North Norfolk
Things to do
Things to do in North Norfolk
From spectacular coastline, fantastic wildlife, miles of glorious beaches, seaside communities picturesque market towns, and villages. To find out about events taking place over the coming months, take a look at What’s on or see Visit North Norfolk’s website.
Open Sky Cycles Gravel Bike Hire
Fancy trying out gravel riding? Open Sky Cycles are proud to offer a hand-picked range of gravel bikes to rent, enabling you to explore the lesser trodden paths of this stunning part of North Norfolk.
Gravel bikes enable you to ride on or off road and can encompass all types of terrain, from actual gravel to wooded single-track and everything in between. There are some great gravel routes close to the hire shop, including wooded areas, farm tracks, beach and heath.
Want a more relaxed ride, then you could try one of their Merida hybrid bikes. Suitable for every-day cycling on roads and cycle paths around the North Norfolk Coast.
Henry Blogg Museum
Take a trip to Cromer and you will find the RNLI museum for Henry Blogg just to the east of the pier.
The museum celebrates the most decorated lifeboatman in RNLI history, who served for 53 years on Cromer’s lifeboats. With the assistance of his crew, he saved 873 lives from the North Sea.
It offers a range of activities to young people and lots of interesting facts for the older members of the party. Whether you want to learn more about Henry’s faithful companion Monte, undertake a naval architect challenge, or dress up as Coxswain Blogg himself and re-enact a rescue, there’s an activity for everyone.
Photo credit to Richard James Taylor
Coastal Exploration Company
Explore North Norfolk’s wild, stunning coastline under a canvas sail in one of the Coastal Exploration Company’s locally built wooden boats. Help with navigation; fish and forage for your food; visit special locations that can only be accessed by creek and sea. Connect with the environment on a deeper level with the rhythms of the tides and its various natural inhabitants, in a way that normally would not be possible. The adventure will include traditional sailing and rowing, wild swimming, foraging and preparing food from the coast, navigation, field craft for the sea and an element of physical and mental challenge.
Cromer Pier
Cromer is famous for its pier which also houses an RNLI lifeboat station and popular Pavilion Thearte, home to the UK’s only remaining traditional ‘end of the pier’ variety show. The pier is a fine example of Victorian building, which has withstood many storms and tidal surges and even the Government’s attempt to blow it up in WW2 to prevent the pier being used as a landing strip by enemy invaders!
Enjoy a full day out on the Pier, open all year round. It’s great for crab fishing, with all you need for the big catch, or a souvenir memory to take home with you in The Gift Shop. Enjoy delicious refreshments in a unique setting on our quarterdeck with amazing views of the stunning North Norfolk Coastline.
Cockle Bay E-Bike Hire
Explore and experience the outstanding North Norfolk Coast with award-winning power assisted E-Bikes.
Based in Wells-next-the-Sea, these amazing RADPower electric bikes are ideal for touring and discovering the beautiful Norfolk countryside and coastal paths with comfort and ease.
The new RadRhino was designed for versatility, so ride around the town, through the villages or skip the bike path and challenge the fat tyre capabilities off road on your own adventure on the North Norfolk terrain.
North Norfolk Paddle Boards
Founded in the summer of 2017 in the village of Burnham Overy Staithe,
North Norfolk Paddleboards provide Taster Sessions and Guided Tours in Burnham Overy Staithe, Wells-next-the-Sea and Brancaster Staithe.
If you are new to SOP boarding, it is fun, safe and everyone should give it a try. Learn the basics of the strokes and you will be standing up and paddling in no time at all.
After you have learnt to Paddle board, you can join one of the guided tours where you will be guided through the creeks and salt marshes of the stunning North Norfolk Coastline.
