Wells next the sea or Heacham beach ?!

[RealReginaPhalange]

Posted in chat but it seems to be very dead there 🙂

I have 18 months old and 5 year old. We had to cancel holidays this year but i really really want to go to the beach at least for a day! it has to be this Wednesday. its a long drive, around 2-2.5 hours. I have not been at the beach in the UK yet. What do you suggest ? :D

Any tips or advices for a day trip with two little kids?

YABU = Wells
YANBU = Heacham

thank you @Bunito , very helpfull!

i really like the wells one from the pictures but yes, i dont really want to go with the kids for a mile! brancaster is on the list now! need to speak to DH at home and plan it

North Norfolk beaches you need to check the tides. I remember going twice to Holkam - the first time the tide was going out and we were pretty much chasing the water- my toddler would be sat in four inches of water and a couple of minutes later it was gone. The second time we walked a long way to the sea and in retrospect it worries me how we would have managed if the tide started suddenly racing in. On both occasions there was no dry sand near the water to set up a base.

I look back fondly on my trips to the seaside with very young children but also remember the nightmare logistics of getting everything to the beach, the struggle to stop them drowning themselves by running into the sea, and how quickly they were done.

this is an exact reason i am still contemplating! the trip supposed to be mainly for me as I have been going on and on for a year now (literally!) but being crammed in the car for 2.5 hrs then being at the beach when the sea is so far seems pointless. i am checking tide times constantly. will need to have a think

I’d also say Holkham. Although be wary of tide times as the sea comes in very quick.

Winterton on Sea ?

Brancaster for me.
Heacham is full of shit and the lavender fields are disappointing.

It's because the beach is so shallow. At Wells they sound a siren when the tide starts to come in. I love Wells.

Although, I disagree about the fish and chips. We had them from French's both times we went to Wells and they weren't as good as the ones in our local pub, who gets fresh fish delivered from Grimsby.

Wells and Brancaster will be HEAVING and in Wells the beach is about a mile from the town, so park in one and you've got a long walk to the other. Holme or Heacham should be quieter, although anywhere in N. Norfolk is going to be very busy indeed. If you aren't parked by 8-9am you probably won't find a spot. Check the tide times for wherever you decide: https://wellsguide.com/visiting-wells-next-the-sea/tide-times/

We did wells a few weeks ago. Big car park, toilets and cafe right there. RNLI shop and station too. We arrived about 930am on a week day predicted to be quite warm (like 26-30) and parking was fine. By 1030 it was full though. As long as you dont mind early start its fine.
When the tide is out it has a lovely little lagoon / steam that was great for the kids (mine for 4 and 9). You can swim across to the other wise to see the seals. A siren sounds when the tidy starts coming back in.
I actually preferred wells to other beaches we have visited purely for the lagoon / steam thing. It is much better than the normal beach sea in my kids opinion.

I live an 3/4 hour south of Cambridge and it doesn’t take me 3hrs to get to Brancaster.

However as others have said the tide on the north Norfolk beaches goes out at least a mile. This is perfect if you want to walk, play beach games or build sandcastles but no use if you want to paddle in the sea.

Brancaster has toilets and a decent beach hut selling refreshments. Beach access is direct from the car park

Holkham has a better beach cafe with toilets but it’s a long trek to the beach.

Well has the best all
round facilities and the nearby town.

tides here www.rwngc.org/tide-times/

The beach is pebbles at Heacham. Wells is beautiful but be prepared for the sea to be a trek depending on the tide. Like others have said the actual town is probably around a miles walk from the beach, but you can park at either end or I think there is a land train (there used to be a real one but it closed a few years back).
Some people have suggested Old Hunstanton which has a lovely beach. The main town does not, but you could always spend time on the beach in Old Hunstanton and then go to grab fish and chips in the main part which has all the traditional seaside attractions, fair, arcades, donkey rides etc.

Just to say, in case there is any doubt, that this is the channel that leads from the sea to Wells Quay and once the tide is running - in or out - the water flow is extremely fast and powerful , and if incoming, rises very fast.

And the tide covers ALL the sand on the far side.

The RNLI are constantly rescuing people who have stranded themselves on the far bank.

It is lovely for splashing, paddling and swimming in at low tide.

But observe maximum caution if you cross over.

Do people ignore the sirens?

I must admit I don't recall seeing many notices about why they sound.

Hunstanton! Much better for children.

And you can walk to Old Hunstanton if the tide is out.

The lifeboat has been out 7 times since June 10th for people caught on the wrong side of channel or other sandbanks, or swimmers who can't cope with the flow.
I have also seen fishing boats and pleasurecraft pick people up.

There are notices at every entrance to the beach.

But - the channel is great and enables people to paddle, swim etc at low tide when the sea is miles out, and if you are just playing on the edge etc it is quite obvious when the tide starts to move, so it's quite safe, and a great pace to be, as long as common sense is engaged.

My favourite on that coast is Brancaster or Old Hunstanton. At Hunstanton park up the light house end and then walk away from the town. Holkham and Thornham are also beautiful but a long walk and no real facilities. But personally (and I'm in mid Essex so not too far from you) I would go to Southwold in Suffolk. That's my happy place.

Have you thought about Gorleston-on-sea? The drive time similar to Wells and it is fantastic beach for toddlers. Lovely long sandy beach and anlways anuiet so easy to find your own spot. You don’t get the tides like north Norfolk, so don’t have to worry about the sea being far out, easy to park on Marine parade or the car parks, nice cafe half way along and a playground if the kids want a climb.