Broads Town & Villages

Dotted around the Broads National Park are a group of villages and towns within easy reach of the coast and countryside as well as the city of Norwich, ideally situated for boating holidays and day hires along Britain's largest protected wetland. 

The man-made Broads National Park is the third largest inland waterway and home to over a quarter of the rarest plants and animals in the UK. Broads villages Wroxham, Hoveton, Coltishall, Horning and Stalham are enjoyable all year round with beautiful scenery and plenty to do.

Wroxham, known as the capital of the Norfolk Broads, sits on the bank of the River Bure. Wroxham is the hub for hiring boats for day trips and holidays as well as exploring the Broads National Park. You will also find Bure Balley Railway, a narrow-gauge train line running steam and diesel trains to Aylsham taking in stunning views along the way. There is a thriving shopping centre in Wroxham with a department store, supermarket and plenty of places to eat and stop off for a drink overlooking the Broads.

Hoveton is about a mile away across the bridge at Wroxham and you will find the St Peter's 17th century church as well as award winning BeWILDerwood, an adventure park with 50 acres of wild, outdoor treehouses and Wroxham Barns with a farm, indoor play area, mini golf, shops and restaurant. Stop off at Hoveton Hall Gardens and enjoy a walk around the pretty gardens.

A short distance away is the picturesque village of Horning. This charming village, dating back to 1020, has not changed much over the last 100 years and has places to stay with river views and private moorings, pubs, shops and a village green at the centre, where a fete is held each summer. You can also take a trip to Ranworth on the double-decked paddle-steamer and watch the many sailing events, including the annual Three Rivers Race.

The historic town of Coltishall was the centre of the maltings industry for over 200 years and was home to boatbuilding yards, where the traditional Norfolk wherries were made. The town is now the gateway to the Norfolk Broads and the staith is a hive of boating activity in the summer. You’ll also discover a renowned tearoom, riverside pubs and a country manor.

At the northern end of the Norfolk Broads is Stalham, a small market town by the River Ant and is home to the Museum of the Broads, open in spring and summer, where you can take a boat trip. Only four miles from a sandy beach, Stalham has shops and places to eat, and the staith is a busy centre where you can rent boats for breaks.

The villages and towns along the Broads National Park offer an ideal base for a holiday any time of year with stunning scenery and a raft of wildlife, ideal for exploring by boat, walking routes or hire a bike and stop off at pubs along the way.