Norfolk rewards unhurried travelers: medieval Norwich with its soaring cathedral, a web of slow rivers across the Norfolk Broads, and the big-sky beaches of the North Norfolk Coast. For centuries this corner of East Anglia thrived on wool, fishing, and trade; today it’s a byword for birdlife, seafood, and timeless market towns.

Fun facts to prime your wanderlust: Norwich once boasted “a church for every Sunday and a pub for every day,” Cromer crab is a local delicacy thanks to nutrient-rich chalk reefs, and Blakeney Point now hosts England’s largest grey seal colony. Film buffs will recognize Holkham Beach from the final scene of Shakespeare in Love, and design lovers will spot the Sainsbury Centre (UEA) from Marvel’s Avengers films.

Practical notes: Trains from London to Norwich take about 1 hour 50 minutes; the scenic Bittern Line links Norwich to Cromer and Sheringham. Booking trains in advance can save money. Coastal weather changes quickly—pack layers and windproofs. In seal-pupping season (roughly Nov–Jan), some beaches and dunes are roped off for wildlife protection—follow local signage.

Norwich

Norwich blends cobbled lanes and cutting-edge arts. The flint-and-limestone Norwich Cathedral anchors the skyline, while the Norwich Lanes brim with indie shops, cafes, and pubs. The Castle Museum tells a thousand years of stories; Elm Hill looks unchanged since the Tudors.

• Top sights: Norwich Cathedral and cloister, Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery, Elm Hill, Plantation Garden (Victorian secret garden), Riverside Walk, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts (UEA).
• Good eats: Benedicts (modern British tasting menus), Farmyard (ingredient-led small plates), Roger Hickman’s (seasonal fine dining), The Waffle House (wholemeal waffles), Brick Pizza (wood-fired pies), Shiki (Japanese stalwart), Namaste Village (vegetarian Indian).
• Local coffee and pubs: Strangers Coffee, Kofra, Bread Source; The Fat Cat (legendary ale list), The Belgian Monk (Trappist and abbey beers), Sir Toby’s Beers (microbar on the market).

Where to stay (Norwich): Browse apartments, cottages, and hotels on VRBO or compare hotels on Hotels.com. Aim for the Cathedral Quarter or the Norwich Lanes to walk everywhere.

How to get here: From London Liverpool Street to Norwich, Greater Anglia trains take ~1h50 (advance singles often £15–£40). Check times and fares on Omio Trains (Europe). Flying into London? Compare flight options on Omio Flights (Europe), then train to Norwich. Coaches are slower (about 3–3.5 hours) but can be budget-friendly; see Omio Buses.

Day 1: Arrival in Norwich, Cathedral Quarter stroll, and market flavors

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off the journey with a gentle loop: Tombland to Norwich Cathedral (peek into the serene cloister and spot the medieval roof bosses), then amble to Elm Hill—Norwich’s most photogenic street of timber-framed houses.

Evening: Early supper at Benedicts (book a tasting menu—local produce, deft flavours; ask about Cromer crab when in season). Prefer casual? Grab fish and chips at Lucy’s Chips on Norwich Market and eat on the steps of City Hall like a local. Nightcap at The Playhouse Bar by the river—lively crowd, good beer garden.

Day 2: Castle, lanes, and independent Norwich

Morning: Coffee at Strangers (try a flat white and a cardamom bun). Explore Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery—from Boudica-era finds to fine art and the Norman keep (check current keep access on arrival). Walk to St Peter Mancroft for stained glass and city views.

Afternoon: Lunch lap of Norwich Market: slurp noodles at Bun Box or plant-based comfort at Falafel & Friends. Shop the Norwich Lanes—indies like bookshops, vinyl, and vintage. Pause for a slice at Brick Pizza on London Street.

Evening: Dinner at Farmyard (ingredient-led small plates, excellent wines by the glass). Then sample regional ales at The Fat Cat—a benchmark Norwich pub with an encyclopedic tap list.

Day 3: A Norfolk Broads day by boat

Morning: Train from Norwich to Hoveton & Wroxham (~15 minutes; £4–£8; check Omio Trains). Hire a day boat (typical from ~£70–£120 for 4–6 hours; quick briefing provided). Put-put along the River Bure towards Horning, scanning for kingfishers and thatched boathouses.

Afternoon: Moor at The New Inn, Horning for pub classics on the riverside terrace, or detour to Woodforde’s Fur & Feather near Salhouse for a pint of Wherry and hearty fare. Drift to Salhouse or Ranworth Broad; climb Ranworth church tower for panoramic reedbed views (weather/season permitting).

Evening: Return the boat and head back to Norwich. Dinner at Brix & Bones (wood-fired cooking, local produce; cool upstairs setting). If you fancy something lighter, Namaste Village is beloved for inventive vegetarian dishes.

