History and mystery
For Broads history and mystery of all kinds, the Museum of the Broads at Stalham is one of the best places to visit.
What are some of those things and how did they work?! The museum can reveal all, and introduce you to many Broads objects and characters, from Nutty Slack to Renato Molinari.
What's on at the flicks?
New for 2026, it has a purpose-built little cinema area showing Broads holiday films. There are 1950s and 60s promotional films, as well as family holiday films. There’s also a new display showing the museum’s wonderful collection of postcards, holiday scrapbooks and souvenirs – wish you were here! The Victorians first ‘discovered’ the pleasures of an outdoor lifestyle, sailing the waterways, and from the 1920s onwards the advertising industry was keen to promote the attractions of East Anglia – the ‘drier side of Britain’.
The museum also offers boat trips on Falcon, an original Victorian steam launch and accessible boat trips on an Edwardian-style electric launch. There are lots of special events too, from Easter trails to Heritage Open Days in September.
01692 581681
More places for history and mystery
Air Defence Radar Museum, Neatishead
Toad Hole Cottage, How Hill, Ludham
St Benet’s Abbey near Ludham
Wind Energy Museum, Repps-with-Bastwick and Thurne Mill
Ranworth Church – cathedral of the Broads
Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery – new medieval gallery with items from the Broads
Dragon Hall, Norwich – medieval trading hall on the River Wensum
For visiting info go to National Centre for Writing
Time and Tide Museum of Great Yarmouth Life – including holidays, this time at the seaside
Burgh Castle – remains of a Roman fort, close to Great Yarmouth
St Olave’s Priory ruins
Lowestoft Museum, Oulton Broad
Beccles Museum – find out about Nobel prize-winning scientist Dr Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin, educated in Beccles