Darwin Escapes Norfolk Woods Resort and Spa Review

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​Norfolk Woods Resort and Spa

Norfolk Woods Resort and Spa is owned by Darwin Escapes

We are big fans of Darwin Escapes and have stayed at several of their holiday parks including resorts in Somerset, Bath, Cornwall and on the Isle of Wight. 

We went to Norfolk Woods Resort and Spa recently, as it's been on our maybe list for a holiday for a long time. 

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Definitely not a caravan park!

As you'll gather from the photos, Darwin Escapes is a bit different to other big names like Haven and Parkdean Resorts. Their accommodation is usually lodges rather than caravans, which means they are typically quite a bit wider. There are lodges at Parkdean and Haven, but they are outnumbered by caravans and are seen as an upgrade rather than the standard accommodation.

We were impressed at how big the lodges are at Norfolk Woods Resort and Spa

The lodges are modern and are surrounded with greenery

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Enjoying the woodland vibe - and taking the tarmac test

As we wandered round Norfolk Woods Resort and Spa, we really liked the leafy woodland vibe. Darwin Escapes do this exceptionally well, along with keeping everything looking very neat and tidy.

I often talk on this website about my 'tarmac test', which says that if a holiday park has lots of nice smooth tarmac and well looked after tracks then it's generally a holiday park that is being well invested in.

​A holiday park with potholes and a patchwork of pathways tends to be a little bit run down with money spent on the headline things, but not on the little touches that make it feel classier.

I gave the tarmac a 10/10 rating when we visited Norfolk Woods Resort and Spa

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Yes, I really do care about fonts...

The other less obvious thing that I look for when I'm visiting holiday parks is consistency of branding (yes, we do visit a lot of holiday parks ourselves).

​Again, Darwin Escapes does very well at this with signs throughout the park all being in the same style and being attractively presented. I'm sure this sort of thing doesn't matter to most people, but to me it makes somewhere look a bit more professional and upmarket and gives the impression that the company is making an effort.

The overall impression I got from my visit was that this is a very well-looked after and neat resort. 

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Facilities at Norfolk Woods Resort and Spa

You often don't get a swimming pool at Darwin Escapes - but that's not the case at Norfolk Woods, which has an indoor pool and an outdoor splash park. We really like to have a swimming pool on site as it tends to be one of the highlights for the children to have a good swim or two whilst on holiday. 

The swimming pool and bistro complex at Norfolk Woods Resort and Spa is a good size

(This photo is one of the official ones, rather than one of our own snaps)

We thought that the sports court and other equipment at Norfolk Woods Resort and Spa looked in good condition

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Further exploring at Norfolk Woods

During our visit, we enjoyed having a wander through the woodland paths that are linked with the site. In the evening, there were plenty of kids having fun on the playground as well as dogs scampering around and a lovely feel to the site. It's also got an onsite restaurant, which is described as a bistro.

I would say that it was more peaceful than a lot of holiday parks I've been to. I would go for this one if you value privacy and quiet rather than endless entertainment.

The playground isn't huge, but it's modern (you can also see the splash park in the background)

We enjoyed the woodland walk on the edge of Norfolk Woods Resort and Spa

The location of Norfolk Woods Resort and Spa is rural, with green space around it

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What about the location?

Needless to say, Norfolk Woods is not a coastal holiday park. It's very much inland and is somewhere rural with plenty of green space so that you can get out and explore the area. Hunstanton is a drive of about 35 minutes. My personal taste is for a holiday park that is by a beach, as that's another thing that is a highlight of our holidays. 

If you can overlook the significant distance to the seaside, then I would put Norfolk Woods on your short list of places to stay in East Anglia.

​Despite having a very classy vibe and well maintained grounds, you will find that prices are not always significantly more than holiday parks such as those run by big names. 

Anyway, that's enough waffle from me. I'm impressed with Norfolk Woods and the general brand consistency that Darwin Escapes seems to offer. I think it's fair to say that they aren't as famous a brand as companies such as Center Parcs, Haven, Parkdean Resorts or Butlins, but I do think they will slowly build a reputation if they keep offering high quality accommodation.

Norfolk Woods Resort and Spa isn't huge, but it is nicely done

We liked the number of trees onsite at Norfolk Woods Resort and Spa

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What about the competition?

Norfolk is well-stocked with holiday parks, caravan sites and similar resorts. Take a look at our top 10 to see how Norfolk Woods Resort and Spa compares on price and review scores.

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Most of the photos on Holiday Park Guru are original photos that we’ve taken ourselves from our own visits to 100+ holiday parks around the UK. Please don’t use them without permission.