AD | Press trip
No matter where we go, we like to learn about the history of a place. You can learn so much at the Time and Tide Museum of Great Yarmouth life, and it’s a great place to spend some time as a family.
Where is the Time and Tide Museum?
Time and Tide Museum,
Blackfriars Road,
Great Yarmouth,
NR30 3BX
Contact information
Telephone: General enquiries: 01493 743930
Email: yarmouth.museums@norfolk.gov.uk
Website: https://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/time-tide
What parking is available?
The Tide and Time Museum does not have its own parking. However, there is a short-stay car park on Blackfriars Road, or more options along Great Yarmouth seafront.
Opening times
Between April and the end of October the Tide and Time Museum is open daily from 10am-4.30pm with the last admission 30 minutes before closing.
From 1st November to 31st March, the museum is open Monday to Friday from 10am-4pm and Saturday and Sunday from 12-4pm. Check the website for up-to-date opening times and holiday opening times.
Admission prices
Tickets can either be booked online in advance or purchased when you arrived. It’s recommended to book online during busier periods.
- Free admission to certain museums with a Norfolk Museums Pass
- Adult: £7.40
- Family discount adult: £6.60 (available with a paid child ticket)
- Concession: £7 (over 65s, students and disabled people) Disabled people can bring a companion in free.
- Child (age 4-18): £6.30
- Child under 4: Free
- Twilight ticket (one hour before closing): £2.50
Free admission for the following groups:
- Foster families and Looked after Children
- Children’s University
- National Art Pass holders
- Museums Association members
What is there to see in the museum?
Originally built in around 1850, the museum was once the Tower Fish Curing Works. This was closed down in 1988 however, the building is now one of the UK’s best-preserved Victorian herring curing works. You can learn all about the herring fishing industry, maritime heritage, Great Yarmouth’s transformation over the years and even get a little smell of what the original smokehouses would have been like. It’s a really interesting museum for the whole family, with a very varied collection.
Discover a Victorian ‘row’
I really enjoy seeing what places would have looked like at some point in history and at the Tide and Time Museum you can take a walk down a traditional Victorian ‘row’. Local history is so interesting and here you can go into people’s houses, look in shops and get a glimpse of what life would have been like all those years ago. Be sure to keep an eye out for the cats!
Join in!
There are so many different things for families (or, just adults) to do around the whole museum. You’ll find interactive areas all over the place, including dressing up, games to play and places to get arty. We especially liked the fishing game and being able to draw with some stencils.
What child wouldn’t want to get dressed up as a fisherman and be in charge of their own ship! Grab a fisherman’s jumper and the iconic yellow hat and grab the wheel!
Go back to the seaside
I went on a school trip with Erin earlier in the year to the Tide and Time Museum and one of our favourite sections was the seaside. Here, you can learn about what the seaside was like during Victorian times. This is is a lovely little bit about Great Yarmouth’s history, because it’s still such a popular seaside resort today.
Children might be amazed to find out that women would go down to the sea in a ‘bathing machine’. This was essentially a beach hut on wheels, that would keep women covered until they got in the water. Swimming costumes weren’t what they are now and you can try on a few designs while you’re in this area of the museum.
Great Yarmouth through the ages
On the top level of the museum there are some really interesting exhibitions about life in the different ages. You can learn about the Ice Age origins and the Stone Age. Discover different artefacts from the times, such was weapons, tools and bones!
This is another area where children can dress up and get hands-on with some of the exhibits.
Vintage toys galore
Towards the end of the top floor, you’ll come across a really cool corridor with vintage games and memorabilia. Erin instantly knew who the Tellytubbies were but it was fun watching her look around and asking questions about other things. I was a bit surprised, and excited when I came across a working Pac-Man game. I couldn’t wait to have a go and neither could Erin! It was much harder than I remember it being though.
Final thoughts
The Tide and Time Museum is a great way to learn about Great Yarmouth’s history and the local area. The museum is ideal for families, with so many hands-on displays. It will no doubt be popular with young people, thanks to the numerous children’s activities. It might not be somewhere to spend all day, but do set aside at least 3 hours for your visit if you’re with children.
Other places to visit in Great Yarmouth:
- Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach
- Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens
- Lost World Adventure Golf
- Sea Life Great Yarmouth
- Sara’s Tearooms
- Wellington Bowl
- Hippodrome Circus
- Merrivale Model Village
- Hirsty’s Family Fun Park
For more day out ideas, go to the Visit Great Yarmouth website
