Norfolk Overview

The fourth largest county in England with a long coastline protruding into the North Sea and gentle rolling countryside. A great place to visit!

An Introduction to the County of Norfolk

The county of Norfolk is the fourth largest in England and with its long coastline protruding into the North Sea, it has tended to become isolated from the rest of the country. This was especially true in times gone by, when the fens to the west were flooded, forming a natural barrier and Norfolk people have therefore acquired a sense of independence. In medieval times Norfolk was the most populated and achieved great prosperity, leading to the building of some of the finest churches in England. Since these times the population has steadily declined and over 100 villages have been lost. Norfolk was also a great sea faring county and it developed strong links with Northern Europe, which has influenced the architecture. Fishing has declined over the years, but the crabs from Cromer remain world famous to this day!

The gently rolling countryside of Norfolk has inaccurately been described as flat, however not much rises above a few hundred feet. There is great scenic interest from woodland, forests, rolling chalklands, coastline and the watery patchwork of the Norfolk Broads. This landscape is filled with ancient churches, windmills and picturesque villages decorated with attractive signs and thatched cottages. The many activities that visitors to Norfolk can enjoy include, walking, cycling, shopping, sightseeing, boat trips, canoeing, sailing or just relaxing on a beach! Norfolk also has many local attractions and facilities including arts, crafts, gardens, museums, zoos, fine hotels, restaurants, tea-rooms, pubs and inns. It is a county definitely worth exploring!

Local Websites

Visit Norfolk

Norfolk Map

View a detailed tourist information map of Norfolk

Norfolk Guided Picture Tour

We start our overview tour of Norfolk on the NORFOLK COAST, where you can still see fishing boats operating from pretty harbour's. At one time, all the villages along the Norfolk Coast had a substantial fishing fleet, with some forced to move to nearby Lincolnshire due to overcrowding. Today, most of the ancient ports have silted up and have left miles of mudflats and marshes - the Norfolk Coast path makes a lovely walk across these on a sunny day.
Burnham Overy Staithe
Fishing Boats on the Norfolk Coast	Norfolk Coast Path

Did you know that Norfolk is one of the driest parts of the UK?
Average annual rainfall in Norfolk is roughly half that of Cornwall and substantially less than the Lake District

Norfolk contains many pretty villages, such as Burnham Market, known locally as "Chelsea on sea" as it attracts visitors from upmarket London and has the sort of shops that you would normally find down the Kings Road!
Norfolk Living Shop, Burnham Market	The Hoste Arms, a famous 15th Century Coaching Inn

Norfolk is famous for its wonderful open countryside and magnificent sandy bays - all wonderful for fresh air and a walk! No wonder it attracted our ancestors to build so many stately homes in the area!
A panorama of Holkham Bay at low tide (click to open the full picture)
Blickling Hall and Lake	Holkham Hall, Norfolk

There are plenty of coastal villages, such as Blakeney, with pretty flint cottages (many for holiday rent), shops, tea-rooms, restaurants, pubs and inns. Many of these villages have some great stories to tell, including stories of smuggling and even piracy. During the middle ages, the North Norfolk ports would have been filled with the aroma of imported spices and the colour of fine silks.
Blakeney Harbour and Quay	Fisherman's Cottage in Blakeney

Norfolk is famous for two types of building. The first is the windmill and the second is a medieval church. Norfolk has the greatest concentration of these in the whole of the UK - Cley next the sea for example has both!
Norfolk Windmill	Medieval Church, Norfolk

Norfolk also has has plenty of examples of Dutch influenced architecture, a reminder of its close ties with our Dutch friends through its trade links - including fishing and weaving. Norfolk is closer to Amsterdam than London and in times gone by, it only took a day to sail to Amsterdam, compared with 4 days to travel to London.
Flemish Architecture, Norfolk	Dutch Style Property, Norfolk

Around Weybourne, Sheringham and Cromer you will actually find a ridge of heathland, giving fabulous views out over the sea and marshes below - who said Norfolk was flat? !!
Norfolk Coast Views, Salthouse	Muckleburgh Hill, Norfolk
A view of the North Norfolk Railway at Weybourne

Norfolk has its fair share of classic seaside attractions, such as piers at Cromer and Great Yarmouth, and lighthouses at Hunstanton and Happisburgh.
Cromer Pier
Britannia Pier in Great Yarmouth	Happisburgh Lighthouse, Norfolk

The Norfolk countryside consists of farmland, forest and heathland. Contrary to belief, it is a gentle rolling landscape, rather than the totally flat landscape of the Fens. There are many long distance footpaths for walkers.
Trees in their autumn colours in Thetford Forest
A footpath winds its way through heathland in the Brecks	The Marriott's Way a little out of Reepham