Day 4: Art, gardens, and a classic afternoon tea

Morning: Ride the bus or taxi to the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts (UEA) to see world art in Sir Norman Foster’s landmark building—recognizable from Marvel’s Avengers films. Stroll the UEA Broad and sculpture trail.

Afternoon: Grab lunch at The Waffle House (go savory—smoked bacon, cheddar, and chives—then share a sweet waffle). Wander the Plantation Garden, a restored Victorian folly garden tucked behind a church.

Evening: Dress up for Roger Hickman’s (seasonal tasting menus) or keep it relaxed at The Tipsy Vegan on St Benedicts Street. End with Belgian ales at The Belgian Monk or a film at Cinema City (historic setting, great bar).

North Norfolk Coast (Cromer, Blakeney & Wells-next-the-Sea)

Wind-scoured dunes, flinty villages, and some of England’s best beaches await. Cromer’s pier theatre frames the horizon; Blakeney’s salt marshes teem with birdlife; Wells serves pastel beach huts and pinewoods. Seafood is king—order Cromer crab, samphire, and day-boat fish.

• Top sights: Cromer Pier and Henry Blogg RNLI Museum, cliff walk to Overstrand, Blakeney Point seals (boat trips from Morston/Blakeney), Holkham Hall and Holkham Beach, Wells-next-the-Sea harbour and pinewoods, Sheringham Park (NT), North Norfolk Railway (steam) to Holt.
• Where to eat: No1 Cromer (sea views; famed crab), Rocky Bottoms (West Runton; smoked fish and shellfish), The Moorings (Blakeney), Wells Crab House (tiny, book ahead), The Victoria (Holkham), The Dun Cow (Salthouse; marsh views).
• Coffee and treats: Grey Seal Coffee (Cromer and Blakeney), Byfords (Holt; deli and bakery).

Where to stay (North Norfolk Coast): Compare stays near the beach or marshes on VRBO and Hotels.com:

• VRBO Cromer | Hotels.com Cromer
• VRBO Wells-next-the-Sea | Hotels.com Wells-next-the-Sea
• VRBO Blakeney | Hotels.com Blakeney

Getting there from Norwich: Take the scenic Bittern Line to Cromer or Sheringham (~45–55 minutes; £7–£12; check Omio Trains). Buses knit the coast (e.g., Coastliner services) if you’re car-free.

Day 5: Norwich to Cromer, pier life, and cliff-top sunsets

Morning: Depart Norwich by train to Cromer (~50 minutes). Drop bags and head straight to the seafront for bracing air and lighthouse views.

Afternoon: Visit the RNLI Henry Blogg Museum to meet the “bravest of the brave” through compelling exhibits. Lunch at No1 Cromer—order dressed Cromer crab or classic fish and chips with a sea view. Walk the pier and, if time allows, follow the cliff path to Overstrand and back.

Evening: Sunset drinks at Rocket House Café above the beach. Dinner at The Red Lion (smart pub dining; local ales). If it’s show night, catch the endearingly old-school Cromer Pier Show.

Day 6: Blakeney seals, Holkham Hall, and Wells-next-the-Sea

Morning: Bus or drive to Morston/Blakeney for a boat to Blakeney Point (pre-book; sailings depend on tides and weather). Expect close-up views of grey seals lounging on the sand. Back on shore, coffee at Grey Seal.

Afternoon: Lunch at The Moorings (day-boat fish, great pies) or Rocky Bottoms near West Runton (smoked fish, crab, sea views). Continue to Holkham Hall—wander the parkland with herds of deer—and cross to Holkham Beach for that endless, film-famous sands-and-pinewoods panorama.

Evening: Stroll the quay at Wells-next-the-Sea with cockles or chips. Dinner at the intimate Wells Crab House (book early) or the stately The Victoria at Holkham. Try seasonal samphire when available.

Day 7: Sheringham Park and Holt, then depart

Morning: Head to Sheringham Park (National Trust) for sweeping coastal views and spring rhododendrons (seasonal). Alternatively, ride the North Norfolk Railway steam service from Sheringham to Holt for nostalgia and countryside vistas.

Afternoon: Brunch at Byfords in Holt (bacon baps, good coffee) and a browse of Bakers & Larners emporium. Return to Norwich (~50 minutes by train) to connect to London (~1h50; see Omio Trains) for your afternoon departure.

Evening: If you’ve time before leaving, one last coastal ice cream in Wells or a seafront stroll in Cromer is the perfect farewell.

Notes on transport and costs: Advance train fares often undercut walk-up prices—check Omio a few weeks out. Seal trips run to tide tables and sell out in school holidays; book ahead. Parking at popular beaches (Wells, Holkham) can fill—arrive early in peak months.

Wrap-up: In seven days you’ve sampled medieval Norwich, piloted a day boat through whispering reedbeds, eaten the freshest crab, and walked wave-lashed dunes under wide East Anglian skies. Norfolk lingers in the senses—salt on the breeze, church towers on the horizon, and the quiet rhythm of tides calling you back.