“My kids are running with glee into a huge woodland playpark, with castle-like forts, giant sand pit, zip lines and water tower offering a dizzying choice of things to play on, as far as the eye can see,” shared Lifestyle editor Dianne Bourne, who visited this “magical spot” with her family over the summer – and the best part? It’s absolutely free.

This isn’t your run-of-the-mill playground; it comes with a Royal seal of approval. Tucked away within King Charles III’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, this Woodland Playground is part of the rural retreat that the Royal Family have used as their holiday home for the past 150 years, according to the Manchester Evening News.

You might typically expect to pay an entrance fee for a playground of this magnitude, but here, you only need to cover the cost of parking. Moreover, there’s access to delightful woodland walks and bike rides across the estate’s 20,000 acres, which are open and free to the public throughout the year.

Dianne wrote, “It is one of the unique aspects of this region, which makes it a fantastic spot for family holidays, as I have discovered with my two young boys over the past few years. We returned to Norfolk for our holidays this year and were blessed with glorious weather during the ongoing heatwave.

“The base for our stay was a lovely holiday cottage booked with Norfolk Hideaways close to the Sandringham Estate, in the village of Tattersett. It made for the perfect location for exploring brilliant family attractions both inland and by the sea in North Norfolk.

“Sandringham made for a great day out during our stay, with the kids running off lots of energy in the Woodland Playground, and then a lovely stop off at the Sandringham coffee shop for snacks and ice cream.”

The complimentary play area remains accessible for as long as desired. It boasts primary facilities including timber play fortresses, slides, and obstacle courses appropriate for five- to 12-year-olds. There’s also a designated woodland play zone suited to smaller children, alongside a sandpit that toddlers especially cherish.

For those fascinated by the location’s Royal heritage, you can also pay to discover the Royal residence and grounds on selected dates throughout the year.

Additional activities for youngsters

What’s magnificent about this region is the vast array of activities available for families with small children, many of which come at no cost. Not least the reality that there exists simply one breathtaking coastline after another along the North Norfolk shore, and here are some of our top picks.

Dianne continued: “We love Hunstanton as the more traditional seaside resort with funfair, chippies and ice cream, while neighbouring Old Hunstanton has a stunning stretch of sand and lots of starfish and crabs to find in the sea.

“Brancaster is another beautiful stretch of sand, owned by the National Trust, with a car park right next to the beach, which is handy for those not keen or able to walk all that far. Holkham is the most spectacular and epic beach you’re ever likely to see, but be prepared for the half an hour walk down to it, which in itself I personally find to be a really special experience.”

This particular coastline is cherished by the Royal Family, presumably owing to its enormous expanse and plentiful sand dunes, providing visitors with the sensation of possessing their own secluded shoreline even during the height of summer. Cromer represents another classic British seaside town, this one featuring a pier that gained notoriety in the Alan Partridge film.

She said: “We loved wandering along there where many people are crabbing. The beach is impressive, although does get very busy, and there’s also some pretty fabulous ice creams to be had, with a Mr Whippy shop right by the pier selling multi-coloured and even chocolate-dipped creations.

“Away from beach activities, we also discovered close to where we stayed an absolutely brilliant garden attraction called Pensthorpe at Fakenham. You have to pay for entry, but once inside, there’s a huge outdoor play area for kids, as well as an indoor playbarn that you can book a timeslot for on arrival.

“The gardens themselves were utterly stunning, with a rather comical ‘poo trail’ during the school holidays for kids to find, which, as you can imagine, the youngsters found hilarious.”

Where we stayed

Dianne, having previously enjoyed a self-catering cottage in Norfolk, found this option more suitable when travelling with young children. It offers plenty of room for play and day-to-day living during a week-long break, complete with your own kitchen and washing machine.

Her family were guests of Norfolk Hideaways, which has over 550 properties dotted around Norfolk. These range from cosy cottages perfect for couples to larger accommodations fit for big groups and multi-generational families.

For Dianne’s holiday this year, her family opted for Mallard Cottage in the charming village of Tattersett. It was an ideal spot, featuring bunk beds that the kids loved upstairs, as well as a comfortable living area downstairs with a lounge and dining area, plus a kitchen.

Short breaks can be booked from £453, or seven nights from £551, although our four-night stay in August, during peak school holiday time, set us back £772.

For those needing more space and who prefer being closer to the beach, last year they also stayed with Norfolk Hideaways at The Little House in Brancaster. This property can house six or eight guests, with prices starting from £1,672 for a short stay, or £2,075 for seven nights based on eight people staying.

Getting there

Dianne said: “The only downside I have to mention about Norfolk is that the journey there isn’t the easiest, as it’s one of the only counties in England without a motorway.

“The fastest route from the north west in terms of miles (and usually time) is via the A50 through Stoke, Derby and then Nottingham, and then across Lincolnshire towards King’s Lynn in Norfolk and then on to the coast.

“You’re looking at a drive of around three and a half to four hours from Manchester to North Norfolk, depending on the day and time you go, and depending on what sort of vehicle you get stuck behind on the single lane roads.

“In terms of public transport, there’s a mainline train station in King’s Lynn, although from Manchester you’re looking at a four-hour trip with a change at Ely. But there is a decent Coastliner bus (the 36) that stops in all of the villages mentioned during our stay above.”