An insider's guide to Hunstanton

With a prime location on the North Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Hunstanton is one of Norfolk’s leading resorts and a popular destination for a traditional British seaside holiday. 

Along with a dog-friendly sandy beach that’s backed by Hunstanton’s famously striped cliffs, you’ll find a collection of ice cream parlours, fish and chip shops and amusement arcades along the town’s sweeping promenade.

We have compiled some of our favourite reasons to visit Hunstanton on the Norfolk coast and the best things to do when you get here.

Skip to:

• Hunstanton history
• Hunstanton beaches
• Things to do in Hunstanton
• Places to eat and drink in Hunstanton
• Hunstanton walks

A brief history of Hunstanton

Hunstanton’s distinctively red and white striped cliffs have been naturally formed over thousands of years from carrstone and chalk. They aren’t just pretty to look at; the cliffs are rich in natural ammonites and you can regularly find interesting fossils washed up on the beach.

The Hunstanton that we know and love today though, first started to take shape in the 1840s when a Victorian gentleman named Henry Styleman Le Strange made plans for the coastal resort. A statue of Henry stands on the green that he designed and the Heritage Gardens which date back to the Victorian era are still one of the major focal points of Hunstanton. 

You can learn more about the town’s history at the Hunstanton Heritage Centre, which features a series of fascinating exhibits in a wonderful old bank building. Other historic parts of the town worth seeking out include the remains of Hunstanton Chapel which dates back to 1272 and the Grade II-listed Town Hall from 1896.

Hunstanton beaches

The west-facing location of Hunstanton means its wide beach is sheltered from the wind and gets lots of sunshine. The long stretch of sand means there is plenty of space to relax with family and friends, whether you plan on building some sandcastles or just relaxing in a deckchair. ‘Sunny Hunny’, as the resort is often nicknamed, is also a great place to watch the sun go down - its prime location on the Norfolk coast means it's one of the only places in the county where you can watch as the sun sets spectacularly over the sea.  

Things to do in Hunstanton

Hunstanton Heritage Gardens

The free-to-access Hunstanton Heritage Gardens cover an area of almost 7 acres between the town centre and the seafront promenade. Highlights of the gardens include a bandstand that hosts regular live music during the peak summer months, beautiful Victorian flower beds, a children’s play area and a crazy golf course.

SEA LIFE Hunstanton

A range of specially themed interactive zones at SEA LIFE Hunstanton allows visitors to get up close to a variety of different creatures and learn more about how they live. You can meet a colony of cute Humboldt penguins at the Penguin Beach enclosure, see a colourful assortment of fishes at Tropical Reef and watch a family of otters playing in their specially created running stream and diving pool. At the centre of SEA LIFE Hunstanton is a huge ocean tunnel filled with an assortment of sharks, rays and fishes and one of the highlights is the outdoor seal enclosure with an underwater viewing facility.

Norfolk Lavender

Just a couple of miles inland from Hunstanton is Norfolk Lavender where you’ll find around 100 acres of fragrant purple fields and a distillery and gift shop that are open to visitors all year round. This sweetest smelling of Norfolk attractions also includes the National Collection of Lavender with around 50 varieties on display, a network of walking paths around the main fields and a tearoom where you can enjoy a hot brew and some delicious homemade cake.

Rainbow Park

You can enjoy all the fun of the fair with a visit to the traditional Rainbow Park fairground, located close to the seafront. This Hunstanton institution has been around for more than 50 years and you’ll find everything from gentle carousels for little ones to more thrilling rides for older teenagers.

Hunstanton Pier

The original Hunstanton Pier, which dated back to 1870, was sadly destroyed by storms in 1978. An entertainment centre now stands on its site and this modern-day Hunstanton Pier features coin-operated rides for younger children, video games for teenagers and a bowling alley for the whole family to enjoy. 

Princess Theatre

Enjoy a range of live entertainment at the Hunstanton's Princess Theatre with shows ranging from traditional pantomime to comedy and musical performances. The sunset wine bar makes the most of the theatre’s prime location with an outdoor terrace where you can sit down to a pre-show drink with wonderful sea views.

Snettisham Park

Snettisham Park is just a short drive from Hunstanton and this family-friendly working farm has a range of animal experiences available, from bottle-feeding lambs to collecting eggs and riding ponies. The large farm is also home to a herd of red deer and one of the highlights of a visit is taking a 45-minute safari ride around the farm to get up close to these majestic creatures.  

