Norfolk holiday: Advice please!

[roberta3]

We are hoping to go to Norfolk for a week, either Spring Bank or in the summer hols. Looking for self-catering accommodation in an 'untacky' area, preferably near the coast. We'd really like somewhere that had an indoor pool and perhaps a small play area just incase the weather not too good.
Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Probably not what you're looking for as you've not mentioned it, but have you thought of a boat on the Norfolk Broads?

hunstanton in north norfolk is nice with little ones. There's a nice beach, sealife centre and a little land train. We stayed in a caravan at Searles which does have an indoor pool.

Places to avoid if you don't want tacky are Gt Yarmouth and anywhere around there. Further north is much quieter - Sheringham is small fishing town - gorgeous beach with a children's play place (can't remember the name) and also the Splash Tropical leisure pool. Both these things are open to the public, so you could choose to stay anywhere. From there you can visit Holt, a lovely market town, the Broads, Norwich, Cromer (for chips at MaryJanes). I think Hunstanton and Wells are good, and have great beaches, but are a bit far from all the other great stuff Norfolk has to offer. If you want any more info on this area let me know, as I used to live there (could you guess??).

Would definitely agree with Sheringham - we used to go there every summer hols when I was growing up. Loads to do

there's a great dinosaur park to visit near norwich somewhere.

I live in Norfolk. The Broads are great, you can hire a boat for the week, (depending on childs ages etc.)

Gt Yarmouth is a little tacky, but is ok for a day visit. They have a Pleasure beach with rides etc for the kids, and a pier, also pony rides and a horse and carriage to hire along the sea front. There is also a sealife centre there and I think a butterfly farm. They also do a trip by boat to see the wind farms (the so called ugly windmills which help to generate power)

Blakeney point is also a lovely place to visit, also boat trips to see 'the seals'

Sheringham is a lovely quiet place to visit, very clean, nice places to eat. But small.

Cromer is also very nice, quiet, a pier, fresh crabs and fish, a few shops, nice beach.

Norwich (25-30miles from Gt Yarmouth) has some great shops, a mall, great pubs for meals and some great hotels.

Try www.visitnorfolk.co.uk

and www.dinosaurpark.co.uk

Have a look at \link{http://www.bbc.co.uk/holiday/destinations/norfolk_park/\this} or the parks own page \link{http://www.kellingheath.co.uk/\here}

This is right on the N Norfolk coast in a really attractive spot. I have been past amd thought it looked really nice. Has a pool, etc, and there is a stop for the steam train at the bottom of the park. It's very 'untacky', and in a good location for a trip to see the seals (from nearby Morston), there is a Shire horse centre at Litttle Sheringham, and indoor soft play at Wells, great beach with dunes and fantastic pinewoods at wells, the indoor Splash centre as already mentione near Sheringham, good national Trust houses nearby - Blickling, Felbrigg, Holkham hall. A museum of Steam Organd and traction engines at Thursford - sounds a bit mad, but DS loves it, they play all the organs - old dancehall organs, and hava a couple of inddor stem fairground rides. Little picnic area and kids playground outside. Langham Glass - watch glass blowing. Have lunch at Cookies Shack in Salthouse - a seafood cafe.

Otherwise just book any holiday cottage along the coast.

My Mum lives there - we go all the time.

Other

Wells next the sea is lovely for a day trip. The beach at Holkham is wonderful, as is the icecream at Holkham Hall and the Victoria is a fantastic pub. I love Norfolk, my friend's dad has a cottage in a village near Swaffham and we stay there a lot.

I second all Mazzystar's recommendations.

Don't eat in the cafe attached to Holkham Hall though - it's horrible! The one by the gate near the Victoria is ok (has a nice garden for tea and cake)- but avoid the one inside the grounds.

Good pubs if with children are the one at Letheringsett - big outdoor climbing castle, and the Nelson at Burnham Thorpe - good food and a big garden out the back.

ooh and there is a fabbo beach at Brancaster.

We have stayed at Sedgeford Hall See english country cottages website.It is just a country estate where there are various cottages let out in grounds but the pool is very nice and there was plenty of space for the children to play.Basically you want to stick to the north west we go every easter,I would recommend Sandringham country Park,the steam train from Holt to Sheringham,boat trip to see the seals at morston quay,holkham Beach(agree about tea room)Brancaster,burnham staithe or overy adn Blakeny.
The English country cottages site has a good selection and you can search for dates and things like pools

Hi Philly we went to www.kellingheath.co.uk it was lovely nothing tacky and lovely for the children with pond dipping etc. Also the Sheringham to Holt train actually stops in the grounds but you have to wave to stop it. There was a really nice sandy beach at maundesley about 40mins away