Visit Norfolk in June - and beat the rush!
There’s a reason that Norfolk gets busy in July and August – everyone wants to come here! And who can blame them? We have so much to do to suit all tastes, ages and pockets.
But if you don’t have to think about school holidays, then June is a great time to visit Norfolk too.
You’ll enjoy the longest days of sunlight, great weather (not guaranteed but Norfolk is the combined sunniest/driest county in the country) and everything is open but less crowded. Below are our top 12 things to do…
Great Yarmouth Air Show
The biggest FREE event in the East of England in 2018 is going to be the Great Yarmouth Air Show on June 16-17. Britain’s newest air show has a stellar line-up of aerial attractions including the Red Arrows, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster, and the biplanes and triplanes of the Bremont Great War Display Team, performing dogfights over the sea. More than 175,000 are expected, so book your parking and accommodation quick!
The Royal Norfolk Show
The Royal Norfolk Show takes place on June 27 and 28. These are two days when all of Norfolk comes together at the Royal Norfolk Showground just outside. Retaining its agricultural roots, the event nonetheless has something for everyone, with outdoor shows and displays, a funfair, shopping village and huge food and drink hall.
Damien Hirst at Houghton Hall
Founding member of the Young British Artists and once enfant terrible of the art world, Damien Hirst has a superb collection of his work in the beautiful setting of Houghton Hall throughout June. Colour Space Paintings & Outdoor Sculptures includes a number of the artist’s most celebrated sculptures throughout the 18th century house and gardens as well as paintings and other works.
Be a flaneur in Norwich
June is a great time to be a flaneur in Norwich – walk around with no real agenda, just soak up the atmosphere of the market place, cobbled streets, The Lanes, Gentleman’s Walk, take in the Cathedral Precinct and amble by the River Wensum. And the city has lots of places to soak up the sun while you dine al fresco. While you’re here make sure you see The Paston Treasures exhibition at Norwich Castle & Museum.
Take a boat out on the Norfolk Broads
3. It’s the best way to properly see these 125 miles of lock-free waterways. Hire a day boat or a cruiser for a long weekend, mid-week break or a full week. Depending on your likes, you could head into the wild northern Broads or, in the south Broads, take in Great Yarmouth and Norwich.
Two more fab family-friendly seaside resorts!
As well as Great Yarmouth, Norfolk has two more fun-filled family resorts. At Cromer you can see the Summer Show at the Pavilion Theatre, the world’s last end-of-pier theatre! Yes, the world’s last! And at Hunstanton enjoying the late evening sunset is a unique experience – this is the only east coast resort that faces west!
Fab visitor attractions awaiting you...
If you have pre-school children then Norfolk has SOOOO many visitor attractions to enjoy. For the wild ones, we’d recommend Pensthorpe and BeWILDerwood, but there’s fun to be had at Banham Zoo, Dinosaur Park and many more. And Norfolk also has a range of steam railways… choo choo!
Inspire your green fingers
June is a great time to wake up and smell the, er… roses. Or rhododendrons in the case of Sheringham Park – in its Humphrey Repton-designed parkland you’ll see one of the best displays in the country. Don’t forget to climb the tower to get a fantastic coastal view all the way down to Blakeney Point. And if it’s gardens you're after...
Get the seal of approval
Did someone mention Blakeney Point? This is home to the largest seal colony in England during Winter, but in June it’s still worth a boat trip from Morston Quay to see these delightful, inquisitive and friendly animals. And because of the longer days, there are two trips a day, unlike Winter.
An abundance of fresh ingredients
June in Norfolk is a great time to enjoy some of our favourite ingredients. Look out for asparagus, samphire, pick-your-own strawberries and raspberries, and fresh seafood, particularly the legendary Cromer Crab (it’s so tasty because it feeds off the world’s longest chalk reef… yes, really!). By the seaside, you can’t miss out on fish and chips and, with it, try one of our local beers, made from the best malting barley in the country… it’s so good because it’s grown in salty sea frets and at height. Yes, we know, you thought Norfolk was flat. It’s not!
Head out to the 90 miles of coast
It’s a great time to be enjoying our coast. We have brilliant beaches, our top 10 are here, and many beaches are dog-friendly. The water might be a trifle cold, but you could always kitesurf at Hunstanton or learn to paddleboard. Almost our entire 90 miles of coast have a walking path, so you can enjoy the cliffs, seashore, salt marshes and tidal creeks at your own pace. Park up, walk as far as you want and then get the Coastal Hopper bus back.
But rain won't stop play!
And just in case inclement weather descends from somewhere else, like Wales or Scotland, then we have plenty of things to do under cover too, from Downton Abbeys to superb museums and most of the top attractions now have weather-proofed facilities too.
