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3 nights in Royal Norfolk
Royal Norfolk is the destination in East Anglia for majesty, from magnificent stately homes and estates to spending unhurried time in incredible landscapes, enjoying amazing wildlife
Brancaster Staithe
Burnham Overy Staithe
Burnham Overy Staithe
Holkham beach
Holkham Marble Hall
Houghton Hall
Hunstanton cliffs
King's Lynn Minster
King's Lynn Trues Yard Fisherfolk Museum
WWT Welney
About 3 nights in Royal Norfolk
If you're escaping a hectic city life, then Royal Norfolk is the place for you. Here you'll have space to relax, to exhale, and reset your mind. Enjoy a coastline that's wild and varied, away from the crowds, while in the company of birds, seals, deer and more.
This is also the part of Norfolk where you'll find enormous sandy beaches alongside mudflats, salt marsh, reedbeds and characterful harbours. This is the place for excellent fresh shellfish as well as stunning sunsets.
Royal Norfolk is, of course, home to the Royal Family's personal country home and estate, where they spend Christmas and New Year. At other times, Sandringham is open to the public. There are numerous other Royal links, not least King John losing the Crown Jewels in The Wash. There's a statue to him in King's Lynn, where you'll also discover a charming riverside town with an amazing maritime history. In fact, King's Lynn has more Graded buildings than York.
From fish and chip shops to stately homes, you'll get a warm welcome wherever you go.
Places to stay recommendations
If you're coming to Royal Norfolk for a quieter time, then you want relaxing accommodation. There' a huge range of places to stay on the coast, not least The Victoria in the grounds of Holkham, The White Horse at Brancaster which has dining rooms overlooking the marshes where the mussels on the menu come from, Titchwell Manor Hotel and Briarfields Hotel are adjacent to the national nature reserve, The Chequers is a laid-back venue close to Holme Dunes nature reserve and Heacham Manor Hotel has an amazing link to Pocahontas. The Hoste Arms at Burnham Market is a charming 17th century former coaching inn by the village green.
If you're basing yourself in Hunstanton on the coast, try Le Strange Arms Hotel, The Golden Lion Hunstanton or The Lodge Hotel
Closer to King's Lynn and Sandringham, Congham Hall provides a sumptuous stay, Knights Hill Hotel & Spa has a spa and pool and The Kings Head Country Hotel gets great reviews.
The Brisley Bell is a good venue if you want to visit Castle Acre Priory and Watatunga Safari Stays gives you the chance to sleep under the stars in a deer reserve.
Events in Royal Norfolk and King's Lynn
From May - Lynn Chadwick at Houghton Hall
June - King's Lynn Festival Too
July - RHS Sandringham Flower Show
July - King's Lynn Festival
September - North Norfolk Food & Drink Festival at Holkham
Itinerary Info
Duration
3 nights
Itinerary Schedule
Explore maritime King's Lynn
King's Lynn is a thriving riverside town with a rich cultural and historical vibe dating back to medieval times when it was dubbed 'The Warehouse on The Wash'. On the beautifully-preserved streets around the River Great Ouse, you can explore a treasury of historic buildings. King’s Lynn has over 300 listed buildings, including the only remaining Hanseatic warehouse remaining in England and a splendid Minster.
Discover more of that rich history at Lynn Museum and True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum.
Explore Royal Norfolk, naturally
Today is all about tides, light and wildlife - not timetables. Let's start at RSPB Titchwell Marsh, a nature reserve that's perfect for birdwatching. A walk to the beach takes you past freshwater and saltwater lagoons, each attracting different birds. At the information hub, ask about guided walks. This is the perfect place for a reset and adapting to a slower pace of life.
We'd recommend some time on the beach at nearby Brancaster as well - you'll see Scolt Head Island nature reserve, which sailors circumnavigate in the summer at high tide.
You've worked up an appetite for lunch so head to Eric’s Fish & Chips where you'll get traditional seaside fare but with a modern twist - the black garlic mayo has become a signature favourite!
Take a wildlife tour
In the afternoon, let's try organised wildlife watching.
Searles Sea Tours will take you out on former military amphibious craft into The Wash to see the large colony of common seals and great views of the iconic Hunstanton cliffs.
You'll feel you're on an African safari at 170-acre Watatunga Wildlife Reserve which has the largest collection of endangered deer and antelope in the UK. On a smaller scale Snettisham Park is a working farm with a tour to see the herd of breeding Red Deer - you can even hand feed the hinds, calves and stags. The farm also has a flock of breeding ewes, so lots of lambs to feed in the spring.
If you want to be more active, you could learn to stand up paddleboard at Norfolk Paddle Adventure.
In the evening check out what's on at the Princess Theatre.
Tour an historic house
East Anglia is blessed with many magnificent stately homes and estates. Today, take a choice from two that are both impressive but very different.
Holkham has an impressive Italianate hall, glorious parkland with deer herd, walled garden and Holkham Stories Experience next to the courtyard restaurant. Hire a bike to explore the estate or take one of the many tours.
Palladian Houghton Hall, Walled Garden and Sculpture Park was built by Britain's first prime minister Robert Walpole in 1722. Today it is home to modern art installations, model soldier museum and walled garden.
Visit the Royal Family's home
The crown jewel of Royal Norfolk is, undoubtedly, Sandringham, where you can tour the house and gardens that are set in a 20,000 acre estate. In the museum, see a collection of cars including toy ones that belonged to Princes William and Harry as well as a fascinating collection of gifts given to Her Majesty The Queen by people from all over the world.
History or wildlife?
Before heading home, decide whether you want another magnificent country house or more wildlife.
If it's the former, then visit moated Oxburgh Estate in the village of Oxborough. Home to the Catholic Bedingfield family since 1482 this stunning red-brick house charts their history from religious upheaval to neo-Gothic Victorian splendour. As well as early Mortlake tapestries in the Queen's Room, Oxburgh houses beautiful embroidery by both Mary Queen of Scots - a last Royal connection of your visit.
If you're looking for a final burst of fresh air with nature,
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