Things to Do Within Less Than an Hour of Norwich

Things to Do Within Less Than an Hour of Norwich

by Katie Thompson

Norwich. Where an independent waterside city is just moments away from beautiful coastline, stunning greenery and miles of navigable waterways. Not to mention all the nature and wildlife that comes with it!

From here, you can do it all in a weekend and some of it without a car. Whether that’s watching seals bob up and down in the North Sea, boating in the Broads National Park or grabbing your binoculars for a walk in the countryside. Need we say more?

So, if you’re planning a few days or an even longer break in Norwich, here are the best things to do within less than an hour of the city.

Coast

From golden sands to pebbled shores. Throw in towering clay cliffs, windswept dunes and thriving marshlands and you’ve got the 100 miles that make up the Norfolk coast. 

Winterton-on-Sea & Horsey Gap

See the seals at Horsey Gap

//Travel: 38-minute drive; 1hr 30-minute bus journey (one change); 1hr 50-minute train and bus.
//See & Do: Seal-watching; walking. 

Winterton-on-Sea is a pretty coastal village and a walker’s paradise, complete with thatched cottages and a cosy pub on the green. 

With a great beach that’s dog-friendly and miles to explore (including a number of circular walks), the Winterton Dunes National Nature Reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Spot the rare natterjack toad, breeding birds or seals bobbing up and down in the water.  

Nearby Horsey Gap (14-minute drive or 7.5-mile coastal walk)- whose beach was recently recognised as one of the Best in Europe by TripAdvisor- is home to a colony of grey seals. Respecting these wild animals from afar, winter is a wonderful time to visit and see the newborn, wide-eyed pups.

Cromer

The views from Cromer Pier are breathtaking, especially with blue skies overhead

//Travel: 45-minute drive; 45-minute train journey; 55-minute bus journey.
//See & Do: Cromer Pier; crabbing. 

Cromer is a gorgeous Victorian town and traditional seaside resort ideal for exploring. 

Dip your toe, go for a swim or get paddleboarding lessons. Test out your golf skills on the clifftop putting green or take a walk along the beach and see if you can spot the Banksy at the far east sea wall before rewarding yourself with a coffee from North Sea Coffee Co. overlooking the beach. And it would be rude not to try some famous Cromer crab while you’re here! 

On the famous Cromer Pier, take in endless sea views out to the horizon, have a go at crabbing or visit the RNLI Lifeboat Station for a look first-hand at the amazing work they do.

Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth is known for its golden sands and traditional seaside attractions

//Travel: 40-minute drive; 36-minute train journey; 40-minute bus journey.
//See & Do: amusements; sandy beach. 

If your idea of a day at the beach involves arcade machines, fish and chips, and hot sugar-covered doughnuts, then Great Yarmouth is for you.  

Think ‘all the fun of the fair’ at the Pleasure Beach (March – October), home to the only working scenic railway in the UK and one of only seven in the world, plus amazing shows at the Hippodrome, Britain’s only surviving total circus building! Spend the day in the sun on Great Yarmouth’s long sandy beach, before a nostalgic donkey ride, 2p arcade machines and a creamy Mr Whippy (with flake, of course).  

And nearby Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens is a wonderful attraction, and something of a hidden gem, where you can come face to face with endangered big cats like Sumatran tigers and snow leopards, reptiles, monkeys and more on treetop walkways and in tropical houses (open daily).

Broads National Park

One of the UK’s 15 national parks, the Broads National Park boasts 125 miles of navigable waterways with plenty of places to enjoy the water and its incredible wildlife. 

Wroxham

Barton Broad is just a short journey from the bustling Broads capital of Wroxham

//Travel: 20-minute drive, 35-minute train journey, 37-minute bus journey.
//See & Do: boating, boardwalks. 

Known as the ‘heart of the Broads’, Wroxham is a bustling town where you can hire day boats (from Easter) and get out onto the winding river in your own little vessel, passing wonderful countryside and waterside dwellings. Plus, it’s home to Wroxham Miniature Worlds (times and days vary), the UK’s largest indoor modelling attraction, which is wonderfully entertaining for every generation. 

