tried & tested

BeWILDerwood in Norfolk has been recommended to me so many times, and as huge Norfolk fans, I was super excited to plan our first visit during our holiday to Norfolk this summer, and be invited to do a Tried and Tested review.

🧭 What is BeWILDerwood?

If you haven’t heard of it, BeWILDerwood is a unique outdoor adventure park inspired by the book series by Tom Blofeld, filled with imaginative play structures, treetop adventures, slides, storytelling, and creative play areas, designed to bring children’s imaginations to life.

Spread over a large forest, there are different adventures at every turn, with a variety of different play areas, all in one place.

You can find a map of the park here: https://bewilderwood.co.uk/park-maps (change the toggle for Norfolk or Cheshire).

👧 Who's it for?

Best suited for children aged around 2–12, it’s ideal for families with mixed ages as there are options for smaller children, alongside those for older explorers.

⏰ How long should you spend there?

The weather was looking a bit iffy later in the day so we arrived early to be able to enjoy all the activities during the dry part of the day. The whole place is set in woodland though, so you’re well-protected for showers and we got lucky with only a couple of short showers. We were there from 10am-3pm and had a great time!

 

🌲 Getting Around

• Despite having so much to do, it’s all laid out within an area that’s still manageable for little legs. From the car park, it’s only a 5-10 minute walk to the start of your adventure!
• We took a picnic and decided to leave it in the car and pop back for it, along with our waterproofs if we needed them, so we didn’t need to cart it all around with us. You can also take everything in with you if you like as it’s easy to navigate with buggies or trolleys, and there are plenty of places to eat your picnic or purchase food onsite. Just bear in mind if you’re wanting to go up on the structures, zipwires and slides with the kids (and why not, it’s just as much fun for adults!) you might just want to take a rucksack in with you, if possible.
• A friend recommended taking the boat trip first, as it’s a great way to start your day. Only around 11 people can fit on each boat, so there may be a wait here at certain points in the day. We arrived just before the park opened at 10am and got straight on to a boat. I think you used to have the option of getting the boat from the entrance down to the forest or walking, but now you walk along the Treacherous Trail anyway, and it’s not far, with lots of things to look at along the way.
• We worked round the different areas in a clockwise way, so we didn’t miss anything, but you can easily flit about. We used the map we were given at the entrance to check off things we’d done, so we didn’t miss anything.

🏕  What we loved most:

• The Boat Ride is a lovely way to start your adventure as you hear all about the characters of Bewilderwood.
• The Sky Maze was really fun, as we had to work together to find out how to get to all of the coloured feathers to collect the words for a puzzle. It was more challenging than it looked!
• The Wobbly Wires (zipwires) were a huge hit with the boys. There are ones suitable for older and younger children, which is a thoughtful theme throughout the park- it’s brilliant for mixed age families, keeping everyone happy.
• The Slippery Slopes (giant slides) were great fun- and yes, adults can ride too, woo!
• The Big Hat Craft Tent was great for me and the 4 year old to get our craft on and make super cool Mildred The Crocklebog hats!

🍴 Food & facilities:

• Food options are great with both hot and cold food options, and obviously children’s menus are well thought-out. You can eat at The Munch Bar and Cosy Cabin, sensibly placed at each end of the Woods, so you’re never far from food when the demands from little ones start!
• As mentioned, you’re also welcome to bring a picnic and there are lots of places for you to enjoy that.
• Toilets, baby change, seating and shaded areas are all plentiful.
• BeWILDerwood also has other thoughtful touches that many other playgrounds lack e.g a Nursing Nook. This is a small hut with wooden rocking chairs and changing tables, where parents can nurse their babies or toddlers in privacy.
• Find out about Food and Drink here

💸 Cost:

• A the time of writing this review (August 2025) - Children under 92cm go free, 92-105cm ticket price is £20.95 and Over 105cm/Adults are £22.95, with a concession for 65 yrs+ at £14.95.
• Depending on the size of your family, it can be a pricey day out, but for value for money, I think it’s great- everything is included once you get there, you’re welcome to take your own picnic and any little ones you have under 92cm go free. Unlike some attractions, this is just as much fun for the adults if you want to join in!
• Find the latest ticket prices here.

✅ Top tips:

• Book your tickets in advance as some days during peak times it can get booked up. A great bonus is that you can move your tickets if you contact them with at least 24 hours’ notice- a really nice option if the weather is bad or someone in your group is unwell.
• Arrive early to make the most of the day- you can easily spend the whole day here!
• Wear sturdy shoes (lots of climbing!)
• Wear comfy clothes- it’s best to wear long sleeves and trousers to avoid friction burns on the slides if possible.
• Be prepared for the weather- if it’s hot, don’t forget suncream and water (there are places to refill your water bottle). If it’s wet, don’t forget waterproofs and wellies as it can get muddy.
• Bring a change of clothes / waterproofs in case the slides are wet if it’s a rainy day.
• Some play areas have age/height restrictions – check in advance.
• Be prepared to queue for some parts (e.g. the boat and some of the zipwires.) Getting there early is a good idea to reduce this- a friend advised me to do the boat ride first, which was a good tip.
• Check the story times when you arrive- they’re held throughout the day in the outdoor auditorium. They’re a really great way to learn about the story of BeWILDerwood and the characters that live there.
• Most of the park is pushchair friendly, but some areas, such as the treetop walkways and play structures are not suitable for buggies, so you may want to bring a carrier if you have a baby and want to climb with your other children.
• No time to hide- adults are actively encouraged to join their children in activities, so be prepared to climb and slide!
• Food- you’re welcome to take your own picnic, but there are also great food options there. Don’t forget snacks- it’s hard work all that climbing!

💭 Overall thoughts:

We loved our day at Bewilderwood and would definitely recommend it if you’re heading to Norfolk, or if you're feeling adventurous, it's about 2 1/2 hours from Hitchin. It’s a brilliant day out that’s fun for the whole family with so much to do and ticked all the boxes for us!

You can find out more and book tickets on their website here.

Watch the Reel from our visit here.

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We were kindly gifted our tickets in order to write this review.

If you would like a Tried and Tested review for your restaurant, attraction or event, please get in touch. 

Don't forget to check out all my other Tried and Tested reviews here.

You'll also find Reels from our various days out on my Instagram page here.