Norfolk holidays

Essential tips for your Norfolk holiday

Planning a holiday in Norfolk? Here are some essential tips to ensure you make the most of your visit. From the best times to go to insider tips on exploring the region, this guide will help you plan a memorable trip.

Best time to visit Norfolk

• Peak Season: Summer (June to August) is ideal for beach holidays, but it can get crowded. Perfect for families and sun-seekers.

• Off-Season: Consider visiting in spring (April to June) or autumn (September to October). These times offer pleasant weather and fewer tourists, making it perfect for exploring nature and quaint villages.

Getting around Norfolk

• By Car: Renting a car is the most convenient way to explore Norfolk, especially if you plan to visit multiple towns and rural areas.

• Public Transport: Trains and buses are available but can be less frequent, especially on weekends. Plan ahead and check schedules.

Top places to visit

• Norwich: The city offers a mix of historical sites, shopping, and nightlife. Visit Norwich Cathedral and enjoy the vibrant market. Discover our holidays to Norwich

• North Norfolk Coast: Explore charming towns like Wells-next-the-Sea, Holkham, and Blakeney. Don’t miss the seal trips at Blakeney Point.

• Great Yarmouth: A family-friendly seaside town with sandy beaches, a lively promenade, and amusement parks. Check out our deals on holidays to Great Yarmouth

Accommodation options

• Holiday Cottages: Ideal for a cosy, home-like experience. Many cottages in Norfolk are dog-friendly, perfect for pet owners.

• Bed & Breakfasts: Offering a local feel and personal touch, B&Bs are scattered throughout the countryside.

• Hotels: From budget options to luxury stays, Norfolk has a variety of hotels to suit all preferences and budgets.

Activities and attractions

• Beaches: Norfolk’s coastline is dotted with beautiful beaches such as Holkham Beach, known for its wide sandy stretches and natural beauty.

• Nature Reserves: Visit Holkham National Nature Reserve and Blakeney Point for birdwatching and wildlife spotting.

• Outdoor Activities: Enjoy boating on the Norfolk Broads, walking trails, and cycling routes. The area is perfect for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

• Food and Drink: Norfolk boasts a great foodie scene. Enjoy fresh seafood in coastal pubs and restaurants. Don't miss out on trying a traditional Cromer crab sandwich.

Handy tips

• Parking: If visiting Norwich, use the park and ride facilities for convenient access to the city centre.

• Weather: Always check the weather forecast and pack accordingly. Norfolk’s weather can be unpredictable, so it's good to be prepared for both sunshine and rain.

• Local Events: Check for local festivals and events during your stay. Places like Holkham Hall often host events that are worth visiting.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can enjoy a hassle-free and enjoyable holiday in Norfolk, exploring its stunning landscapes, charming towns, and rich cultural heritage.

Best areas to stay in Norfolk

Norfolk offers a variety of areas, each catering to different types of travellers. Whether you're seeking a vibrant city experience, a relaxing seaside escape, or a serene countryside retreat, Norfolk has something for everyone.

Norwich: ideal for city explorers

Norwich, the cultural and historical heart of Norfolk, is perfect for those who enjoy city life. With its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant arts scene, there's plenty to see and do. Explore Norwich Cathedral, the medieval Norwich Castle, and the bustling Norwich Market. The city also offers excellent shopping, dining, and nightlife options, making it a great base for a lively holiday. Check the best hotels in Norwich to stay during your holiday in Norfolk.

North Norfolk Coast: perfect for nature lovers and beachgoers

The North Norfolk Coast is renowned for its stunning beaches, charming villages, and beautiful natural landscapes. Areas like Wells-next-the-Sea, Hunstanton, and Blakeney are ideal for those who love the outdoors. Enjoy long walks on the sandy shores, birdwatching in nature reserves, and exploring picturesque harbours. This area is perfect for families, couples, and anyone looking to unwind by the sea.

Great Yarmouth: best for family fun

Great Yarmouth is a classic British seaside resort, perfect for families and those looking for entertainment and fun. With its sandy beaches, amusement parks, and lively promenade, there's never a dull moment. Enjoy a day at the Pleasure Beach, visit the Sea Life Centre, or take a stroll along the historic South Quay. Great Yarmouth is ideal for a traditional seaside holiday filled with activities. Discover the best deals on hotels in Great Yarmouth.

The Norfolk Broads: a haven for boaters and nature enthusiasts

The Norfolk Broads is a unique network of rivers and lakes, perfect for boating holidays and nature exploration. Rent a boat and navigate the tranquil waterways, or stay in one of the charming riverside villages like Wroxham or Horning. The Broads are excellent for birdwatching, fishing, and enjoying the peaceful countryside. This area is ideal for those seeking a relaxing and scenic getaway.

South Norfolk: great for countryside retreats

South Norfolk offers rolling countryside, quaint villages, and a slower pace of life, making it perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle. Areas like Diss and Harleston provide a picturesque setting with historical sites, local markets, and beautiful walking trails. This region is ideal for couples, solo travellers, and anyone looking to relax and enjoy the rural charm of Norfolk.

