Travel Guides: All Countries / Europe / United Kingdom / England / Norfolk
 |  | Destination Guide : Norfolk |
|
| | | Un-touristy and unique |  | Why go on holiday to Norfolk?
With its flat countryside and slightly isolated location, there's an otherworldly quality to largely un-touristy Norfolk that is unique.
It's a quiet, rural area for the most part, but there are many interesting, well-preserved old buildings. The coastline is beautiful and unspoilt, and it is superb birdwatching country.
There are plenty of beaches to choose from but the most beautiful are probably Holkham, Brancaster and Cromer.
How much does it cost?
A night in a B&B starts at about £20. Three nights in a self-catering cottage starts at around £130 (per unit, not per head). A pint of lager costs £2.20, a moderate restaurant meal £15.
Rail fares from London Liverpool Street to Cromer (via Norwich) are from £32 off-peak and £66 during peak times. Standard return fares from London by coach cost £23 to Kings Lynn.
Fares can vary greatly depending when you book and when you want to go. You should always check with the operator for exact prices.
How do I get there?
By train - Cromer station is a quarter of a mile from the town centre. Norwich, King's Lynn, Cromer and Great Yarmouth are all accessible by rail.
By coach - Coaches run to King's Lynn, Cromer and other Norfolk destinations.
By air - Norwich (handles flights from Manchester, Aberdeen and Edinburgh) is the nearest airport, 25 miles from Cromer.
By car - Take the A148, A140 or A149 to the centre of Cromer.
When should I go?
Norfolk has much to recommend it at any time of year, but for watersports it's best to go in summer. If you're lucky with the weather, a winter break in the north of Norfolk can be idyllic.
|
|
|
|
|
| | | Stunning coastline | | What should I do when I'm there?
Visit Norwich's three Norman landmarks - the cathedral, the castle and the marketplace. Go sailing, birdwatching or simply strolling in the Norfolk Broads.
Relax, go horseriding, cycling or walking in peaceful South Norfolk, and visit the area's market towns, manor houses, nature reserves and medieval churches. Visit the stunning coastline of north Norfolk.
What's Norwich like?
It's essentially a market town, dominated by its honey-coloured castle and cathedral, both built by the Normans. Norwich also has more medieval churches than any other city in Western Europe.
Are there any resort towns?
The main resort towns are Great Yarmouth and Cromer. The former is one of Britain's most popular seaside resorts, with a wide sandy beach - it's either totally tacky or great fun, according to your tastes.
Formerly hugely fashionable in Victorian and Edwardian times, Cromer is somewhat rundown now but still an attractive place, with an elevated seafront, long sandy beach and scenic coastal walks.
Are the Norfolk Broads worth a visit?
These ancient waterways are growing increasingly popular as a holiday destination but it's still possible to find isolated spots.
The Broads were cut in the Middle Ages by peat-diggers and form a unique landscape and a haven for wildlife. There are waterside pubs and restaurants and several picturesque villages and medieval churches.
St Helen's Church at Ranworth is known as the "Cathedral of the Broads" and you can admire panoramic views from the top of its tall tower.
What other sights are there?
Holkham Hall is an impressive Palladian mansion set in a 3,000-acre deer park two miles from the pleasant town of Wells-Next-The-Sea (open daily except Friday and Saturday June-September).
You can visit the Queen's country pile Sandringham, near King's Lynn, when she's not in residence. If Her Maj is away, Sandringham is open April-September daily 11am-4.45pm, admission from £4/£2, less if you only want to see the grounds and museum.
What activities can I do?
The combination of flat countryside, water and nature reserves make boating, windsurfing, birdwatching and cycling popular. Fakenham in north Norfolk is home to Fakenham Racecourse with meetings held throughout the year.
|
|
|
|
|
| | | Lovely fresh seafood | | Where's good for nightlife?
It depends what you're after. Norwich has a high student population and hence a good choice of restaurants, cinemas and theatres - not to mention more than 300 pubs and bars.
Family fun in Great Yarmouth after dark could be a game of crazy golf or a ride on the illuminated waterways. For adults, there are several pubs and clubs, and a casino which stays open until the early hours.
What 's the food like?
Norfolk specialities are samphire (a kind of sea herb) and Cromer crab. Fresh local produce and seafood is plentiful. Norwich's wide range of restaurants include Tex-Mex, Danish and Thai.
What should I buy?
Wroxham Barns is worth a visit. It is a rural craft centre set in a collection of 18th-century barns with resident craftsmen selling a range of crafts, including stained glass, pottery and sketches of local scenes.
What is there for children to do?
Besides the beach there are plenty of things for children to do. The Norfolk Shire Horse Centre at West Runton near Cromer includes a children's farm and cart rides for the kids (tel. 01263 837339).
The Splash Leisure Complex in Sheringham has a 150ft water slide, a wave machine and a children's paddling area.
Wroxham Barns runs a traditional family fair and does bicycle hire - prices start at £6 for a half-day.
Tourist office
Tourist Information Centre, The Forum, Millennium Plain, Norwich NR2 1TF. Tel. 01603 727927.
Tourist Information Centre, Bus Station, Prince Of Wales Road, Cromer NR27 9HS. Tel. 01263 512497.
|
|
|
|
|
| | Available rental properties in Norfolk |
|
|
|
|
