Family Friendly Beaches in Norfolk

Wells-next-the Sea beach

Hire a beach hut

One of the best-known beaches in Norfolk and less than ten miles drive from Cranmer. The beach is bordered by shady pinewoods and a row of brightly coloured beach huts.  There is a safe swimming area marked by yellow buoys this helps swimmers to avoid the boat traffic. Nearby facilities are excellent, there is the Wells beach café & ice creams next to the car park and also additional toilets at the north end of the beach, RNLI Lifeguards are on duty from June through September.  If you feel you need a shady place for a baby to nap or to make a cup of tea then hiring a beach hut may be the perfect solution.  Try the Happy Huts in advance of your stay.

At low tide, the beach goes out a mile so you’re not short of space once you’re on the sand, some shallow pools of sea water will remain so little ones can still have a splash about if the walk to the sea is a little too far.

A dog-free zone operates for the first 200 yards of beach from the main entrance so that people can dig in the sand without fear of finding something unpleasant, but there are no restrictions from the pinewoods entrances.

The section of the beach where dogs not allowed is signposted.

There is a pay and display carpark near the beach at NR23 1DR, fees apply from 8am – 7pm.  It is advisable to get there early especially during peak season.

Always check the tide tables to help you plan your day.

HOLKHAM BEACH

Perfect for kite flying

One of the best-known beaches in Norfolk and less than ten miles drive from Cranmer. The beach is bordered by shady pinewoods and a row of brightly coloured beach huts.  There is a safe swimming area marked by yellow buoys this helps swimmers to avoid the boat traffic. Nearby facilities are excellent, there is the Wells beach café & ice creams next to the car park and also additional toilets at the north end of the beach, RNLI Lifeguards are on duty from June through September.  If you feel you need a shady place for a baby to nap or to make a cup of tea then hiring a beach hut may be the perfect solution.  Try the Happy Huts in advance of your stay.

At low tide, the beach goes out a mile so you’re not short of space once you’re on the sand, some shallow pools of sea water will remain so little ones can still have a splash about if the walk to the sea is a little too far.

A dog-free zone operates for the first 200 yards of beach from the main entrance so that people can dig in the sand without fear of finding something unpleasant, but there are no restrictions from the pinewoods entrances.

The section of the beach where dogs not allowed is signposted.

There is a pay and display carpark near the beach at NR23 1DR, fees apply from 8am – 7pm.  It is advisable to get there early especially during peak season.

Always check the tide tables to help you plan your day.

Brancaster Beach

Ideal for collecting shells

A bit further along the coast towards Hunstanton is Brancaster beach.  Parking is adjacent to the beach so not too much walking involved once you get there.  There is a small kiosk selling refreshments, ice creams buckets and spades beach toys and a toilet which is open between 6am – 6 pm (tide dependent)

There is a small dog-free zone between May to September – head left once you walk onto the beach from the entrance if you prefer a paw-free area.

Brancaster beach is one of the best Norfolk beaches for collecting shells along the tideline. A great advantage of Brancaster Beach is that if you want to make a day of it the beach is close to the very family-friendly pub & restaurant the Jolly Sailors, recently voted the nation’s favourite family pub where food is served every day from noon to 9pm every day except Sunday when they stop serving at 6.00pm.

Hunstanton Beach

Great for fossil hunting

Hunstanton’s red and white striped cliffs are famous, and if the clouds come rolling in on the main beach, you’re walking distance from a Sea Life Centre.  Hunstanton it’s one of only a handful of beaches on the east coast which face west, so it’s a perfect spot to photograph at sunrise and sunset.  Once an elegant Victorian resort the place has a nostalgic feel.  There is a promenade which is excellent for buggy’s and plenty of traditional seaside cafes and shops including an excellent award-winning fish & chip shop at Fishers of Hunstanton –recently named in the Sunday Times as one of the 10 best in the UK (2022).

If you are visiting with older children the main beach is a great place for windsurfing & kitesurfing thanks to the calm shallower waters.

At low tide Old Hunstanton beach is great for rock pooling and fossil hunting.  Check the tide tables first as the tide can come in pretty quickly.  Life guards on Duty during the summer months

Old Hunstanton Beach is also dog-friendly year-round, although they are banned from Hunstanton Main Beach.

Cromer Beach

Blue Flag beach

A traditional bucket and spade beach and always popular with children.  The sandy beach is perfect for building sandcastles and shell collecting year round.  You could always follow up with a visit to the tiny shell museum in Glandford near Blakeney on another day.  There are shops cafes and restaurants located conveniently along the promenade behind the easy pay and display parking nearby, making this an easy access beach for families.  If you get a chance pop into No1 the fab fish & chip shop & restaurant located on the front overlooking the pier.  The restaurant is owned by Chef Gordon Blackiston, it has a retro vibe with vegan options and kids fish and chips served in a mini bucket with spade!

Cromer beach has blue flag status this means that the beach must reach a certain set of criteria.  These requirements include excellent water quality, well-managed beaches, environmental education programmes, safety and services (including lifeguards and first aid), and litter and waste management. (13^th May 2022).