10 Best Things To Do In Norfolk
Long sandy beaches sprinkled across 90 miles of coastline, wildlife-rich nature reserves home to basking seals, and historic country estates belonging to the Royal Family – the 10 best things to do in Norfolk aren’t your average attractions.
Look forward to touring Palladian pads, boating along the winding waterways of the Broads National Park and exploring kitsch seaside resorts too. And keep in mind that a top day out in Norfolk isn’t finished until you’ve sat down on the sand for fish and chips…
Ready for your adventure? Here are the 10 best things to do in Norfolk.
See the seals at Blakeney Point
This national nature reserve lays claim to England’s biggest colony of grey seals. While the animals are here all year around, you can peek at the pups in early winter – around 2,500 are born between December and February. The best way to catch them is on a boat trip from Morston Quay (it’s not possible to walk and see the seals). Book in advance to secure your spot and bring binoculars for an even better view of the animals.
Navigate Norwich’s scenic streets
One of the most underrated cities in England, this compact destination’s cobbled streets are dotted with more than 1,500 historic buildings, from Tudor houses to merchants’ homes. There are 33 medieval churches too – more than any other city in northern Europe. Don’t miss the opulent cloisters at Norwich Cathedral and the stately gates of St Ethelbert’s and Erpingham.
Sail along the waterways of The Broads
This man-made national park has 125 miles of lock-free waterways to navigate. The best way to see the scenery is by boat, but if you’d rather stick to dry land, you can also cycle through pretty villages like Ranworth, Salhouse and Woodbastwick. In Ranworth, scale St Helen’s church for a far-reaching view of The Broads. Or save your legs by chugging along the vintage narrow-gauge Bure Valley Railway between Wroxham and Aylsham. Whichever way you decide to explore, keep an out for Norfolk’s most well-known landmarks: Dutch-style windmills.
Feast on fish and chips at Great Yarmouth
Formerly a herring industry hub, nowadays this destination’s better known as a lively seaside resort with a long sandy beach. Settle in for some fish and chips on the sand after a day of fairground frolics. This town has all the trappings of a classic British seaside spot, from beach huts to the Joyland amusement parks. There’s also oodles to do here when the weather’s not playing ball – perhaps peep at penguins in the Sea Life aquarium or the mini buildings in the Merrivale Model Village.
Search campsites in Great Yarmouth.
Go crabbing at Cromer Pier
The world’s longest chalk reef is just off this seaside resort. Spanning 20 miles, it’s a fertile feeding ground for crustaceans – and the reason why Cromer crabs are so succulent. Walk out onto the pier and you can look down at the reef. The pavilion theatre is also at the end of the walkway, the only establishment of its kind left in the world. Not got your own crabbing gear? The local shops sell kits.
Soak up royal history at Sandringham
This stunning spot – the Royal Family’s only private home and estate in England – was Queen Elizabeth’s favourite country retreat. When the royals aren’t in residence, though, the building and grounds are open to the public. Wander through the 20,000-acre estate, one of the 10 best country parks in Norfolk, and admire the Grade-II-listed architecture.
The county also has plenty of National Trust properties to tour, including Felbrigg Hall with its walled garden and Blickling Estate, the birthplace of Anne Boleyn.
Sift through campsites around Sandringham.
See the sun set over Hunstanton
‘Sunny Hunny’, as the locals occasionally call it, is the only east-coast seaside resort that faces west and one of the sole spots in the area where the sun sets over the ocean. Look across The Wash to Lincolnshire from here – you can size up the spire of St Botolph’s Church, AKA the Boston Stump, in the distance. The striking striped cliffs and rockpooling opportunities make it a family fave. Hunstanton is also the start-off point for walking the Norfolk Coastal Path.
Head to campsites in Hunstanton.
Look at all the listed buildings of King’s Lynn
This town on the River Ouse – which was part of the well-to-do Hanseatic League market trading organisation – has more listed buildings than York. Linger in front of medieval merchants’ houses, a gorgeous guildhall and a mighty minster while here. If you head to King’s Lynn on Saturdays and Tuesdays, you’ll also catch the biweekly markets.
Seek out campsites in King’s Lynn.
Stare at the stars on a dark-sky camping trip
For a stellar stay, pitch up in the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This rural AONB with fewer pollutants soaring upwards has some of the darkest skies in the UK – so much so that you might even spot the Northern Lights. There’s an even higher chance of seeing the seven stars of the Orion constellation and the Milky Way, as well as interstellar dust clouds and Earth’s nearest planets.
Learn more about planning a dark-sky camping trip.
Admire the handsome Holkham Hall
One of the most jaw-droppingly gorgeous Palladian houses in England? Yep, that’s Holkham Hall. Meander around the Marble Hall with your eyes upwards – the 50-foot-high ceiling is a nod to the Pantheon. And the surroundings are just as spectacular. The nearby beach is a long, sandy stretch backed by a placid pine woodland as Holkham Hall’s owner, the 2nd Earl of Leicester, planted three miles’ worth of trees to keep the sea away and protect the dunes.
As you might already have gathered, this county’s coastline is where you’ll likely spend a good chunk of your time during a camping trip. Here are the best Norfolk beaches you shouldn’t miss.