Our guide to North Norfolk: spectacular wildlife, unspoiled beaches and stargazing
Situated on the east coast of England, North Norfolk is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty renowned for its 45 miles of unspoiled coastline and remarkable wildlife, as well as picturesque villages with ancient churches, independent shops and restaurants serving seasonal dishes. You’re certainly not short on places of architectural and historical interest to explore either, from Houghton Hall, built in the 1720s for Britain’s first Prime Minister, to a Grade II-listed Victorian pier in Cromer, now a hub of classic seaside entertainment. North Norfolk is even known to be a great spot to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights.
Perhaps the most invigorating thing about spending time here is the sheer amount of wildlife you’ll encounter, thanks to its vast array of nature reserves. With the breathtaking birdlife on its coastline and salt marshes, this is the UK’s bird-watching capital. Each charming area has its own distinct personality, from Burnham Market, a pretty Georgian town where everybody knows your name, to up-and-coming Wells-next-the-Sea, a former trading port. Plus, Norwich is only an hour’s drive away if you’re in need of some city life. Our guide rounds up the best things to do in North Norfolk, including some of the clearest spots in the country to stargaze and the finest places to sample local produce.
SEE
1. Cromer Pier
Cromer Pier is a Grade II-listed 151-metre-long traditional Victorian structure overlooking the North Sea. It was constructed in 1900 after the destruction of its predecessor, an old wooden jetty, in 1897. Today, however, the Pavilion Theatre lies at its tip, providing good old-fashioned British seaside entertainment – from variety shows to stand-up comedy nights. It’s also an excellent spot for crab fishing (hire everything you need for the big catch from the gift shop at the entrance of the pier), or you can enjoy a drink at the Pavilion Bar, which has beautiful views of the North Norfolk coastline – especially at sunset.
2. The Lookout at Holkham
One for budding ornithologists, this RIBA-award-winning building designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios is a striking circular structure with seating around the edge, offering panoramic views over the surrounding Holkham national nature reserve. Hovering above the landscape, it’s crafted with vertical timber slats in hues that match the natural soil colours, which allow people to move around inside without distracting or worrying the birds. As well as unbeatable vistas, you’ll find an orientation exhibition about the adjacent wetland area, binoculars and bird guides, and a cafe so you can enjoy a cup of tea while you’re taking it all in.
3. Wells Maltings
Once a malt house and built in the mid-19th century, this striking Grade II-listed brick and flint building in the centre of Wells-next-the-Sea is now home to Wells Malting, an exciting arts and community centre. The cultural hub comprises four galleries with ever-changing art and photography exhibitions, a state-of-the-art cinema showing the latest independent film releases, a theatre and cafe. Catch everything from opera performances and Shakespeare plays to drumming workshops and the annual Poetry-next-the-Sea festival.
4. Houghton Hall
Built in the 1720s for Britain’s first prime minister, Robert Walpole, Houghton Hall is a sweeping Palladian building now home to the seventh Marquess of Cholmondeley – a descendant of Robert Walpole – and his family. What makes Houghton Hall a must-visit is the behemoth collection of contemporary sculptures by world-renowned artists displayed in the gardens, which have mostly been created especially for Houghton. Take a leisurely wander around the impressive grounds and pore over permanent works by the likes of Henry Moore, Ryan Gander, Rachel Whiteread, Anish Kapoor and Tony Cragg, as well as seasonal artist-in-residence.
EAT
5. The Gunton Arms
Nestled within Gunton – a 1,000-acre deer park – you’ll find The Gunton Arms, a traditional pub with bedrooms. Managers Stuart and Simone Tattersall, who previously worked at Mark Hix’s restaurants in London, are advocates for using local, seasonal produce – venison from the deer park and beef from the local herd at nearby village Blickling are cooked over a large open fire here. A feast for the eyes as well as the tastebuds, the pub is decorated with art by Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst, while the bedrooms, which have pleasing views over the surroundings, were designed by Robert Kime and include en-suite bathrooms made of marble he found in derelict mansions in Egypt.
6. Socius
Located in Burnham Market, which is often referred to as “Chelsea-on-Sea” due to its boutique shopping, Socius (meaning “sharing” in Latin) offers a British take on tapas, with a menu split into snacks for drinking and small plates. Expect the likes of sticky king prawns with chilli glaze from the drinking snacks section, and mushroom-and-truffle parfait with toasted brioche, and burrata-and-fig arancini from the small plates. Meanwhile the large bright space features an open kitchen and steel-framed mezzanine level, which feels as relaxed as it does buzzy.
7. The Old Store
It’s all about bread at The Old Store. A microbakery and coffee shop in Snettisham, its menu focuses on delicious things in and on bread, all made in-house using organic flour sourced from Shipton Mill and cultured butter from The Edinburgh Butter Company. It’s known for its full-English breakfast (featuring a duck-fat hash brown, black pudding from the Fruit Pig Company and, of course, the finest sourdough toast you’ll find). Vegans fear not: said sourdough also comes topped with delicious truffled mushrooms. The freshly squeezed juices can be made boozy with bourbon, depending on how your day is looking.
8. Ground
Ground is a coffee house and eatery in Wells-next-the-Sea with top quality, locally roasted coffee and tasty, nutritious food at its heart. It’s owned by the same team behind home-accessories store Bringing the Outside In, which is located next door and worth popping in for an ever-changing collection of ceramics, tableware and house plants. The two ventures share the same rustic and botanical aesthetic, while the large outdoor seating area in front of them is an idyllic spot for sitting back in the sunshine with a really great coffee.
