Cara on Cromer Beach

With our major holiday in Japan only a few months before, we decided to stay more local this summer holidays. We didn’t want to be driving too far so after checking on Google Maps, we headed up to Norfolk and Suffolk. Our main base would be Norwich and Ipswich respectively, with day trips to various sites and attractions. Our first one for the trip was Cromer, Norfolk.

Date Visited: 19th August 2024

Location: Cromer, Norfolk

Getting There: Roughly a three-hour drive from South-East London, including a short rest stop halfway

Cost: We opted to use the Holiday Inn North, Norwich as our base for the few days in Norfolk, mainly because it had a pool to relax in after the days out and it was close to all the various sites we wanted to visit. Cost per night was c.£110 and a full tank of petrol was c.£70.  

Idyllic day out on Cromer Beach

We departed London in the morning, slightly later than planned, with the aim to make it to Cromer for a seaside lunch. With a clean drive and minimal traffic, we made it there by 1pm. After struggling to find parking in one lot, we drove to another one not too far from the beach. With our stomachs rumbling, we made a beeline to No. 1 Cromer for fish and chips. Lovely fresh fish and the chips were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, perfect. One of the best fish and chips we’ve had and a stunning view out. We didn’t realise Cromer was renowned for its crab until after we finished lunch so didn’t get to try it (we had to wait till we visited Norwich Markets).

After stuffing our faces, we headed straight down to the beach. With the tide out, we found a spot near the rock-pool and shallows and spent the rest of the afternoon chilling. It’s a long beach with a pier, currently undergoing some works to create additional wave breakers. Part-pebbly but majority soft sand, it’s great when the tide is out, plenty of kids out looking for crabs and other creatures between the rocks.  

With the sun going down, we packed up our belongings and stopped by the amusement centre to try out luck on the claw and 2p machines. After spending £10, Cara walked out with some sweets and confirmed that “all claw machines are rigged”.

Next up, the Holt to Sheringham “Poppy Line” railway.