Norfolk travel guide: Where to eat, drink and stay

England’s fourth largest county by space and but not even within the high 20 by inhabitants, Norfolk is likely one of the nation’s most rural and numerous areas. With landscapes various from the distinctive and lovely wetlands of the Broads – East Anglia’s solely nationwide park – to the seashores and marshlands of the north Norfolk coast, not to point out one of many nation’s most historic cities in Norwich, you actually may spend a really joyful few weeks right here discovering all of it.

Most individuals don’t have that lengthy, nonetheless, so that you want to be selective – and this information will assist. Ensure to discover the lengthy and diversified coast (and not simply within the north), which is dwelling to a few of England’s greatest sandy seashores in addition to thriving colonies of gray seals. And don’t miss the distinctive community of rivers and lakes that makes up the Broads – dwelling, by the way, to 25 per cent of Britain’s rarest wildlife species – whereas leaving time for the woods and heathlands of the Brecks, formally England’s driest area.

The perfect time to travel to Norfolk

When to go to is dependent upon the place you’re going. The north Norfolk coast is actually higher outdoors of peak summer season, a time when the principle street via the area will be gridlocked at occasions. The Broads can get tremendous busy in summer season but it surely’s often straightforward to escape the crowds, particularly within the lesser-visited southern Broads.

Norwich is a pleasure at any time of yr, however livelier through the annual Norwich & Norfolk Pageant every Might. Costs throughout Norfolk drop significantly through the winter months, which occurs to be a stunning time to expertise the area’s seashores, particularly in December and January when the seal pups are born.

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Where to stay in Norfolk

A chic and very peaceable small nation home resort simply 10 minutes from King’s Lynn; simply the form of relaxed, weekend-in-the-country really feel chances are you’ll be searching for. The good-looking Georgian manor home has 31 rooms and suites divided between the principle home, a dozen or so rooms grouped round a courtyard backyard, and 5 luxurious cabins (every has a non-public terrace looking over the orchards). The spa lays on plenty of therapies and has a stunning pool surrounded by floor-to-ceiling home windows, along with a steam room, sauna and outside scorching tub.

Just some miles from picturesque Blakeney and simply footsteps from Morston Quay in north Norfolk, Morston Hall sits surrounded by lovely gardens, an oasis of calm in what could be a busy spot through the summer season months. The rooms are very cozy certainly, divided between the principle home and an annexe within the backyard, and you possibly can tuck into the on-point cooking from chef-patron Galton Blackiston’s regionally sourced and each day altering menu.

Searching over the salt marshes of the north Norfolk coast, Titchwell Manor is likely one of the greatest locations to stay – and to eat – in an space that’s not in need of contenders. Divided between a essential constructing, cottage annexe and secure block, it homes 26 boutique rooms, that includes super-king beds, personal patio areas and freestanding baths. A pair even have their very own terraces with personal scorching tubs, but when that’s not fairly personal sufficient, you possibly can at all times go for a shepherd’s hut within the backyard, with its personal bathe room, residing space, scorching tub and wood- burner. Work up an urge for food on the Norfolk Coast Path earlier than eating on the resort’s famend three AA-rosette restaurant – or simply decide up some fish and chips from its sister enterprise, Eric’s.

The perfect seashores in Norfolk

Most individuals name-check Holkham Bay when discussing Norfolk seashores, and who can blame them? It’s an unlimited sandy stretch backed by a aromatic pine forest and can also be inside strolling distance of one of many county’s nicest seaside resorts in Wells-next-the-Sea.

A private favorite is Winterton-on-Sea on the japanese coast (not removed from Nice Yarmouth), which is dog-friendly all yr and backed by a powerful set of dunes all the way in which to the seal colonies of Horsey and Waxham, the place there are extra nice sandy strands. To the south of right here, Nice Yarmouth is certainly one of Norfolk’s trio – with Hunstanton on the different finish of the county and Cromer in between – of “kiss-me-quick” resorts, all of them nice locations in their very own proper.

Where to eat

The Bure River Cottage restaurant in Horning, within the coronary heart of the Broads, could also be a number of miles from the coast but it surely’s the perfect fish and seafood restaurant for miles round. In Norwich, you need to attempt the meals at Benedicts in Norwich’s Lanes, a relaxed but high-end venue from chef Richard Bainbridge, who used to work with Galton Blackiston at Morston Corridor – itself dwelling to certainly one of Norfolk’s few Michelin stars (the opposite is within the possession of one other former Morston Corridor chef, at Meadowsweet in Holt).

The Ingham Swan within the Broads, a former pub with rooms that makes an important place to stay, additionally impresses, as does the wonderful Duck Inn in Stanhoe, north Norfolk.

Where to drink

Norwich used to have a pub for on daily basis of the yr, and nonetheless has one for not less than each week. Going across the county, a few of the greatest are Brisley Bell, west of Norwich, sited proper on the village inexperienced and an important place for a drink, a meal or an in a single day stay. Equally, the Gunton Arms, north of Norwich on the way in which to the coast, is about on a non-public property the place you possibly can cease for a tipple and wonderful meals cooked over an open hearth. It additionally has rooms if you would like to stay over, plus a group of British up to date artwork.

Within the Broads, name in to the Woodforde’s brewery faucet, The Fur & Feather, whereas down within the south the Locks Tavern in Geldeston is correct on the Waveney river, which types the border between Norfolk and Suffolk. Finest reached by ferry from the city of Beccles, it’s a much-loved neighborhood pub in the course of nowhere, identified for dwell music and different occasions.

Where to store

There’s nowhere higher to store than the Norwich Lanes, a set of slender streets by which to browse attention-grabbing shops, purchase a present or window-shop designer outfits, plus seize an excellent cup of espresso or chew to eat. Norwich can also be dwelling to the nation’s largest and longest-running open-air market and among the best impartial bookshops you’ll discover wherever, the well-known E book Hive (a favorite of writer Margaret Atwood).

How to get round

Norfolk is a big county, and its distances are often greatest lined by automotive. There are two helpful prepare traces: the Bittern Line, which connects Norwich and Sheringham through Cromer, and the Wherry Line, which connects Norwich with components of the Broads and runs to both Nice Yarmouth or Lowestoft. In any other case, buses hyperlink Norwich with main cities within the neighborhood, and the county as an entire is in fact an incredible vacation spot to tour by bike – good and flat, with quiet roads and plenty of good pubs alongside the way in which.

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