What should I expect from Great Yarmouth

[Frankola]

We've decided not to risk a holiday abroad this year and opted for a week in Great Yarmouth instead. Me, DH and DD4.

Dd4 loves a good old English seaside holiday. She adores a bit of tacky. Last year we went to Blackpool for an overnight stay and she loved every minute

It's not my ideal holiday tbh but getting away anywhere sounds like heaven after the last 18 months. Plus, it's not about where you are but who you're with.

But what can I expect from Great Yarmouth?
What's good? What's not?
Any recommendations on places to visit/things to do?

We've literally just come back and it was much better than I expected! The arcades are still great and work, loads of places to eat on the pier. Donkey rides on the beach and the pleasure Beach attraction is there at the moment. Gorleston on sea and Caister on sea are nearby which are quieter but equally nice beaches.
Bewilderwood is in hoveton, I think about a 45 min drive away which is absolutely brilliant. We've been twice now and both Dd8 and ds5 loved it.
There's a new dinosaur attraction opened up near norwich and Africa alive (zoo) close too. Just a bit of driving involved. Have a great time!

I did not find "Joyland" joyful in any way

Can't believe I missed the new Banksy!

Was also V impressed at how clean the beach was. Not a speck of rubbish in sight. So unlike Bournemouth beach

Please don’t ride the poor donkeys.

@AnotherEmma

I did not find "Joyland" joyful in any way

Whiplash-Land

We were there for a day recently, and walking along the front felt like being in an episode of Shameless. Tracksuits galore, fags hanging out of every other gob, and a delightful puddle of vomit greeted us outside the pier.

@Stormfin

We were there for a day recently, and walking along the front felt like being in an episode of Shameless. Tracksuits galore, fags hanging out of every other gob, and a delightful puddle of vomit greeted us outside the pier.

From someone born there and live 10 mins away - i confirm this is true

Agree with previous 2 posters. Set your expectations very low and it will be lower than them too.

There's a new dinosaur attraction opened up near norwich

Do you mean the trail in the city or the Dinosaur Park? Because the park's been there since I was a child and I'm 40!

Great Yarmouth is what you make it. DH goes white at the very idea of it but it has its merits. Norfolk Museums are excellent and there are a couple in GY, there are good local beaches like Winterton and Gorleston and if you like tacky, kiss me quick type attractions, you'll love Yarmouth itself.

Watch Susan Calamn's thing on catch up on 5. As a pp said, ep 1 was Yarmouth.

I bloody loved those snails at Joyland when I was a girl. They're utterly hilarious.

What to expect? Poverty and racism. There are some fun attractions, though don't be tempted by the massive inflatable slides - H&S didn't look brilliant last time we were there

They've refurbished a little micro-Venice thing in the last couple of years - fun for your 4yo and charming for adults. The museum's good, doughnuts are easy to find, and there's a great little yarn shop.

Norwich cathedral has Dippy the diplodocus on display right now, and there's a trail of t-rexes around the city which would make a fun day out.

Oh yes, for nearby overpriced middle class fun google Bewilderwood. Probably better for slightly older kids though. And there's a dinosaur park closer to Norwich - again, a bit overpriced unless you go with a group or get a season ticket

Bewilderwood is a middle class theme park. They search your bag on entry. Only hummus and crudités allowed. A fruit shoot or wotsits and they send you straight back to the pier.

@ShowOfHands

Bewilderwood is a middle class theme park. They search your bag on entry. Only hummus and crudités allowed. A fruit shoot or wotsits and they send you straight back to the pier.

Organix carrot puffs allowed though

[Vom]

Yarmouth is a four-year-old's paradise. Soft golden sand, arcades, rides, ice creams and doughnuts. She will love it.

Time and Tide is a fantastic museum, the Hippodrome and Venetian Gardens are a must. Big Wheel if you're feeling brave! There's also a new cat café.

Though the town has high levels of deprivation, the seafront is really just working-class families enjoying a day out. Leave your snobbery at home and take it as it is and I'm sure you'll have a great time.

Britain's smallest boating lake, could be thinking of somewhere else, sorry.

We go there every year - we live in Norfolk anyway so it’s about an hours drive for us and it’s tacky but fun. Traditional tacky seaside, hot doughnuts by the sea, arcades etc etc. Yeah it’s got high levels of unemployment and social difficulties but I think that goes with any seaside town that relies heavily on summer trade. It feels safe and is fun if you like cheesy stuff.

