96th Bomb Group Museum

The 96th Bomb Group Museum sits on the old airfield near Norwich where American B-17 crews flew their heaviest bombing missions over Nazi Germany during World War II. It's a straightforward affair - a collection of restored aircraft, original buildings, and personal accounts that tell the story of the men who operated from this base between 1943 and 1945.

Walking around, you'll see a real B-17 Flying Fortress, the centrepiece that dominates the airfield. There's a control tower you can explore, period barracks, and exhibits crammed with photographs, uniforms, and letters home from crews who didn't make it back. It's properly moving stuff, especially if you spend time reading the individual stories rather than just passing through.

History enthusiasts will find this genuinely worthwhile. Families with teenagers interested in World War II will get real value here, though younger kids might find two hours enough before restlessness sets in. Allow a full afternoon if you want to do it properly.

Its location works well alongside a Norfolk park holiday. Applewood Countryside Holidays and Wild With Nature are both minutes away, making it an easy half-day outing from either site. Glamp & Tipple, further out, is still close enough for a morning visit. The museum gives wartime context to the Norfolk landscape in a way that simply walking the countryside won't.

Check ahead before visiting for current opening times and admission charges - the details change seasonally.