Things to do in North Norfolk in September 2024

September is a lovely time to visit north Norfolk. The weather is still good, the sea is warm, the countryside is looking beautiful, there’s lots of wildlife to spot, everything is still open and it's much less crowded. There are also some fantastic events taking place so it’s the ideal time for a short break or weekend away. Here’s a list of our favourite things to do in September 2024 in north Norfolk.

A Taste of North Norfolk.  The North Norfolk Food & Drink Festival is taking place on 31 August and 1 September 2024 at Holkham Hall. Featuring an ever-growing team of local food and drink producers who grow, rear, produce, supply and sell food in North Norfolk, the festival takes place in the spectacular setting of the Walled Garden at Holkham Hall. Stall holders will be offering their products for sale including fresh meat and game, vegetables, cakes, artisan beer, bread, tarts, juices, cakes and bakes, chocolates and much more. A dazzling array of concessions offer delicious food for eating on site and entertainment ranges from the ever popular cookery theatre to children’s activities and face painting. Find out more here.

Heritage Open Days. The annual Heritage Open Days running from 6 to 15 September 2024, is England's largest festival of history and culture. The event offers you a chance to see inside sights of historic and cultural interest, some that are rarely accessible to members of the public. There are lots of great things to see and do across Norfolk, but here in north Norfolk you can drop in to see a largely unspoilt Methodist Chapel in historic Walsingham, spend the afternoon taking in the wartime history of Sheringham Park, visit Cromer Museum to explore the museum and browse the Geology Gallery. You can also uncover the history of Cromer Pier,enjoy a brass band on the pier, then step into the Pavilion Theatre to watch a short film that explains the vast history of The Cromer Pier Show and the pier itself. There are lots of other free events; see the Heritage Open Days website for further details.

Antony Gormley at Houghton Hall. The highly-acclaimed exhibition Time Horizon, one of Antony Gormley’s most spectacular large-scale installations, is being shown at Houghton Hall in Norfolk until 31 October 2024. It is the first time the work has been staged in the UK. The artist has installed one work in the lower hall (Arcade) at Houghton and, buried to half its height, this gives the level of the rest of the works, which span some 300 acres. The 100 life-size sculptures therefore create a single horizontal plane across the landscape. Some are buried, allowing only the head to be visible, while others are sunk to the chest or knees according to the topography.  Only occasionally do they stand on the existing surface.  Around a quarter of the works are placed on columns that vary from a few centimetres high to several meters off the ground. Two are in the award-winning Walled Garden, where they survey the landscape from four metre high plinths. Find out more here.

The North Norfolk Railway Steam Back to the 1940s weekend is taking place on 21 and 22 September 2024. Swing back in time for a weekend of live music, stunning classic vehicles, vintage trade stands, historical displays, and wartime fashions, all accompanied by a frequent steam service. Get involved with everything the event has to offer and enjoy unlimited hop on hop off travel along the 5.5 mile line all day with event tickets, or simply experience the displays, music and trade stands at Holt with a Holt Exhibition ticket. Find out more here.

Cromer Artspace on the Prom. Cromer Artspace's Artspace on the Prom is a fantastic addition to Cromer`s art community, sitting in a beautiful art deco building along the water`s edge. It is a great space for people to see and exhibit art, participate in creative activities and attend art events. Visitors can enjoy a variety of shows: representational and abstract, 2D and 3D, from East Anglia and beyond. Throughout the season there will be something of interest. Find out more. 

Festival fun. Head to the Deepdale Festival, 26 to 29 September 2024, for a weekend of fantastic food and great live music. The small, but perfectly formed, folk festival takes place across three stages and will host more than 40 superb acts. Headliners this year include: Man the Lifeboats, Track Dogs, Skinny Lister and Brown Horse. See the programme here.

Theatre shows. There is still time to see the world famous Cromer Pier Show which is running until 28 September 2024. You can expect all the usual West End production values, including a jaw-dropping eight-metre video wall, traditional scene sets, bespoke costumes, spectacular lighting effects, and so much more. Kev Orkian is the special guest on stage from 3 September to 28 September. With his trademark charm and magnetic stage presence, Kev Orkian is set to once again captivate audiences with his unique brand of comedy and music. Find out more here.

