Norfolk is home to some beautiful beaches and Hunstanton is arguably one of the best. Here’s what I found on a recent visit.
A traditional English seaside resort
In my head, Hunstanton has lots in common with Great Yarmouth, Southend and Bognor Regis. It’s one of those beach towns that sprang up in the Victorian period and became a summer destination for city dwellers looking to let their hair down.
And in this respect, I’m not wrong.
Hunstanton town is filled to bursting with Victorian properties and hotels that stretch along the seafront, with some newer properties sprinkled in. And the main road along the seafront is dotted with lots of well maintained gardens and green spaces.
The town also used to have a pier, but the site at the seafront is now home to a bowling alley and a sizeable amusement arcade, which I totally associate with a trip to the beach. I love me a 2p machine.
It is also home to fish and chip shops galore. I can personally vouch for Fisher’s, just across the green from the pier. Great, freshly cooked chips.
And then there are the obligatory ice cream vendors. I had a 99 from The Refreshment Bar, just uphill from the North Prom, after my chips because it’s the law (although when did a 99 start costing £2.95? What is the world coming to?).
There’s also Rainbow Park Fairground and caravan parks dotted throughout the area, which means it’s well set up for an active family getaway.
The quieter side of Hunstanton
After our traditional seaside lunch, my friends and I walked along the Esplanade to Old Hunstanton Beach to escape from the attractions and spend a peaceful afternoon paddling.
It feels far removed from the middle of town, with no smell of candy floss or the sound of music drifting across from the amusements. There’s just a small cafe and public toilets by the car park, along with a tap for washing the sand off your feet.
The beach slopes gently into the sea, which was millpond calm when we visited. And although there were people on jet skis bombing around a long way out, it remained calm and peaceful. Just be aware that there are bands of pebbles across the shore – they can be quite painful!
I have to say, it felt more like being in Italy or Spain than North Norfolk. Children were playing in the shallows, adults were swimming and paddleboarding and families were sitting around enjoying the good weather. Despite all that activity, it didn’t feel overcrowded or claustrophobic.
Getting to Hunstanton
We drove from North Norwich to Hunstanton and it took us around an hour and 20 minutes to get there. The traffic was light and the route is both scenic and straightforward.
We parked at the Hunstanton Cliff car park and there was plenty of space, even though we arrived at midday on a Sunday during the summer holidays. It cost more than £11 to park for the whole day, which was quite pricey, but I’d park there again because there are so many spaces.
A word of warning: The Cliff car park is a fair walk into town. It’s around a mile and took us about 25 minutes to walk. There are other car parks closer to the attractions.
Is a visit to Hunstanton worth it?
Absolutely. One of the things I liked most about Hunstanton was being able to have both versions of the British seaside in one day: chips, ice cream and amusements followed by a quieter afternoon beside the water. It works particularly well for families, couples and groups of friends because you can make the day as busy or relaxed as you like.
