North Norfolk Holiday - where to go and where to stay?

[Hayxx]

I would like to take my family to Norfolk next summer, my little ones will be 1 and 2 by then.
I want to be able to walk to a nice clean sandy beach from our accomodations, nice places to eat, entertainment and amusements, nature etc.

Any suggestions would be great.

Wells next the sea is lovely but can get busy - lots of caravan parks & holiday cottages.

Cromer might fit your bill, but as PP, can get busy in summer. My family have a caravan sited here so I’ve seen it in all seasons and summer can be chaos, but most seaside towns will be the same at this time of year.

There are a few amusements, lots of cafes, fish and chip shops, the pier which has a bar/cafe and a theatre. You’re also not far from Sheringham which is similar but smaller.

I think Hunstanton is lovely. (Apparently pronounced 'Hunston')

I live in Norfolk. Do you have a budget you are working with?

@Hayxx . Maybe try Cromer if you want a mix of nice beaches that are walkable from the town, and some amusements plus a small Zoo . The pier has a summer show and some outdoor music some evenings . There is a steam railway that runs from nearby Sheringham to Holt . Sheringham would be my preference to Cromer , but there is slightly less in the way of " attractions " .
There is a free animal/ shire horse sanctuary at West Runton , about 2 miles away .
Further along the coast there are some beautiful beaches eg Holkam,Wells , but not walkable from accommodation.
Hope you find somewhere that fits the bill for your family .

Brancaster beach is lovely but has dangerous tides so beware. There are a few nature reserves I saw my first water vole at RSPB Titchwell Marsh. Hunstanton Beech is also nice and there is a sea life centre there.

Okay so some ideas to work with. Holkham and Wells are quite close. Either is good and there is a holiday park at Wells which will provide some good options in peak periods. Cromer is a great option. If budget allows try the Red Lion as a great place to stop and to eat (great views of the pier and beach). Great Yarmouth is a good place to visit and has all of the traditional sea side stuff which kids love (I personally though would not stop there). Sheringham is close to Cromer and is a more "traditional" small seaside town.

As a local my most favourite areas would be Horsey and Winterton. Both are very quiet but have good quiet beaches and make a great place to travel out from. Horsey is of course famous for its seals which can be seen at anytime of the year if you can get the kids to walk a little bit. At Horsey there are National Trust cottages available a short walk from the beach. These are not cheap but are of a good standard.

Hemsby is nice for families, lots of caravan parks, amusements and a lovely sandy beach that goes on for miles.

West Runton - sandy beach with little rock pools. Pub, cafes and an animal sanctuary plus great restaurant on the cliff. Close to Sheringham - kayaking, steam train. Easy to get to by public transport - train direct from Norwich.

As PPs . Cromer is a nice resort. I haven't been in Years but there is a beach called Overstrand Beach (I think its Overstrand) a short drive from Cromer and its lovely . No amusements there though (at that time anyway) but a huge area to park.

Mundesley is ‘round the corner’ but has a lovely sandy beach, is a small resort with a good park, chip shops. But the beach is very easily accessible.

Wells, Brancaster and Holkham are fantastic beaches, but less accessible from anywhere you might stay. Wells is a lovely town, but it is a walk down to the beach.

I find Sheringham a more charming town than Cromer.

Hunstanton is pronounced exactly that way - Hun-stan-ton AKA Sunny Hunny ☀️

Hunston is a completely different place.

We loved Mundesley

While you're there Redwings (horse sanctuary) in Alysham is great and there's a nice small steam railway nearby too.

Loads of Norfolk people say Hunst’on . But I suppose it’s more of a local dialect pronunciation, whereas Happisburgh is officially pronounced Hazeborough , for example.

I think Cromer most closely fits what you are looking for, OP. Sheringham is lovely too but has a stony beach. But is only about four miles away from Cromer, so easy to visit from there. Sheringham has a fabulous steam railway too, which takes you to the very pretty town of Holt (inland).
A bit further round to the east there are beautiful sandy beaches at Sea Palling and Winterton. You won't get arcade games there but you will at Hemsby (also with sandy beach) just a little bit further round the coast again.

PS, the Hunston pronunciation of Hunstanton is a very, very local thing. I am from Norfolk originally (south Norfolk) and have never pronounced it anything other than Hunstanton. Saying Hunston would be a bit like a southerner saying New-cassel for Newcastle.