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HUNSTANTON

East coast seaside resort that actually faces west. It is a mix of traditional seaside holiday destination and quaint old village.
Hunstanton Introduction

Cliffs
Town Hall
Wash Monster
Fun Fair
Old Hunstanton

The Norfolk seaside resort of Hunstanton has the unusual distinction of being an east coast resort that faces west and as a result gets more than its fair share of sun and enjoys some lovely sunsets, hence the resort is known as Sunny Hunny. Hunstanton is divided into the village of Old Hunstanton and the newer resort town of Hunstanton St Edmund. In 1860 with the coming of the railway, Styleman Le Strange, the then Lord of the Manor, envisaged a place where gentlefolk could stroll and relax whilst taking in the sea air and so built New Hunstanton and this is the Hunstanton we know today. The name Hunstanton is believed to come from either the Honeystone, which was the old name for the local stone or more likely from the River Hunn which originates in the grounds of Old Hunstanton Hall and forms a moat around the house, the home of the Le Strange family. Although little more than a stream, locals are proud of their own little river that flows around the village. In 1978 storms reduced Hunstanton pier to scrap metal but fortunately there was no loss of life. Today, Hunstanton is a popular holiday destination with a friendly family atmosphere retaining much of its original Victorian elegance. You can enjoy all the traditional seaside attractions, such as donkey rides on the beach, or if you are feeling more adventurous a ride on a sea buggy, which trawls up and down the coast. There is also a swimming pool, an indoor leisure centre, a theatre and Sealife Sanctuary.
Local Websites: Hunstanton Town CouncilPrincess Theatre

Hunstanton Map

Hunstanton Map
Hunstanton Sign
   
 
What to See and Do
   
 
Enjoy the striped cliffs and promenade above
 
Find the Town Hall and Princess Theatre
 
Enjoy the beach with its many attractions
 
Experience the excitement of the fun fair
 
Visit Old Hunstanton and discover its rural charm
 
Enjoy a round of golf at Old Hunstanton
   
   
   
   
   
   

Hunstanton Guided Tour

We start our tour of Hunstanton in the centre of town at the town sign. According to tradition, King Edmund of the Angles landed at St. Edmund's Point, just north of Hunstanton. He founded the village, and the town sign shows him with a wolf (after his defeat in battle and decapitation by the Danes, a wolf guarded his head until it could be buried).
The sign sits on a green, surrounded by some lovely buildings - including Hunstanton town hall, a magnificent Grade II Listed Building, built by George Skipper in 1898. The front of the building is used by the Tourist Information Centre, with the upstairs incorporating the Council Chamber and Clerk’s office.
Hunstanton Sign
Hunstanton Town Sign
Hunstanton Town Hall
Hunstanton Town Hall and Tourist Information
 
Other buildings around the green include a hotel and the Hunstanton Princess Theatre. Built in 1932 by Ben Culey of King's Lynn, the theatre is particularly noted for its construction in Norfolk Carrstone and it contains the largest gable wall of carrstone in existence. It was cleverly designed as a live theatre as well as a cinema. You can find out what's on at the theatre on their website.
Hunstanton Princess Theatre
The Princess Theatre Hunstanton
Hunstanton Hotel
Golden Lion Hotel Hunstanton

Hunstanton shops contain a mix of gift shops for tourists and local shops for residents. Two interesting shops are the Smugglers Gift Shop, with hand made goods from around the world and the Joke Shop, which claims to be the largest.
Hunstanton Shop
Smugglers Shop Hunstanton
Hunstanton Shop
Joke Shop Hunstanton

Walking down to the sea front, we come to the Hunstanton Pier Family Entertainment Centre. This building replaces the old one, which was destroyed by fire in 2002. A much longer pier previously existed, but was badly damaged in 1939 and again in the 1950's, before bad weather finally swept it away in 1978. The new centre offers amusements, restaurant and a bowling alley. The sea front also contains various food take away stalls.
Hunstanton Pier
Hunstanton Pier Entertainment
Hunstanton Food
Seafront Burgers and Take Away
   
On Hunstanton beach you can take pony rides ...
and buy some famous Hunstanton rock!
Hunstanton Horse Rides
Pony rides on the beach at Hunstanton
Hunstanton Rock
Hunstanton Rock

Further along is the Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary, which provides a safe haven for more than 30 sick, injured or orphaned seal pups which are annually cared for at the Sanctuary.
You can also enjoy Blackbeards Adventure Golf, which is a 18 hole course set in pirate themed grounds.
Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary
Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary
Hunstanton Adventure Golf
Blackbeards Adventure Golf

