Things to do Within Less Than an Hour of Norwich

Things to do Within Less Than an Hour of Norwich

by Mel March

Want to experience somewhere where you can enjoy an exciting and independent waterside city, beautiful coast with charming villages and cosy pubs, and 125 kilometres of fresh water navigable waterways, as well as all the nature and wildlife that comes with this?

Then Norwich is for you. A place where you can do city, coast, and the Broads National Park in a weekend and some of it without a car.

Visit the seals in North Norfolk by boat from Blakeney or take a Sunday morning walk along Winterton beach whilst they bob up and down in the sea. Grab your binoculars in the Broads and find 100’s of amazing walks to spot rare wildlife, cycle rides and on-the-water experiences. And Pub and Paddle on the river Wensum in Norwich… well, need we say more?

So, if you’re planning a few days away or even a longer break and want somewhere that has it all, look no further.

Winterton-on-Sea (38-minute drive)

See the seals at Horsey Gap

Winterton-on-Sea is a walker’s paradise and also a very pretty coastal village complete with charming thatched cottages and a cosy pub on the green– The Fisherman’s Return.
 
Winterton has a great beach (and it’s dog-friendly) with miles to explore and is backed by some of the finest sand dunes in Norfolk. In fact, the Winterton Dunes National Nature Reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (with a number of circular walking routes.)

Spot the rare natterjack toad which makes its home here, or breeding and overwintering birds or see the seals bobbing up and down in the water. It’s quite a sight. 

Go a little further to find… 

• Horsey Gap – home to a colony of grey seals. A 14-minute drive from Winterton-on-Sea, or you can take the 7.5-mile coastal walk to get there. But remember to stay respectful of these wild animals and stay well back when visiting. 

Travel: Get the train from Norwich to Great Yarmouth then a bus to Winterton.

Cromer Pier Credit: Melanie March

Cromer (45-minute drive, 55 minutes by train)

Coming up on the hour mark, but entirely worth the journey, lies this gorgeous Victorian town. It’s a traditional seaside resort ideal for a laid-back morning or afternoon exploring, or early evening in good weather.  
 
Dip your toe, go for a swim or get paddleboarding lessons. Or maybe just sit on the beach and watch the world go by.  
 
Don’t miss a visit to North Sea Coffee Co. with seating overlooking the beach – they make a cracking coffee too!

• Try some famous fresh Cromer crab from one of the nearby restaurants or fish shops. We love tucking into a fresh dressed crab on the beach with a side order of chips and a buttered roll. You can’t beat it! 
• Visit the RNLI Lifeboat Station.
• Play some golf at the putting green which overlooks the sea! Only £3.50 per game for adults or £2.50 for under 12’s. 
• Try and catch your own crab! It’s free to crab fish off the pier. 

Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth’s white sandy beach

If your idea of a day at the beach involves arcade machines, fish and chips, hot sugar covered doughnuts and candy floss, then Great Yarmouth is for you. It also offers ‘all the fun of the fair’ at The Pleasure Beach (opens in March 2025)! And amazing shows at the Hippodrome, which is Britain’s only surviving total circus building, built in 1903 by the legendary circus showman George Gilbert. It’s not to be missed. 

Expect long sandy beaches, and everything a traditional town by the sea offers.  
 
Great Yarmouth is easily reached by train and bus from Norwich.

The Broads National Park

Barton Broad Credit: Broads Authority

One of the UK’s 15 national parks, The Broads National Park is made up of over 60 open areas of water known as Broads, and seven rivers including the Ant, Bure, Chet, Thurne, Waveney, Yare and Wensum (which runs through Norwich).  
 
And with 125 miles of navigable waterways, there are plenty of places to enjoy the water and its incredible wildlife. If you love photography, the Broads offer some amazing backdrops.

At Barton Broad, take walks over the boardwalk – it’s open dawn to dusk every day of the year. At Wroxham, (from Easter) hire day boats and get out onto the winding river in your own little vessel, passing wonderful countryside and waterside dwellings. In Norwich, book a few hours with Pub & Paddle, visiting riverside watering holes at your own pace, with a picnic. 

Norfolk Mead Hotel, Coltishall, Norfolk

Coltishall (18-minute drive)

A busy riverside market town, yet a somewhat lesser-known part of the Broads, Coltishall is a lovely spot to while away a few hours. It marks the start of the navigable portion of the River Bure and is dotted with beautiful properties, like its thatched village church, and has a beautiful green by the river. 

• Stop off for some food and drink at The Rising Sun, which looks out over the river – ideal for relaxed outdoor dining on a summer’s day. 

• Sail away on The Norfolk Mead’s six-seater English Harbor Yacht which is available for hire for a half or full day. You can also purchase picnics or afternoon tea to enjoy on the water, this is a great way to make a lasting memory in Norfolk. Stay at the hotel from £145 a night for two people including a sumptuous breakfast. They also have a brand-new spa, need we say more! 

• Enjoy paddle boarding with board hire from Summer SUP Paddleboard Hire from £19.99 for a 3-hour session. 

Neatishead (25-minute drive, 35 minutes by train or bus) and Irstead (31-minute drive)

To get your fix of quintessentially British villages in the countryside, Neatishead and Irstead are two little gems you’ll be thrilled to discover. With gorgeous riverside residential properties, a pub in Neatishead and a medieval church in Irstead, it’s a lovely place to stop off for an hour or two. 

Have a walk or cycle along the Barton Boardwalk which will take you out to view Barton Broad or Alferden Broad nature reserve!