Best places to eat and drink in Hunstanton

Pubs in Hunstanton

There’s no shortage of places to stop for food and drink during your visit to Hunstanton. Here are just some of our favourite pubs and cafes to call in at: 

• The Honeystone is a family-friendly pub with casual food options such as pizza and burgers, plus both indoor and outdoor play areas.
• The Mariner Inn has views out over the coast from its spot in Old Hunstanton and the characterful bar area comes with low beams, exposed brickwork and plenty of nooks and crannies where you can cuddle together on a romantic night out.
• The Lodge is a dog-friendly bar and restaurant in Old Hunstanton where you can enjoy local drinks, pub classics and daily afternoon teas in a relaxed and cosy setting. 
• Located in a vintage building on the beachfront in Hunstanton, The Waterside Bar is an ideal spot to watch the sun go down. The dog-friendly pub also has live music each weekend and classic Norfolk fish and chips on the menu.

Restaurants and takeaways in Hunstanton

• Fishers dates back to the 1950s and is the place to go in Hunstanton for traditional fish and chips. It’s up to you whether you take them away to eat from the paper or tuck into your tasty meal in their bright and spacious seafront restaurant. 
• Berni Beans on Hunstanton High Street is a vintage tearoom that’s full of old-fashioned charm. Sit down to a classic afternoon tea with homemade cakes and scones served on authentic bone china crockery.

Best places for dessert in Hunstanton

• East Coast Gelato sells creamy homemade ice cream in a variety of different flavours from a trio of kiosks on the Hunstanton promenade. The main parlour comes with a glass-fronted balcony to make the most of the sea views when the sun shines in ‘Sunny Hunny’. 
• The Hunstanton Ice Cream Parlour sells a range of indulgent sundaes and Belgian waffles alongside a range of classic flavours. All of their artisan ice creams are handmade on-site and use fresh locally sourced ingredients and can be taken away or enjoyed in their on-site cafe.
• Candy ‘n’ Cream is the main sweet emporium in town and this pastel pink shop sells traditional pick ‘n’ mix alongside seaside rock and classic fudge. There are also a variety of kiosks along the main Hunstanton Beach promenade selling candy floss, doughnuts, waffles and rock. 

Hunstanton walks

Take a scenic 2.6-mile walk along the Norfolk Coast Path from Hunstanton to the nearby town of Holme-next-the-Sea where you can explore the Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Holme Dunes. This unique landscape of sand dunes, salt marshes and water meadows is a haven for wildlife and migrating seabirds, so it’s worth spending some time here before making the return journey to Hunstanton. It’s up to you whether you head back along the coastal path or take a stroll along the sandy beach that connects Hunstanton to Holme-next-the-Sea.

Hunstanton Town Trail

You can combine a bracing walk with learning more about Hunstanton by tackling this almost 4-mile circular route around the town, created by the Norfolk Museum Service. The walk fittingly starts at the statue of Henry Le Strange and takes in St. Edmund’s Chapel, the Esplanade Gardens and Hunstanton Lighthouse with lots of places to stop for refreshments along the way. 

Snettisham Woodland Walk

Take a bus journey from Hunstanton to the start of this woodland walk in the village of Snettisham. You’ll need to get off the bus at the Snettisham Grapes stop and the 2.6-mile woodland walk starts and finishes at the nearby war memorial. Follow the peaceful woodland path through Snettisham’s Lodge Hill Plantation where you’ll pass by the remains of a medieval tower and can enjoy views out over the Wash.

Ringstead Circular

Around 3 miles inland from Hunstanton is the small village of Ringstead and you can take a scenic 7-mile circular walk from the pretty village green, taking in peaceful country lanes in this rural part of North Norfolk. Once you're back at Ringstead, you can call in for some well-earned refreshments at the Gin Trap Inn, a dog-friendly country pub that dates back to the 17th century.  

Hunstanton to Heacham

If you’re looking for a gentle easy-access walk from Hunstanton, you can take a 2-mile stroll along the promenade to nearby Heacham. This is an access-for-all route with a pathway suitable for pushchairs and wheelchair users. The promenade has unrivalled views of the varied Norfolk coastline and there are several cafes that you can call at for refreshments during your walk.

Stay at a self-catering holiday cottage in Hunstanton

If you have been inspired to visit the Norfolk coast for a short break or holiday, you’ll find a collection of charming cottages in and around Hunstanton. For even more holiday inspiration, read our guide to the best things to do in Norfolk.