Since getting our first motorhome, an old Ace Napoli, and now travelling in our converted VW Transporter, we regularly visit the Norfolk coast. At this point, there are probably only a small handful of beaches in Norfolk that we haven’t visited!
So, I thought I’d share my top five beaches. They’re in no particular order, but each one offers something a little different and unique.
I’ll be travelling from west to east in this guide, so let’s start at the far western end of the Norfolk coast…
1. Hunstanton
Hunstanton itself is a nice enough seaside town, but it’s Old Hunstanton that really took my breath away.
The cliffs here are a glimpse into the distant past, telling a story that stretches back more than 100 million years. They’re made up of layers of white chalk, red chalk and carstone, creating one of the most distinctive landscapes along the Norfolk coast.
It’s also a brilliant beach for fossil hunting and rock pooling, so there’s plenty to explore when the tide is out.
And I mean really out!
The beach is very tidal, so when the tide goes out, it goes out a long way. It’s worth checking the tide times before you visit and keeping an eye on the water as it comes back in.
2. Wells-next-the-Sea
I’ve skipped over two beautiful beaches to get to Wells-next-the-Sea, and it would be unforgivable not to give them a small mention.
The first is Holme-next-the-Sea, a beautiful sandy beach backed by dunes and countryside. Then there’s Holkham, another Norfolk beach that is absolutely worth a visit.
In fact, the walk from Wells-next-the-Sea towards Holkham is beautiful in itself, so it’s well worth factoring it into your day if you have the time.
The reason I’ve included Wells-next-the-Sea in this guide isn’t just because of its beach. I absolutely love the town itself, with its independent shops, traditional seaside feel and unique tidal harbour.
The harbour is also a lovely place to paddleboard, offering a more sheltered environment than heading straight out onto the open sea.
Then there’s the walk from the town to the beach. It takes us around 20–30 minutes, and my partner and I always like to predict what time we’ll arrive at the beach before setting off!
If you don’t fancy the walk, there’s also a short bus ride that will take you to the beautiful traditional beach, complete with colourful beach huts and everything you’d expect from a classic British seaside trip.
But one of my favourite parts of Wells-next-the-Sea is what you’ll find just behind the beach. The pine woodlands feel absolutely magical to walk through, with the tall trees creating a completely different atmosphere from the wide-open beach and coastline. There’s something really special about wandering through the woodland before emerging back onto the sand — it feels almost like stepping into another world.
3. Sheringham
Sheringham is unique for something you might not immediately associate with the Norfolk coast: snorkelling.
Just offshore is part of the Cromer Shoal Chalk Reef, one of Europe’s largest chalk reefs. When conditions are right, it’s possible to explore this incredible underwater landscape.
The conditions do need to be just right, though. You need an extended period of calm weather and still seas, which tends to create short windows of opportunity during July and August.
When the conditions are good, the water can be beautifully clear and blue, and the seabed gradually gets deeper as you head out. It can feel a little more accessible than some of the more exposed beaches along the North Sea coast.
It’s definitely somewhere I’d recommend keeping an eye on if you’re interested in seeing a completely different side of the Norfolk coastline.
4. Cromer
Just a short distance from Sheringham is Cromer, another traditional seaside town and probably the largest on this list.
Cromer has its famous traditional pier, plenty to explore along the seafront and lots to discover further inland. But the reason I’ve included it in this guide is because of one particularly unique feature:
You can surf in Norfolk!
Glide Surf School offers surf lessons here, and I can’t wait to try a private surf lesson myself.
Even if you don't fancy geting into the water yourself, it’s great fun sitting on the pier and watching the surfers when the conditions are right. It’s not necessarily the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Norfolk, which is exactly why I think Cromer deserves a place on this list.
5. Horsey Gap
Last but certainly not least is Horsey Gap.
Although I’ve spotted the odd seal from several of the beaches mentioned in this guide, Horsey Gap is the go-to place for seal spotting along the Norfolk coast. Depending on when you visit, you may even be lucky enough to see seal pups.
The beach is often watched over by volunteers from Friends of Horsey Seals, who help ensure visitors follow the guidelines designed to keep both people and seals safe. They’re also always happy to answer questions and share their knowledge, and donations are gratefully received to support their work.
I do want to make one thing very clear, though.
Please follow the seal-watching rules.
Whenever I visit, I unfortunately see people getting too close or disregarding the guidance, and it really upsets me. These rules aren’t difficult to follow, and they’re there for a reason. Wild animals deserve our respect, and the seals need space to rest, feed and care for their young without being disturbed.
If you visit Horsey Gap, please keep your distance, follow the local guidance and enjoy watching these incredible animals from afar.
So, that’s my top five Norfolk beaches!
I absolutely love Norfolk, and I could probably write pages and pages about all the places I think are worth visiting along the coast.
But I’ll leave it at these five for now!
From ancient cliffs and fossil hunting to chalk reefs, surfing and seal spotting, I think these beaches all offer something a little different – and that’s what makes the Norfolk coast so special.
What are your favourite beaches in Norfolk?
Let me know in the comments – I’m always looking for new places to explore!
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