If you want posh and pretty travel further down to Southwold or up to Winterton. All lovely in completely different ways. When we want a nice posh day by the seaside we go to Southwold and play on the old fashioned arcade on the pier and then have the most amazing ice creams from Harris I think it’s called in the town centre. Absolutely lovely. But Yarmouth it isn’t… The dc love both for completely different reasons.

I love Yarmouth. Yes, I’ve seen people in the Pleasure Beach the like of which I’ve never seen anywhere else but it’s a fun resort with a lot to recommend it, pretty much all of which people have mentioned.

Go to Horsey beach to see the seals
Gorleston is a lovely neighbouring resort
Sealife centre
The Waterways
Circus
Great crazy golf (indoors and out)
Beach is huge and amazing
Fun slides on the pier
Pleasure Beach and/or Joyland
Time and Tide Museum and the Rowhouses
Go to Oulton Broad - take a boat out and wander round the park

Love a bit of Yarmouth!

My parents took us on holiday there every year, we absolutely adored Joyland, the Pleasure Beach and going round the amusement arcades at night when they were all lit up and the annual trip to Pleasurewood Hills.

Ahhhh so many amazing memories, i feel all nostalgic!! i cant wait to take my daughter there one day

Book in early for Bewilderwood!

If your dc likes traditional seaside she’ll be in heaven! GY, like alot of seaside towns has its run down areas. However, beach is lovely, plenty of entertainment for little ones and places nearby if you want to go a bit further afield. I stayed in a nearby caravan site when my two were much younger. They absolutely loved it all.

Avoid Yarmouth Town centre like the plague, it's incredibly run down, very few shops left open, go to Gapton Hall retail park just outside for Next, TK Maxx, Iceland, Tesco etc. The beach part is absolutely fine just the shopping area is run down really.

When you get bored of the arcades here's a list of my must do around the area:

1. Book Bewilderwood, 45 min drive away - amazing especially if you can read the accompanying books before you go.
2. Book the Hippodrome circus
3. Go to Horsey beach to see the seals
4. If you want to swim in the sea head to Gorleston, lots of free parking, lifeguard Ed beach and is very safe unlike Sea Palling and Winterton that have wiked rip Tides and lots of people get in trouble.
5. Visit Southwold and climb the lighthouse, its the one from CBeebies Grand Pa in my pocket.
6. Go crabbing at either Cromer, Gorleston or Southwold.
7. Visit Norwich, pop to the Cathedrale as Dippy is visiting from the NHM and there is a dinosaur trail around the city.
8. When in Gorleston visit Margo's lounge, its a 50s themed cafe and really lovely. Lily James was a big fame whilst she was filming Yesterday - Check that it's open first though as I think it's closed in Mondays.
9. Happisburgh (pronounced Haze-borough) beach is badly effected by erosion but has a lovely red and white stripped lighthouse you can walk to and. A little play area with zip line (and free toilets).
10. Visit Burgh Castle roman Fort at sunset and take a picnic, (park by the church after 5pm) a lovely walk and then you can sit by the Fort facing west and watch the sun go down, there is a lovely little pub if you carry on walking which is lovely to sit outside of. If you wanted to visit several beaches in one day, Cromer, Sea Palling, Winterton and Others use the same parking system and the tickets are transferable.

Oulton broad Nicholas Everitt Park and Carlton Marshes Nature reserve areclost by and also worth a visit, Carlton Marshes has just had a new playground built which is lovely.

I grew up near, and was there last week visiting family with my 7 year old. I thought the seafront was looking better than it has for years. We had a brilliant couple of afternoons at Pirate Cove golf, Joyland -love the snails and tubs, arcades. There are some lovely places to eat on the front. If you've a car then Bewilderwood is fantastic. First time ive visited and we loved it. Pettits is also a great day for little ones. Horsey, Waxham, Winterton, Sea Palling beaches all lovely and you may see the seals. I have a soft spot for Gorleston beach and there is a reasonable size splash pad on the seafront there too. As others have mentioned the Hippodrome circus is well worth it too.

Some amazing suggestions here. Thanks so much! I'm much more optimistic now.

A trip to the circus is definitely on the cards. I actually went to it once when I was about 10 and a clown act made my Dad to get up to do tricks with him. My dad ended up trying an "assisted" backflip with the clown and broke a rib!