The Horstead Activity Centre Norfolk

At the Horstead Centre we do things differently!

With nearly 60 years of experience, the Horstead Centre has established itself as a provider of the highest quality residential and day experiences for schoolchildren.

What makes us stand out is our commitment to our values and ethos, inspired by our Christian faith. We prioritise inclusivity, and all guests will receive a warm welcome and will always be treated with patience, kindness, and respect. 

Situated near Norwich and the Norfolk Broads, our exclusive site can host up to 65 people in the same house and boasts large lounges, a fully equipped games room, extensive walled garden and woodland: all right next to the beautiful river Bure

We prefer to host one group at a time, to allow our guests to have the space to relax and enjoy themselves. Our food is freshly cooked and locally sourced, and our qualified activity team can deliver a choice of over 20 adventurous and challenging outdoor activities.

Our curriculum-linked programmes provide endless opportunities for your learners to develop a wide range of life skills that support their educational development and their social and emotional well-being.

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The Horstead Centre specialises in hosting primary school visits, although we welcome groups of all ages through the year. We’re open all year around and, with competitive seasonal rates and new activities, there has never been a better time to boost your school’s learning outside the classroom potential. 

At the Horstead Centre, your group will experience a warm welcome and the undivided attention of our professional and long-established team. 

You will have sole occupancy of our house and grounds, and our activities will be delivered by a compassionate team who understand the importance of recognising children as individuals whilst challenging them to succeed. 

We specialise in the provision of bespoke experiences to suit the needs of your school and its pupils, in a safe and nurturing environment. 

Our curriculum-linked programmes provide endless opportunities for your learners to develop a wide range of life skills that support their educational development and their social and emotional well-being.

We hold LoTC and Adventure Mark accreditations and are an organisational member of the Institute for Outdoor Learning.

We will taylor your visit to suit the needs and aspirations of your group. Whilst we specialise in the provision of residential experiences for key stages 1 and 2, we also work with secondary schools to provide activity days, and targeted provision for more vulnerable students. 

Activities include: Climbing and Zipline, Archery, Vertical Challenge, Crate stacking, Bushcraft, wild camp cookery, team building games, low ropes and caving, canoeing, giant stand-up paddle boards, kayaking, raft building, giant catapults, geocaching, orienteering. Environmental field studies include river flowrate and river bottom surveys. Campfires, campfire karaoke, nightline.

The Horstead Centre can accommodate groups of up to 65. 

Min. numbers for residentials range from 25 – 30 (inc. adults) but with some flexibility.

Activity days available for up to 100

Significant discounts are available for smaller schools who joint-book with other schools.

All supporting documents are available on request and throughout the booking process, including curriculum-linked session plans.

None, groups are free to film, take photos during our activities and whilst onsite.

A Statement of Risk Management is available to all guests and parents alongside our individual risk assessments. We also have robust safeguarding and data protection policies in place; all are available on request. 

We welcome site tours in advance of a booking/visit.

The provision of floor plans and the setting of fire registers are a key part of planning any trip to the Horstead Centre, we will help our guests with this.

office@horsteadcentre.org.uk

Activity days range from £35-£40 per person to include 3 or 4 activities respectively

2-night residential packages range from £134.50 – £162.50 (full board and 6 activities).

4-night residential packages range from £247.50 – £317.75 (full board and 12 activities).

Bespoke offers that cater for more specific requirements priced separately. 

All prices include exclusive use of the whole site (subject to minimum numbers)

All prices are per student/child/young person

Adults are included in minimum numbers but charged £30/pp/pn to cover bed and board. 

All prices exclude VAT.

Our booking process is managed through our bespoke online portal through which you will also have access to all relevant documents (insurance, risk assessments etc.) our wonderful admin team will be on hand at each step of the process.

No, just sensible clothing and footwear appropriate to the activities and weather. Kit lists will be provided. 

All activity staff plus the manager and chef hold 3-day 1st aid at work certificates. We ask that visiting groups also come with a trained first aider to support overnight, though we have an senior staff member on call for emergencies each night too.

2 lounges, fully equipped games room (pool, table tennis, table football), souvenir shop (on request), dining room, toilets, showers, laundry, TV, DVD player, white boards. Large enclosed walled garden and activity/play equipment provided. Board games, cards etc.

For full board guests all meals will be provided from your evening meal on arrival day to lunch on the day of departure, unless additional arrangements are required. 

Our meat and dairy are sourced locally, and all other food is delivered and cooked fresh onsite. We avoid cooking from frozen, and offer fresh, home-cooked, healthy meals with plenty of fresh fruit, veg, and salad. We cater for all dietary requirements and allergies.

Many of our experienced staff are SEN trained and are experienced at adapting our activities to meet the abilities of our guests. Our house has a lift, accessible bathrooms upstairs and downstairs and our team will make all possible provisions to ensure your stay is inclusive to a diverse range of needs.

7 days per week, all year round.

“I just wanted to get in touch to say again a massive thank you to you and your wonderful team! From all the students that attended our recent residential through to Hall school staff, we had the best time! Memories made forever and experiences that will not be forgotten! Thank you all so very much and we look forward to making new memories at The Horstead Centre again in the future!” Hall School

“Thanks for providing the details about what we would be able to do to accommodate our child with the broken arm. This is why I continue to sing the Horstead Centre’s praises. You’re such an accommodating and inclusive setting. Thank you for the lengths that you and the team would be willing to go to enable the children to be involved.” St. Edmunds School. 

“I am just emailing to say what a wonderful time we had last week and to email over a picture of the water fight we had on Thursday afternoon. Thank you again to all of your team’s hard work and enthusiasm with the children. Hopefully, we will see you again next year.” Peterhouse School.

Activities include: Climbing and Zipline, Archery, Vertical Challenge, Crate stacking, Bushcraft, wild camp cookery, team building games, low ropes and caving, canoeing, giant stand-up paddle boards, kayaking, raft building, giant catapults, geocaching, orienteering. Environmental field studies include river flowrate and river bottom surveys. Campfires, campfire karaoke, nightline.

Booking details – Contact office@horsteadcentre.org.uk or call 01603 737215 to discuss available dates or an existing booking.