Just around the coast at Sheringham is the Sheringham Little Theatre which has a great range of entertainment in September. The Cromer Special on 6 September 2024 features a performance about two lifelong best friends working at a chip shop navigating love, laughter, and the challenges of their last summer holiday together. Enjoy music from Steemy Dan - Reelin' in the Years on 7 September 2024 and on 14 September 2024, Marcella’s Minute to Midnight sees Marcella’s awakening happens in her mid-sixties when a botched eBay order forces her into the loft and prompts the de-cluttering of a lifetime. The opera screening of The Marriage of Figaro takes place on 15 September and on 18 September, there is a screening of the National Theatre Live: Prima Facie. To coincide with the forties weekend on the railway, the theatre will be holding a 1940s sing-along on the 20 and 21 September with The Knightingales. A ballet screening of Edward Scissorhands: Matthew Bourne’s dance version of Tim Burton’s classic is on 25 September 2024 and you can enjoy comedy with James Rowland Dies At The End of the Show on 26 September 2024. Finally, STELLA GOODEY Sophisticated Lady: The Diva Collection brings a muscial end to the September showings. Find out more here.

Mannington Hall hosts it's annual charity day on 1 September 2024 from 11am to 5pm. The day will be raising funds for Save the Children and promises to be a wonderful time for all the family. The 20-acre estate surrounding the 15th century hall, offers walks, trails and beautifully landscaped gardens. Keep an eye on the Mannington Hall website here for further details.

Marvellous museums. North Norfolk is home to many marvellous museums, providing a chance to explore the area’s past and get hands on with history. Head to Cromer Museum and step inside a cosy Victorian fisherman's cottage and imagine what it was like to live in Cromer at the end of the 19th Century; or explore the country's only original Cold War Operations Room at RAF Air Defence Radar Museum Neatishead. Housed entirely in RAF buildings, including the hardened Grade 2 listed 1942 radar operations building, the museum provides a unique window into the history of radar covering the period of WW2 to the Cold War. There are 24 exhibition rooms and over 10,000 display items. A great day out whatever the weather. (Check ahead for opening details and times before you visit). Find out more here.

Delve into the Deep History Coast. With the coastline less crowded, September is a great time to discover the unique Deep History Coast in north Norfolk. This stretch of coast is home to discoveries of some of the world's most significant natural assets. Try fossil hunting, take a walk along the Discovery Trail and see the past come to life through an app! Find out more about this fascinating coastline steeped in millions of years worth of history.

A home away from home. North Norfolk is home to many stately homes, dotted around the countryside. Head to National Trust properties, Blickling and Felbrigg as well as Houghton Hall & Gardens with its gorgeous grounds. Visit Palladian Holkham with a superb estate just a stone’s throw from Holkham beach, and take a look round the Royal Family’s Sandringham. Many of the stately homes have exhibitions such as Field to Fork at Holkham Hall or the Soldier Museum at Houghton Hall, the largest private collection of model soldiers in the world. Find out more here. 

Go boating on the Broads. The Broads National Park is home to more than quarter of the rarest wildlife in the UK as well as 125-miles of tranquil, lock-free waterways. Hire a boat during September and take advantage of the less crowded mooring spots; hire a day boat or for a long-weekend or for a week on the water, rent out a cruiser for a few days.

Wonderful wildlife. September is an ideal time of year to see migrating birds starting to arrive to the area. You may be lucky enough to see arctic skuas, Leach’s storm-petrels and long-tailed skuas. Listen out in woodlands for rutting red deer stags and keep an eye out for otters on the Broads. For underwater wildlife, head to West Runton and see what you can find in the rockpools. You could see velvet swimming-crabs, long-spined sea-scorpions and beadlet anemones. Find out more.

Amazing attractions. If you’re planning to come with little ones, north Norfolk’s attractions are still open. Choose from getting close to nature attractions such as Pensthorpe Natural Park, Amazona Zoo, Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens and Fairhaven Woodland & Water Garden. Swing through the treetops at Bewilderwood, have fun at Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure and have under-water capers at Sealife Hunstanton. 

Sail with the seals. A boat trip at Blakeney Point, will take you out to the largest colony of Common and Grey seals in England. Sail among the seals who bob up to see you. Find out more here.

Beautiful beaches. Explore over 45 miles of unspoilt coastline along the north Norfolk coast and discover award-winning and Blue Flag beaches. Walk along the Deep History Coast where historical discoveries such as the mammoth skeleton, have been made dating back hundreds of thousands of years. Most of the coast is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, meaning it has natural features of exceptional beauty. There are less crowds and if you go early in the morning, you may well have the beach to yourself. Find out more about beaches here.

Stride out. The walking and cycling trails in north Norfolk take in the most stunning coastal and countryside views. There are plenty of trails to suit all abilities from the 63-mile Norfolk Coast Path between Hunstanton and Sea Palling, to short circular trails ideal for an afternoon stroll. Autumn is a wonderful time to take to the trails where you can enjoy nature and wildlife the season brings.