The NORFOLK BROADS National Park is the UK's largest and finest wetland landscape and has over 120 miles of lock free waterways to explore. Wroxham is known as the "Capital of the Broads" and from here you can hire a boat for the week, weekend, day, hour or take an organised cruise.
Wroxham Bridge, Norfolk Broads	Moored up outside a pizza restaurant in Wroxham
Putting the kettle on in the middle of Salhouse Broad	Broads Tours, Norfolk Broads

Pretty Broadland villages, such as Horning, Ranworth or Ludham, invite you to stop for a refreshment and watch the world float by! Many have riverside pubs and beautiful cottages with gardens that run down to the river.
The River Ant at Irstead
The Swan Inn at Horning	Alfresco Tea Rooms at Ludham

With miles of lock free, scenic waterways to explore, you will never get bored (lost, yes probably, unless you have a good map!). The Broads are a great place to explore by dinghy, canoe, kayak and also on land,walking or cycling.
Thurne Dyke meets the River Thurne
The River Ant at How Hill	Boat Moorings at Martham

The Norfolk Broads are full of pretty windmills, where traditional Norfolk Yachts float by - it's like time has stood still and it's a real escape from fast modern living.
Norfolk Mill	Norfolk Wherry

Broadland has many nature reserves, boardwalks and footpaths, allowing you to enjoy the scenery and wildlife from the shore, such as the ones at Ranworth, Neatishead, Hickling, Thurne and How Hill.
Barton Boardwalk Viewpoint near Neatishead
The thatched visitors centre at Ranworth Broad	The Weavers Way at Thurne

NORWICH is considered the capital of East Anglia and an outstanding city for a weekend or city break. It has one of the best Cathedrals in the whole of the UK, a Norman Castle, cobbled streets and more tudor buildings in one single area than in the whole of London! For hundreds of years it was England's second city and its ancient city walls enclosed a greater area than ANY other English city - including London!
Norwich City Centre Skyline
Norwich Cathedral, Norfolk	Norwich Castle, Norfolk
Elm Hill, Norwich	Tombland Alley, Norwich

Modern Norwich includes a state-of-the-art public library and media centre, and 2 modern shopping malls - one is even built under the Castle! You will also find plenty of restaurants and entertainment such as cinema, clubs and a bowling alley.
The Forum, Norwich	Shopping Mall, Norwich

Norfolk's second town is KINGS LYNN in the west of the county. Kings Lynn competes with any town in England for history. It is relatively undiscovered containing a wealth of historic buildings and tales to go with them. Highlights include the Historic Quarter, Purfleet Quay and the fabulous Town Hall.
Looking along King Street past the Custom House	The Town Hall

Other places not to miss in Norfolk are Wymondham, with its lovely Abbey ...	and Holt a fabulous Georgian town, with absolutely loads of great shops!
Wymondham Abbey, Norfolk	Georgian fronted shops in Holt

THE NATIONAL TRUST IN NORFOLK
Click to view pictures of the Blickling Estate	Click to view our picture tour of Felbrigg Hall
Click to view our Oxburgh Hall picture tour	Click to view our Horsey picture tour

Finally, Norfolk has more than its fair share of great tourist attractions to make that perfect day out. They range from steam railways, adventure parks, art & crafts, museums, zoos and some fabulous gardens.
The North Norfolk Steam Railway	The Spider Garden on the Hoveton Hall Estate
The Dinosaur Adventure Park	Visitors exploring the many areas of Pensthorpe Natural Park
Craft Workshops and Shops at Wroxham Barns	Discovering all kinds of fish at the Sealife Centre in Yarmouth

See Guided Picture Tours of the individual areas of Norfolk
West Norfolk	North Norfolk	Norfolk Broads	Norwich	East Norfolk

10 Top Things to SEE & DO In Norfolk

Visit at least one of the pretty Norfolk coast villages - try Blakeney, Cley or Brancaster

Enjoy one of Norfolk's wide open sandy beaches - try Wells, Old Hunstanton , Sea Palling or Winterton

Take a boat trip on the Norfolk Broads - try a day boat from Wroxham or Stalham

Explore the cobbled streets of old Norwich and combine with a visit to Norwich Cathedral

Walk through one of Norfolk's fabulous gardens - try Fairhaven or Gooderstone

Visit one of Norfolk's ancient medieval churches - try Cromer or Great Yarmouth

Take a walk in one of Norfolk's nature reserves - try Ranworth, Hickling or Pensthorpe

Visit the wonderful Georgian town of Holt - especially when it's lit by Christmas lights

Take a steam train ride - try the North Norfolk Railway or Bure Valley Railway

Enjoy a family trip to the seaside - try Great Yarmouth, Hunstanton, Cromer or Sheringham

Our Verdict

Norfolk is relatively undiscovered by many. There are plenty of beautiful places that offer the visitor so much variety, so why not come and explore this corner of England for yourself?