Name: Museum of the Broads
Rating: 5.0

Museum of the Broads

Museum of the Broads, The Poor's, Staithe Road, Stalham, Norwich, UK

1-90 Years

Paid

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Description

The Museum of the Broads is a lakeside heritage attraction located at the historic Stalham Staithe. It is widely considered one of the best things to do with kids in Stalham because it is a museum category attraction that brings the unique story of the Norfolk Broads to life. Families can explore how people lived and worked on the water through historic boats, interactive displays, and river trips on an authentic steam launch.

Exploring this waterside site is an affordable choice for a family outing. Prices start from £5.50 for Children and Young People (12-17), and standard tickets for adults and older children are priced to allow for a full morning or afternoon of discovery. The museum even offers a combined ticket option for those wanting to add a boat trip to their visit, making it a high-value way to experience the local landscape.

If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that combines fresh air with local history, this is it. It provides a unique educational day out where children can learn about reed cutting, marshmen, and the wildlife of the fens. The site is dog-friendly and features plenty of space to enjoy the view of the river while learning about the engineering that shaped the Broads.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: Yes

Features

Key Features

Interactive Exhibits: The museum features interactive exhibits including a "steer the boat" simulator and water-based play areas for younger visitors.
Educational Day Out: With displays on the Viking origins of the Broads and Victorian holidays, it offers a varied educational day out for primary school children.
Sensory Play: Kids can experience sensory play by touching original boat timbers and hearing the sounds of the marshes in the wildlife gallery.
River Trips: During the season, families can book a trip on a heritage boat to see the local flora and fauna from the water.

Top 5 Highlights

Falcon Steam Launch: This is a beautiful, working Victorian steam boat. Taking a trip on it helps kids understand how people travelled before modern engines, and seeing the steam rise is always a highlight.
The Marshman's Tools: A collection of traditional tools used for reed cutting. It’s a great way to explain to children how the thatched roofs they see in Norfolk were actually made by hand.
The Racing Wherry: This massive black-sailed boat is iconic to the area. Standing next to it gives families a real sense of the size of the vessels that used to carry heavy loads across the county.
The Wildlife Gallery: A dedicated space showing the birds and animals that live in the reeds. Children enjoy using the spotting guides to learn about kingfishers and otters before they head out to the river.
The Victorian Holiday Display: This exhibit shows how the first tourists visited the Broads. Kids find it funny to see the heavy woollen swimming costumes and tiny caravans people used over a hundred years ago.

Facilities

Toilets: Located near the main entrance and fully accessible.
Buggy Parking: The museum is mostly on one level with wide paths, making it very pram-friendly.
Food & Drink: A small cafe area serves hot drinks, cold soft drinks, and light snacks with outdoor seating by the water.

Pro-Tips for Parents

Book the Boat Early: Steam boat trips have limited capacity and often sell out by midday; book your slot as soon as you arrive.
Bring the Dog: This is one of the few museums where dogs are welcome on a lead, so you don't have to leave the family pet behind.
Picnic by the Staithe: There are lovely benches overlooking the water which are perfect for a family lunch if the weather is nice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth it for toddlers? Toddlers will enjoy the outdoor space and the interactive water play, but they may need help with the indoor exhibits which are aimed at slightly older children.
How long does a visit take? A standard visit lasts about 2 hours, but if you book a boat trip, you should plan for at least 3 hours on site.
Where is the best place to park? The museum’s own car park is the best place to park; it is free and located just a few steps from the ticket office.
Are there cheap indoor activities in Stalham? The Museum of the Broads is the best value indoor activity in the area, offering a mix of covered galleries and outdoor heritage for a low entry price.

The Visitor Verdict: What Parents Really Think
What Visitors Love

The "Mystery Trail" for kids keeps them focused and engaged as they move through the different rooms.
It is a very peaceful site compared to the larger theme parks, allowing for a more relaxed family pace.
The volunteers are very friendly and often let children help "steer" the stationary boats.

What Visitors Don't Like

Because it is by the water, the midges can be a bit annoying on summer afternoons; bring some repellent.
Some of the indoor galleries are a little small for very large double buggies during peak times.

What to see

Detailed Inventory

The Falcon: A Victorian steam launch available for passenger trips.
The Maria: A traditional Norfolk Wherry with its original massive sail.
The Ice Boat: A specialized vessel used to break through frozen rivers in winter.
Reed Cutting Tools: Original scythes and rakes used for harvesting Norfolk reed.
The Eel Trap: A traditional woven basket used by marshmen to catch eels.
The "Poacher's Pocket" Display: Items used by locals to hunt illegally in the fens.
Victorian Bathing Machines: Replicas and photos of early holiday equipment.
The Thatching Exhibit: A step-by-step guide to how reed is turned into a roof.
Steam Engine Models: Small-scale working models of the engines used in local mills.
The Lost Village of Shipden: Archaeological finds from local areas now claimed by the sea.

Beyond the Main Attraction

Stalham High Street: A short walk away, featuring local independent shops and a supermarket for picnic supplies.
Barton Broad: One of the most beautiful waterways in Norfolk, perfect for a family walk along the boardwalk.
Sutton Windmill: A giant historic windmill located just a few miles away, offering great photo opportunities.
Sea Palling Beach: A 15-minute drive takes you to a safe, sandy beach with rock pools for the kids.

New for 2026

The 2026 'Silent Skies' Gallery: A brand-new exhibition for 2026 focusing on the owls and nocturnal hunters of the Broads, featuring interactive night-vision displays.
2026 Heritage Trail: An updated outdoor trail with digital QR codes that play stories from local marshmen as you walk around the staithe.

Events: For more upcoming events please visit here.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

60 minute trips:
Adults: £8.00
Children: £4.00 (4-18 yrs)

30 minute trips:
Adults: £6.00
Children: £3.00 (4-18 yrs)

Under 4’s and dogs ride for free on all trips.

The tickets can be bought both though Online and Offline mode. Guest can make there booking online be visiting on the website and also can go directly to the center for there booking. For latest price update, deals, offers, discount codes, please check the website as below:

https://www.museumofthebroads.org.uk/visit/visiting-the-museum-in-2020/

Pricing URL: https://www.museumofthebroads.org.uk/visit/visiting-the-museum-in-2020/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: Yes

Birthday Party Details

The Museum of the Broads does not offer a standard birthday party package. For private hire or group visit enquiries: Contact Email: info@museumofthebroads.org.uk

Tuesday – Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays: 10am to 4pm.

Address: Museum of the Broads, The Poor's, Staithe Road, Stalham, Norwich, UK

Post Code: NR12 9DA

Council: North Norfolk

County: Norfolk

By Bus: The Sanders Coaches service (X6) runs from North Walsham and Great Yarmouth to Stalham.
By Car: Use postcode NR12 9AS. Follow the A149 to Stalham and look for the brown signs for "Stalham Staithe."
Parking: There is a dedicated free car park directly outside the museum entrance.