Norfolk

The very best places to stay in Norfolk

Norfolk is the sort of place you dream about when you’re seeking a quiet escape. With its wide, windswept beaches, gentle Broads’ waterways and peaceful marshlands, this is a place to go slow and book extra days of holiday rather than trying to cram it all in.

Even the medieval market towns have a relaxed, almost village-like charm. King’s Lynn, with its guildhall and cobbled streets; Thetford, with its priory ruins; Wymondham’s 12thC market place and timber-framed buildings. Norwich may feel more modern but it’s still pleasingly calm, its streets lined with brilliant independents.

But most people come here for the beautiful beaches — the Norfolk coastline is full of cinematic stars. Our favourite is Holkham, backed by dunes and pines. Trendy Wells-next-the-Sea has a rainbow of beach huts; Blakeney Point is home to the largest seal colony in the UK, and a nature reserve loved by migratory birds; you’ll have marvelled at Hunstanton on postcards, with its striped, candy-cane cliffs.

Inland broad, open fields and flat plains are punctuated by grand estates and ancient woodlands, and charming villages interweave it all. Base yourself at one of our Norfolk hideaways: dog-friendly cottages, romantic boltholes, family glamping and the most beautiful lakeside cabin…

Kip tips:
• Architecture: This corner of the world has plenty of grand estates including Palladian Holkham Hall with its walled garden, elegant Sandringham (home to the Royal Family for the last 150 years) and Blickling Hall, which has an ornate Jacobean facade. Thetford Priory is also a gem; its 12thC cloister still visible today.
• Must-do: hire a boat on the Norfolk Broads. Explore the reedbeds, rivers and lakes at your own pace, stopping off at riverside pubs for a local beer.
• With kids: take a guided boat trip to Blakeney Point, home to the largest seal colony in the UK. Whilst wild, they are curious, and often swim close to the boats. During winter, the seals often bask on the shore, making them easier to admire, whilst pups are generally born in February.
• Foodie treat: whether part of a sandwich or an elaborate fine-dining meal, Cromer’s crabs are a local delicacy, sweet and succulent. Norfolk honey is also renowned; pick up a jar from a roadside honesty stall.
• Best activity: walk or cycle through Thetford forest’s ancient oak trees.
• Secret Kip tip: Weybourne beach is a hidden-away gem on the North Norfolk coast. Its peaceful, pebbled beach is a great spot for birdwatching: gulls, waders and the occasional puffin during migratory periods.

Why book a Norfolk holiday with Kip Hideaways?
We endlessly research and curate the very best places to stay across the UK: all gorgeous and great value. Beautiful, unique style is a must for us but it’s the thoughtful detail and owners who really care that make our hideaways so special. Our Norfolk hideaways include lakeside lodges, romantic cabins, family-friendly houses, dog-friendly cottages and stylish glamping with hot tubs.