With a rich variety of natural and manmade wonders, North Norfolk is a great place for visiting and touring at any time of year. 2018 promises to be no exception, with so many things to see and try on your next visit. In all honesty, you would struggle to cram it all into one holiday. However, if we had to boil it down to just a few highly recommended places and activities, the following would all fall into the must-visit category on our Norfolk itinerary!  

Hunstanton Beaches

For anyone who enjoys a day by the sea, Hunstanton has several local beaches. Awarded Blue Flag status for cleanliness, your day can be as lazy or active as you please too. Hunstanton Main Beach is the most obvious first port of call, with easy access and plenty of clean sand for beach games, paddling and picnics. A few steps away you also have a range of old school seaside fun from donkey rides to crazy golf and fairground rides.

For the nature lover or walker, Huntstanton North Beach (above) is perhaps the more obvious choice. Its three-tiered cliffs are one of the areas most notable sights, with rich territory to explore rock pools or look for fossils. To find out more about the beaches, along with some interesting facts and local characters, take a peek at the Explore Norfolk fact page.

Perfect for: Families, swimming, beach games, fossil hunting
Tip: Keep a close eye on tides; if you want plenty of clean, hard sand, or a session exploring rock pools, arrive as the tide is falling.

Sea Wildlife Tours in North Norfolk

For a taste of Norfolk history and wildlife from a unique perspective, nothing beats a special guided boat trip with a passionate local guide! At Searles Sea Tours Hunstanton, our two “Wash Monsters” can take you to beautiful and fascinating areas along the coast, rich in folklore and natural beauty. For many visitors, the greatest highlight are the sand flats where the seals gather. In fact, this is probably the best place in the UK to spot grey and common seals, with over 3,000 currently in The Wash! Trips run from spring to late summer, see https://www.seatours.co.uk for further details.

Perfect for: Families, wildlife spotters
Tip: Don't forget the camera! A zoom lens and tripod will get you some cracking seal pictures.

Pensthorpe Natural Park

Lots of wild characters to meet here (image: Pensthorpe Natural Park Facebook)

A whopping 700 acres of glorious green spaces await the visitor at this great Norfolk attraction, which is one of those essential places to visit in Norfolk for anyone who loves plants and wildlife. There are both wild and lush managed habitats here, from the captivating Millenium Garden to pretty sections of river and meadow. Lots of activities and events too, for visitors of all ages who would like some hands-on fun. See http://www.pensthorpe.com

Perfect for: Families, wildlife fans, photography
Tip: Allow a full day to get the most from the park.

Norfolk Steam Train Rides on Britain’s Smallest Railway!

Full steam ahead! (Image: https://www.facebook.com/Wellswalsinghamrailway)

For a day out with warm nostalgia and a genuine storybook quality, North Norfolk is home to the Wells and Walsingham Light Railway. Around 40 mins drive from Hunstanton, this family attraction is popular year round thanks to passionate staff and the quirky character of its rolling stock (taller family might need to duck here and there!). A great way to see the North Norfolk countryside too. See wwlr.co.uk

Perfect for: Railway fans of all ages, Birthdays and treats.
Tip: Keep an eye out for seasonal specials, such as the Christmas and Easter services.

Snettisham Deer Park

 
Deer things: meeting the residents at the Park (image: Snettisham Facebook Page)

A busy working farm with bags to see, Snettisham is the perfect day out for any animal mad family. All ages will enjoy touring the grounds to meet the park’s pack of red deer at close quarters, while you can also feed the smaller residents or stock up on excellent food treats produced on site. Highly recommended.  http://www.snettishampark.co.uk/

Perfect for: Families, foodies
Tip: Get here in the early spring to try your hand at feeding the lambs.

Norfolk Lavender

A colourful day out in more ways than one! (Image: Norfolk Lavender Facebook)

The pungent scent of English lavender will hit you long before you reach the gates of this attraction, which is very near to Hunstanton (just 2.6 miles). There are tours and lavish gardens to explore here (you’ll be seeing purple for a week!), but also plenty of other things to interest the family. A rare breed animal collection and playpark are sure to keep the kids happy, and low entry prices ensure this is one of the best value family attractions in Norfolk. See https://norfolk-lavender.co.uk   

Perfect for: Gift shopping, family days out
Tip: For those on a budget, the family ticket is the one at just £14.00 for a group of four.

A Right Royal Day Out at Sandringham

A regal site to explore (image: Sandringham Estate FB)

Although we’ve tried to get the Queen to come on tour by caravan, she tends to politely decline and stay at Sandringham, which remains home from home for generations of royalty. The site offers a lot for the visitor too, however, with a restaurant, plant centre and charming gardens to stroll. It opens from Easter each year, with plenty to see in the house, gardens and a special museum to explore. See https://www.sandringhamestate.co.uk  

Perfect for: Royalists, history fans
Tip: For best value, the combined house, museum and gardens ticket is best. Allow a few hours to take it all in.

Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary

A watery wonderland awaits at Sea Life Hunstanton.

For a look beneath the surface of the sea, nowhere provides an experience quite like our local Sea Life Centre. Not only does this family attraction take you to coral reefs and tropical waters, it also introduces the viewer to many species from our own back yard in Norfolk. Particular favourites are the seals, including those rescued by the centre. Indeed, this is more than just a day out because they also do a lot of good work for locatl wildlife. See https://www.visitsealife.com/hunstanton/

Perfect for: Rainy days, families, animal lovers.
Tip: Take a look at the talks and feeding times to add some special highlights to your visit.

Holiday deals and special break offers for 2018, plus other recommended places to visit in North Norfolk...

 Could you use some quality time away in 2018? Whether you wish to come on a camping or caravan break, or treat yourself to some of the finest seaside holiday lets in Norfolk, you are guaranteed great value and a warm welcome at Searles Leisure Resort. Don't forget to keep an eye on the Searles Facebook page and  our Offers and Special Breaks section, which has a regularly updated selection of amazing Norfolk holiday deals and packages! 

For further ideas on where to visit in Norfolk, including top walks, family attractions and activities, be sure to bookmark the Searles Blog. Our recent posts have included various other great visitor sites and activities from beautiful heritage sites to further wildlife attractions.