When booking a coastal retreat in the UK, many of us automatically think of the South East – for example, Cornwall, Devon, or South Wales. However, plenty of other spectacular areas are dotted along the UK’s shoreline, with North Norfolk being one of the most magical.
The North Norfolk coast has something for everyone. Here, enchanting rolling countryside, lofty cliffs, and unique marshland meet sweeping sandy beaches. The landscape is home to some of the most captivating wildlife around – and it’s even referred to as the birdwatching capital of the UK.
But the towns and villages are also worth writing home about, whether you enjoy classic Victorian seaside resorts or little hamlets full of character.
Below, we look at six of our favourite places to visit on the North Norfolk coast.
1. Wells-next-the-Sea
Wells-next-the-Sea is a lively fishing port with a small-town feel. Boasting plenty of boutique shops, some of the best fish and chips in the country, and a quintessential English harbour, it’s perfect for a coastal getaway.
Despite its name, Wells-next-the-Sea isn’t actually beside the ocean, but a tad inland, and is connected to the coast by a mile-long inlet. Aside from the town itself, one of the main draws for tourists is the picture-perfect sandy beach, lined with charming beach huts and towering pinewoods.
However, continue west, and you’ll discover the area’s real coastal gem: Holkham Beach. This 2.2-mile stretch of sand wouldn’t look out of place on an Australian postcard, and it’s attracted plenty of Hollywood moviemakers over the years, as well as the Royals, who’ve visited for generations.
Holkham Beach is part of the Holkham National Nature Reserve, where the patchwork of dunes, pinewoods, scrub, and marshes provide a habitat for all sorts of unique wildlife, which you can spot from a network of paths and boardwalks. This includes various flowers, like orchids and sea holly, and plenty of birds, such as oystercatchers and ringed plovers.
After some nature watching, why not head even further inland and explore the vast estate of Holkham Hall, an impressive 18th-century stately home surrounded by lush gardens?
2. Happisburgh
Happisburgh (pronounced Haysbrough) is a sweeping, ivory-sand beach on the western end of the North Norfolk Coast, offering stunning views across the shoreline. Windswept and isolated, it’s ideal for a beach day if you’re looking to escape the crowds at resort towns like Cromer and Sheringham.
This wild slice of coastline is also home to the oldest working lighthouse in Britain, a candy-cane-coloured structure that looks like something out of a storybook. You can climb to the top, but only on selected open days, which you can find out about on the Happisburgh website. But, either way, it’s worth making the short trek along the beach to see it up close.
Even more impressively, Happisburgh is one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe. Severe erosion is constantly revealing buried wonders here, including footprints unearthed in 2013 that date back 850,000-950,000 years. Experts consider them the earliest evidence of human activity in Britain, and the oldest footprints found outside of Africa.
This and other discoveries have led people to call this area the ‘Deep History Coast’. If you fancy a challenge, you can delve into this ancient history by following the Deep History Coast Trail, a 36km cliff-top walking route which winds from Weybourne to Cart Gap. There are 11 ‘discovery points’ along the way that provide hikers with fascinating insights.
3. Cromer
For a traditional seaside retreat for the whole family, why not head to Cromer? Described by Visit Norfolk as ‘the gem of the Norfolk Coast’, it’s been hosting satisfied tourists for centuries.
The Victorian-era pier is the main attraction; flanked by broad sandy beaches, which stretch for miles. They’re perfect for activities like beach cricket and volleyball, as well as relaxing under the summer sun.
You can also take a quick, 10-minute drive along the coast to West Runton Beach. Aside from being gorgeous in its own right – with shell-studded sand and looming sandstone cliffs – it was here, in 1990, that archaeologists discovered the most complete skeleton of a prehistoric steppe mammoth.
Back in town, another popular activity is crabbing. On a pleasant day, the pier is lined with hopefuls tossing their lines over the railings and waiting for a bite.
However, you aren’t likely to catch Cromer crabs – the region’s famous delicacy – from the pier. These large, succulent crustaceans are generally found in deeper water on the area’s unique chalk reef. So be sure to return your catches to the water safely and responsibly. But you can stop by one of the eateries in town – such as the Crab Pot Cafe or J Lee Crabstall – to get a taste instead.
