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Everyone knows that the great British public loves animals, and spotting a furry red panda high in the trees, a majestic tiger prowling in the bushes or an exotic-looking shark gliding through the water is always really exciting. All our Great Yarmouth nature reserves and most of our local animal attractions can be visited all year round, so you can see the wildlife at all stages of the annual life cycle.
Local animal attractions to visit
Thrigby Wildlife Gardens to the north of Great Yarmouth near the flowery village of Filby hosts a rare collection of Asian mammals, well worth a visit at any time of the year. The tree-top walk is an unsual place from which to see tigers up close, there are several species of monkey chattering away and some absolutely stunning leopards. You might even spot a new-born baby animal as like most zoos, Thrigby takes it's conservation role very seriously. You can find out more about the incredible man who set up the zoo in our short film below.
Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre is also open all year round, and is a hugely popular place to visit with displays and exhibitions changing every year. The centre is also hugely into conservation and has several breeding programmes, including one for seahorses and special incubation units for sting rays.
To the south of Great Yarmouth in Caldecott, Redwings Horse Sanctuary and the Fritton Owl Sanctuary just further along the A143 in nearby Fritton are well worth a visit, both are free to enter and are open all year round, but do check opening days and times before you set off.
Set in the Norfolk countryside on the edge of the Broads, there are several nature reserves in and around Great Yarmouth, well worth a visit if you're a bird watcher or enjoy walking. There are some great walks in the area and in particular next to river banks and near the Trinity Broads, sites of special scientific interest where unique habitiats for wildlife exist.
More animal attractions in the nearby area
In nearby Kessingland to the south of Great Yarmouth, just as you arrive in Lowestoft, Africa Alive is a fabulous zoo with it's focus firmly on animals from the African savannahs. Lions, white rhinos, giraffes, hyenas and zebras can all be seen.
Pettitts Animal Adventure is a lovely petting zoo near Reepham, with the chance to get up close and personal with smaller animals, as well as see talks and displays.
Norfolk is a large county with many opportunities to explore the local nature, with RSPB, Norfolk Wildlife Trust and National Trust and Natural England reserves in several locations.
Hirsty's Family Fun Park is also well worth a visit at Easter, in high summer or during October half term with the chance to learn all about farm animals.
Many of the animal parks and aquariums have great value annual passes, perfect for presents and ideal if you're planning on coming back several times in the year.
Number of results: 12
Fritton
For a FREE and fun family day out, visit Redwings Caldecott and meet friendly rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules nose-to-nose.
Great Yarmouth
Explore an incredible underwater world at SEA LIFE Great Yarmouth and get closer than ever before to over 1500 creatures & features of the world's oceans! From the colourful to the curious, the majestic to the mystical, get ready to be amazed
Filby
Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens, near Great Yarmouth has a 250-year-old landscaped garden, play areas and a wide selection of Asian mammals, birds and reptiles including tigers, crocodiles and storks.
Great Yarmouth
Berney Marshes alongside the Breydon Water estuary in Great Yarmouth is a wonderfully unspoilt RSPB nature reserve. Experience the spectacle of the tens of thousands of wintering birds that visit the estuary and surrounding grazing marshes.
Great Yarmouth
The Waterside Rollesby - a boating, wildlife, leisure and dining experience not to be missed! Enjoy a fun and informative guided tour of the Broad on the Edwardian Launch, 'Gentleman Jim' (approx 30 minutes).
Filby
Filby Bridge Restaurant at Filby near Great Yarmouth sits on the Filby Broad and is a perfect venue for a spot of bird-watching.
Great Yarmouth
Set in 11 acres of beautiful countryside on the banks of the Trinity Broads, The Boathouse, Ormesby is a spectacular country fayre pub and wedding venue.
Exposed brickwork, 2 open fireplaces and oak beams make for a welcoming spot.
Fritton, Great Yarmouth
Fritton is a small village to the south west of Great Yarmouth near to the border with Suffolk. Fritton is surrounded by woodland, marshes and near a private lake, Fritton Decoy. A great location for bird-watching.
Winterton-on-Sea
Winterton-on-Sea is a small village at the nothern extreme of the Borough of Great Yarmouth, where visitors to the area can get away from it all in peace and quiet.
South Walsham
130 acres of ancient woodland with over 3.5 miles of paths. We have a tearoom, gift shop, bird hide, children's nature trail and plant sales area. We also have a programme of events all year round - details can be found on our website.
Martham
A a unique and internationally important site, with reed-fringed flood banks, open water, grazing marsh, scrub and wet woodland.Open for just one day a year, it truly is Norfolk’s hidden gem.
Great Yarmouth
This fabulous National Nature Reserve is one of the best sites in Broadland to see the swallowtail butterfly, as well as an array of birds. Fishing is permitted in North Broad only by permit.
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