The pride of East Anglia, Norfolk is a peaceful place that’s rich in farmland, enchanting waterways, wide open spaces and expansive beaches, not forgetting our famous wide horizons and ‘big skies’.
Even though we now base ourselves in the historic city of Norwich, we have lived and experienced living on the North Norfolk coast for many years and know it very well. Whether you seek a mini adventure in the city, a ramble in the countryside or looking to get wide-eyed and coastal, we’ll guide you some of the way.
Our team here at Fabulous Norfolk has put together a small selection of our favourite places to visit so you know exactly where to go, this so you can experience the very best of what we love about Norfolk.
Of course we can’t feature everywhere, this just a small list of six popular places to get you started. If you need any further help, just hit the ‘need some help’ tab at the bottom left of the page and our friendly team will do all they can to help. So let’s get exploring….
Head to Norwich
Norfolk’s largest city, it’s well worth visiting Norwich to get a sense of the area and learn about the history of the county and, of course to visit the famous Norwich cathedral. Built in the Norman style, it’s crafted from cream-coloured limestone which was brought all the way from Caen in northern France.
Norwich – a fantastic, modern city sitting on a medieval footprint, with four theatres, numerous museums, 33 Medieval churches and a permanent daily market – this city will not disappoint, we promise!
Norwich may not be renowned for its cultural offering however it was the first in Europe to be awarded UNESCO’s City of Literature, the city is a hub of events, festivals and creative performance. The Forum with its Millennium Library is the place to go for exhibitions, community events and fairs, you can even take a bit of time out for a coffee. Norwich has plenty of high street shops and winding streets to wander along, it also has some unbelievably great restaurants and fabulously quirky cafes.
Norwich Lanes is one of our favourite areas in the city comprising of a series of alleyways, courtyards and open spaces and home to over 300 independent retailers, cafès, restaurants, pubs and bars. The medieval architecture is some of the finest to be found anywhere in the UK. Mainly pedestrianised, the Lanes offer something for everyone, morning, noon and night.
Seaside fun at Great Yarmouth
If your ancestors lived in Britain, you can bet your hat that one of them came to Great Yarmouth for a seaside holiday at some point. It’s been welcoming holidaymakers since the 1760s, so rest assured, it knows how to entertain.
Great Yarmouth is uniquely located on a sandbank between the North Sea and the river Yare, surrounded by the Norfolk Broads, uniquely placed forms the start of the Broads National Park. Throughout the area of Great Yarmouth you’ll find lovely little seaside towns and villages surrounded by the fabulous Norfolk countryside, dotted with windmills and yacht sails flapping above the hedgerows.
With 15 miles of sandy shoreline the beach tends to be the focus for most visitors, ideal for classic family activities such as paddling in the waters, building sandcastles and even donkey rides.
For a more retro thrill, try the Pleasure Beach, a theme park packed with all the rides, games and other amusements your heart desires.
We highly recommend you make time to take a stroll around the refurbished waterway gardens. The Waterways is a seven-acre park comprising of the Venetian Waterways, the Ornamental Gardens and Boating Lake, located just north of Great Yarmouth’s Golden Mile.
Visit Sandringham
Sandringham is the much-loved country retreat of the British Royal Family and has been the private home to generations of British Monarchs since 1862. For a truly royal experience in Norfolk you simply can’t miss a visit to Sandringham. This majestic, country retreat is one of the most well-known historic houses in the county, making it a top pick of places to visit in Norfolk.
Sandringham is a really friendly and informal place to visit, with helpful guides in every room of the house and acres of beautiful gardens to lose yourself in.
Not only can you tour some of the actual rooms used by royalty, there’s an interesting museum to peruse which has a collection of vehicles ranging from the first car ever owned by a British monarch, to a half-scale Aston Martin used by Princes Harry and William.
We recommend you pop into Sandringham Visitors Centre for refreshments or a hearty lunch, hot food and delicious cakes are served daily.
