The best beaches in Norfolk

An almost continuous band of beach ribbons along the coast of Norfolk. Whether it’s soft, golden sand or shingle shorelines, there are plenty of remote stretches where you can picnic alone, even in August. The shallow North Sea is ideal for paddling and the slow creep of the incoming tide creates lots of family fun as it fills the moats of shell-decorated sandcastles. But pick your swimming spots carefully. If you are an anxious swimmer or you have young children in tow, head to the beaches that are patrolled throughout the summer months. Deceptively strong currents and undertows can make these waters hazardous.

For further inspiration, visit our guide to Norfolk and discover the best restaurants, pubs, hotels and things to do in the area.

Hunstanton

Known locally as “Sunny Hunny”, this resort has a two-mile beach of gently sloping sand, which becomes packed on hot days. There’s lots to do at this resort, including walks along the cliffs, boat trips, pitch and putt and a Sea Life centre. Donkey rides are sometimes available during peak months and the shallow waters are popular with kite-surfers and windsurfers.

Insider's tip: This is the only west-facing East Anglian resort beach, which means it’s sheltered from the sea breezes and good for sunset-watchers. The more northerly Old Hunstanton beach is less shingly than the stretch nearest the town.

Facilities: Car park, café, shops, summer lifeguard service
Best for: Seaside fun, paddling, picnics

Brancaster

The tides are strong along this stretch of coast but the sand is perfect for picnics and sandcastle-building, and the water recedes to leave shallow lagoons where young children can safely paddle and play. Rich in wildlife, you can spot avocets, oystercatchers, terns and sometimes seals lolling on the shore. A links golf course lies in the dunes, backing the sand.

Insider's tip: Low tide reveals the 1940s shipwreck of the SS Vina, which lies half-submerged in the sand. However, don’t be tempted to walk out to see it once the tide has turned, as fast-moving incoming water can cut it off quickly.

Facilities: Car park
Best for: Sandcastles, paddling, picnics, isolation

Holkham

A horseshoe-shaped beach of pale sand sheltered by pine forest, popular with horse-riders and perfect for kite-flying. When the tide is out, it’s a long walk to the sea, so not the best choice if you have small children and lots of gear to carry. If you head eastwards you can walk to the beach at Wells-next-the-Sea.

Insider's tip: Even when the Lady Anne’s Drive car park is packed, you can always find a quiet stretch of sand that’s peaceful and away from the crowds by walking behind the pine woods for a short distance before cutting through the trees to the sea.

Facilities: Car park, café
Best for: Dog-walkers, sandcastles, isolation

Wells-next-the-Sea

A jolly, bucket-and-spade beach, a mile from the lively town, which merges into the beach at Holkham to the west. Characterised by its collection of brightly coloured beach huts, backed by pine woods, it has a dog-free zone at the eastern end and is popular with families with young children who don’t want to walk too far.

Insider's tip: Beware of strong currents (a siren sounds when the tide turns) and observe the swimming zones to avoid the large boats that serve the offshore wind farm. A patrol boat provides extra security for swimmers during the summer months.

Facilities: Car park, café, summer lifeguard service
Best for: Sandcastles, families, picnics

Cley-next-the-Sea

Not a place for sandcastles. Instead, this beach is a long, romantic stretch of smooth stones and shingle, backed by a large area of grazing marshlands and reedbeds. It is accessed by a short walk or drive from the village, famous for its distinctive windmill. Come here to escape the crowds and enjoy a peaceful walk along the water’s edge with a pair of binoculars to hand.

Insider's tip: Cley Marshes, directly behind the beach, is the Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s longest-standing and best known nature reserve, created in the 1920s. The area of shingly shore and salty pools attracts vast numbers of migrating birds, including bitterns and marsh harriers.

Facilities: Car park
Best for: Isolation

Cromer

Along with its neighbour, Sheringham, Cromer is a Blue Flag beach. It's well-managed, long and comprises a mix of shingle and sand, and is backed by a large resort with a traditional pier and zoning for watersports. Fishing boats unload their catches onto the sand and there are plenty of cafés and ice-cream places within easy reach. Dogs are not allowed on the beach through the summer season.

Insider's tip: It’s quite a steep walk from the car park to the promenade and beach, which can be a challenge for families with small children and beach bags to carry or disabled holidaymakers. Limited parking spaces for blue badge holders are available on the promenade.

Facilities: Car park, café, shops, summer lifeguard service
Best for: Seaside fun, paddling, picnics

Sea Palling

This idyllic stretch of beach is backed by dunes, with occasional outcrops of large grey boulders and fine shingle. There’s a series of man-made reefs lying just off shore, part of a sea defence scheme built in the mid-1990s by the Environment Agency which was designed to protect the area from flooding, which keeps the sand from being swept out to sea.

Insider's tip: The reefs also help calm the water close to shore, making this a good option for swimming (the area is zoned in summer). It’s also popular for water sports, including kayaking, windsurfing and jet-skiing, so don’t expect complete peace and quiet.

Facilities: Car park, café, summer lifeguard service
Best for: Swimming, water sports, picnics

Waxham

Located just south of Sea Palling, Waxham Beach is a continuation of its neighbour’s beautiful yellow sand, but offers more in the way of tranquility, with seals often seen basking on the shore. In a designated area of outstanding natural beauty, the shoreline here feels very remote, although, further south, Waxham Sands has a busier vibe thanks to a small holiday park nearby.

Insider's tip: Behind the marram grass-topped dunes, Waxham village is home to Waxham Great Barn, built in the 16th century, which is now restored and open to the public. There’s a small on-site museum, picnic area and Dunes Café which serves light lunches.

Facilities: Car park at Waxham Sands
Best for: Isolation, wildlife

How we choose

Every attraction and activity in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from world-class museums to family-friendly theme parks – to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations.