Name: Norfolk Tank Museum
Rating: 5.0

Norfolk Tank Museum

The Norfolk Tank Museum, Station Road, Forncett St Peter, Norwich, Norfolk, UK

1-90 Years

Paid

Description

The Norfolk Tank Museum is an independent military heritage site located just south of Norwich in Forncett St Peter. It is widely considered one of the best things to do with kids in Norfolk because it is a museum category attraction that offers a rare "hands-on" approach to history. Unlike many traditional museums, families are often encouraged to climb inside various military vehicles and handle real equipment from the Cold War and earlier.

Visiting this heavy-metal collection is great for a unique family afternoon. Prices start from £5.00 for Older children (12–17), while standard adult and child tickets remain very competitive for the region. The museum is a registered charity, meaning your visit directly helps the volunteers maintain these massive machines for future generations to enjoy.

If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that combines massive machines with plenty of outdoor space, this is the perfect choice. It provides a unique educational day out where children can learn about the lives of soldiers and the mechanical evolution of the tank. With a friendly, volunteer-led atmosphere, it feels more like a welcoming local club than a stuffy exhibition.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Key Features

Interactive Exhibits: The museum specialises in interactive exhibits where you can sit in the driver's seat of several tanks and armoured personnel carriers.
Educational Day Out: With a focus on the Cold War and the 20th century, it provides a practical educational day out for children studying modern history.
Sensory Play: The "Spring Maintenance" and "Tank Run" events offer a sensory play experience of roaring engines, the smell of diesel, and the vibration of heavy tracks.
Large Outdoor Arena: There is plenty of room for kids to run around between the vehicle hangars and the tank demonstration course.

Top 5 Highlights

The Centurion Main Battle Tank: This legendary British tank is a fan favourite. Kids find the sheer size of the gun barrel and the thickness of the armour plating incredibly impressive.
The Saladin Armoured Car: A smaller, faster vehicle that is often open for visitors to climb inside. It gives children a real (and sometimes cramped!) sense of what life was like for a three-man crew.
The Chieftain Tank: This Cold War beast allows you to see the evolution of British tank design. Its hulking silhouette makes it one of the most photographed items in the collection.
The Small Arms Collection: A secured indoor display where you can see the rifles and equipment carried by soldiers. It helps put the massive tanks into context with the individual people who served.
The Tank Run Course: On special event days, you can watch these heavy vehicles actually move. Seeing a multi-tonne machine tackle the mud and slopes is a highlight that kids never forget.

Facilities

Toilets: Located in the main visitor building, including baby changing facilities.
Buggy Parking: There is plenty of space for buggies both inside the hangars and around the outdoor grounds.
Food & Drink: The "Tea Room" serves traditional tea, coffee, cakes, and light lunch options like sandwiches.

Pro-Tips for Parents

Check the 'Tank Run' Dates: If possible, visit on a day when the vehicles are running. The sound and sight of the tanks moving add a whole new level of excitement.
Wear Old Shoes: The outdoor site can get quite muddy, especially near the tank course. Wellies or sturdy boots are a good idea for the kids.
Ask About Rides: On certain bank holidays and event days, the museum offers rides in armoured personnel carriers for a small extra fee—worth every penny for the thrill!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth it for toddlers? Toddlers usually love the "big trucks," but they might find the noise of engines during a tank run a bit overwhelming. It is best for children aged 5+.
How long does a visit take? Most families spend around 3 hours exploring the hangars, the outdoor vehicles, and the tea room.
Where is the best place to park? The museum has its own large, free car park located directly at the entrance.
Are there cheap indoor activities in Norfolk? The Norfolk Tank Museum offers a very affordable indoor/outdoor mix, providing a lot of entertainment for a relatively low family ticket price.

The Visitor Verdict: What Parents Really Think
What Visitors Love

The ability to actually get inside the vehicles is the biggest draw and keeps kids entertained for hours.
The volunteers are incredibly friendly and will often stop what they are doing to explain how a specific machine works.
It is excellent value for money compared to larger, more commercial attractions.

What Visitors Don't Like

Some of the indoor areas are unheated, so it can be very cold in the winter or on damp spring days.
Because it is a smaller, volunteer-run site, it lacks the high-tech digital displays found in national museums.

What to see

Detailed Inventory

Centurion AVRE: A massive engineering vehicle used for clearing obstacles.
Chieftain Main Battle Tank: A heavy-hitting icon of the Cold War era.
FV101 Scorpion: A light, fast reconnaissance vehicle with a distinctive profile.
Alvis Saladin: A six-wheeled armoured car used widely by the British Army.
FV432 Personnel Carrier: A "battle taxi" often used for visitor rides on special days.
Ferret Scout Car: A compact four-wheeled vehicle used for high-speed scouting.
Sultan Command Vehicle: An armoured "office on tracks" where officers planned operations.
Abbot Self-Propelled Gun: A massive artillery piece mounted on a tank chassis.
The "Deborah" Replica: A faithful recreation of a WWI Mark IV tank.
Cold War Uniform Display: Original gear and gas masks used during the nuclear standoff era.

Beyond the Main Attraction

Bressingham Steam & Gardens: A 15-minute drive away, offering steam trains and beautiful gardens for a more relaxed pace.
Wymondham Abbey: A stunning historic site nearby with a great park for a family stroll.
The Forncett Industrial Steam Museum: Located very close by, this museum features giant stationary steam engines (check opening dates as they vary).
Banham Zoo: About 20 minutes away, making it easy to combine tanks and tigers in one weekend trip.

New for 2026

The 2026 'Cold War Comm' Exhibit: A brand-new indoor display for 2026 featuring working radio equipment and decoding machines used in armoured vehicles.
Restored Mark IV Tank: The museum’s ongoing restoration project for its WWI era tanks will feature updated 2026 interactive plaques detailing the "Deborah" story.

Events: For more upcoming events please visit here.

Website

Contact

Video

Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Adults: £9.50
One child under 12 free with every paying adult: Free
Extra children under 12: £5.00
Older children (12–17): £5.00
Family Ticket (2 adults + 2 children aged 12–17): £26.00
Annual Passes: £40.00

Pricing URL: https://norfolktankmuseum.co.uk/opening-times-admission-costs/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday: 10am – 5pm February to 21st December.

Address: The Norfolk Tank Museum, Station Road, Forncett St Peter, Norwich, Norfolk, UK

Post Code: NR16 1HZ

Council: South Norfolk

County: Norfolk

By Bus: There is no direct bus service to the site; a taxi from Long Stratton or Wymondham is recommended.
By Car: Use postcode NR16 1HZ. From the A140, follow signs for Forncett St Peter.
Parking: There is free on-site parking for cars and larger vehicles.