North Norfolk – Family Friendly & Perfect For Everyone’s Inner Child

Who doesn’t hanker after the halcyon summer days of childhood? Big blue skies, the sun beating down and that endless sense of freedom.

You can recapture those feelings with a trip to timeless North Norfolk. Whether you’re looking for a day out, somewhere for half-term, a weekend away or a typically-British seaside place, North Norfolk ticks all the boxes, all-year round.

So much for free

The beauty of North Norfolk is there is so much to do that’s completely free of charge.

Crabbing – North Norfolk is the crabbing centre of the UK. Children are spellbound and will sit for hours, dangling a line into the sea. You can get everything you need for around £5 and these should last for several years. Wells-next-the-sea, Blakeney and the pier at Cromer are renowned spots, but perhaps you can find somewhere better? We’d love to know?

Beaches – there are 52 beaches in Norfolk, that’s one for every week of the year. Holkham beach was voted the Best British Beach in 2014 and four others have blue flag awards (Sheringham, Cromer, Mudesley and Sea Palling). All North Norfolk’s beaches are big and beautiful – take your pick.

Walking – whether it’s along the coast enjoying the amazing wildlife or the gently undulating inland areas, there’s a whole host of easy paths that families with pushchairs and young toddlers can enjoy - See them here.

Seals – North Norfolk boasts one of the largest colonies of common and grey seals in the UK. November to February is the very best time to spot grey seals and their pups, whilst June to August are the months you’re more likely to see common seals. Blakeney, Horsey and Hunstanton and the notable spots for seals, or you can go on an organized boat trip - find out more here.

Notable Mentions

Not free but great value and lots to entertain everyone is Pensthorpe Natural Park with its brand new adventure park opening this spring. Bewilderwood is an enchanting tree house world populated with woodland folk and covering acres of curious ground. Wroxham Barns allows children to bottle feed lambs throughout spring and is host to the Foolhardy Circus throughout the year together with a petting farm.

Find out more about North Norfolk’s family festivals and attractions by visiting http://www.visitnorthnorfolk.com/places-to-visit

Where to stay

North Norfolk has a host of great accommodation – whether you’re looking somewhere by the sea to pitch your tent or a luxurious hotel that welcomes children, Norfolk has it all  - and everything in between. There are log cabins, converted WW2 control towers, camper van hire, self-catering farm stays and shepherd’s huts. There are hotels so close to the sea, you can almost paddle from your window or B&Bs tucked away inland. Book yourself something lovely.

• The North Norfolk coastline was the first part of Britain to be settled by early man.
• The northern pool frog, England’s rarest amphibian, has its own unique Norfolk-accented croak.
• If you want to talk like a local then throw in jasper (wasp), dodman (snail), pishmire (ant) hamser (heron), kewter (money) and to pingle, meaning to play with food.
• It is said that every year, on the anniversary of her execution, Anne Boleyn's headless ghost arrives at North Norfolk’s Blickling Hall in a carriage driven by an equally headless coachman.

Do you enjoy holidaying in North Norfolk? Where are your favourite places to go?