Merrivale Model Village, Great Yarmouth

We visited Merrival Model Village in Great Yarmouth last summer, late in the afternoon when we had spent much of the day on the beach, paddling in the water and building sandcastles. Our Little Museum Visitors were getting ready for a change of activity and we fancied a stroll along the beach, so we set off towards Wellington Pier which is situated close by.

We spent about an hour and a half wandering through the model village at a slow pace, looking at each of the exhibits. Without the children we would not have spent half that time there, but we are glad we did, because the longer you look, the more you see. Garden Girl and Garden Boy loved wandering around the village spotting things their own size. They were drawn to the children playing on the playground, the bride and groom outside the church and delighted in watching the fun fair rides and activating the buttons to make them move. Garden Boy was thrilled to watch the trains appear and disappear all around the village and we spent a lot of time watching the busy engines come and go.

All the models are beautifully made with a lot of attention to detail and humour and the gardens in which they are situated are beautiful, making it a relaxing place to enjoy a gentle stroll. There is a lot for adults and children to discover and our Little Museum Visitors were eager to point things out they had spotted and seek out more and of course it is all at their eye level so there was no need to keep lifting them up to show them things.

Then, as it was time for dinner after we had completed our visit, we tried out the restaurant facilities. The food tasted great, the service was friendly and the prices were reasonable. It was a lovely end to a day at the beach and both our Little Museum Visitors loved the village and are eager to return this summer.

Practicalities

• The village lanes are narrow. We did push our buggy around and wheelchairs up to 26.5" wide can access the whole village, however we often felt we were in the way of other visitors when we were lingering to look at something, blocking the path with our pushchair. Double buggies would not be able to fit.
• There are toilets onsite, including a disabled toilet and baby changing facilities but although they were useable they were not the cleanest toilets. 
• The onsite restaurant is well priced, with good food and is definitely worth a visit. There is indoor or outdoor seating.
• Dogs can be taken inside the village as long as they are kept on a lead.
• There is a pay and display car park opposite the model village, as well as numerous other car parks around Great Yarmouth. 
• If you are arriving by train there are regular buses from the train station to the sea front.
• The admission fee is quite expensive but look out for vouchers in leaflets at the tourist information centre or other places of interest, as we managed to gain entry with a 2 for 1 offer. 
• There is a shop onsite.

Admission Prices

• The model village is free for the under three's, otherwise a child admission is £4.50
• Adult admission is £6.00 (Senior Citizens £5.50)
• A family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children can be purchased for £18.50
• Look out for entry fee offers in leaflets about Great Yarmouth at the tourist information centre or other places of interest.

Opening Times

• The village opens at 10am every day, 27th March - 31st October
• Closing times vary and last admission is one hour before closing so if you plan to visit later in the day it is worth phoning ahead
• From 25 July to 2nd September the village stays open after dusk and the model street lights and windows are lit up

Learn More

To find out more or to check for updated information prior to your visit, have a look at the Merrivale Model Village website.

Little Museum Visitors Rating
**** 

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden

These beautiful gardens and woodland paths, which border a private broad, are the ideal place for exploring toddlers to run about gathering sticks and stones. Their eyes will be drawn to an array of colourful and dramatic plants and leaves. There are butterflies to chase, a variety of bird calls to listen for, ducks to feed and dragonflies to dance with.

We first took Garden Girl when she was 10 months old and she was just learning to walk unaided. The flat, wide and pushchair accessible paths allowed her to use the back of her stroller as a walking aid and she was off, toddling with pride. She stopped constantly, as she still does, to collect stones, but the tranquil setting of the gardens made the slow walk welcome, offering us the opportunity to hear the birds sing and drink in the lovely surroundings. I also remember enjoying a relaxing hour reading beside the water, when the fresh air and excitement of exploring had exhausted Garden Girl enough for her to fall asleep.

A second visit the following year was just as enjoyable, so it was only natural for us to return again this summer with both our Little Museum Visitors toddling along beside us. With Garden Girl a little bit older and Garden Boy a little less wary than his sister had been at the same age, the two explorers were quick to clamber on the felled tree trunks pretending to be statues. They ran into the undergrowth to pretend they were in little woodland houses and walked quietly on tiptoe so as not to scare the elves. We watched the leaves floating down the water channels, imagining they were tiny boats for the woodland elves and played Pooh sticks over and over again. This year we also gave ourselves a treat in the form of a boat ride on the broad. I was worried that at 15 months Garden Boy would be unable to sit still for a full 20 minutes but with lots of birds, ducks and boats for him to point at I need not have worried.

We returned to our tent at the end of day laden down with fallen leaves, acorns, sticks and stones and happy memories. There is little doubt we will return again next summer.

Practicalities 

• The paths are pushchair accessible, wide and flat
• There are tea rooms on site but if the weather is nice there are many beautiful spots to lay out your picnic rug, as well as picnic tables overlooking the broad
• There are clean toilets in the tea rooms, as well as some portaloos at the opposite end of the broads, one of which is a disabled portaloo which provides room for you to take a toddler inside
  
• There are nappy changing facilities at the tea rooms but not at the portaloos, although there are plenty of secluded spots to make a quick nappy change outdoors
• Toddlers need to be kept close on the paths which border the water channels where the water is open and the surrounding vegetation boggy
• The gardens are wheelchair accessible and they have 5 mobility scooters available to borrow for a small donation
• Hearing loops have been installed in the tea rooms, gift shop and on the boat
  
• A sensory garden has been developed with mobility and visually impaired visitors in mind but the area is also an excellent place to introduce toddlers to the sights, smells and sounds of the garden.
  

Admission Prices

• Although the leaflet says admission prices for a child is £2.50 we were not charged for either of our Little Museum Visitors due to their young age
• Admission for an adult is £5.00 
• The Concession price is £4.50 
• Boat rides are an additional fee and price depends on the length of the trip.The 20 minute trip we took was £3.50 each per adult and free for under 3's. An older child would have paid £2.50
• Dogs are welcome in the gardens if kept on a lead and there is an entry fee of 25p per dog
• There are Membership options if you visit regularly

Opening Times

• From March to November: 10am - 5pm
• From December to February: 10am - 4pm
• From May to August there are late openings on Wednesday and Thursday evenings until 9pm
• Closed Christmas Day  
  

Learn More


To find out more or to check for updated information prior to your visit, have a look at the Fairhaven Woodland and Water Gardens website.

 

Little Museum Visitor Rating:
* * * *