Sealion Show

The Sealion Show near Lowestoft is one of those old-school Norfolk attractions that divides opinion - and that's rather the point. You get trained seals performing tricks in a theatre setting, the kind of thing that would have been standard seaside entertainment fifty years ago and still draws crowds today.

What you're watching is animal performance pure and simple. The seals do their thing - balancing balls, responding to trainers, the usual repertoire - and it's genuinely impressive if you've never seen marine mammals up close. Kids under ten will be captivated. Teenagers and adults without patience for slower-paced entertainment might find themselves clock-watching after twenty minutes.

The real question is whether this sits comfortably with modern expectations about animal welfare. That's a conversation worth having before you book. If you're unfazed by that concern, it's a perfectly decent wet-weather option when the Norfolk coast decides to be grey and damp - which it does, frequently.

Lowestoft itself is less than two miles away, making this a sensible addition to a park stay at Azure Seas or Broadland Sands if you're looking to break up beach time. It's not going to be the highlight of your holiday, but as a rainy-day filler between visits to Great Yarmouth and Southwold, it has its uses. Ring ahead to confirm current opening times and admission costs before you travel - information was thin on the ground.