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A sandy path heading into the dunes

It may come as no surprise that the Norfolk Coast is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and with around 90 miles of coastline to explore, Norfolk has more than its fair share of impressive beaches. We all know about Great Yarmouth, a firm favourite on the doorstep of several of our Norfolk holiday parks, but what are the best beaches according to locals?

We’ve chatted with Norfolk-born-and-bred Pete Waters, Executive Director of Visit East of England and Steph Makins, co-founder of Enjoying Norfolk, as well as Ruth Knight, Director of Broads Tours, to find out more about the beaches in Norfolk.

Lesser-known beaches in Norfolk loved by locals

If you fancy escaping the hustle and bustle of the crowds, or perhaps just want to tick some more Norfolk beaches off your bucket list, Pete recommends, “There are some wonderful secret beaches, so our big beaches are obviously Cromer, Great Yarmouth, and Stanmouth. They’re our three big resorts. My favourite stretch is underneath Cromer down to just north of Great Yarmouth, and you've got some secret beaches there like Eccles, Cart Gap and Sea Palling, where there’s a brilliant seal colony.”

A seal resting on the sand on a Norfolk beach

Eccles-on-Sea Beach is just over a half-hour drive from our Vauxhall Holiday Park. It boasts a natural, scenic environment perfect for walking and wildlife spotting. Cart Gap is a starting point for several scenic coastal walks, making it a great option for those wanting to enjoy a UK walking holiday. Sea Palling is a Blue Flag beach with calm waters, perfect for water sports such as jet skiing, windsurfing, and kayaking.

Pete highlights the peacefulness of these beaches, “There are no amusements and very few amenities, but they're fabulous beaches with shallow water, so you can take kids there. They're backed by Marram grass or sand dunes. They're just great places to be because they're away from all the crowds.”

Steph also recommended the East Coast beaches as a must-visit: “Round to the east, [there’s] Sea Palling and places like that. We've been rediscovering that in recent years. There are some real gems of beaches to be discovered on the East Coast, which I think a lot of Norfolk locals do know about, but I think they are probably less well known by people visiting the area sometimes.”

Locals' favourite beaches in Norfolk

An aerial view over Great Yarmouth Beach and pier

Great Yarmouth

It may not be much of a secret, but Great Yarmouth is undoubtedly loved by tourists and locals alike. Steph tells us, “I love [Great] Yarmouth and have never had a bad day there. It's so much fun, and I love the Pleasure Beach.” This amusement park, located on the seafront, is one of the oldest in the UK, opening in 1909!

Great Yarmouth is the perfect family day out, with plenty for everyone to enjoy. The seafront area, known as the Golden Mile, has entertainment options such as amusement arcades, theatres, and sealife centres.

Colourful beach huts in Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk

Wells-next-the-Sea

Steph also recommends Wells-next-the-Sea, “We've got an amazing Coastline here in Norfolk, and as a child, we went to the beach a lot. So I've got lots of memories of going to Wells. I can remember going cockling in Wells, and to be honest, a lot of these places are still our favourite places to visit.”

Wells-next-the-Sea boasts a wide, sandy beach that stretches for miles. At low tide, the sand seems to go on forever, creating a vast playground for beachgoers. One of the most iconic features of Wells-next-the-Sea beach is its line of classic, colourful beach huts along the edge of the sand dunes. The perfect backdrop for your next family photo!

Sunset at Brancaster Beach in Norfolk

Brancaster

Ruth shares Brancaster's year-round beauty: “We've got these natural unspoiled beaches like Holkham and Brancaster. They are fabulous for winter walks and summer days.” Steph tells us of fond memories at Brancaster Beach: “I can remember one occasion in Brancaster when I swam with seals in a little lagoon that came in from the sea. That was really nice.”

Brancaster Beach is part of the Norfolk Coast Path, offering spectacular views and the opportunity to explore the coastline further. Walkers can enjoy the scenic routes through dunes, marshes, and the beach. A notable feature of Brancaster is the wreck of the SS Vina, which can be seen at low tide. The ship was used by the RAF for target practice during World War II.

