Places to Visit in North Norfolk

Explore North Norfolk

Situated on the East Coast of England, North Norfolk has over 40 miles of stunning coastline and fantastic things to do to keep the whole family entertained.

Whether you’re looking for family fun, local festivals, outdoor adventures, or just something a little different to make your stay extra special, we’ve got you covered.

What’s On Guide

The North Norfolk Coast

Cromer is a pretty historic seaside town with much to offer, including lovely clean unspoilt beaches, interesting shops and a wide choice of places to eat.

Likely the most famous attraction is the renowned Cromer Pier which is over 100 years old and is home to the UK’s only remaining traditional end of the pier variety shows, including the Seaside Special.

Next up on your to-do list should be the famous Cromer crab. It’s served in many pubs and restaurants in the town as a local delicacy and is not to be missed.

Cromer has had a lifeboat Station for over 200 years, and lifeboats were launched from the area even before the RNLI formed in 1824. These days you can visit the lifeboat station and see them launch from the new Cromer Lifeboat Station at the end of the pier. Alongside that, it is well worth visiting the RNLI Henry Blogg Museum, where you can learn about the history of the Cromer lifeboats and the outstanding Coxswain Henry Blogg. Henry was an outstanding individual and the most decorated lifeboatman in the RNLI. During his time, he was awarded three gold and four silver medals for gallantry, and the George Cross and the British Empire Medal. He served the station for an amazing 53 years, so he’s got a fascinating story to share.

Finally, you cannot miss a traditional fun day out for all the family on the Blue Flag award-winning beach.

The quaint traditional town of Sheringham with its mix of Victorian and Edwardian architecture, has some wonderful shops, quiet beaches and a seafront filled with an array of fishing boats, crab pots and buoys.

There are two railway stations in Sheringham. The first is part of the national network where you can board trains to Cromer, then on to Norwich and beyond.

The second (and most famous) is the North Norfolk Railway, where you can enjoy a trip on a steam train as it journeys through the delightful Norfolk countryside to Holt. The railway also stops at Kelling Heath, our sister holiday park just beyond Weybourne.

Sheringham Park is close by and is owned by the National Trust. It’s not to be missed, with acres of woodland to explore and views of the coast from the viewing tower. In May & June, magnificent displays of rhododendrons adorn the park, and you can cycle through or walk at your leisure most of the year.

However you choose to spend your time in Sheringham, it’s the perfect place to relax for all the family.

East Runton is a charming coastal village on Norfolk’s north coast, ideal for a relaxed seaside escape. Its long, sandy Blue Flag beach is backed by sandstone cliffs, offering scenic views, rockpools at low tide, and a chance to spot fossils from the Pleistocene era, including remains of rhinos, horses, and elephants.

The beach is also one of Norfolk’s top surf spots and popular for snorkeling and kayaking, thanks to the chalk reef offshore. Just a short walk along the beach or cliff path takes you to the nearby town of Cromer, while the Norfolk Coast Path offers extended hiking opportunities with stunning coastal views.

The village itself retains a traditional charm with amenities. There’s also a cliff-top car park and public toilets for visitors. Notable local landmarks include the Surfers’ Memorial and the historic East Runton Windmill, now a private residence.

West Runton is a delightful Norfolk coastal village nestled between Sheringham and Cromer, known for its family-friendly, Blue Flag beach with a mix of sand, shingle, and extensive rock pools revealed at low tide. The cliffs behind the beach are part of the West Runton Cliffs SSSI, exposing the Cromer Forest Bed geological layers and yielding Pleistocene fossils, most famously the nearly complete Steppe Mammoth (“West Runton Elephant”) found in 1990.

The village itself retains its quaint character, with amenities including the Village Inn pub (famous for its blue plaque commemorating a Sex Pistols concert), a café by the beach slipway, post office and shops.

Blakeney is a charming coastal village nestled on the North Norfolk Heritage Coast and lies within the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With a small historic quay lined by flint cottages, medieval buildings, and a scenic estuary fringed by salt marshes, it’s a delight for walkers, birdwatchers, and anyone seeking classic seaside charm.

A highlight is Blakeney Point, a 3½-mile shingle spit that shelters England’s largest grey seal colony – with around 4,500 pups born annually between late October and mid‑January—and also hosts common seals and breeding terns in summer.

