Things to do in Norfolk
Our first holiday in Norfolk was around twenty years ago and we drove up with our trusty tandem to explore Norfolk’s quiet and almost flat country lanes. This was before Essentially England had started so stopping and taking lots of photos was not the priority. As we were living in the landlocked Cotswolds and enjoyed visiting the seaside we choose a holiday cottage in Blakeney as it was on the coast, had coastal path walks, and the cottage had a garage to store our bike. Little did we know that Blakeney would be our perfect north Norfolk coastal town and that early June was one of the best times of year to go as the farm shops were all selling freshly picked asparagus and strawberries. We were in heaven and found so many wonderful things to do in Norfolk.
Even now we go back regularly and have just this week (mid-April 2024) visited Wells-next-the-Sea for an 8-mile walk through the pine trees and back along the beach. Naturally, we stopped at our favourite farm shop, Sharrington Strawberries, to pick up some new season asparagus and have a fish and chips lunch in Wells-next-the-Sea before starting our walk. The peace and space were amazing, even though it was the last Friday of the Easter school holidays. And it’s nice to know that the next trip will only be a few weeks away. We can’t wait!
We’ve listed our favourite places, walks, and cycle rides below, along with other places and attractions we’ve not yet visited. I hope our list of things to do in Norfolk gives you some inspiration to get out and discover this wonderful county that has given us so much joy and pleasure.
Our Best Picks for Things to do in Norfolk
Cities & Towns
Blakeney Harbour © essentially-england.com
- Alysham
- Blakeney
- Burnham Market
- Burnham Thorpe
- Cley-next-the-Sea
- Cromer
- Downham Market
- Fakenham
- Great Yarmouth
- Holt
- Hunstanton
- King's Lynn
- North Walsham
- Norwich
- Reepham
- Sheringham
- Swaffham
- Thetford
- Walsingham
- Wells-next-the-Sea
- Wroxham
- Wymondham
Religious Buildings
Binham Priory © essentially-england.com
- Beeston Regis Priory
- Binham Priory
- Castle Acre Priory
- Creake Abbey
- North Elmham Chapel
- Norwich Cathedral
- Red Mount Chapel
- Slipper Chapel
- St Bent's Abbey
- St Olaves Priory
- The Carmelite Friary
- The Cathedral of St John the Baptist
- Thetford Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- Thetford Priory
- Walsingham Priory
- Weybourne Priory
- Wymondham Abbey
Historical
Castle Acre © essentially-england.com
- Baconsthorpe Castle
- Brancaster Roman Fort
- Burgh Castle Roman Fort
- Caister Roman Fort
- Castle Acre
- Castle Rising
- Cow Tower
- Dragons Hall
- Norwich Castle
- Pull's Ferry
- St George's Guildhall
- Strangers' Hall
- Weeting Castle
Grand Houses & Gardens
Blickling Hall © essentially-england.com
- Blickling Hall
- Elsing Hall
- Fellbrigg Hall
- Hindringham Hall
- Holkham Hall
- Houghton Hall
- Hoveton Hall
- Mannington Hall
- Oxburgh Hall
- Raveningham Hall and Gardens
- Raynham Hall
- Sandringham
- Sheringham Park
- Stody Lodge Gardens
Walking and Cycling
Taking a Break at Glandford Ford © essentially-england.com
- Baconsthorpe Cycle Ride
- Blakeney Cycle Ride
-
Blakeney Point Walk
- Blakeney to Cley Walk
- Blakeney to Morston Walk
- Blickling Estate Walks and Cycling
- Cycling in Norfolk
- Hunstanton Discovery Trails
- Hunstanton to Thornham Walk
- Norfolk Coast Path
- Salthouse Walk
- Sheringham Park Walk to Coast and Back
- Sheringham Walk
- Stiffkey Cycle Ride
- Stiffkey Walk
- Burnham Overy Staith to Wells Walk
- Wells Coastal Woodland Walk
- Wells to Holkham Walk
- Wells to Morston Walk
- Morston to Cley-next-the-Sea walk
- Weybourne to Cromer Walk
Quirky/General Interest
The Black Prince Pulling Away from Weybourne Station © essentially-england.com
- Amazona Zoo
- Berney Arms Windmill
- Bircham Windmill
- Bure Valley Railway
- Deep History Coast
- Desert Rats memorial
- Great Yarmouth Row Houses and Greyfriars' Cloisters
- Grimes Graves
- Horsey Windpump
- Mid-Norfolk Railway
- Norfolk Lavender
- North Norfolk Railway
- Sea Life - Hunstanton
- Sea Life - Great Yarmouth
- Stiffkey Whirlygig
- The Royal Station
- Thetford Warren Lodge
- Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens
- Wells and Walsingham Railway
Museums
Inside Norwich Castle Museum © essentially-england.com
- Ancient House Museum
- Charles Burrell Museum
- Dad's Army Museum
- Elizabethan House Museum
- Lynn Museum
- Muckleburgh Military Collection
- Museum of the Broads
- Norfolk Motorcycle Museum
- Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery
- Sheringham Museum
- Teapot Museum
- The Shell Museum
- True's Yard Fisherfolk Museum
- Wymondham Heritage Museum
Nature
Blakeney Point © essentially-england.com
-
Blakeney National Nature Reserve
- Bure Marshes National Nature Reserve
- Calthorpe Broad National Nature Reserve
- Cley Marshes
- Hickling Broad
- Holkham National Nature Reserve
- Holme Dunes National Nature Reserve
- Martham Broad Nature Reserve
- Norfolk Broads
- Norfolk Coast AONB
- RSBP Berney Marshes
- RSBP Snettisham
- RSBP Tichwell Marsh
- Salthouse Marshes
- Scott Head Island Nature Reserve
- Thetford Forest
I hope our list of things to do in Norfolk gives you some inspiration to go out and explore. I know that we will continue visiting as there are still so many more things we want to experience. And I’m sure this list will grow and grow. If you have some more ideas for a great day out, then let us know!
Where we stayed in Norfolk
During our explorations of Norfolk, we have rented two holiday cottages. The first we found was in Blakeney and we stayed three times. Sadly, this property was sold and became a private home. For our last Norfolk holiday we moved along the coast to Stiffkey and the cosy Honey Barrel Cottage. Now, after moving closer to Norfolk we regularly have days out to visit this lovely county.
Honey Barrel Cottage
Sleeps 4
Honey Barrel Cottage is a characterful 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom Norfolk home tucked away along a private drive in the small village of Stiffkey.
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