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Welcome to our guide on what to do in Norfolk during your stay.
Yes, our dramatic coastline, stunning beaches, picturesque villages and wonderful pubs are fantastic reasons to visit Norfolk. They are not the whole story though.
North Norfolk has so much to offer guests of all ages and much you may not have thought about before.
Check out our guide to everything from Stately homes, arts & culture to water sports, star gazing and much much more.
Parks, Gardens and Stately Homes
- Blickling Estate – a fifteenth century moated house with a rose garden, classical temple, follies and a woodland garden.
- East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens – 32 acres of varied and glorious garden rooms.
- Felbrigg Hall – 520 acres of woods, rolling parkland and waymarked paths.
- Hindringham Hall – a moated Tudor manor house with formal and informal borders, fishponds and a working walled vegetable garden.
- Mannington Hall – a moated medieval manor house with gardens, Victorian follies and wildflower meadows.
- Holkham Hall – on the North Norfolk coast, the Hall is perfectly set in its own rolling parkland, rich in wildlife.
- Houghton Hall – built for Britain’s first Prime Minister, this grand Palladian Hall is also home to an award-winning walled garden.
- Pensthorpe – magical gardens and an internationally recognised reserve.
- Sandringham – the Norfolk country retreat of Her Majesty the Queen and the private home of four generations of British monarchs since 1862.
- Sheringham Park – over 900 acres of short walks or longer trails to explore.
Arts and Culture
- Cromer Cinema – Multiscreen cinema for the latest big-name releases, plus art-house and independent showings.
- Fakenham Cinema – a listed restored Victorian building with three screens showing the latest mainstream and family film releases.
- Hunstanton Theatre – Princess Theatre brings you live music, comedy and much more.
- Sheringham Little Theatre – Little Theatre brings you an exciting programme of stage and screen entertainment.
- Wells-next-the-sea – Wells Maltings brings the very best stage, screen and cultural experiences to the North Norfolk coast.
- Westacre Theatre – Theatre offers a year-round programme of in-house productions, visiting companies, workshops and cinema screenings.
Stargazing – Dark Sky Discovery Sites
- Barrow Common – Brancaster – a dark, elevated, heathland with good sight lines and a spectacular 180° view of the north horizon.
- Breckland Astronomical Observatory – under the dark skies of Great Ellingham in Norfolk, with its own observatory housing a 20″ reflecting telescope.
- Kelling Heath – two equinox star parties, popular with astronomers from around the UK, are held every year. The park advocates the use of minimal lighting to preserve the dark skies all year round.
- RSPB Titchwell Marsh Nature Reserve – a very dark site on a raised embankment, surrounded by wetland habitat, with impressive 360° views of the horizon.
- Wiveton Downs – a very dark, elevated, heathland site valued for its geology, with good sight lines in all directions.
Sport and Leisure – Paddleboard Hire
- Brancaster Staithe – North Norfolk Paddleboards provide taster sessions and guided tours in Burnham Overy Staithe, Wells-next-the-Sea and Brancaster Staithe.
- Sup Shack, Sheringham – paddleboards, surf boards or bodyboard hire and tuition from West Runton or Sheringham.
- Barefoot Sup, Wells-next-the-sea – a unique combination of instruction and personal training for beginners and the more adventurous.
Boat Trips
- Blakeney Seal Trips – a boat trip, departing from Blakeney or Morston Quay is one of the best ways to see one of the largest grey seal colonies and Sandwich Terns.
- Hunstanton Coastal Trips and Seal Safaris – Searles Sea Tours run unique seal safaris and coastal trips, with panoramic views as well as learning of local history and fascinating legends around The Wash.
- Morston Seal Trips – A fabulous opportunity to see the seals in their natural environment basking on Blakeney Point.
- Wells-next-the-sea – Explore the sights and sounds of Wells Harbour, it’s beach and Salt Marsh aboard the “Wells Ferry”.
Kayak Hire
- The Canoeman, Brancaster Staithe – Take a kayak or canoe tour and explore the beauty and wildlife of the North Norfolk Coast creeks.
- Burnham Overy Boathouse – The Boathouse has several double and single kayaks for hire for the day.
- Hunstanton Kayaks – Kayak hire, sandbank safaris & creek safaris. Kayaking/taster sessions are also available.
Bike Hire
- Burnham Deepdale – offering a wide variety of circular routes, both short and long, around the quiet lanes and byways of the Norfolk countryside
- Holkham – the scenic routes through Holkham park are perfect for cycling and an opportunity to explore more of the estate and local area.
- Kelling – offering a range of mainly off-road cycle routes, from a family-friendly 3.5 miles to a 15-mile challenge on picturesque tracks, trails and quiet lanes.
- Thursford – explore the Norfolk countryside on electric bikes.
Sea Fishing Charters
- Brancaster Staithe – you will be taken to the prime fishing spots aboard a well-equipped charter boat, whilst enjoying the rich wildlife of the North Norfolk coast.
- Wells-next-the-sea – departing from Wells harbour heading out to some of the most cherished fishing spots in The Wash.
Family Days Out
- Wells-next-the-sea – adults, children’s bicycles or electric bikes available for half or full day hire
- Cromer – Amazona is set in fifteen acres of secluded grounds and home to over 200 birds and animals from tropical South America. Also includes an indoor play area, outdoor adventure play, café and giftshop.
- Fakenham – Pensthorpe is a biodiverse nature reserve with a focus on inspiring the next generation to enjoy wildlife and the great outdoors. Also includes two adventure play areas and café.
- Holkham – A trail of discovery through the treetops overlooking the woodland, including swinging bridges and zip wires.
- Horning – Bewilderwood is a huge, award winning forest of family fun and outdoor adventure. Treehouses, Wobbly Wires, Slippery Slopes, Crocklebogs, Twiggles and Boggles, storytelling, boat rides and marsh walks.