Close by, Barton Broad (22-minute drive) is open every day of the year for peaceful strolls on their boardwalk and views across the placid water, while Neatishead and Irstead (10-minute drive) are two quintessentially British villages with a charming pub and medieval church respectively.

Coltishall

Stop for respite at The Norfolk Mead and enjoy a trip on their yacht or treatment in the spa

//Travel: 20-minute drive, 25-minute train journey, 28-minute bus journey.
//See & Do: paddleboarding, alfresco eating. 

A riverside town in a lesser-known part of the Broads, Coltishall is a lovely spot to while away a few hours. It marks the start of the navigable portion of the River Bure, is home to a thatched village church and has a beautiful green by the river. Enjoy paddleboarding before stopping off for something to eat at The Rising Sun, perfect for relaxed outdoor dining on a summer’s day.  

Then sail away on The Norfolk Mead’s six-seater English Harbor Yacht (half or full day). You can even purchase picnics or afternoon tea to enjoy on the water. Or why not treat yourself to a indulging treatment in their luxury spa?

Thorpe St Andrew 

Breathe in and appreciate the beautiful scenery boating on the Broads

//Travel: 10-minute drive, 9-minute bus journey.
//See & Do: boating, riverside cafes. 

On the outskirts of Norwich, Thrope St Andrew is a local favourite, where bustling cafes look out across the riverside green and benches entice you to watch the world float by. (We recommend stopping at Bridgestones for a slice of cake- you won’t regret it!). 

From here, Bishy Barney Boats’ vivid red motorboats are available to hire. Make your way along the leafy River Yare, through quaint Broads villages and past thriving wildlife. If you’re lucky, you might even spot the elusive kingfisher! Stop at Bramerton or Surlingham for a waterside pub lunch before heading back towards the city.  

And if you want to start from the city centre, Pub & Paddle’s canoes will take you from Elm Hill Quay to the fringes of our city’s national park and back across a few tranquil hours.

Countryside 

Pensthorpe

Pensthorpe is just waiting to be explored

//Travel: 45-minute drive, 1hr 10-minute bus journey.
//See & Do: nature reserve. 

If you’re a real wildlife enthusiast, Pensthorpe can’t be missed. This 700-acre nature reserve epitomises our varied Norfolk landscape, with gardens, trails, indoor and outdoor play areas, bird hides and more. It’s perfect for every member of the family, from little ones taking their first outdoor steps to lifelong bird watchers.  

Stroll through whispering wildflower meadows humming with activity, listen to ethereal plant sounds in the Biosonification Garden and admire Pensthorpe’s brilliant pink flamingos before a homemade lunch in the bright and airy Courtyard Cafe.

Thetford Forest 

Head to the treetops with a Go Ape adventure

//Travel: 45-minute drive.
//See & Do: walking, cycling, Go Ape. 

As the country’s largest pine forest, Thetford Forest is made for getting out in the great outdoors of Breckland (they smell even better in balmy spring sunshine). With miles of trails to discover, you can lose yourself beneath the tall trees, open skies and twittering birds, whether you’re walking or cycling. We recommend bringing a picnic along to make a day of it. 

And for the thrill seekers among us, Go Ape is an exhilarating treetop adventure. High above in the forest’s green canopy, test your skills on obstacle courses, wobbly bridges, nets, and an exciting zipline finale!

Blickling 

Blickling is home to a hall full of history, beautiful manicured gardens and parkland made for walking

//Travel: 30-minute drive, 1hr 20-minute bus journey (one change).
//See & Do: Blickling Hall, gardens, walking. 

The birthplace of Anne Boleyn (her ghost is rumoured to walk the halls), Blickling Hall is a stunning Jacobean mansion full of history. 

As a National Trust property, you can explore the Hall’s wooden panelled interiors or amble around the 55-acre formal garden. In spring, fragrant blooms attract flitting butterflies and are a rainbow of colour amid the luscious green lawns. There are also ancient yews, a lake and walled kitchen garden. 

In the parkland, you can walk or cycle through woodland and farmland, before a light lunch at The Stables cafe.