The North Norfolk coast runs roughly 45 miles between Hunstanton in the west and Cromer in the east — a low, big-sky coastline of pine-backed sand, tidal marshes, brick-and-flint villages, working harbours and some of the best heritage properties in England. We’ve spent most of our weekends out here for fifteen years; this is the page we wished existed when we started planning trips properly. Use the section links to jump to the bit you need, or scroll through for the full picture.
What North Norfolk is actually like
North Norfolk is not the Norfolk of Norwich or the Broads — it has a different character entirely. The land is flat, low and slightly windswept; the coastline is enormous tidal marshes interspersed with sandy beaches; and the villages are smaller and quieter than visitors often expect. It rains less than the national average, the sky is properly big, and the light at the end of the day on the salt marshes is genuinely one of the things people travel here for.
It works equally well as a long weekend, a half-term week or a three-day break. Most family groups end up combining one or two big-ticket attractions (a National Trust hall, a steam-train day, a beach trip) with quieter wandering and good food. There’s no theme park here, and the entire coast goes to bed early — that’s exactly why people love it.
The three towns: Cromer, Wells & Hunstanton
The three working seaside towns of the North Norfolk coast each have a slightly different character. Most family trips include a day in at least one of them.
- Cromer — the eastern end of the coast. Pier, lifeboat museum, lighthouse, Cromer crab. The proper Victorian seaside town that never tipped into kiss-me-quick.
- Wells-next-the-Sea — middle of the coast. Tidal harbour, the iconic beach huts on stilts, and the long pinewoods walk to Holkham Beach.
- Hunstanton — west end. The famous striped chalk cliffs, SEA LIFE Sanctuary, the funfair, and the only east-coast resort that watches the sun set over the sea.
The National Trust properties
North Norfolk has an unusually rich concentration of National Trust places — five proper stately homes plus several smaller properties on the coast itself. A National Trust membership pays for itself in two or three visits at the family rate; you can join the National Trust here.
- Felbrigg Hall — Jacobean hall and walled garden a few miles south-west of Cromer. Squire’s Pantry café in the courtyard. OS Explorer 252.
- Blickling Estate — the famous Jacobean façade and 4,777-acre estate near Aylsham. Two cafés (Stables and Muddy Boots). OS Explorer 252.
- Sheringham Park — the Repton landscape garden with its rhododendron walk and the Gazebo viewpoint. OS Explorer 252.
- Oxburgh Hall — moated medieval hall in West Norfolk near Swaffham; Servants’ Hall Tea-room. OS Explorer 236.
- Morston Quay — the seal-trip jetty and quayside café between Blakeney and Stiffkey. OS Explorer 251.
Other heritage, gardens and family attractions
- Holkham Hall — privately owned Palladian estate west of Wells; the Walled Garden, deer park, and Holkham Beach itself. OS Explorer 251.
- Sandringham House & Gardens — the King’s private West Norfolk estate. House open seasonally; Royal Parkland year-round. OS Explorer 250.
- Houghton Hall — Walpole’s Palladian house with its famous white deer and contemporary sculpture programme. OS Explorer 250.
- North Norfolk Railway (Poppy Line) — preserved steam line between Sheringham and Holt. OS Explorer 252.
- Pensthorpe Natural Park — former Springwatch base near Fakenham; serious wildlife with serious play. OS Explorer 251.
- Norfolk Lavender, Heacham — England’s premier lavender farm, fields in bloom mid-June to mid-August. OS Explorer 250.
The beaches
The North Norfolk coast is a long string of properly good family beaches. Pick by what you actually want — quiet and big, busy and amenities-rich, dog-friendly year-round, or a horseshoe-shaped tidal bay.
- Holkham Beach — pine-backed, three miles long, properly enormous at low tide. Lady Anne’s Drive parking. The most photographed beach on the coast.
- Wells Beach — sandy, dunes, the famous beach huts, lifeguarded in summer. A flat mile from the quay along the harbour embankment.
- Brancaster & Brancaster Staithe — quieter, more local feel, very tidal — check times before you go. The walk along the marsh boardwalk is a classic.
- Cromer Beach — sandy, central, blue-flag, with the pier as a windbreak. Best for a town-and-beach combination day.
- Hunstanton Beach — long, sandy, west-facing — sunsets over the Wash.
- Sheringham Beach — pebble at high tide, sand at low; a proper Norfolk beach in front of a proper Norfolk town.
Where to stay on the North Norfolk Coast
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 here — their North Norfolk listings cover most price points and most of the dog-friendly properties, and they tend to have late availability where the smaller agencies don’t. (Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, and we use Sykes ourselves.)
Places with a swimming pool in Norfolk
Norfolk has 15 self-catering properties with pool access in the current Sykes inventory — a mix of larger private-pool retreats and family parks with on-site pools. Our top picks below. Norfolk itself has no surviving lido, but heated Beccles Lido sits just over the Suffolk border on the River Waveney, within easy reach of a Broads-end base — see our directory of UK lidos and open-air swimming pools for the full East of England picture.
