Final Up to date
I like to journey as a lot as doable, however after I return to the UK, there’s nowhere I would relatively be than in Norfolk.
Norfolk is an unimaginable county within the East of England that doesn’t all the time get the eye it deserves.
12 million guests come to Norfolk yearly (plus a whopping 40 million day trippers) however regardless of this Norfolk manages to slide under the radar when worldwide vacationers are in search of UK journey choices.
However I believe that’s a giant mistake!
Right here’s what you have to learn about visiting Norfolk, a real hidden gem:
Stunning Seashores
I’ve traveled the world (greater than as soon as!), however a number of the most stunning seashores I’ve seen are in Norfolk.
There are such a lot of unimaginable choices obtainable to you, and you might go to a distinct Norfolk seaside every single day of the 12 months and nonetheless not see all of them.
One in every of my favorites is Sea Palling which is on the North Norfolk coast.
The waters listed below are calmed by man-made coastal defence reefs which makes it an important place for swimming in the summertime months in addition to my favourite place to take out my paddle board.
As a result of it’s a small and comparatively hidden seaside, there isn’t wherever to rent paddleboards on the seaside right here.
However I like to recommend hiring your board from Norwich Paddle Board rent, with costs ranging from £27.99 ($34.85) for a full-day rent after which touring with it to your most well-liked coastal location.
The employees listed below are so educated and pleasant!
If calm seas aren’t your factor, then for the wild waves, I like to move to Hemsby Seaside.
It is a stunning spot to look at the waves crashing to the shore year-round.
One other nice and extra well-known seaside spot is the standard seaside city of Cromer.
Cromer is so properly cherished that the well-known road artist Banksy visited and left his mark: a bit of road artwork titled ‘The Nice British Spraycation.’
Cromer has a really totally different really feel to Sea Palling.
It attracts extra vacationers and is a standard seaside city with a traditional Victorian pier, which is a superb place to take your line and bucket and check out your hand at crabbing.
The seaside is way larger right here and if you happen to dream of browsing within the North Sea then Glide Surf Faculty have an important popularity.
I’m too cowardly for chilly water browsing however their summer season surf faculties are wildly well-liked!
For me, the very best factor about visiting Cromer is consuming fish and chips at No 1 Cromer.
This isn’t solely an award-winning fish and chip store however I believe it’s the very best chip store within the UK! Order additional tartare sauce in your cod, you gained’t remorse it!
Lastly, throughout the winter months, I bundle up and head to Horsey Hole.
Between November and January, the seaside right here is crowded with 1000’s of seasons and their pups.
This is without doubt one of the largest seal colonies within the UK.
To guard the seals you may stroll alongside the cliffs to look at them from above with out intervening with the breeding course of.
The Norfolk Broads
Relating to issues to do in Norfolk, spending time on the Norfolk Broads is one among my favourite issues to do.
The Norfolk Broads (formally often called the Norfolk Broads Nationwide Park) is an space of excellent pure magnificence characterised by principally navigable rivers and lakes.
Most of the cities and villages that punctuate the Norfolk Broads Nationwide Park are breathtakingly stunning (and I’m not simply saying that as a result of I reside in a single!)
One of the best ways to discover the Broads is by boat.
There are dozens of boat rent corporations in Norfolk however I frequently use Broom Boats within the village of Brandall the place you may rent your individual day cruiser for as much as 6 folks.
Pack a picnic and take to the waters, or higher nonetheless sail from pub to pub and cease to refuel each time the urge takes you.
On a smaller scale I like the Pub and Paddle tours which you could take alongside sections of the broads.
That is nice if you happen to take pleasure in paddleboarding, or don’t really feel comfy steering a ship.
My favourite route takes you from Norwich to Surlingham. Surlingham Broad is a must-see for nature lovers and you’ll move by a whopping 6 totally different pubs on the route.
When you solely have time to cease at one, select the Rushcutters Arms.
Nature lovers will love Shrumpshaw Fen, an RSPCB reserve within the village of Shrumpshaw.
Entrance prices simply £4.50 (round $5) and I used to be fortunate sufficient to see a kingfisher on my final go to. If recognizing uncommon British birds is your factor then that is the place to be!
Norwich: A High quality Metropolis
It might be inconceivable to speak about visiting Norfolk with out mentioning Norwich.
Norwich is the one metropolis in Norfolk, and it’s recognized for its medieval fort and two cathedrals.
Norwich is probably the most full medieval metropolis in England and an actual mecca for historical past buffs.
The fort maintain has been present process renovations for years, however these are lastly on account of be full this summer season.