One of the most popular and unusual attractions in Hunstanton is “Wiley, the Wash Monster” This incredible machine is an ex military vehicle manufactured in 1967 for use as a landing craft by American forces in Vietnam. This 60 seater amphibious craft now transports tourists from the sandy beach at Hunstanton straight into the sea on any one of five coastal tours. The craft cruises at 8 knots in the water and 13 knots on land. See their amusing website for more details (you will love the catchy tune!).
Hunstanton Wash Monster
The Wash Monster
Hunstanton Boat Trips
Boat trips at Hunstanton

At the end of the sea front is Hunstanton fun fair. Here you will find a mixture of rides and stalls to enjoy.
Hunstanton Funfair
Funfair rides at Hunstanton
Hunstanton Fun Fair
Dodgems ride at Hunstanton funfair
Hunstanton Rides
Carousel horse ride at the funfair
Hunstanton Pleasure Beach
Roulette funfair ride

Taking a walk back along the beach, the famous striped cliffs of Hunstanton start to rise. They show an amazing slice of Britain’s history over many million years. Here is the geology - White Chalk from the Upper Cretaceous era forms the top layer, followed by a layer of limestone, known as red chalk from the Lower Cretaceous period formed over a period of 15 million years and finally beneath is grey/green Carstone. As both the red and white chalk contains fossils the beach below is a magnet for keen fossil hunters.
Hunstanton Cliffs
Hunstanton cliffs
Hunstanton Beach
Hunstanton beach

On top of the striped cliffs is Hunstanton North Promenade, which has lovely gardens and walks overlooking the sea.
Hunstanton Promenade
North Garden, Hunstanton
Hunstanton Garden
Flowers in the North Promenade gardens

Hunstanton Lighthouse has been warning shipping of dangerous sandbanks in the Wash for many hundreds of years. The first Lighthouse was built here in 1666, it was built of wood with an iron basket of burning coals as a light; the current building dates back to 1844, with the light operating until 1922, when it was closed down and the lantern taken off. The lighthouse is now a private holiday home that you can hire from Norfolk Country Cottages. Next to the Lighthouse you will find the ruins of St Edmund's Chapel which dates back to 1272 and celebrates the apparent visit by St Edmund in 855.
Hunstanton Lighthouse
Hunstanton Lighthouse
Hunstanton Chapel
Hunstanton Chapel ruins

Old Hunstanton

As we continue up the coast, we arrive in the original village of Old Hunstanton. This was the site of the original settlement before 1860 when New Hunstanton was built. Old Hunstanton is much quieter and picturesque.
Old Hunstanton
The beach and lighthouse at Hunstanton
Old Hunstanton Sign
Old Hunstanton village sign

The empty beach at Old Hunstanton is one of the finest in Norfolk and is perfect for a walk.
Hunstanton Beach
Old Hunstanton beach looking South
Old Hunstanton Beach
Old Hunstanton beach looking North
   
Old Hunstanton is very popular with kite and wind surfers.
Also, a row of colourful beach huts lies just behind the sand dunes.
Hunstanton Kite Surfing
Kite surfing at Old Hunstanton
Hunstanton Beach Hut
Beach huts at Old Hunstanton

Behind the sand dunes is Hunstanton lifeboat station, which has seen several different types of rescue craft during its history. It saw the RNLI’s first motor tractor and today it operates an inshore B class Atlantic 75 lifeboat and one of only four inshore rescue hovercraft.
Further along the coast is Hunstanton Golf Course, a 18 hole links course with perhaps the slickest greens in the country. This fine course has hosted many top class amateur events and whilst it is not as tough as some of the Open Championship courses, when the wind blows it provides a severe enough examination for most enthusiasts! See their website for more details.
Hunstanton Lifeboat RNLI
RNLI Lifeboat station at Hunstanton
Hunstanton Golf
Hunstanton Golf Course

Finally, Old Hunstanton contains some lovely seaside properties, an art gallery, crafts & antiques shop and a pub/restaurant, plus a few hotels.
Old Hunstanton Property
Old Hunstanton Property
Old Hunstanton Property
Old Hunstanton seaside home
Hunstanton Art Crafts Antiques
Old Hunstanton Art Gallery Crafts Antiques
Hunstanton Pub
Ancient Mariner Inn at Old Hunstanton; Tel:01485 534411


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TOUR INDEX


Extra Pictures
Fun Fair
Fun Fair
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Chapel and Lighthouse
Chapel and Lighthouse
Old Hunstanton Beach
Old Hunstanton Beach

External Links

Caley Hall Hotel

Titchwell Manor

The Neptune

Hunstanton Holidays

Hunstanton Holiday Cottages
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