17 Castle Walk, Burgh Castle
2 bedrooms · From £1,147 per week
A tidy single-storey caravan with pool access at the Broads end of the coast — the budget-friendly way for a small family to add swimming to the itinerary.
440 California Sands, California
2 bedrooms · From £849 per week
Norfolk really does have a California. This single-storey lodge is the most sensibly priced of the pool picks — compact, practical and within easy reach of the east coast sands.
Places to stay with a sauna in Norfolk
Sauna-equipped self-catering is much rarer in Norfolk — just one property in the current Sykes inventory.
The Old Chapel — North Norfolk (3 bedrooms · From £2,661 per week)
The reason it makes this list: an enclosed rear garden with both a hot tub and a sauna — the only self-catering sauna in Sykes’ current Norfolk inventory. Inside, three comfortable bedrooms (king-size en-suite, a double and a twin) and a proper bathtub for the post-beach thaw.
There are very few holiday lets in Norfolk that have their own sauna facilities. I can, however, recommend a trip into Norwich to visit the Lions Den Sauna, which has rooftop views over the city and the castle. Well worth adding to your day if you visit Norwich while staying in Norfolk.
Dog friendly places to stay in Norfolk
Norfolk has 81 dog-friendly self-catering properties in the current Sykes inventory — plenty for a long weekend with the family dog. Our top picks below are sorted by descending headline price.
High House, Winspurs Farm
6 bedrooms · From £7,677 per week
The whole-clan option — six bedrooms over three floors and a kitchen/diner built around a range cooker that can feed a crowd. The dog comes too.
Life’s a Beach, Bacton Green
2 bedrooms · From £3,352 per week
A single-storey lodge on the coast at Bacton Green — open-plan, easy with a dog in tow, and named with admirable honesty.
Flat 1, Glebe House
2 bedrooms · From £2,701 per week
A ground-floor apartment with proper dining space for four — an unflashy, comfortable base for a coastal weekend where the dog is welcome.
A walk around North Norfolk
A small collection of pictures from around the North Norfolk coast — Cromer pier and the lifeboat station, Blakeney quay, Morston staithe, Sheringham Park rhododendrons, the Norfolk Coast Path, fish and chips at No 1 Cromer, and a few honest-weather days on the beach in between.
OS map coverage for the North Norfolk Coast
If you’re walking, cycling, or taking children off the metalled paths, the right OS Explorer sheet is genuinely useful — mobile signal is patchy across most of this coast and a paper or downloaded OS map is more reliable than your phone for finding car parks, footpaths and the way home. Three sheets cover the whole North Norfolk coast:
- OS Explorer 250 — Norfolk Coast West. Hunstanton, Sandringham, Houghton, Brancaster, Norfolk Lavender.
- OS Explorer 251 — Norfolk Coast Central. Wells-next-the-Sea, Holkham, Morston Quay, Pensthorpe, Stiffkey.
- OS Explorer 252 — Norfolk Coast East. Cromer, Sheringham, Felbrigg, Blickling, the North Norfolk Railway.
FAQs
How long do I need on the North Norfolk Coast?
A long weekend (Friday–Monday) covers one or two big-ticket properties, a town-and-beach day, and a quieter walking day. Half-term week or a full week opens up the rest — you can comfortably visit four to six of the properties listed here, plus a couple of beach days.
Is the North Norfolk Coast good for very young children?
Yes — the National Trust properties are mostly pushchair-friendly, the beach towns have promenades, and BeWILDerwood (just south, in the Broads) is built around younger children. The thing to watch is that the marsh-side coast is properly tidal — never let smaller children out of sight on the salt marshes.
Where’s the best base for a North Norfolk holiday?
It depends on what you want to do. Wells-next-the-Sea is the most central — within 30 minutes of nearly every property listed here. Cromer is best if you’re focused on the eastern half of the coast. Hunstanton is best for west-coast families with younger children, and for the sunsets.
Can we visit in winter?
Yes — the coast itself is open year-round, the beaches are spectacular in winter, and several properties (Felbrigg parkland, Blickling estate, Wells beach, Sheringham promenade) are open every day. The big halls and gardens are mostly seasonal — typically closing late October and reopening late March.
Where are the dogs allowed?
Most of the beaches allow dogs year-round (Wells and Cromer outside the lifeguarded zones). Most NT outdoor estates allow dogs on leads. Inside the formal gardens and houses, dogs are generally restricted. Check the property page on this site or the operator’s website for the specifics.
Is parking expensive?
It varies. Most NT properties charge for non-members (typically £4–£6/day) and free for members. Town centres charge by the hour, with all-day options on the outskirts. The Lady Anne’s Drive parking at Holkham Beach is famously eye-watering — go via the Wells pinewoods for a free alternative.
Correct as of 7 August 2026 — please check before you travel, especially on Bank Holidays, Easter and between Christmas and New Year. We update this page periodically; if anything’s changed, please let us know.