The Deep History Coast
For those interested in Norfolk’s rich heritage, the 22 mile stretch of Deep History Coast provides a unique journey through ancient geological history, with opportunities to explore cliffs and beaches where prehistoric fossils have been uncovered.

The most exciting discovery, a Steppe Mammoth was discovered in West Runton yielding the oldest and largest fossilised mammoth skeleton ever found in the UK!

As well as all the stunning coastal towns and villages, North Norfolk forms part of the largest coastal nature reserve in England and Wales. Bitterns and terns, oyster catchers, avocets and marsh harriers are among the species which make North Norfolk a prime site for bird watching. And the Norfolk Wildlife Trust has several reserves along the coastal strip.

Market Towns

The delightful rural Georgian town of Holt has plenty of interesting and unusual shops and tearooms to discover.

It’s the perfect spot for a day’s shopping with its cafes, boutiques, galleries, bookshops, and many antique shops tucked away down the many alleyways and courtyards that give Holt its charm.

To the south, you will find Holt Country Park set in 100 acres of parkland with stunning carved sculptures, including a totem pole and stile. There is a play area for the children and a viewing tower giving you wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. Throughout the park, you will find a range of beautiful trees, including Silver Birch, Scots Pines and magnificent Oaks.

Travel a few miles from the coast to the centre of Norfolk, and you’ll find the market town of Aylsham. This delightful little town has many quiet country pubs close by where you can relax and delight in this rural location.

Owned by the National Trust, Blickling Hall is less than two miles from Aylsham and has beautiful gardens and a fine collection of paintings, books and tapestries. Anne Boleyn spent much of her childhood at Blickling, and her headless ghost is said to roam the Hall!

One of the prettiest market towns in North Norfolk, Burnham Market is only a couple of miles away from the coast and nature reserves.

It retains a unique and very special village feel, whilst also being a favourite haunt of celebrities and their friends.

Burnham Market is a shopper’s paradise with many clothing and home boutiques, galleries, bookshops, delis, bakeries, fishmongers, butchers and tea shops.

Fakenham is a thriving market town which is well worth a visit. A busy market takes place each week on a Thursday and, if you are lucky enough, you may visit when the monthly farmers market takes place on the fourth Saturday of the month. If you fancy an exciting day of racing, Fakenham has its own racecourse, too.

The City of Norwich

The vibrant historic city of Norwich has everything!

The region’s capital has a rich heritage and is known for being one of the top UK destinations to shop.

The alleyways and popular lanes shopping areas are a delight with unusual shops and local boutiques.

Elm Hill is probably the most famous street in Norwich, with its cobbled roads and half-timbered houses. It’s an enchanting place to visit and has been featured in several big budget films.

Another Norwich claim to fame is the open-air market, which is one of the oldest and largest in the country. You can find fresh local produce, flowers, and all manner of other goods.

Chantry Place and Castle Quarter shopping centres are great places to go for some retail therapy, you will find major retailers and all the latest fashions, or you can relax over coffee or lunch. Norwich has a wide variety of restaurants, so whatever style of dining you prefer, you are sure to find something to suit you.

Theatregoers can choose from the Theatre Royal, Norwich Playhouse or Maddermarket, which cater for everyone and feature music, drama, ballet, musicals, family entertainment, and so much more.

Norwich Castle is one of the City’s most famous landmarks; it was built over 900 years ago, and from the 14th century it was used as a prison before it became a museum in 1894. It is Norfolk’s principal museum and houses a fine collection of paintings from the Norwich School of Artists. Sometimes there are conducted tours of the dungeons and the battlements, and you can experience the magnificent views over the city.

Visitors to Norwich Cathedral can marvel at the Cathedral’s 315ft tall spire dominating the city skyline (only the spire of Salisbury Cathedral is higher), or you can visit St. James’s Hill on Mousehold Heath for an excellent cityscape with the spire pride of place.

And no visit to Norwich would be complete without a trip to Zaks, serving the diners of Norwich and Norfolk for forty years.

Travelling to Norwich
Avoid the worry & stress of parking by using one of the many Park & Ride sites close to the City. From North Norfolk, travel on the A140 and park at the Airport Park & Ride, then it is a short trip into the City Centre. Or take the train from Sheringham or Cromer direct to Norwich.

Holt
Image Courtesy of Visit North Norfolk — Holt - Image courtesy of Visit North Norfolk

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