Best Norfolk Seaside Towns and Villages

by Anisa // 0 Comments
view of the famous Cromer pier in Norfolk from the cliffs in Cromer

Everyone flocks to Norfolk’s coast for its beautiful beaches, but it also has some charming seaside towns and villages. Each one is unique and has plenty to offer visitors.

Let me share more information so you can check out the best Norfolk seaside towns and villages.

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Best Seaside Towns in Norfolk

These coastal towns make for a lovely day trip from Norwich or they could be options for a longer stay. You can spend some time at the beach and check out the local attractions.

It’s possible to use public transport to visit these beach towns. There is a direct train to Cromer and Sheringham from Norwich and the Coasthopper Bus stops at most towns and villages along the coast.

Now, here are our favourite seaside towns in Norfolk along with some suggestions of what to do when you visit.

Cromer

view of the cromer pier
Cromer may be best known for its pier and crabs.

Cromer is probably best known for its pier and crabs. Even if you don’t want to eat any Cromer Crabs, you can have fun trying to catch them from the pier. Alternatively, if you time your visit right you can catch the last surviving “end of the pier” show in Europe.

The beach in Cromer has earned blue flag status. At low tide, you can go for a swim or enjoy the sand. It’s a popular spot for surfing and also fossil hunting. If you plan on spending a lot of time at the beach, you could hire a beach hut.

Away from the water, the town has more to see. You can visit a museum or the parish church of St. Peter and St. Paul. The church has the tallest bell tower in Norfolk which is now home to a pair of peregrine falcons.

When you get hungry, head to No1 Cromer, which is owned by award-winning chef Galton Blackistone, for fish & chips. As another option, you can relax and grab a bite to eat at one of the town’s pubs.

Read about more things to do in Cromer.

Find a place to stay in Cromer here.

Sheringham

old boats and a view of Sheringham beach
Sheringham is one of the best places to visit on the North Norfolk Coast.

Just a few miles from Cromer, you will find the enchanting seaside town of Sheringham. It’s home to the North Norfolk Railway, a heritage train line with both diesel and steam engines that runs to the market town of Holt.

Like Cromer, it also has a blue flag beach with colourful beach huts. You can hire a paddleboard or walk along the promenade and enjoy some street art too.

This beach town has several interesting museums including the Sheringham Museum at the Mo and the Fisherman’s Lifeboat Museum. If you’re not into museums, you can check out a show at The Little Theatre or check out the market (on select days).

Golfers will enjoy the 18-hole clifftop course which made the 2022 list of the National Club Golfer Best 100 Courses in England.  Others that want to enjoy the views can do the Beeston Bump walk.

Read about more things to do in Sheringham.

Find a place to stay in Sheringham here.

Wells-Next-The-Sea

looking at wells beach from behind a few of the beach huts
Wells Next the Sea is known for its beach and beach huts, but the town also has a lot to offer.

When I think of Wells-Next-the-Sea I think of the long row of beach huts on stilts on the huge sandy beach. At low tide, there is plenty of space on the sand or you can wade in the calm water. You’re welcome to bring a picnic or you can grab food at the Wells Beach Cafe by the car park.

The town of Wells-Next-the-Sea is actually about a mile from the beach by the harbour. If you don’t want to drive, it’s a scenic walk or there is a shuttle bus (new for 2022).

The quayside area has several historic buildings including the iconic granary building. During the summer months, you can see the striking sculpture called The Lifeboat Horse in the harbour. There are boat and SUP tours if you want to see the area from the water.

Wells-Next-the-Sea is also a hotspot for the arts in North Norfolk. The town has several art galleries and the relatively new Wells Maltings, an arts, heritage and community centre inside a Grade-II listed Maltings building.

Just outside the town, you can catch a ride on the smallest public railway in the world. The famous Wells & Walsingham Light Railway goes to the beautiful village of Walsingham, a famous pilgrimage centre.

Read about more things to do in Wells-Next-The-Sea.

Find a place to stay in Wells-Next-The-Sea here.

Hunstanton

view of the hunstanton lighthouse through the arch of the ruins of St. Edmunds Chapel
There is a lot to do and see in Hunstanton including the Lighthouse and historic ruins of St. Edmund’s Church.

Hunstanton started out as a Victorian resort and now it’s become one of the best seaside towns for families in Norfolk. There are several attractions that the kids will love.

The beach is huge when the tide is out so it’s perfect for kids to play in the sand, wade in the shallow water, or go rockpooling. Old Hunstanton beach has unique striped cliffs, while New Hunstanton has a promenade full of activity.

Along the promenade you will find a funfair (with big ferris wheel and helter-skelter), amusements, crazy golf, and food stalls. There is also the Sea Life Centre which has a seal sanctuary and the Wash Monsters, unique amphibious vehicles, that can take you for a ride.

RELATED: How to See the Seals in Hunstanton

You’ll want to make the walk up the cliff to see the Old Hunstanton Lighthouse and ruins of St. Edmund’s chapel. Try to time it for sunset as Hunstanton is west facing making it one of the few places in Norfolk where you can watch the sun go down over the water.

Read about more things to do in Hunstanton.

Find a place to stay in Hunstanton here.

Best Seaside Villages in Norfolk

These coastal villages may not be as big as the towns on this list, but they still have a lot to offer visitors. You can spend some time at the beach and check out the local attractions.

It’s possible to use public transport (buses) to visit these beach villages but in some cases especially if you are coming from Norwich it is probably easier to drive.

Now, here are our favourite seaside towns in Norfolk along with some suggestions of what to do when you visit.

Caister-on-Sea

caister on sea beach
Caister on Sea Beach may not be as popular as other nearby beaches, and that’s not a bad thing.

Just north of Great Yarmouth, you will find the village of Caister-on-Sea. It has a large sandy beach with picturesque dunes and views of the Scroby Sands Wind Farm. There are no restrictions on dogs at this beach so it is popular with dog walkers.

Right by the beach, you can visit the Caister Lifeboat Experience which is perfect for families. They let you climb aboard a vintage lifeboat, dress up in a lifeboat waterproof kit, and learn about some of the life saving rescues.

About a 15-minute walk from the beach, there are the ruins of the Caister Roman Town which was built around 200 AD and occupied until the end of the 4th century, when the Romans left Britain. It was not discovered until excavations in 1951, and now is an English Heritage property that is free to visit.

It’s probably easiest to drive to Caister-on-Sea and use the large pay and display car park by the beach. Alternatively, if you want to use public transport there are bus options. Caister does not have a train station.

Mundesley

colourful beach huts by Mundesley Beach in Norfolk.
Mundesley is another blue-flag beach in Norfolk

This coastal village is home to one of the nicest beaches in Norfolk. It’s sandy and a good spot for swimming when the tide is out. While this beach is narrow, it is backed by a promenade lined with colourful beach huts.

The clifftop gardens above the beach is home to the smallest maritime museum in the world. There is also a memorial to the Bomb Disposal teams that cleared landmines from Norfolk beaches after the Second World War.

Mundesley doesn’t have a railway station but it is on the Coasthopper bus line. From Norwich, it is easiest to drive. There is a pay and display car park across the street from the Maritime Museum.

More Towns and Villages in Norfolk

Coastal towns in tend to get a lot of the attention, especially during the summer months. Be sure you remember that there are other villages and towns in Norfolk that you should visit too.

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