The gardens are really pleasant to explore, worth mentioning, book your tickets in advance in high season or you may miss out on tasting apple juice and gin brewed on the Sandringham estate itself, as well as trying a scoop of local, delish ice cream.
West Norfolk holiday cottages >
Experience Holkham Beach
Holkham beach is said to be one of the most beautiful beaches on the North Norfolk Coast and indeed the British Isles. Horseshoe-shaped the pale sandy beach sheltered by pine forest and is popular with families, walkers, horse-riders and perfect for kite-flying and enjoying the wide open space.
Flanked by pine forests and sand dunes the fine golden expanse that is Holkham Beach has been a North Norfolk favourite with locals and visitors for generations.
Mile after mile of stretching beach makes any visitor feel liberated with a sense of never-ending space and, even in the height of summer, you’d be hard pressed to describe this beach as crowded.
This truly is where the sky meets the sea, there is nowhere better from which to experience the dramatic grandeur of Norfolk’s vast skies and never ending horizons.
Holkham beach is very family and child friendly, with endless unspoiled stretches of sand that are perfect for kite flying and racing along – no surprise it has been voted one of the best beaches in Britain.
You can walk through the enchanting pine forest, an adventure in itself, on the boardwalks to get to the beach and when the tide is out you’ll find shallow pools to paddle in, perfect for younger kids.
The Norfolk Broads
Referred to as the Venice of the East, the Norfolk Broads have more miles of waterway than either Venice or Amsterdam – and because it’s far less well known, you’ll probably have them mostly to yourself. A national park with more than 125 miles of navigable waterways to explore.
Peaceful, wide and exceptionally flat, you can gaze at the scenery and wildlife for miles around with almost nothing to interrupt your view – you couldn’t feel further away from city life if you tried.
If you do one activity during your visit to the Broads National Park, make it hiring a boat. Journey into the hidden heart of the broads and discover wildlife-rich marshes, reedbeds and wet woodlands, up close and personal.
Day boat hire is an affordable and fun activity that allows you to get onto the famous waterways of the Broads whilst enjoying the thrill of skippering your own vessel. Available for a few hours, a whole day or even by the week, boats come in all shapes and sizes, we even took our pooch with us and she enjoyed her little adventure as much as we did. There are plenty of pretty villages and cosy-looking pubs where you can moor up and take a break from the water.
A highlight to a visit to the Broads is spotting the fabulous, old windmills that are dotted throughout the landscape. Designed to drain the land of water, many of them are still working today, truly fascinating. The Broads should be a priority on your list of places to visit in Norfolk.
Rural Norfolk holiday cottages >
Visit Blakeney
The fabulous coastal village of Blakeney is one of the most popular on the North Norfolk Coast. Blakeney is complete with a fascinating landscape of marshes, sand hills and mud banks, with many creeks and channels twisting and turning their way through.
Famed for smuggling and piracy in years gone by and once upon a time a Medieval port, you can expect to find character packed buildings in this enchanting village. If you love panoramic sea views and spectacular sunsets, we are sure you will adore what Blakeney has to offer.
Blakeney village is set on a small hill leading down to the harbour and has pretty flint cottages, shops, cafe’s, restaurants, hotels, pubs and inns.
Children will love “crabbing” on the quayside whilst you grab a few minutes rest and maybe an ice cream! Why not take a boat trip to see the seals? An adventure loved but young and old, there are plenty departing from Blakeney quay at high tide.
Blakeney itself is renowned for its wildlife, taking a trip out on one of the boats to see the seals as is a visit to Blakeney National Trust Reserve, bird watchers and nature lovers will be in their element.
If you want to explore further you have lovely coastal paths and nearby Morston Quay or Cley next the Sea are both worth of a visit. With fabulous restaurants and welcoming pubs in Blakeney village, you won’t be short of places to sit back and relax after days out in the bracing sea air.
