Heacham or Cromer?

[holidayplanner2020]

We're planning a few days away in Norfolk this summer. We have 2 kids (8 and 4) and would like plenty of beach time.

I've found cottages in Heacham and Cromer. Both look great but Heacham seems pretty quiet. We'd ideally like to walk to cafes etc rather than drive everywhere. Anyone know both these areas who can offer advice?

Thanks in advance.

Cromer has much more going on. Heacham is very quiet although not too far from Hunstanton and Brancaster, both of which have lovely beaches and plenty of rock-pooling.

Ok, I live near one of these places and my parents live near the other, so I know them both quite well.

Heacham is very quiet, there’s not a lot going on. There’s a cafe, a couple of chippies, although there are more facilities on the caravan parks, although I don’t know if you can use them if you’re not staying there). There is the Norfolk Lavendar place that has a big soft play. Depending on how much your children like walking, you can walk or cycle down the prom to Hunstanton, where there is a lot more, but it’s about a 6 mile round trip. If you’re happy to travel a little way you could also have a look at Sandringham and have a wander round the woods.

Cromer is a small town. It has a pier, free lifeboat museum and a few arcades. There are loads of cafes. There’s also a train station so depending on how long you were there for you could get a train to the next town of Sheringham or even Norwich.

So, it depends what you want. Small and sleepy or a little bigger and a bit more ‘seaside holiday’ iyswim. The beaches at both are lovely and huge and even in the summer don’t feel crowded.

Hope that helps. Feel free to ask any questions about either place, and I’ll try and answer them 😀

Because you have kids, Cromer. Definitely.

Cromer definitely

Thank you. This has confirmed what I was thinking about Heacham so I'll discount that even though the cottage I found was totally gorgeous.

Any thoughts on Sheringham? My in laws love it and said they prefer it to Cromer. But I've read that the beach there isn't as good.

Cromer felt quite threatening and run down when we visited.

Oh no, really, Dozer? That doesn't sound promising at all! When did you go?

Two years ago. Summertime. Camping nearby, a bit inland. Perhaps we were unlucky.

Liked the Norfolk coast in general though. There was a posh place called Wells something with a nice big beach and heather dunes.

Yes - Wells is so lovely. We went there a few years ago but the accommodation is all pretty pricey - with good reason, I guess. Was v naice there with all the lovely beach huts and a Joules shop right by the beach!

Wells (Next The Sea) was where I spent every weekend and holiday as a child. We had a beach hut and lived 10 miles away. It was utterly working class, kiss me quick even. Then Holkham seemed to expand into Wells, Joules and Seasalt moved in and people now describe it as "posh". 😂

I still like Wells BTW but it's amusing to a local that it's described as posh.

Cromer is lovely. Were you threatened by the seagulls,Dozer?

The beach at Heacham is not the best. I love Sheringham and Wells is great for crabbing with the kids.

For Wells, Pinewoods Caravan Park is excellent location for a few days of seaside - also works well if kids old enough to go & play in woods/dunes on their own while you sit on terrace with good book!

Cromer and Sheringham both good options. One (or both??) has steam railway.

I also spent all childhood holidays on North Norfolk coast...

Ooh, that's interesting about Wells, @ShowOfHands - I assumed it had always been posh! We really loved the kids' playground there. Ideally we'd like to go back to Wells really but it's over our budget. Blame Joules!

Cromer!

Cromer isn’t threatening 😂 I’ve been hundreds of times (used to live in Holt) and nothing untoward has ever happened to me.

You might feel threatened by the queue at the No 1 chippy in Cromer.

Blakeney is the best for crabbing. Wells is more upmarket than Cromer. Great sandy beach at wells. Pebble beach at Cromer. Cromer more traditional old fashioned seaside town - plenty of amusements and fish and chips and pier. Wells still has fish and chips but no pier.

@showofhands I am a local and I call Wells posh! Always has been. It’s up near Burnham Market, Blakeney etc.

Hang on that is a pebble beach at Sheringham and a sandy beach at Cromer.

That made me laugh user32564567, that place is always packed!!

We holiday in Cromer at least once a year (have relatives there) and love it. Lovely beach, pier, amusements, a free museum that’s great for the kids, lots of cafes and places to eat. They have a lovely cafe called Sticky Fingers (I think?!) where you can paint plates, mugs etc which is nice for a wet day. There’s lots you can do in the surrounding areas too if want to. We normally have a day out at the Broads and go into Sheringham for the steam train.

Wells most definitely was not posh

Nor was Burnham.

Heacham is lovely with a great beach but may be too far out of town for your little ones. There are a couple of pubs, a chippy and an arcade though so it depends what you want. My children were always older (teenage) when we went so were able to walk the 1.5 miles long the seafront to Hunstanton. Sheringham is great, bit of everything for adults and children and a bit classier than Cromer. Cromer's ok but a bit outdated with less character. Great beach though. I'd choose Sheringham.

Burnham has always been posh

Well posher than Wells, but not as posh as it is now. It was fairly normal once.