A Guide to Norfolk’s Beaches

A Guide to Norfolk’s Beaches

With 90 miles of coastline to explore, it’s safe to say that Norfolk boasts its fair share of beaches- including six with Blue Flag status! (You might recognise them from a film or two!) 

From seaside resorts, popular since Victorian times, to tranquil, windswept shores home to thousands of migrating birds. Follow the coast road, winding through charming villages, past flint cottages, fields and working harbours, and stumble across expansive views that stretch out to the horizon beyond. 

Whether you’re walking the Norfolk Coast Path, diving age-old wrecks or spending your summer break in our beautiful county, this is your guide to beaches in Norfolk!

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For Sand: Wells-next-the-Sea & Holkham 

When you picture a beach, chances are you imagine swathes of soft, white sand. Add long, wide-reaching waves, grass-topped dunes hugging the shoreline backed by earthy pine forest and you’ve got Wells-next-the-Sea and Holkham. 

Wells-next-the-Sea is a buzzing working harbour, dotted with fishing and sailing boats, independent shops and undeniably tempting fish and chips. Stretching out ahead, the mile-long spit makes for a relaxing stroll. Your reward? A beautiful beach lined with picture-postcard beach huts, home to sunbathing seals and equally ideal for family days out and dog walks.  

Making your way west, Wells becomes Holkham, a stunning stretch of slightly wilder, windswept shores that are a favourite of film directors, the Household Cavalry and locals alike! As part of Holkham National Nature Reserve, this unspoilt landscape becomes a network of marshes, creaks and inlets, home to rare species of flora and fauna and breeding birds. 

For History: West Runton 

Norwich is no stranger to incredible history, and neither is the Norfolk coast! West Runton is part of a stretch of coastline known as the Deep History Coast– and for good reason. Namely, the West Runton Mammoth. 

In 1990, locals discovered the pelvic bone of a large mammoth sticking out of the cliff face, which lead to an excavation in 1995, unearthing the most complete and oldest skeleton of a Steppe mammoth (living between 1.2million and 200,000 years ago) ever found in Britain. You can find out more about the mammoth and Deep History Coast in Sheringham and Cromer Museums, as well as the beach cafe at West Runton (great for a sandwich and local Ronaldo’s ice cream, by the way).  

While you’re here, we recommend explore the layers of this fascinating landscape (just don’t climb the cliffs!). Beneath the shingle is a hidden bed of chalk and clay, perfect for rock pooling and crab hunting! Above, climb Beeston Bump– the highest point in Norfolk. It was once home to a WWII Y Station used to intercept German E-boat radio signals, boasts geology from the Pleistocene period and acted as inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles! 

For Traditional Seaside: Sheringham & Cromer 

If you’re looking for a quintessential British seaside experience, look no further. Just 4 miles apart, Sheringham and Cromer have been popular seaside towns since the boom of rail travel in Victorian times.  

In Sheringham, explore the town’s buzzing weekly market before ambling down their bustling high street. Along the promenade, make your way west to the boating lake and Peter Coke Shell Museum; east for pebbled beaches, sunshine-hued beach huts and impressive cliffs. If you’re feeling peckish, we recommend grabbing lunch at Whelk Coppers Tea Rooms– admire the sea view as you tuck into a deliciously fresh crab sandwich.  

At Cromer, head to No. 1 or Mary Jane’s for fish and chips (not to mention Windows Ice Cream for that all-important Mr Whippy) and settle down on a bench overlooking Cromer Pier. Celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2026, this Norfolk landmark is home to the world’s only full season end-of-the-pier show! Alongside the Pavilion Theatre, you can admire the RNLI’s lifeboat up close and try your hand at crabbing for the town’s famous crustacean. Elsewhere, explore Cromer lighthouse, play mini golf, spot architecture from Norfolk’s Gaudi George Skipper and even see an original Banksy painted on the sea wall. 

For Sunsets: Hunstanton 

Whilst Lowestoft (on the Norfolk-Suffolk border) may be known as being the first place to see the sunrise in the UK, Hunstanton claims the title as the only west-facing resort on the east coast, perfect for stunning sunset views.  

Sunny Hunny is also a fantastic getaway for all things seaside- think funfair, SEALIFE centre and bucket-and-spade beach days, but it’s Old Hunstanton beach– complete with striped Carrstone cliffs and steam trawler wreck that make for the most picturesque spot to watch the sun go down. Thanks to Norfolk’s sprawling landscapes, our skies are equally sweeping and a sunset here is one bursting with colour- be it deep orange flames or vivid pink wisps on pastel clouds.  

For Seals: Horsey, Winterton & Blakeney 

It’s not unusual to see seals bobbing along wherever you are on the Norfolk coast. If you keep your eyes peeled, you’ll soon spot shiny noses and round eyes watching you from the waves.  

In winter (late October – February), Horsey and Winterton welcome breeding Atlantic Grey seals and their thousands of pups. It’s a sight that’s both adorable and fascinating as you watch the natural world at play. Safety measures are in place to make sure the seals are given plenty of distance- you can wonder at the sight from above the beach, but it’s not unusual to stumble upon a pup or two rolling around in the dunes!  

Throughout the rest of the year, why not head to Blakeney and Morston for a seal-watching boat trip? Blakeney Point is home to England’s largest grey seal colony and there are plenty of options to see these beautiful creatures a little closer in the warmer months (binoculars recommended). Not only will you get to watch them lolling on the beach and stretching out under the sun, but you’ll get a new perspective winding through our wildlife-rich salt marshes! 

For a Resort: Great Yarmouth

Dubbed the Golden Mile, Great Yarmouth is one of the country’s most popular seaside resorts. And it’s not hard to see why! 

The town’s long stretch of soft sand is framed by the North Sea on one side, a lively mix of attractions, independent food and drink spots, Victorian architecture and greens on the other.  

Here, it’s all at your fingertips. There’s a riot of eye-catching amusement arcades, interspersed with adventure golf, horse-drawn carriage rides and the Britannia Pier (2026’s Pier of the Year). Not to mention, the Hippodrome Circus– the floor is one of only three worldwide that sinks into a swimming pool!  

On the North Beach, you can glide along the restored Venetian Waterways– we recommend lunch at nearby The Beach Hut. And on the South Beach, it’s got to be a visit to the Pleasure Beach! This amusement park is packed with thrilling rides and family favourites (who doesn’t love the snails?), including the iconic wooden rollercoaster (one of only seven operating scenic railways in the world that you’ll recognise from Madness’ House of Fun music video)!