King's Lynn and West Norfolk: for history buffs and coastal explorers

King's Lynn is a historic market town with a rich maritime heritage, perfect for those interested in history and architecture. Explore the medieval streets, visit the impressive King’s Lynn Minster, and enjoy the bustling Saturday Market Place. The surrounding West Norfolk area offers beautiful countryside and coastal scenery, with highlights such as Sandringham Estate and the tranquil beaches of Hunstanton.

By choosing the right area to stay in Norfolk, you can tailor your holiday to your interests and preferences, ensuring a memorable and enjoyable experience.

Best beaches in Norfolk

Norfolk's coastline is home to some of the most stunning beaches in the UK. From expansive sandy shores to charming pebble beaches, there’s something for everyone. Here are some of the top beaches to visit in Norfolk.

Holkham Beach: a natural paradise

Holkham Beach is often regarded as one of the best beaches in the UK. Its vast expanse of golden sand, backed by pine woods and dunes, offers a tranquil and scenic escape. The beach is part of the Holkham National Nature Reserve, making it a great spot for nature lovers and birdwatchers. Whether you’re looking to take a long walk, enjoy a picnic, or simply relax, Holkham Beach is a must-visit.

Wells-next-the-Sea: a family favourite

Wells-next-the-Sea is a charming beach that’s perfect for families. The beach features colourful beach huts, soft sand, and shallow waters ideal for paddling. The nearby harbour town offers delightful shops, cafes, and seafood restaurants. The combination of beach and town amenities makes Wells-next-the-Sea a popular choice for a day out by the sea.

Cromer Beach: classic seaside fun

Cromer Beach is known for its traditional British seaside charm. With its iconic pier, sandy beach, and vibrant promenade, Cromer offers plenty of activities for visitors. Enjoy a day of sunbathing, swimming, or exploring the rock pools. Don’t forget to try Cromer’s famous crabs, which are a local delicacy.

Brancaster Beach: ideal for water sports

Brancaster Beach is a spacious sandy beach that’s great for water sports enthusiasts. The beach is perfect for kite surfing, sailing, and paddleboarding. At low tide, you can see the remains of an old shipwreck, adding a touch of history to your beach visit. The beach is also dog-friendly, making it a great spot for a day out with your furry friend.

Hunstanton Beach: for stunning sunsets

Hunstanton, known locally as "Sunny Hunny," is unique for its stunning sunsets over the sea. The beach features distinctive red and white striped cliffs, rock pools, and plenty of seaside attractions. The shallow waters make it safe for swimming, and there are numerous cafes and shops along the promenade. Hunstanton is ideal for a picturesque and relaxing beach day.

Gorleston-on-Sea: a hidden gem

Gorleston-on-Sea is a lesser-known beach that offers a quieter alternative to some of the busier beaches in Norfolk. The beach boasts a wide sandy bay, gentle waves, and a lovely promenade. It’s a great spot for families, with ample space for beach games and picnics. The beach’s peaceful atmosphere makes it perfect for those looking to escape the crowds.

Whether you’re looking for a lively beach with plenty of activities or a secluded spot to unwind, Norfolk’s beaches have something to offer every traveller. Enjoy the natural beauty, explore the local towns, and make the most of your coastal getaway.

Local dishes in Norfolk

One of the great delights of holidays to Norfolk is its food, and it’s fair to say that the region has undergone quite the gastronomic revival in recent years.

Some typical dishes

• Cromer Crab: Harvested off the Norfolk coast, these little bombs of flavour – served in their pie crust shells – are renowned for their tender, sweet meat.

• Norfolk Plough Pudding: A hearty suet pudding brimming with pork, bacon and onions, traditionally eaten at the start of the ploughing season.

Meat dishes

• Norfolk Black Turkey: A traditional choice during the Christmas season – but eaten any time of year – this bird is noted for its succulent flavour and firm texture.

• Norfolk sausages: Made from locally sourced pork, these plump sausages are versatile things, delicious as part of a full English breakfast, but just as great in a toad-in-the-hole.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Brancaster Oysters: Farmed and fished in the crystal-clear waters of Brancaster Staithe Harbour, these delicious morsels are best eaten once they’ve been steamed with garlic, wine and herbs.

• Smoked eel: This local delicacy, best eaten smoked, is simply served with bread and butter.

Sweets and desserts

Look out for the classic Victoria sponge, a soft sponge cake layered with jam and dusted with sugar, and the Norfolk treacle tart, made with a luscious filling of golden syrup, breadcrumbs and lemon juice.

Local drinks

• Norfolk Ale: Norfolk is awash with fantastic breweries, but a good one to start is Woodforde’s, which offers a range of ales from bitter to rich and malty.

• Wherry: A popular local beer with floral and citrus notes, named after the flat-bottomed boats seen on the Norfolk Broads.