SHOP
9. Picnic Fayre Deli and Cley Smokehouse
This delicatessen is set in Cley’s historic forge, which was converted to a shop in 1968 after being left to deteriorate after the Great Flood of 1953. Most of the blacksmith equipment can still be seen in the shop, including the 18th-century beam drill, tyre moulds and the old forge itself, which is now used to showcase wonderful displays of fine food and wine. Having been established in 1984, Picnic Fayre has been welcoming loyal visitors for three generations, who keep returning for the locally sourced fruit and vegetables, pastries baked in-house and its wonderful selection of cheese and charcuterie.
10. Holt Antiques and Interiors Centre
A treasure trove of eclectic country-house interiors pieces, art, textiles and collectables, Holt Antiques and Interiors Centre is the largest of its kind in North Norfolk. Just a few minutes from Holt’s historic Georgian town centre, in a large barn on Candlestick Lane, you’ll find 28 dealers with years of buying experience and a passion for the unusual. It’s seen everything from the likes of lovingly restored Victorian bookshelves and oil paintings to an old Welsh Guards dress uniform and antique rocking horses. Everything can be delivered within the UK too.
11. Wiveton Hall Cafe and Farm Shop
Situated on the coast between Blakeney and Cley-next-the-Sea, Wiveton Hall is a Grade II-listed Jacobean manor house built in the 17th century on the site of an earlier building that dated back to 1280 (its remains can still be found in the garden). On the estate’s fruit farm, surrounded by strawberry fields and raspberry canes, lies its cafe and farm shop, where you can buy fresh produce grown on the farm – and you can even pick your own strawberries to take home.
DO
12. Cley, Holkham and Salthouse beaches
North Norfolk has some of the country’s finest beaches – and these three are our standouts. Cley’s is one for avid walkers: its long stretch of shingle, spanning Cley to Weybourne, can be challenging to traverse but worth it to spot nesting terns and oystercatchers from the surrounding nature reserves. Holkham beach is considered to be the jewel of the North Norfolk coast. There is a little bit of an amble along boardwalks to reach it, but you’ll be rewarded with miles of unspoiled landscape consisting purely of golden sand, sea and sky. Salthouse is a popular sea-fishing spot – bass, cod and mackerel are regularly caught here – and birdwatchers are drawn to it by the migratory birds on their routes between the Arctic and Africa.
13. Scolt Head Nature Reserve
Scolt Head nature reserve is a small paradise made up of sand dunes, shingle and mud flats, which can be accessed on foot at low tide if you’re feeling adventurous. Alternatively, it can be reached via ferry from Burnham Overy Staithe. Continually changing, it started as a glacial outwash around 10,000 years ago and has since developed into what we see today: a roughly two-and-a-half mile long island and nature reserve owned by the National Trust. Its wildlife rivals that of anywhere else in the UK, from the endangered snowy owls and beautiful flora (the purple haze of sea-lavender in the summer months is a sight to behold), to colourful damselflies and large cetaceans – although rare, humpback whales have been spotted on several occasions.
14. Burn Valley Vineyard
Burn Valley Vineyard is run by a sister duo whose aim is to capture the essence of Norfolk in a bottle. All its wines are grown, harvested, fermented and bottled on-site at their family’s scenic farm in North Creake. The best way to experience Burn Valley is to book on to one of its ‘Meet the Winemaker’ sessions, where you’ll be taken on a guided tour of the winery and vineyard, followed by an in-depth tasting of the latest vintage wines. You’ll undoubtedly want to pick up a bottle or three from the cellar door to take home with you after.
15. Titchwell Marsh RSPB
As you’ll have gathered by now, North Norfolk has a vast offering of wildlife to observe, and it’s nowhere more plentiful than at RSPB Titchwell Marsh. Located on a stretch of beach between Titchwell and Thornham, it’s a place where water and land merge and combine in different ways – from reedbeds and salt marshes to freshwater lagoons fed by a natural spring – to creating ideal homes for the likes of turtle doves, bearded tits, Chinese water deer and wildflowers. It’s the perfect place to retreat from everyday life and experience nature up close.
16. Great Barn Farm
For a pleasing place to stay, look no further than the Great Farm Barn, a collection of former agricultural spaces deep in the Norfolk countryside, sensitively overhauled by architects Turner.Works. The Modern House worked with Great Farm Barn to curate one of the spaces, a former stable – a two-bed that sleeps up to four. Celebrating mid-century and contemporary design, the Stables offers fantastic views of the surrounding farm and countryside through the large windows, as well as your own private outdoor area complete with a barbecue. You can also enjoy access to the on-site swimming pool, jacuzzi and steam room.
17. Stargazing
The North Norfolk coast is arguably the best place in the UK to stargaze, a fact that becomes apparent by the number of telescope shops you’ll see when you’re there. Two spots have been noted as Dark Sky Discovery Sites – Wiveton Downs and Kelling Heath holiday park – due to their distinct lack of light pollution, which allows for stunning celestial views of the Milky Way and constellations such as Orion. Thanks also to its uncommonly dark skies, North Norfolk has become one of the best places to see the Northern Lights in the UK, with people flocking to the coast in the early hours to try and catch a glimpse.
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