A Great Yarmouth getaway
Spend a relaxing weekend in East Anglia's largest seaside resort
With its strategic location on the Norfolk coast, miles of sandy beaches and proximity to the Norfolk Broads, Great Yarmouth has been attracting holidaymakers for centuries.
Although the town started out as a prosperous trading port in Roman and Norman times, these days Great Yarmouth is more about entertainment and seaside fun than fish. However its proud maritime heritage does live on, particularly in the town's cultural quarter.
Here are our rated recommendations for things to to, places to stay, and restaurants to enjoy on your Weekend Escape.
Things to do
Great Yarmouth owes its origins to its proximity to the sea, and while the town’s fortunes have ebbed and flowed with the tides, the one thing that has never changed is that allure of being beside the seaside. Yarmouth – as it is known more simply to locals – became a prosperous seaside resort in the 18th century, and at its peak was one of the wealthiest in the country.
That elegant town is largely what we see today, with its grand boulevards, fashionable mansion houses and its piers and gardens. Both of the town’s piers are popular landmarks, as are the nearby Winter Gardens. The promenades are there still there, stretching between the piers, offering up a blend of more modern entertainment with the traditional. Music and theatre play a big role in the town, especially at the Hippodrome, while the sophisticated multi-million pound Sea Life Centre gives a very 21st-century experience.
Rollercoasters and rides abound, and younger visitors will relish the simple pleasure of the trampolines on the golden sandy beach. Catch a glimpse of the town’s past at the Tollhouse Museum and the Great Yarmouth Row Houses and Greyfriars’ Cloister, or visit the Merrivale Model Village for a fun day out. Walkers will enjoy exploring the scenic 8.6 mile coastal Weaver’s Way between Halvergate and Great Yarmouth.
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Places to stay
Location is everything in Great Yarmouth, with townhouse B&Bs, hotels, apartments and campsites all seeking to deliver the ultimate seaside experience.
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Where to eat
From modern food in seaside locations to refined pub grub with a view, take your pick depending on where your tastes take you.
