Hunstanton, Norfolk: A Family Day Out at the Striped Cliffs

Hunstanton — known to most people locally as just “Hunny” — is the only east-coast resort that faces west, which makes it one of very few places on the eastern side of England where you can sit on the beach and watch the sun set over the sea. It’s also the home of the famous red-and-white striped chalk cliffs, the SEA LIFE Sanctuary, a small funfair, and one of the easier seaside towns to walk around with younger children.

Main things to see and do

1. The Striped Cliffs. The famous red, white and orange chalk cliffs are at the north end of the seafront. Walk up the green to the cliff top for the view, or across the beach at low tide for the layered face.
2. SEA LIFE Sanctuary. Norfolk’s only seal sanctuary open to the public — over 2,000 creatures, and the seal hospital and ocean tunnel are the highlights. Pre-book online to save on the gate price.
3. Hunstanton Beach & Promenade. Long, sandy, lifeguarded in summer. The promenade is flat all the way from town to the funfair — pushchair-friendly. Fish-and-chip shops line the seafront.
4. Sunset over the Wash. The signature evening activity. The cliff top facing west is the viewpoint; bring a blanket in spring and autumn. Best months are April–September when the sun lines up properly with the sea.
5. Old Hunstanton. A short drive or walk north — quieter, with a long sandy beach, a lighthouse and the ruins of St Edmund’s chapel. Worth the diversion if Hunstanton itself feels busy.

Where to stay

If you are making a weekend of it, North Norfolk has more good self-catering than is reasonable for a coastline its size. We use Sykes Holiday Cottages for most of our family breaks on this coast — their holiday cottages in hunstanton and along the west norfolk coast cover most of the price brackets and most of the dog-friendly properties. (Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.)

Practical bits

• Postcode: PE36 (centre of town)
• Region: West Norfolk
• OS map: OS Explorer 250 — Norfolk Coast WestBuy from OS →
• Public transport: Coasthopper bus runs the length of the coast in summer; check the live timetable on Coastliner.