Discover the best places to stay in Norfolk

Once you visit Norfolk, you are bound to return again and again throughout your life, such is its beguiling magic and beauty. With the appearance of a true frontier, the lowlands of East of England are great for fans of wide horizons and big skies. Norfolk has nearly 100 miles of coastline, comprising seascapes that are unspoilt, natural and beautiful.

Lovers of boats will already be familiar with the Norfolk Broads which are synonymous with the county’s reputation as a great British holiday destination. Nature lovers and those who love being outdoors go to Norfolk – it’s the best place in the country to get away from it all.

Continue scrolling to find out about the best places to stay in Norfolk or tap the button to discover some of our lovely holiday cottages.

Skip to:

• Hunstanton 
• Blakeney and Cley-next-the-Sea 
• Wells-next-the-Sea 
• Cromer 
• Wroxham 
• Great Yarmouth 
• Norwich
• Holt

Hunstanton – best for sunshine and sunsets

Hunstanton is a seaside resort that faces west into an area of the North Sea known as The Wash. The west-facing beach gets lots of sunshine giving Hunstanton the nickname ‘sunny hunny’ and it’s one of the best places in North Norfolk to watch the sun go down. There are two beaches, with Old Hunstanton being a little wilder and less commercialised than Hunstanton proper.

Towering red and white striped cliffs shelter both beaches and the dog-friendly stretches of sand at both resorts are perfect for visiting with four-legged friends. There are fish and chip shops, ice cream parlours and amusement arcades along the traditional promenade at Hunstanton’s seafront and Victorian gardens that are perfect for relaxing in during a visit to this handsome seaside town.

Blakeney and Cley-next-the-Sea – best for nature reserves

For nature enthusiasts, take a holiday in Blakeney or Cley-next-the-Sea, two of the prettiest villages along the North Norfolk coast. Blakeney is a sleepy fishing village a short way in from the coast next to the fens, made up of reclaimed sea land and swathes of reed beds that stretch along much of the coast.

Cley is home to Cley Marshes which is the oldest Norfolk nature reserve and is held in perpetuity as a bird breeding ground.

Both villages are situated along a quiet stretch of the coast but there are handy shops in the villages and excellent pubs and eateries in the area including a fantastic delicatessen in Cley-next-the-Sea.

Wells-next-the-Sea – best for coastal walks and picnics

Wells-next-the-Sea is a lovely coastal town found between Hunstanton and Cromer. This former harbour has been an up-and-coming holiday destination for decades. Offering nature walks out along the seawall to the pine-fringed Holkham Bay, this is a great place to base yourself if you love the sea and unspoilt sandy beaches. Wells-next-the-Sea is a haven for independence where local businesses thrive.

For a picnic, head to the tree-lined park of The Buttlands where you will also find good pubs and restaurants on hand for you to try out. There are lots of independent shops at Wells-next-the-Sea and we recommend picking up your picnic supplies at the Wells Deli.

Cromer – best for a traditional seaside holiday

Cromer is the largest town along the north coast of Norfolk. Home to the last ‘End of the Pier’ show in the UK, Cromer is a well-loved trip back to yesteryear. Retaining all the charm of a childhood holiday with its fine pier, promenade, arcades, deckchairs, candy floss, olde-worlde cinema, zoo and cosy pubs, it’s a classic destination that aims to please.

Cromer is also a useful place to base yourself as all the main shops and banks for the entire region are here. Sample the wonderful Cromer crab, a local delicacy, or buy a bag of fish and chips to eat by the sea. Cromer is the main transport hub with road and rail links to Norwich and beyond.

Wroxham – best for boat trips on the Broads

Wroxham is ideally situated for visiting the magnificent Norfolk Broads. If you love nature and boats, you can simply watch the world from the banks of the broads or hop aboard a pleasure boat for a relaxing trip down the River Bure where you may even spot some of the resident kingfishers and herons. 

The River Bure divides Wroxham and Hoveton, which are both widely thought of as the capital of The Broads. If you fancy travelling under your own steam, you can hire self-drive picnic boats to explore the winding waterways and seek out secret nooks and crannies.

Great Yarmouth – best for family fun

Great Yarmouth is one of Norfolk’s most popular seaside resorts with a long sandy beach that stretches all the way from Winterton-on-Sea to Hopton-on-Sea. There will always be space to put up a deckchair and build a sandcastle, no matter how nice the weather is and there are lots of amusement arcades to keep the family entertained.

Take a walk along Britannia Pier which includes rides and live shows, head up to the top of the Tower Complex for one of the best views of the town or spend the day enjoying the thrills and spills of Great Yarmouth’s famous Pleasure Beach which features a rollercoaster that has been in operation since the 1930s.

Norwich – best for a city break 

Norwich is the UK’s most complete medieval city so a visit here is a great option for history buffs as there are lots of interesting buildings for you to seek out. There are also lots of cool and quirky things to do including browsing the independent shops of Norwich Lanes which is a series of narrow alleyways and courtyards close to City Hall.  

There are no less than six different theatres in Norwich where you can enjoy some live entertainment and, for something a little different, one of the most unusual things to do is head underground into the hidden city crypts. The River Wensum runs right through Norwich and you can follow the path of the water into the Norfolk Broads where it joins the River Yare at Whitlingham.

Holt – best for pretty parks

Holt is a wonderful Georgian market town that combines the best of the coast and countryside with the North Norfolk AONB just a few miles away. The wonderful old buildings are home to an array of art galleries, antique shops and independent boutiques with a quartet of flint stone yards hidden off the main high street that are just waiting to be explored.

A market is held on the first Sunday of every month in Holt’s market square with live music and artisan food stalls bringing a vibrant festival feel to the town. You can follow a tree-lined avenue from the marketplace to St Andrew’s Church which dates back to the 13th century. 

Plan your Norfolk getaway

We have properties right across Norfolk, close to all the major visitor attractions and places of historical interest. Why not visit our collection of Norfolk cottages to view an even larger selection of properties in the towns and villages above and across the county too? You can choose from romantic boltholes, family-friendly holiday homes and dog-friendly places to stay by clicking the button below.