Best family-friendly hotels Norfolk: top picks from Mumsnet users

Norfolk’s distinctive charm has made it a firm favourite for Mumsnetters seeking a UK family holiday. It's well known for its wide sandy beaches, but if you head inland, you’ll find plenty more to explore - from stately homes to adventure parks, charming villages to nature reserves.

A family-friendly hotel is a must for any holiday - having somewhere to retreat to at the end of a day’s exploring is essential for a relaxing break that everyone can enjoy. We’ve turned to Mumsnet’s travel forums to find the best tried-and-tested hotels in Norfolk that are great for families.

What are the best family hotels in Norfolk?

• Best overall: The Grove, Cromer

• Best for budget breaks: YHA Sheringham

• Best by the beach: Le Strange, Hunstanton

• Best country hotel: Links Country Park Hotel, near Cromer

• Best cottage: The Hoste, Burnham Market

1. Best overall hotel: The Grove, Cromer

The Grove | Check availability

Our verdict

A leisurely 10-minute stroll from the beach, The Grove is a converted Georgian country house with an indoor swimming pool and a restaurant serving locally-sourced food. Located in the seaside town of Cromer, be sure to visit the traditional pier and stop for local crab at one of the seafront eateries.

There are various family rooms available at The Grove, with mezzanine floors, day beds and adjoining rooms on offer. Rooms One and Five are in-range of the child monitors set up in the hotel’s restaurant, so these are perfect for travelling with little ones.

Nearest train station: Cromer (450 metres)

2. Best budget hotel: YHA Sheringham

YHA Sheringham | Check availability

Our verdict

Visiting Norfolk on a budget? You’ll find lots of YHA fans on Mumsnet. The Sheringham Youth Hostel doesn’t have en-suites, so you’ll need to be OK with using shared bathroom facilities, but it does offer private rooms sleeping up to six people. With a room for four from as little as £56, YHA Sheringham serves as a brilliant basic place to lay your head while exploring the local area. Sheringham has an award-winning beach, a steam railway and gorgeous country walks nearby. Walking distance from both the train station and the beach, this is a great choice for a family holiday on a shoestring.

Nearest train station: Sheringham (300 metres)

3. Best luxury hotel: The Hoste, Burnham Market

The Hoste | Check availability

What Mumsnet users say

Bit of a Chelsea-by-the-Sea cliche, but [i'd recommend The Hoste]. Recommended by Mumsnet user RoseAndRose

Our verdict

For a luxury getaway with kids in tow, the Hoste is an excellent choice. Extra beds can be added to larger rooms for £35 per bed, or opt for a suite or an apartment for extra space to spread out. At the Hoste you’ll find a 20-seat cinema, a gym and spa treatment rooms. Situated in the pretty town of Burnham Market, Wells, Brancaster and Bob Hall’s sandy beaches are all within easy reach.

Nearest train station: Kings Lynn (20 miles)

Related: The best Haven holiday parks, as rated by parents

4. Best coastal hotel: Le Strange Arms, Hunstanton

Le Strange Arms | Check availability

What Mumsnet users say

Le strange is a bit tired, but it's so beautifully placed and walking along the beach to Holme on a wintry day can't be beaten!!" Recommended by Mumsnet user Intheoldendays

Our verdict

With grounds that stretch right up to the edge of one of Norfolk’s best beaches, Le Strange Arms is a traditional hotel in an enviable location. Family rooms have a double bed and two singles, and all of them have sea views. There are also self-catering lodges and apartments available on the grounds, which are dog-friendly and a stone’s throw from Old Hunstanton beach. The area is famous for its bird watching and cycling routes, so the Le Strange Arms is a perfect base for an outdoorsy family break.

Nearest train station: Kings Lynn (17 miles)

Related: The best family hotels in Yorkshire, according to Mumsnetters

5. Best country hotel: The Links Country Park Hotel, near Cromer

Links Country Park Hotel | Check availability

Our verdict

Set in 35 acres of wooded parkland, The Links is a great destination for a mix of country and seaside. Family rooms are spacious, if a little dated. Dogs are allowed for a small extra charge, and cots can be hired for £10 a night. Nearby you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to activities, with Cromer and Sheringham beaches nearby. And Mumsnet favourites Bewilderwood and North Norfolk Steam Railway are both in easy reach of the hotel.

Nearest train station: Sheringham (2 miles)

6. Best hotel with a swimming pool: Blakeney Hotel

Blakeney Hotel | Check availability

What Mumsnet users say

The Blakeney hotel is amazing. Recommended by Mumsnet user Davros

Our verdict

With stunning views across the salt marshes to the sea, Blakeney Hotel comes highly recommended by Mumsnetters. Kids will love the novelty of built-in bunk beds with folding doors, and there are dog-friendly rooms which open out to a well-kept communal garden area. The restaurant has a great kids’ menu and there’s plenty to do indoors on a rainy day - including a games room and a swimming pool. Venture out and you’ll find the Norfolk coast at its best, with crabbing, sandy beaches and seal spotting to keep you and the kids busy.

