Visitors in their plenty come to the pristine sandy beaches that shape the eastern curve of the Norfolk coastline, while the fiercely independent scene of restaurants and shops lure others to Norwich City.
Norfolk has long been an idyllic destination for stay-cationers and second-home-owners alike. It is often voted as a top tourist destination in the UK, and here is a guide to this fine county.
HISTORY
Some of Norfolk’s best places to visit are also reminders of its rich and diverse history. Its early beginnings saw the Iceni Tribe, led by Boudica in the 1st Century, settle in the eastern region. Head over to Venta Icenorum in Casitor St Edmund where you can see the turbulent remains of the town that literally means “marketplace of the Iceni”.
The county eventually succumbed to Roman rule and evidence of this can be found at the remains of forts such as Burgh Castle, in Great Yarmouth. Three of its imposed walls survive, making it one of the best preserved Roman sites in Britain.
Castles dot the landscape of Norfolk, and perhaps the most well-known is Norwich Castle. Founded by William the Conqueror some time between 1066-1075 it was used as a prison in its early days. Now it is home to a thriving museum which has stories and artefacts on display about Boudica, the Romans, Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings.
FIT FOR A ROYAL
An integral part of Norfolk’s past is its many links to royalty. Situated towards the north of the county is the formidable Blickling Hall, a lavishly decorated 17th-Century stately home sat amongst pristine gardens. Now owned by the National Trust, the home was once inhabited by the infamous Anne Boleyn and her family. The Boleyn’s lived at Blickling Hall for six years and it is suggested that Mary, Anne and George were all born on the estate. Supposedly on the anniversary of her beheading (May 19th), the ghostly, headless figurine of Anne returns to Blickling Hall on a horse drawn carriage. Her father, Thomas, has also been spotted haunting the area.
Long before moving to Norfolk my family would often travel up into East Anglia for the summer holidays and spend 6 weeks camping amongst the stately grounds of Sandringham. Me and my brother would instantly make friends and start building tree dens, and on many occasions we would pay a visit inside the historic royal premises.
Sandringham House is the country retreat of His Majesty the King and the late Queen Elizabeth II, and has been the private home of four generations of British monarchs since 1862, when it was purchased by Queen Victoria for her eldest son and heir, Albert Edward.
Aside from Christmas, when the royals return to Sandringham to celebrate the festive season, the house and gardens are open to the public. The gardens are vast and comprise of 600 acres of pristine lawns, a picturesque lake and beautiful flower beds.
AN ABUNDANCE OF BEACHES
Norfolk is home to a stunning array of beaches, from seals to candy cane lighthouses, each shoreline offers up a different reason to visit. Some of them are even award-winning, with one of those also a royal favourite for Kate and Wills when they visit their Norfolk abode. Holkham Beach, nestled on the north Norfolk coast, comprises of a pristine white sand beach that blurs seamlessly into the swaying pine forest. Its nature reserve has fascinating habitats and rare species of fauna in the salt marshes alongside the unspoilt stretches of sand and dunes.
One of my favourites beaches in Norfolk is Hunstanton. I may be bias because I lived there for five years, and my parents still do, but I have good reason for loving it. It is a Victorian seaside town with plenty of shops and cafés and a funfair at the end of the promenade, it also has the best (in my opinion) sunset on the Norfolk coast. This is because it is the only place that despite being on the east coast, faces west, and therefore the sun sets perfectly over the water whilst lighting up the tri-coloured cliffs.
There are two places to spot grey seals in Norfolk, one of them is by hopping on a boat at Blakeney to head out to it’s Point, and the other is by simply walking along Horsey Beach. This stretch of sand lies on the east Norfolk coast and is only 40 minutes outside of Norwich. You can park at the National Trust Windpump to begin your circular walk to the beach, where you will spot the sea dogs. In Winter the seals are pupping, which means you must stay atop the sand dunes, but any other time of year you can carefully walk past as they bathe in the sun and swim in the sea. Continue walking along the beach and back inland and you’ll find Poppylands; a charming 40s war-themed café and gift shop. The fish finger sandwich is brilliant. When you arrive back at the Windpump you can take a walk around the nearby broads which is a great place to spot local wildlife.
A MANDMADE ACCIDENT
The Norfolk Broads have a unique history. Back in the Middle Ages, the local monasteries began excavating the peatlands and selling the peat to Norwich and Great Yarmouth. When the sea levels began to rise and the pits began to flood, it accidentally created what we now know and love as the Broads.
A first for anyone who hasn’t visited before should be Wroxham, the capital of the Broads. It’s only a 20 minute drive from the centre of Norwich and is well connected by buses and trains. Here you will be able to hire a boat, canoe or kayak and explore the broads from the water itself, stopping along the way to spot the wonderful variety of wildlife and enviable riverside houses. Grab lunch at The Bridge, enjoy ice cream at one of the many stalls and peruse the shops on the high street.
A little further east, and in the heart of the broads, is Ranworth. A quaint village where you’ll find less crowds but just as much beauty. Start by visiting the ‘cathedral of the Broads’, St Helens Church, and then make your way through the reeds via boardwalk to the Norfolk Wildlife Trust – Broadland Conservation Centre. Here you can visit the small shop and gaze out over the vast Ranworth Broad and Dam. Stay for a while to spot visitors such as otters, ospreys and swallowtails, before hopping on the boat that will take you back along the water to the village ready for delicious food at the ever-popular Maltsters.
A STANDOUT CITY
Unlike other counties, Norfolk only has one city, but it sure does pack a punch. Norwich’s claims to fame include that of Alan Partridge (Aha!), cooking legend and long-time Norwich City FC supporter Delia Smith and the education of writer and comedian Stephen Fry. It is easily reached from most parts of the UK by train and also by bus from London, and there are plenty of local transport links that enable you to explore surrounding Norfolk.
The city is steeped in history with claims to be the most complete medieval city in the UK, evidence of which can be seen throughout. Walking the cobbled streets of Elm Hill, Timber Hill and Tombland make you feel as though you are stepping back in time to a bygone era, and even the shop fronts on Elm Hill are dressed with that aesthetic. Tombland is probably most known for being the site of the formidable Norwich Cathedral. Enter through either the Ethelbert or Erpingham Gate and onto Cathedral Close which has more people living in it than any other close in Europe, each building is listed and has its own unique character. The Cathedral itself is a beautiful cream-coloured building that serves as a prominent reminder of the city’s medieval beginnings.
In the centre, the award-winning, 900 year old market is home to over 200 stalls, a large number of which have been operating for decades, often being passed down through several family generations. CJs and Mike, Debs & Sons are the two remaining fruit and veg stalls, Pickering’s of Norwich dates back 50 years and offers a large selection of locally sourced sausages and you can find 140 different varieties of cheese at The Cheeseman. Alongside these essentials, you will also be spoilt for choice with street food. If Asian food takes your fancy then Bun Box and Tasty House are a must visit, and for more British classics, head to Ron’s for fish and chips or Henry’s for a hog roast.
For further information and recommendations head to: https://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/
The Norfolk Explorer 
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