Visitors Guide 2009 - 30/03/2009 digital edition

MONSTERS
PLAY & PARTY CENTRE
Soft Play / Activity Centre
for Toddlers - 10yrs
Open:
Mon - Sat: 9.30am - 6.30pm
Sun & B.H. : 10.30am - 6.30pm
Units 11 - 12 Hopper Way, Diss,
Norfolk IP22 4GT
Tel (01379) 641400
www.monstersltd.co.uk
YOUR BRESSINGHAM STEAM & GARDENS SUMMER
SAVER VOUCHER IS ON PAGE 15
Tourist Information
Diss Tourist Information Centre: The
MeresMouth, Mere Street, tel 01379 650523.
Website
For local information on the Diss area visit
our website at www.dissexpress.co.uk
A UNIQUE working steam museum set in six
acres of internationally famous gardens,
Bressingham Steam Museum, between Diss
and Thetford, is a real family attraction.
Whether strolling round beautiful gardens,
travelling on steam engines or shopping in
Blooms Garden Centre, Bressingham is a
great day out.
Visitors can enjoy narrow gauge railway
rides, a Victorian steam roundabout and more
than 40 locomotive, traction and fire engine
exhibits. Dad's Army memorabilia is another
popular attraction.
There are special events throughout the
year to suit all interests, including a Teddy
Bear day on April 26, a fun weekend with Ivor
the Engine on July 11 and 12 and a Day Out
with Thomas on August 21 to 24, all for chil-
dren. There are car rallies, a locomotive week-
end, a Model Railway Day and more, call the
information line for more details and dates.
From July 20 to September 6, there is `steam
every day'.
The museum is open this year from March
30 to November 1 but Christmas Santa
Specials are held during December. For fur-
ther information, and for bookings, call 01379
686900. There are recorded events informa-
tion lines on 01379 686903. Their website is at
www.bressingham.co.uk.
YOUNGSTERS will love a visit to Monsters Ltd,
with its purpose-built play and party area, at Unit
11-12, Hopper Way, Diss.
The indoor play centre includes a three-storey
climbing frame, ideal for the older children to
burn off their excess energy.
Monsters Ltd caters for children from one
week old up to ten years, with a height restriction
of 4ft 10ins.
Play areas are monitored by trained staff, and
while there is a segregated play area for the
Under Fours, if they wish to enjoy the main play
area they must be accompanied by an adult.
Parties can be designed for all occasions,
including Hallowe'en, Christmas and Easter. Full
party packages are offered � all you have to do is
bring the cake.
The Diner has menus for both kids and adults.
To find out more, call 01379 641400 or visit the
website at www.monstersltd.co.uk
DISS is unique in East Anglia in being built pic-
turesquely around a large area of inland water
called a mere.
Its origins are ancient, with its name traceable
to Anglo-Saxon times when the town was called
Disce, meaning mere.
Modern research has revealed that the six-acre
area of water began to be formed around 12,000
years ago at the end of the last Ice Age.
The hollow was formed by the collapse of an
area of chalk bedrock � the resulting hole being
up to 60ft deep and containing as much as 40ft
of mud.
Used in early times as a water supply, drain
and a public laundrette, the shape of the water
determined the look of the town.
Diss has survived as an almost perfect market
town, its church, with a tower dating from around
1300, dominating a skyline of roofs and gardens
that lead down to the water's edge.
The mere attracts many forms of wildlife. A
park which sweeps down to its edge is open to
the public and during summer live entertainment
and concerts are held in the park pavilion.
Despite the fact that Diss was decimated by
the plague in the 16th century and ravaged by
fire in the 17th, it retains many fascinating old
buildings.
ENJOY the ultimate fun-filled day out at one of
the most exciting wildlife attractions in the coun-
try, Banham Zoo, rated by Which? as among the
UK's top three zoos.
The wildlife spectacular will take you on a jour-
ney around the globe to experience at close
quarters some of the worlds most exotic, rare
and endangered animals.
Set among 35 acres of beautiful Breckland
countryside and magnificent landscaped gar-
dens, you will discover hundreds of animals
ranging from big cats to birds of prey and sia-
mangs to shire horses. New arrivals include a
giraffe calf and endangered Amur tiger cubs.
Banham Zoo is signposted off the A11 and
A140 between Diss and Attleborough and is
open all year, daily from 10am, except Christmas
day and Boxing Day. For further information visit
www.banhamzoo.co.uk or call 01953 887771.
Monster fun
Top zoo treat
Steam museum
Some are timber framed and date back to
1500, retaining much of their original appear-
ance today.
The town has many fine 18th and 19th century
buildings, its overall character stemming from
these periods.
It also retains a large Fair Green which
became an integral part of the town in the 20th
century. The fair was granted a Royal Charter in
1185 but was closed in the 19th century as a
result of disorderliness.
Today, the green is a picturesque part of the
town, surrounded by 17th and 18th century
houses and cottages.
Diss has a colourful market every Friday in the
Market Place and a very popular auction of
antiques, modern lots and much more, in Gaze's
Auction Rooms in Roydon Road. There are spe-
ciality markets, flea markets and famers' mar-
kets held regularly.
The town also has an award-winning museum.
The Tourist Information Centre, at Mere's
Mouth, is open all year round 01379 650523 or
visit www.diss.gov.uk
Mere at
centre
of life
The mere at the centre of Diss.

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