Nearest train station: Sheringham (9 miles)

Related: The best family-friendly spa hotels in the UK as rated by parents

7. Best self-catering accommodation: Sedgeford Hall, north Norfolk

Sedgeford Hall | Check availability

Our verdict

For a really special getaway with extended family or friends, Sedgeford Hall estate is a winner. The historic house is split into three separate self-contained areas sleeping 12-15, which can be linked to sleep up to 47 people. Set in a secluded valley, there’s plenty of space indoors and out for entertaining, including an indoor swimming pool, beautiful gardens and estate walks. Inside you’ll find cosy open fires, luxurious decor and generous rooms for relaxing and spending time together. The nearest town is Heacham, and kids will love Farmer Fred’s Play Barn - a soft play centre with a cafe and a petting zoo.

Nearest train station: King’s Lynn (15 miles)

8. Best place to stay with babies and toddlers: Kelling Heath, near Sheringham

Kelling Heath | Check availability

What Mumsnet users say

Kelling Heath is lovely. Not sure about low key- it’s quite big but peaceful . Quite structured but has pool, little steam train that goes there, little fishing pond. Really enjoyed our stay there. Recommended by Mumsnet user Cracklecrack

Our verdict

Holiday park Kelling Heath is a great spot for visiting Norfolk with babies and toddlers. You’ll stay in a self-catering lodge nestled in lush woodland. The park boasts an outdoor fun pool, a woodland eco gym and numerous adventure playgrounds. There’s a mini railway and a holiday village square where you’ll find food, drink and entertainment. Little ones will love the wildlife - you can even spot captive red squirrels during your stay - and there are star-gazing activities as part of Kelling Heath’s Dark Sky Discovery Site status.

Nearest train station: Sheringham (5 miles)

9. Best hotel for food: The Globe, Wells-Next-The-Sea

The Globe | Check availability

What Mumsnet users say

The Globe or The Crown. Both are in Wells so you’ve got Wells beach and the fish and chip shops there. Holkham, Burnham Overy and Burnham market all very close. Recommended by Mumsnet user Sometimesnot

I have eaten at The Globe and it was very good. An easy walk through town. Recommended by Mumsnet user Biscuitsneeded

Our verdict

Offering fine dining and cosy accommodation, The Globe is a lovely place to stay. There’s a crowd-pleasing kids’ menu with plenty of chips, pasta and ice cream to get stuck into. Family rooms at The Globe have a king-sized bed for the grown-ups, a double sofa bed and additional z-beds available and sleep up to five. Dogs are welcome in all rooms for an extra £25 and the staff will even throw in dog treats. Located in Wells-Next-The-Sea, a picturesque town of pastel beach huts and narrow cobbled streets, you’re well placed for exploring the beauty of North Norfolk.

Nearest train station: Sheringham (16 miles)

Is Norfolk good for a family holiday?

Norfolk is a brilliant destination for a family holiday in the UK. You’ll find traditional seaside entertainment, sandy beaches, unspoiled coastlines as well as beautiful countryside to explore.

What’s the nicest part of Norfolk to visit?

Mumsnetters recommend the North Norfolk coast between Cromer and King’s Lynn. It’s an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as well as home of the Queen’s country retreat, Sandringham. Explore the area in style by hopping on the Poppy Line steam railway, and be sure not to miss Bewilderwood adventure park further south for an epic family day out.

Does Norfolk have nice beaches?

Norfolk boasts some of Britain’s best beaches along its 45 miles of unspoiled coastline. Mumsnetters love Holkham, Cromer and Horsey beaches in particular.

What’s the best family-friendly hotel in Norfolk?

The Grove at Cromer is the best hotel in Norfolk for families. Combining an excellent coastal location with luxurious surroundings, families are welcomed and looked after well by friendly staff.

How we chose our recommendations

Because we know that there's nothing like a real recommendation, we first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out what family hotels in Norfolk were being recommended.

We then did some research across the wider web, looking at what family hotels in Norfolk had won accolades or been featured in 'best choice' lists across websites, and what customer reviews said about them. Having collated all that information, we then narrowed our list down to the best family hotels in Norfolk.

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She researches and reviews the places and products Mumsnet users swear by, with a particular focus on home essentials, laundry and fans. From a highly-recommended retractable washing line to the best quiet fans money can buy, and Mumsnet's favourite dehumidifier to the steam generator iron that'll cut your ironing time in half, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the very best products on the market.

With an MA in Creative Writing and a PGCert in Lifestyle Journalism, Poppy's written about parenting topics for The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Mirror and The Sun. She's a best-selling, award-winning author, and her books for children and parents have been translated into 12 languages.