Best things to do in Norfolk

A haunting wilderness of lakes and rivers, reedbeds and marshes, huge skies and distant horizons, cut only by windmills and the gaff-rigged sails of far-off yachts, Norfolk is a region like no other.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Ranworth Broad: As you clamber up the church tower, the Broads slowly reveal themselves before you.

• How Hill: Enjoying an enviable position perched on a hummock overlooking the River Ant and the adjoining woods and marshes, this is a terrific spot to while away an hour or two.

Museums

• Wroxham Miniature World: Describing itself as the largest indoor modelling attraction in the UK, you’ll find some wonderful depictions of railways from the UK, Europe and beyond here. But it’s not just for model train enthusiasts: there’s also a Scalextric track, a Lego city, and all manner of vintage toys from years gone by.

Historical monuments

• Berney Arms Windmill: A landmark on the Broads, this magnificent specimen is a great place to learn about the region’s industrial past.

• **The Church of St. Mary:**In the village of Wroxham, drop by for a look at its magnificent Norman doorway, stained blue, which the architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner described as “barbaric and glorious”.

Parks and gardens

• Hoveton Hall Gardens: A delightful and diverse fifteen acres in the grounds of a Georgian house, with a glorious spread of daffodils in April and beautiful displays of azaleas and rhododendrons in May and June, while midsummer sees the old walled gardens turn into a riot of colour.

• East Ruston Old Vicarage Garden: There are lots of beautiful gardens in Norfolk, but if you only have time to visit one, make it this – a garden fantasy created from scratch over the last three decades.

Things to do in different parts of the region

• A day in Horning: The classic Broadland village, with a great location on a bend in the Bure, an accomplished fish restaurant and a clutch of fabulous riverside pubs.

• Birdwatching: Bring your binoculars, because the Broads are a paradise for twitchers, with everything from kingfishers to marsh harriers and all sorts of waders. Hickling Broad, Strumpshaw Fen and Ranworth Broad are the best spots.

Activities for families in Norfolk

Boating is the big family activity here, but if water isn't your thing, then there are plenty of other experiences to consider doing as a family.

• Boating: The best way by far to appreciate the fragile beauty of the Broads is to get out on the water, and the Broads are the perfect place for a spot of novice boating. You don’t need any experience – at least if you opt for engine rather than sail, which is what most families do.

• Beaches: You’re just a pebble’s throw away from some superb beaches, the best of which is Winterton-on-Sea, thanks to its golden sands, wonderful dunes and a truly brilliant village pub.

• BeWILDerwood Adventure Park: A homespun theme park based on a series of books by local author Tom Blofeld, this is the reedy, watery world of the Broads brought to life, with rope bridges and ladders, treehouses and zip lines, all connected by boardwalks, forest paths and boats. Great fun for all!

• Interactive Museums: The ace RAF Air Defence Radar Museum near Horning is a labyrinth of rooms and corridors that was a key centre of operations during World War II and the Cold War.

Free things to do in Norfolk

It’s certainly not tricky to find free things to do on your Norfolk holidays – above all there are loads of free outdoor activities you can partake in, as well as events and cultural offerings that won’t cost a penny.

• Birdwatching: No argument, Norfolk, and the Norfolk Broads in particular, provide some of the best birding in the UK – and apart from a pair of binoculars, you can indulge in this activity completely for free.

• Village exploring: Have a wander through charming villages like Wroxham, Horning and Ludham, and in doing so simply soak up the local atmosphere, admire the architecture – and possibly stop for a pint or two along the way.

• Free events: Throughout the year, the Norfolk Broads host a variety of free events, one of the most enjoyable being the Three Rivers Race in Horning at the end of May – it’s a sort of Norfolk Broads Le Mans, lasting right through the night and with over a hundred yachts in contention.

Nature and outdoor activities in Norfolk

Whether messing around on the water (the quintessential Broads experience), ogling local wildlife, or getting about on either two legs or two wheels, Norfolk has an endless supply of outdoor pursuits.

• Boating: With more than 200 square kilometres of navigable waterways, there are plenty of opportunities for getting out on the waterways, which could mean jumping in a yacht, a canoe or a kayak.

• Walking: Walkers might consider dipping into the 56-mile Weavers’ Way, which winds through some of the best parts of the Broads on its way from Cromer to Great Yarmouth, or the 35-mile Wherryman’s Way, which skirts Breydon Water from Great Yarmouth, and then follows the Yare as far as Whitlingham Country Park on the edge of Norwich.

• Wildlife watching: Home to around a quarter of Britain’s rarest species, the Broads are a very special place indeed when it comes to wildlife. Hop aboard the Electric Eel at How Hill for a trip into the reedy heartland of the Broads - perhaps the best wildlife jaunt of the lot.

• Fishing: With so much water, it’s little surprise that the Broads are one of England’s most popular angling destinations – pike, perch and bream are just some of the bountiful species lurking here, but don’t forget that fishing licence before you start. Try Hickling Broad and Wroxham Broad for starters.