BeWILDerwood
BeWILDerwood, out first things to do in North Norfolk, is an adventure park for families located in Horning. It is situated in a woodland area and includes, rope bridges, treehouses, zip wires, slides, a maze, and two areas especially for under-fives called “Tiptoe Valley and “Toddlewood-on-the-HIll. A journey along the river takes young adventurers into a world of treehouses, slides and rope bridges. The park is based on events and characters in “A Boggle at BeWILDerwood” and “The Bewilderbats”, books for children written by Tom Blofeld, the owner of BeWILDerwood. Approximately an hours drive from our cottages, BeWILDerwood is a fabulous day out for families with children.
Pensthorpe Natural Park
Only a 10 minute drive from the North Norfolk Coast, Pensthorpe Natural Park is a natural home for many species of mammals, birds, plants and invertebrates. Here, you can explore and discover the beautiful landscapes, inspiring sculptures, and diverse habitats as they change through the seasons, providing year round colour and interest.
Visitors can enjoy the woodland and wetland walks, stunning gardens and wonderful indoor and outdoor play areas. Interactive trails, bird hides and boardwalks meander through the wilderness of the nature reserve, whilst children can get involved with activities such as pond dipping, spotting wildlife and feeding the birds enabling them to get closer to the native and visiting wildlife.
Blakeney National Nature Reserve
Here you will find uninterupted views and spectacular wildlife of the outstanding coastline.
Blakeney Point is home to England’s largest Grey Seal colony and a large number of summer breeding birds. The best way to see the wildlife on Blakeney Point, is to book a trip on one of the ferry trips departing from Morston Quay.
With the Norfolk Coastal Path running right along Blakeney National Nature Reserve you can explore the whole of the Norfolk Coast on foot. Blakeney Freshes is popular with birdwatchers, and Stiffkey Saltmarshes muddy creeks are a perfect haven for wildlife.
Holkham Hall and Estate
Holkham Estate has lots to see and do throughout the whole year. Explore the marked walks around the park and see some impressive landmarks such as the obelisk and monument to Coke of Norfolk, alongside other intriguing buildings like the old icehouse and Great Barn. Holkham Hall, sitting proudly within the deer park, is a magnificent stately home which is open to the public and for events throughout the year. There are nature trails with a fun family quiz and boundless amounts of nature and wildlife to see. To explore further afield, bicycles can be hired from the cycle hire centre and canoes, kayaks or rowing boats can be hired on the big lake.
RSPB Titchwell Marsh Nature Reserve
Titchwell Marsh nature reserve is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Countless migrating birds pass through Titchwell in the spring and autumn, and many spend winter here, giving an outstanding opportunity to see many species of seabirds, ducks, waders and geese. As the days get longer, birds such as Curlews leave to fly north, whilst others such as Sand Martin and Wheatear are arriving from Africa.
Titchwell Marsh Nature Reserve is one of The RSPB’s most popular reserves. With marvellous Marsh Harriers sky dancing overhead, wide sandy beaches, lagoons and reedbeds – it is a birdwatcher’s paradise!
Glide Surf School
Glide Surf School, hire and shop is the lead in pioneering the unique surf scene in Norfolk from the heart of the seaside town of Cromer.
A family owned business with a passion to share their love for the sea and the activities they offer, to all ages and abilities in a safe, fun and friendly environment. With years of surf experience they provide expert instruction and specialist advice from a strong team of professional coaches.
They provide daily Surf & SUP (stand up paddle board) lessons and have an extensive range of equipment if you just want to hire and their surf shop has all the essential surfing, SUP and water based accessories, catering from beginner to advanced.
Cley and Salthouse Marshes
Cley and Salthouse Marshes was purchased almost 100 years ago to be held ‘in perpetuity as a bird breeding sanctuary’. It has grown to a single coastal reserve of more than 300 heatares. Today, Cley and Salthouse Marshes is one of the most popular birdwatching sites in the UK, attracting more than 110,000 human visitors each year. The six hides give incredible views that are managed to attract migrating and breeding birds. The award-winning visitor centre features exhibitions, and a well-stocked gift and book shop. The Education Centre provides popular events, workshops, performances, guided walks and seasonal festivals.
