewilderwood Suitable for Your Child’s Age?

Bewilderwood is a popular outdoor adventure park in the UK that offers a unique experience for families with young children. However, parents may wonder if their child is old enough to fully enjoy and participate in the activities. Here’s a guide to help you determine if Bewilderwood is suitable for your child’s age.

Age recommendations for Bewilderwood.

Bewilderwood is suitable for children of all ages, but some activities may be more appropriate for certain age groups. The park recommends that children under 92cm in height should be accompanied by an adult at all times. The park also provides a height chart to help parents determine which activities their child can participate in. Some activities, such as the zip wires, have minimum height requirements. It’s important to check the park’s website or speak to a member of staff before visiting to ensure that your child can fully enjoy the park’s activities.

Activities and attractions for different age groups.

Bewilderwood offers a range of activities and attractions that are suitable for children of different ages. For younger children, there are gentle boat rides, storytelling sessions, and the chance to explore the park’s treehouses and walkways. Older children may enjoy the zip wires, climbing walls, and the chance to navigate the park’s maze. The park also offers special events and activities throughout the year, such as Halloween-themed events and Christmas activities. It’s worth checking the park’s website or speaking to a member of staff to find out what’s on offer during your visit.

Safety considerations for young children.

When considering if Bewilderwood is suitable for your child’s age, it’s important to take safety into account. While the park is designed to be family-friendly, some activities may not be suitable for very young children. For example, the big slides and climbing walls may be too challenging for children under a certain age or height. It’s important to read the park’s safety guidelines and speak to a member of staff if you have any concerns about your child’s safety. Additionally, it’s important to supervise young children at all times and ensure they follow the park’s rules and guidelines.

Tips for making the most of your visit with children of different ages.

Bewilderwood is a great place for families with children of all ages, but there are some tips to keep in mind to make the most of your visit. For younger children, the park’s storytelling and puppet shows are a must-see, while older children may enjoy the more challenging activities like the Sky Maze and Slippery Slopes. It’s also important to take breaks and rest when needed, especially for younger children who may tire more easily.

Don’t forget to bring snacks and water, and consider bringing a stroller or carrier for younger children who may need a break from walking. With a little planning, Bewilderwood can be a fun and memorable experience for the whole family.

My final thoughts…

We had a great day out in the natural environment of BeWILDerwood. I would recommend a full day here to get the most out of all the things to do and activities but at the very least allow yourself four hours. My son loved it (aged 6) and I think older kids would love it too. We had so much fun and it’s a brilliant way to get active and enjoy the great outdoors.