If afternoon tea set in idyllic surroundings followed by a leisurely walk through picturesque landscapes is your ideal of an ideal vacation, then Norfolk is most certainly the place for you. Located on the mid-coast of England, Norfolk boasts beautiful countryside, a stunning coastline and wonderful nature reserves. Visitors to the pretty area can also enjoy fun-filled trips to Great Yarmouth, wonderful heritage, culture and shopping attractions in Norwich City and the magic waterland that is the Norfolk Broads. Top each day off devouring some of the country's best fresh, seasonal food which can be found in superb restaurants and gastropubs no matter where you find yourself stopping to refuel.
Where to stay
If the many charming features of Norfolk have got you reeled in and booking your next vacation to the destination is on the cards, it is now time to decide where to stay. Luckily the county has a wide selection of holiday accommodation which is as pleasing as its awe-inspiring countryside. Enjoy the feeling of a home away from home by booking a holiday apartment. Pick one close to a local food store and benefit from the equipped kitchen provided. If you want to lay back and enjoy a more carefree stay in Norfolk, book a comfortable room in a bed and breakfast. A wide selection of holiday homes are also on offer whether they be in the heritage city of Norwich or next to the lapping waves of the sea.
Fun Facts
- Norfolk has 659 medieval churches which is the highest concentration in the world!
- The built-up churchyard of St. George's in Tombland in Norwich is estimated to hold up to 10,000 dead bodies!
- Norfolk is the driest county in the UK!
- Formerly a brewhouse for workers building the Cathedral, the Adam and Eve Pub is Norfolk’s oldest and was built in 1249!
- The balcony of Norwich City Hall is the longest in the UK at 365 feet!
Things to see and do in Norfolk
Start the day by taking a morning stroll along the 100-mile long Norfolk coastline and ponder how to choose from the many wonderful attractions the county has to offer. A good place to begin are the fantastic wildlife and nature sites present. Start with Banham Zoo which is home to over 2,000 animals. If such family-pleasing attractions are what appeals to you, then be sure to check out Bewilderwood Adventure Park where younger generations can discover outdoor treehouses, jungle bridges and marsh walks. For something a little more adventurous visit Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, a historic free entry pleasure park located in the seaside resort town of Great Yarmouth.
Combine nature and history by spending some hours strolling through Bressingham Steam & Gardens which is a steam museum, gardens and garden centre. Stop by Nelson Museum to learn more about local hero Admiral Lord Nelson. To get a real historic sense of Norfolk, visit Time and Tide: The Museum of Great Yarmouth Life. It is set in one of the UK's best preserved Victorian herring curing works and is Norfolk's third largest museum. Those more technically minded will enjoy a trip to the City of Norwich Aviation Museum.
Those who enjoy architecture will be pleased to find many stunning buildings in Norfolk. Norwich Cathedral is a towering construction listed as one of the city’s 12 heritage sites. An equally beautiful building in Norwich City is St. John the Baptist Cathedral. Get the cameras ready to snap pictures of noteworthy Jacobean architecture and fine Georgian interior at Felbrigg Hall. Another picture-worthy attraction is the medieval royal fortification of Norwich Castle.
Getting around
Norwich International Airport is the only airport in the area with scheduled passenger services. KLM is the principal feeder airline at the small airport and provides four daily services to its international hub at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Unfortunately Norfolk cannot be accessed directly via ferry. However, frequent services are operated from the Hook of Holland to Harwich in Suffolk by Stena Line. Stena Line offer sell connecting train-ferry-train tickets from any station in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to any station in the Netherlands. Two principal train routes connect Norfolk with London, while an east-west railway crosses the counties of Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk. Visitors can also travel by bus from virtually any UK destination.
Once in Norfolk, visitors have a variety of travel options. As well as principal train lines running to London, a number of other lines travel through Norfolk and exceptionally scenic parts of the county. Numerous national, regional and local buses serve the area. Picturesque routes can also be easily and comfortably enjoyed by travelling with a car. Various walking and cycling routes can be found within the area.