Wells-next-the-Sea Beach
The famous sweeping beach in Wells-next-the-Sea is famous for its colourful beach huts and miles of soft sand reaching to Holkham. Enjoy the sea air, relax, unwind and feel the sand between your toes and have fun paddling in the shallow waters in the warmer months. In colder months enjoy walking the dogs, flying kites, bird watching or playing family beach games.
There is ample parking in the beach car park and the Beach Cafe offers plenty of fabulous snacks and drinks.
You may even enjoy hiring a beach hut for the day!
Langham Glass
Langham Glass was founded in 1979 by Master Glassmaker Paul Miller and is still run as a family business today. Langham Glass is in the market town of Fakenham about 10 miles from the North Norfolk Coast.
The visitor centre is open all year round and you can see glassmakers using original old techniques to create the well known and collectable finest handmade crystal in the glasshouse. Langham Glass offers new experiences for visitors to join the famous glassmaking team to learn how to create beautiful glass on a one-to-one basis. The shop gives visitors the opportunity to purchase their favourite pieces before they leave.
Pop Up Shops at Dalegate Market
Pop Up Shops change every week at Dalegate Market. You’ll usually find four new and interesting Pop Up Shops, in the beach huts behind Deepdale Cafe, from Thursday to the following Tuesday each week throughout the Summer and weekends in the run up to Christmas.
Full listings of all Pop Up Shops can be found on the Dalegate Market website and the listings will be updated as Pop Up Shops are confirmed.
Walk the Norfolk Coastal Path
A large part of the path will take you through the stunning landscape of the Norfolk Coast, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. From Hunstanton to Sea Palling, it passes through areas rich in wildlife, extensive sandy and shingle beaches, saltmarshes, freshwater marshes and pine woodland. Look out for large flocks of geese in the winter, coming in to safely spend the night on Holkham Nature Reserve, and the views out to Blakeney Point, known for its colony of seals. Walk as far as you chose and then return to your cottage on the Coasthopper bus.
Farmers Market at Creake Abbey
Once a month over 50 of the region’s best food and drink producers come to Creake Abbey to supply outstanding fresh seasonal produce including meat, vegetables and fruit, cakes, tray bakes, dairy produce, artisan beer, apple juice, artisan breads, morning goods, puddings, pies, tarts, olives and prepared meals, all made with the finest local ingredients. Other events take place at Creake Abbey too, find out more below.
Houghton Hall and Gardens
Built in the 1720s, for Sir Robert Walpole, Britain’s First Prime Minister, Houghton Hall is one of the finest Palladian Houses in England. The Hall is now the home of the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, Walpole’s descendent, and his family.
Surrounded by traditional parkland, Houghton has a spectacular herd of white fallow deer. The award winning five acre Walled Garden includes a spectacular double-sided herbaceous border, a formal rose parterre, and a rustic temple designed by Julian and Isabel Bannerman. There is also a sculpture park featuring an impressive collection of contemporary sculptures acquired by Lord Cholmondeley.
Sandringham Estate
Sandringham is the much-loved Country Retreat of the Royal Family, and has been the private home to four generations of British monarchs since 1862.
Sandringham Royal Parkland spans over 243 hectares for visitors to enjoy. It is open daily throughout the year to walk or cycle and is dog friendly with a natural woodland Children’s Play Area, there are also two waymarked Nature Trails and an orienteering trail.
Eight main ground floor rooms used by The Royal Family inside Sandringham House, full of their treasured ornaments, portraits, and furniture, are open to the public from April -October along with the sixty-acre gardens include the formal North Garden, the Stream Walk and Queen Alexandra’s Summerhouse, perched above the lake.
North Norfolk Railway
Described by the Daily Telegraph as one of the UK’s great five heritage railways, The Poppy Line offers a spectacularly scenic ride from Sheringham along the coast to Weybourne and through the heathland to Holt. Enjoy unlimited hop on, hop off travel all day with rover tickets.
Alight at each station to discover hidden gems including the William Marriott Museum, meticulously crafted model railways, buffets, souvenir shops, and the picturesque stations themselves!