Fifteen Must-See sights in North Norfolk

There is plenty to see and do all year round in north Norfolk. If you’re planning a trip, we’ve listed the top fifteen must-see sights that will make your visit to north Norfolk truly unique. And if you're looking for family fun, there are some amazing attractions in north Norfolk. Find out more here. 

Cromer Pier. Cromer is famous for its pier which also houses a lifeboat station and popular Pavilion Theatre, 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! Find out more about Cromer here. 

Holkham Hall. This 18th century Palladian house, sits within a 25,000 acre estate on the north Norfolk coast and is home to the 8th Earl of Leicester and his family. Surrounded by rolling parkland, the estate is home to Fallow Deer as well as historical landmarks.

Houghton Hall & Gardens. Displayed in the grounds of the 18th century Hall, home to Britain’s first Prime Minister, is an impressive collection of contemporary sculptures by world-renowned artists. A stroll around the grounds will reveal works including Richard Long, James Turrell, Zhan Wang, Stephen Cox, Anya Gallaccio and Jeppe Hein’s amazing water flame.

Broads National Park. The man-made Broads is the only National Park with a city (Norwich) in it! The calm tranquil 125 miles of lock free waterways winds through the stunning Norfolk countryside with pretty towns and villages along the way. The Broads National Park is also home to over a quarter of the rarest plants and animals in the UK. You can hire a cruiser for a break on the water, a day boat or canoe/kayak to explore the waterways. Or if you prefer to stay on land, there's plenty to do around the Broads. You can walk one of the many trails or hire a bike and explore by pedal power. There's also plenty of places to eat as well as some amazing attractions, including Bewilderwood, Bure Valley Railway and the Museum of the Broads.

Royal Sandringham. The Royal Family's country retreat is one of the most famous historic houses in Norfolk, set in fine gardens and with a fascinating museum housing a collection of vehicles ranging from the first car owned by a British monarch, to a half-scale Aston Martin used by Princes William and Harry.

Beach huts at Wells. Providing an iconic backdrop to the beach at Wells-next-the-Sea are the row of colourful beach huts standing on stilts in front of the pinewoods. Mostly privately owned, the huts can mainly only be admired, however some accommodation providers, allow the use of a beach hut during your stay.

There are also charming beach huts at Cromer, Sheringham and Mundesley which you can rent on weekly basis.

Seals. Blakeney Point is home to Common and Grey seals and is one of the largest winter colonies in England, with around 3,000 pups. Grey seals have their young between November and January and common seals have their pups between June and August. Hop on a boat from Morston Quay or Blakeney harbour to see the seals bobbing around the water or basking on the banks. You can also see the seals at Horsey via waymarked routes and you can often spot them all along the coastline bobbing around the shore.  Find out more here.

Heritage Railways. With three beautifully restored century-old stations, the North Norfolk Railway runs from Sheringham to Holt, and is one of the most scenic heritage railways in the UK. The journey takes in some of the most unique views of the coast and countryside and the sight of the steam train making its way through the landscape is a sight to behold. You can also take a journey on Wells & Walsingham Light Railway, the world's smallest public railway! Or travel between the Broads villages of Wroxham and Alysham on Bure Valley Railway. 

Sunsets. North Norfolk’s location means throughout the year, you will always catch sight of an amazing sunset. Wherever you are along the coast you won’t be disappointed with the sight of the setting sun. Some of the most impressive can be found at Wells-next-the-Sea, Cromer, Brancaster, Hunstanton and Burnham Overy Staithe.

Household Cavalry on Holkham Beach. In June each year, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment swaps its London base for a three-week visit to north Norfolk for its rural regimental training camp. The sight of over 100 horses and 200 cavalrymen taking a training exercise along the shores of Holkham Beach is truly incredible.

Snowdrops at Walsingham Abbey. Walsingham Abbey is surrounded by 18 acres of stunning grounds and gardens. In Spring, there is a spectacular display of snowdrops. It really is an amazing natural spectacle and provides you with the opportunity to see other rare flowers as well. The carpet of snowdrops is prevalent due to the perfect conditions; deciduous woodland with chalky, alkaline, humus-rich soil with good drainage, which never dries out in summer and the open tree canopy lets through plenty of light. There are Snowdrop Walk events in the Spring; find out more here.

Deep History Coast. The unique Deep History Coast in north-east Norfolk is where some of the earliest evidence of human British civilisation was found in the form of footsteps left by the UK's first tourists nearly one million years ago. The most well-known find was the world's biggest mammoth skeleton remains at West Runton and in Happsiburgh, a 550,000 year old flint axe was unearthed. (Also at Happisburgh, you will see the famous red and white striped lighthouse; the oldest working light (built in 1790) in the county and the only independently operated lighthouse in the UK. In the summer, it is open to visitors on occasional Sundays).

An afternoon beach combing and rock pooling will lead to some fascinating finds with the backdrop of a stunning coastline.

The Northern Lights. North Norfolk is one of the few places in the UK where you can see the aurora borealis (Northern Lights). Both Kelling Heath and Wiveton Downs, have Dark Sky Discovery Status. This means the area is unaffected by light pollution, ideal for star gazing. Find out more about dark skies.

Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The north Norfolk coastline is a unique area of remarkable beauty, scientific importance and diversity. It is therefore designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which means it is one of the UK’s most cherished and outstanding landscapes and to ensure its preservation, the area has legal status. Here you will find stunning views, rare wildlife and nature, and an incredible coastline to enjoy.

Blue Flag Beaches. There are Blue Flag beaches at Sheringham, Cromer and West Runton. This means you will find some of the safest and cleanest bathing waters in the country at these beaches as well as some of the most breath-taking landscapes.