Grass and dunes at Holkham Beach at Norfolk

Holkham

Holkham Beach, located on the north coast of Norfolk, is another local favourite. Steph tells us, “Holkham Beach is a fantastic part of Norfolk that we love to visit as a family.” The beach is also renowned for its history and use in film. Ruth says, “Holkham Beach is amazing all year. It is quite a trek, but it’s worth the journey. It's been used in a lot of film sets - Shakespeare in Love. It’s got good parking and a cafe, so if you're on holiday it’s one of the ones to see. The [royal] horse guards sometimes camp up there, and the horses go up and down the beach. But it’s sort of a secret as to when they're there, they don't advertise it much [but] if you see it, it's amazing.”

A cloudy day at Gorleston-on-Sea Beach in Norfolk

Gorleston

Last but certainly not least is Gorleston. Ruth describes this destination: “Gorleston Beach is lovely as well, and it's quite close to Great Yarmouth. So that's worth a visit.” Gorleston Beach features a long, wide stretch of golden sand, perfect for sunbathing, building sandcastles, and playing beach games.

Gorleston-on-Sea is less than a 15-minute drive from both Vauxhall Holiday Park and Cherry Tree Holiday Park. From watersports to the Gorleston Pavilion Theatre, you’ll never run out of things to do at Gorleston Beach. Surrounded by low cliffs, you also have a picturesque landscape to enjoy!

Whether you plan on revisiting an old favourite or trying a new beach, Norfolk has an array to choose from while enjoying your UK beach holiday.

Recommended beaches near our Norfolk holiday parks

Wooden sea defences lining Gorleston-on-Sea beach on the Norfolk coastline

Gorleston-on-Sea

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Nearest holiday park
Vauxhall Holiday Park
 (4 miles)
Grassy dunes lining Brancaster Beach in Norfolk

Brancaster

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Nearest holiday park
Manor Park Holiday Park
(8 miles)
Sand spits along Sea Palling Beach in Norfolk

Sea Palling

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Nearest holiday park
Summerfields Holiday Park
 (11 miles)
Rocks and sea defences along Cart Gap in Norfolk

Cart Gap

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Nearest holiday park
California Cliffs Holiday Park
(16 miles)
Grassy sand dunes at Holkham in Norfolk

Holkham

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Nearest holiday park
Heacham Beach Holiday Park
(18 miles)
Colourful beach huts and trees lining the beach next to Wells-next-the-Sea

Wells-next-the-Sea

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Nearest holiday park
Heacham Beach Holiday Park
(19 miles)
Sand dunes and grass lining Eccles-on-Sea Beach in Norfolk

Eccles-on-Sea

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Nearest holiday park
Vauxhall Holiday Park
(22 miles)
The historic pier in Cromer in Norfolk

Cromer

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Nearest holiday park
California Cliffs Holiday Park
(30 miles)

Local insiders

Pete Waters, Executive Director of Visit East of England

Pete Waters

Executive Director
Visit East of England
www.visiteastofengland.com

Pete was born in Norfolk and has found himself returning throughout his life.

Visit Norfolk aims to encourage people to visit this “wonderful part of the world”.

Ruth Knight, Director of Broads Tours

Ruth Knight

Director
Broads Tours
www.broadstours.co.uk

Ruth moved to Norfolk when she was seven and has lived there ever since.

The Broads Tours has double-decker passenger boats offering fantastic views of the Norfolk Broads.

Steph Makins, Co-founder of Enjoying Norfolk

Steph Makins

Co-founder
Enjoying Norfolk
enjoyingnorfolk.co.uk

Steph was born and raised in Norfolk. In 2007, she and her husband started Enjoying Norwich, which soon expanded into Enjoying Norfolk.

They aim to create a resource for locals and tourists and to encourage people to discover the local businesses around them with their Norfolk card scheme.