Great Yarmouth has been a seaside resort since 1760 and remains a popular holiday destination more than 250 years later. This is largely thanks to its unique location at the mouth of the River Yare, sandwiched between the huge golden sand beaches of the east coast and the idyllic waterways of the Norfolk Broads.
Overview of Activities
The River Yare is the gateway between the Broads and the North Sea, meaning Great Yarmouth can offer both the jaunty amusements of seaside and Golden Mile on one side and the pastoral tranquillity of the Broads’ lakes and marshlands on the other.
In summer, the classic Victorian resort comes to life and its promenade and beaches are awash with visitors keen to make the most of the sunshine.
There is a huge range of family-friendly activities to enjoy. We thought we’d help you start planning the school holidays by offering our top tips for summer fun in Great Yarmouth.
Explore the Beaches
As well as Great Yarmouth central beach, overlooked by the town itself and buzzing with activity, there are more than 15 miles of less populated sandy beaches stretching uninterrupted, the length of the Greater Yarmouth area. The wide clean beaches extend from Winterton-on-Sea in the north, past sand dunes and esplanades to Hopton-on-Sea in the south, with each area boasting its own distinct character.
All the Fun of the Fair
No trip to a British seaside resort would be complete without a fairground ride, some candy floss and crazy golf. Happily, Great Yarmouth’s Golden Mile has it all, from the white-knuckle rollercoasters of the Pleasure Beach and the gentler kid-friendly rides of Joyland to garish amusement arcades, food stalls, crazy golf and even a model village set in an acre of landscaped gardens with a model railway running through it.
Seal Spotting and Bird Watching
Boats take visitors from Great Yarmouth out to Scroby Sands, a sandbank just 1.6 miles off the Norfolk coast in the North Sea, which is home to a large grey seal colony. Boats can motor very close to the basking seals, offering amazing views. Up to 4000 seals have been recorded on the sandbank which is also home to a huge population of cormorants, making it a real wildlife haven.
Get Active
If you need to get the kids expending some excess energy why not have a go at one of the many water sports on offer from rowing, canoeing and paddle boarding to sailing and motorboat hire – or just enjoy a swim. With the sea on one side and the winding inland waterways of the Norfolk Broads on the other, Great Yarmouth is the perfect place to take to the water in whatever style suits best.
A Day at the Zoo
Just 15 minutes’ drive from Great Yarmouth is Thringby Hall Wildlife Gardens, a 250-year-old landscaped garden that is home to an exotic array of Asian mammals, birds and reptiles including tigers, snow leopards and crocodiles. A network of raised walkways over the enclosures offers visitors amazing views of the beautiful creatures below.
Walk Back in Time
Great Yarmouth has a rich and varied history with the second most complete medieval town wall in England, with 11 out of 16 of the original towers still standing. The town’s architecture itself represents a diverse mix of eras, some dating back hundreds of years, while Roman ruins can be seen at nearby Burgh Castle and at Caister-on-Sea.