I can’t wait to see the way it appears when it’s completed because it was a captivating place to discover earlier than the renovations started.
Positively a spot price exploring within the metropolis!
From the fort, it takes simply 5 minutes to stroll to town’s fundamental cathedral.
Norwich Cathedral is an iconic landmark and the true coronary heart of town. In the summertime months, you’ll discover pals and households picnicking and taking part in within the gardens that encompass it.
It is one among my favourite locations to calm down.
Town’s 2nd cathedral, The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist, sits simply outdoors town middle and is taken into account much less of a vacationer attraction.
Behind the cathedral, you’ll discover Elm Hill, which is a giant vacationer attraction that also manages to really feel like a abandoned, hidden a part of Norwich.
Elm Hill is a historic cobbled lane and lots of the buildings date again to the Tudor interval, making it one of many oldest streets within the UK.
A distinct segment curiosity I do know, however if you happen to’re on Elm Hill I like to recommend stopping within the Bear Store.
It’s an old school retailer devoted to promoting teddy bears and the proper place to choose up a present.
So A lot To See And Do
Norwich is a vibrant metropolis with a youthful and liberal inhabitants. It’s a spot the place there’s all the time one thing occurring and it’s by no means exhausting to have enjoyable!
There are fixed theater performances, gigs, and music festivals going down right here.
My favourite time to be in Norwich is in Could when the Norfolk and Norwich competition takes place.
The streets and parks of town come alive with free leisure and you can too purchase tickets for arts or comedy occasions.
The competition has an actual household really feel with occasions to swimsuit all ages. My children sit up for it yearly!
One of many first details I realized about Norwich after I moved to town was that it has a church for each week of the 12 months and a pub for every single day of the 12 months.
And if you happen to’re seeking to discover conventional British pub tradition, then you definately positively gained’t be upset!
A few of my favourite pubs embody The Murderers, The Fats Cat, and the Unthank Arms.
For craft cocktails, I like to recommend Mr Postles’ Apothecary in Tombland, which is my favourite place to fulfill pals within the metropolis because of the relaxed environment, nice music, and the Mr Postles’ Zombie and the Cherry Bitter, the very best drinks on the menu (I’ve tried all of them so that you just don’t need to!)
The Finest Locations To Eat In Norfolk
I think about myself a foodie and like to eat good high quality, regionally sourced meals. It doesn’t need to be fancy, nevertheless it have to be scrumptious!
Listed below are my suggestions for locations to cease for a chew in Norfolk:
- The Ingham Swan. From the surface this 14th century thatched constructing appears like an old-world pub, however inside it’s a up to date fine-dining restaurant. The smoked haddock on the Sunday lunch menu is price touring for.
- Fizz and Fromage. I like cheese so this cheese-based restaurant in Wroxham is my dream come true. Each dish on the menu incorporates native British cheeses, washed down with a bottle of candy prosecco. When you order 24 hours prematurely you may take pleasure in a traditional English afternoon tea right here.
- Junkyard. When you’re in search of casual road meals then this world road food and drinks market is a superb place to be, particularly when the solar is shining. Outside seating and an ever-changing choice of meals stalls make this among the best locations to be in Norwich on a Saturday afternoon. If the BucketList is in residence, their loaded fries are all the time the very best factor on the menu.
Getting To Norfolk
Norfolk is way more than an alternative choice to London, it’s an unimaginable vacation spot in its personal proper.
Though Norwich has its personal airport, the worldwide choices are each restricted and costly, so flying right here instantly isn’t advisable.
In actual fact, I’ve lived in Norwich for 12 years, and I’ve by no means used Norwich airport!
The closest London airport to Norfolk is London Stansted, which is my most well-liked London airport due to its handy location.
When you’re spending time in London earlier than you head East then from London the best method to get to Norfolk is to take the practice from London Liverpool Avenue station to Norwich station.
It is a direct practice route (so no inconvenient modifications) and the journey solely takes 1 hour and 49 minutes.
The most cost effective method to get tickets for this practice is to ebook as far prematurely as doable instantly by way of the Higher Anglia web site.
When you get to Norwich, if you wish to get out of town and discover as a lot of it as doable (and you actually ought to!), I like to recommend hiring a automobile.
Like most rural public transport within the UK, getting round a number of the smaller and lesser-known locations within the area may be difficult.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your e-mail handle to subscribe to Journey Off Path’s newest breaking journey information, straight to your inbox.
This text initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed below are the creator’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, accredited or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included inside the publish.
