As a county, Norfolk has built up somewhat of a quirky reputation for itself over the years. And depending on who you are talking with, the phrase ‘normal for Norfolk’ can appear to either express a fondness for, or a humorous disapproval of, the county.
However, Norfolk is a truly wonderful choice for a British staycation if you fancy a holiday right here at home instead of venturing abroad to an overseas destination. The sandy beaches of Cromer and Mundesley are perfect for basking in the Great British sunshine, while the seaside resort of Great Yarmouth offers amusement parks and arcades to charm thrillseekers and younger members of the family. There are also plenty of spots perfect for just tucking into fish and chips.
For the fifth time in a row, we visited Norfolk for our main family summer holiday earlier this summer, and this time, as well as revisiting some of our old favourites, we ventured off the beaten track and decided to explore some of the local tourist attractions that we had never visited before. And there’s a few reasons why it’s better than the likes of Cornwall, Devon and Dorset.
So here is our rundown of the best places to visit in Norfolk for British holidaymakers fancying a summer staycation, and why you should join the two million visitors that head to the East of England every year to enjoy all its charming offerings.
One of our first stops was to the Redwings Horse Sanctuary, located in Alysham. This sanctuary in the beautiful Norfolk countryside calls itself home to over seventy horse, pony and donkey residents. Notable residents include a Black Beauty named Maya, iconic horse duo Wiggins and Wacko, and the notorious ‘Shetland’ herd, according to their website.
Upon arrival, two things struck us as irresistible: an adorable horse in the field next to the car park, and the variety of mouthwatering pizzas sold at Gulliver’s Café. Our margarita and pepperoni pizzas proved a delicious feast before we took to the outdoors to admire the adorable ponies and donkeys in the fields and stables surrounding the visitor centre.
Overall, a visit to the Redwings Horse Sanctuary guarantees a delightful day out for the whole family (especially if there are horse-lovers in your family!) without breaking the bank. Entry to the sanctuary is free, so a visit to see the horses doesn’t have to cost a penny.
However, if you love horses and would like to support the charity, donations to support Redwings are greatly appreciated. You can either make a monetary donation online, adopt a horse friend, or support the organisation by making a purchase of a gift for yourself or a loved one, or some food and drink at Gulliver’s Café to fuel your trip to the stables.
Next up on our Norfolk itinerary was a visit to Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, an amusement park right by the sea that we visit every year to enjoy the rickety wooden thrills of the classic 1932 rollercoaster that stands tall on the Great Yarmouth coastline. Even though the Pleasure Beach’s Roller Coaster is old, it is safe to say that the adrenaline-pumping excitement as you race around the track (and especially down the iconic head-chopper drop) never gets old.
As well as enjoying many rides on the classic wooden rollercoaster, we also loved our rides on several other beloved Pleasure Beach classics, including the iconic carousel, the spooky Ghost Train, and the delightfully dizzying Family Star and Whirlwind.
Our visit to the Pleasure Beach was great value for money – we purchased our wristbands (£26 each) online before arriving at the park, and the park was open from 11am until 9.30pm, allowing us to enjoy the rides to our heart’s content. We spent all day twisting and turning on the track of the rotating coaster, spinning by the seaside on the carousel, and racing around on the rollercoasters. We even sat down to enjoy our picnic by the Pendulum ride.
Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach offers multiple ticket options – you can either purchase a wristband online before your arrival (£26 in peak season and £23 off-peak for visitors aged 7+), purchase a wristband on the door (£28 peak and £25 off-peak for ages 7+), or purchase a ‘Fun Card’ that is loaded with credits to use on the rides
During our stay in Norfolk, we were staying at a beautiful and scenic caravan park located on the cliffs of Mundesley, so we jumped at the opportunity to explore the seaside village itself.
Mundesley is truly an underrated gem along the Norfolk coastline, intimate but homely and welcoming to all visitors. It offers a cornucopia of beach shops, arcades, cafés serving breakfasts and lunches, and miles of golden sandy beach. Throughout our stay, we took advantage of these miles of golden sand, and the warm sunny weather that we were blessed with, by spending a few days at the beach and even dipping our toes into the North Sea.
The sea might have been freezing cold, but our welcome to Mundesley upon arrival was nothing less than warm and inviting.
If you are travelling to Mundesley by car, parking is available at the All Saints Church on Cromer Road. Parking is free of charge, but a small voluntary donation to the church is greatly appreciated.
And last but not least, of course, a trip to Norfolk is never complete without a visit to the quintessentially British seaside town of Sheringham.
Boasting endless restaurants, souvenir shops, arcades, a railway station, and a plethora of fish and chip shops, Sheringham perfectly encapsulates the atmosphere of a classic British staycation. The centre of town combines salty seaside air and stony beaches with the bustling atmosphere of a British high street, and a walk along the seafront past the rows of cheerful, colourful beach huts provides picturesque views of the waves that wash up on Sheringham’s stony swathes. During our visit to Sheringham, we enjoyed playing games at the arcades and perusing the offerings of all the quirky souvenir shops. I even enjoyed a delicious crepe from one of the stalls along High Street.
In early August, Sheringham even hosts its own Carnival Week, featuring dance displays and dog shows, a community rubber duck race, and a vibrant parade through the town centre.
If you are travelling to Sheringham by car, free parking is available throughout the town, or pay-and-display car parks are also available. There are also public transport links to Sheringham if you wish to travel by bus or by train – local buses run regularly to and from Sheringham, while the railway station drops you off right in the town centre, so everything that this charming seaside town has to offer is right there waiting for you as soon as you disembark from your train.