What’s more, Cromer is one of the best places to see the sun rise and set. So you could start your day at the end of the pier to watch it paint the skies with dazzling hues of pink, and return in the evening to bid it goodbye.
4. Little Walsingham
While plenty of people flock to the North Norfolk coast for a seaside escape, some of the area’s best-hidden gems can be discovered by travelling slightly inland. Little Walsingham, for example, is an idyllic mediaeval hamlet surrounded by verdant countryside and farmland.
It’s been a famous pilgrimage destination for Christians since 1061, when the Lady of the Manor, Richeldis de Faverches, is said to have seen the Virgin Mary through a series of visions. The story goes that Mary showed Richeldis the house in Nazareth where the archangel Gabriel announced the birth of Jesus. And she asked her to build a replica of it in Walsingham as a shrine.
According to legend, the Walsingham Priory (the ruins of which still stand today) was built around the wooden structure that Richeldis constructed. While the original shrine was destroyed in 1538, a new one was built in the 1930s.
Whether you’re religious or not, it’s still worth a visit, as the grounds are stunning, especially in spring when they burst into life with blankets of snowdrops and daffodils. The peaceful and picturesque village itself also attracts tourists, as does Pensthorpe, a 700-acre nature reserve which lies to the south.
5. Sheringham
Complete with an award-winning beach, rainbow rows of beach huts, and a promenade perfect for a sunny stroll, the Victorian resort town of Sheringham is also worth a visit if you find yourself in North Norfolk.
However, a serene seaside experience isn’t all Sheringham has to offer. The charming high street – often zig-zagged with bunting – is a souvenir-shoppers paradise and has some delightful tea rooms. Plus, the town offers a theatre and a golf course atop the coastal cliffs.
There’s also plenty of fascinating history to discover here. Sheringham was first settled by Vikings around 900 AD, and this heritage is commemorated every year with the Viking Festival. Featuring a spirited parade, re-enactors dressed in full Viking garb, and a boat-burning ceremony, it’s a unique and immersive experience.
Besides its Scandinavian origins, Sheringham is famous as the starting point of the North Norfolk Railway. The ‘Poppy Line’, as it’s also known, features a restored steam engine that takes passengers through some of the region’s most stunning countryside scenery. The route finishes in the town of Holt with a stop in Weybourne.
And, if you’re after a dose of nature, the sprawling grounds of Sheringham Park await. This 1000-acre oasis is famous for its azalea and rhododendron collections, herds of deer, and viewing towers, which offer unrivalled panoramas over the countryside.
6. Blakeney
Nestled in the heart of the national nature reserve of the same name, this quaint village is a perfect base for wildlife lovers to discover the best of the North Norfolk coast.
From here, you can catch a boat out to Blakeney Point, a four-mile shingle spit which protrudes into the North Sea. Blakeney Point is home to the largest Grey seal colony in England where around 4,500 fluffy pups are born between October and January every year.
But seals aren’t the only wildlife you can see here. The nature reserve is also an important breeding area for various bird species, including terns, gulls, eiders, scoters, shrikes, and warblers. So it’s a must-visit for twitchers looking to spot something rare.
However, some areas of the Blakeney Nature Reserve are restricted at certain times of year to protect nesting tern colonies, so it’s worth checking the National Trust website before your visit.
Once you’ve had your fill of nature, why not head back to the village and wander amongst the gift shops, art galleries, and pretty flint cottages? Standing out amongst the unspoilt, marshy landscape, you might feel as if you’ve stepped back in time to when pirates and smugglers used to dock here.
Final thoughts…
With its wonderful wildlife, diverse towns and villages, and vast, sugar-sand beaches, the North Norfolk coast is ideal for a staycation by the shore. Whether you enjoy lounging in the sun, discovering the great outdoors, or snooping around high streets full of independent shops, this heavenly corner of the UK offers all of this and more.
While you can explore each of these places by car, those with an intrepid spirit could consider linking locations together by following the Norfolk Coast Path. This 84-mile walking trail starts in Hunstanton and ends in Hopton-on-Sea, taking you through the diverse landscapes of the North Norfolk Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
For more staycation inspiration, check out our articles; 7 stunning places to visit in the Lake District and 7 of the best places to visit in the Cotswolds. Or, for more holiday ideas and to browse deals, head to our travel section.
Have you visited any of these spots? Or do you have any destinations you’d like to recommend? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.