Sea lion enclosure

The sea lions here are the real draw - watching them barrel through the water with that effortless grace never gets old, even if you've seen them a dozen times before. They're properly entertaining, especially during feeding times when the keepers explain what they're up to and how they hunt in the wild.

It's a Norfolk zoo attraction, so you're looking at an enclosure set up for decent viewing from multiple angles. The animals seem well-cared for, though like most UK zoo sea lion setups, it's not enormous. You'll spend a good 20 to 30 minutes here if you're actually watching them rather than just walking past. Kids go mad for it - there's something magnetic about seeing a two-tonne marine mammal do a backwards flip three metres from where you're standing.

Bring a camera and time your visit for feeding if possible, as that's when they're most active. The enclosure is best visited early in your day when the animals are fresher and the crowds thinner, especially during school holidays.

If you're staying at Applewood Countryside Holidays - just down the road - this fits nicely into a full morning before heading elsewhere. It's not a reason to drive across Norfolk on its own, but combined with the rest of the zoo it makes for a solid couple of hours. Norwich is close enough for an afternoon visit without it feeling like a trek.