Nestled Outside Norwich Is A Coastal Town Brimming With Beach Beauty, Tasty Eats, And Family-Friendly Parks

Ever wanted to see the world from up high? In this UK town, you can! The most iconic structure in Great Yarmouth, England, is the Great Yarmouth Wheel, a ride that rises 164 feet above the ground. From the top of this Ferris wheel, you get an impressive view of the North Sea coast of Norfolk, England. Once you've bought your £8 (US$11) ticket, all you have to do is step aboard one of the 36 gondolas and enjoy the scenery — a ride is basically required of visitors to this beautiful summer escape.

You could also say that the Great Yarmouth Wheel sets the tone around here. The sandy flats beneath this structure have been known as the Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach since 1909, when the entertainer and stage producer C.B. Cochran strove to bring in fresh tourism to the Victorian resort town. Just around 20 miles from the sizable city of Norwich, Great Yarmouth has long embraced its role as a seaside escape, which is both accessible to city-dwellers in search of a beach-y holiday and, for many visitors, a liberating distance from the daily grind.

It's true that the eastern coast, England's coastal destination full of quirky beach towns, is largely underrated. Yet Great Yarmouth is no humble fishing village; with a population of about 29,000, this large town has flourished for nearly 1,000 years. You'll find plenty to eat here, and the community is welcoming to families — two reasons why Great Yarmouth attracts about 5 million tourists every year, most of them in the summer high season.

The biggest draw here is the beach, which really puts the "great" in Great Yarmouth: This sandy ribbon stretches 15 miles in total, and it's technically divided into nearly a dozen smaller, named beaches. With its wide, level landscape and modest waves, these segments are perfect for families with young children. Waters around the UK are generally cool compared to the Mediterranean, but swimming is pretty comfortable for most visitors in high summer. Sunning, kite-flying, and boating of all kinds are popular along this coast.

Great Yarmouth is known for its parks, which aren't just woodsy public areas but clever attractions for the whole family. The Venetian Waterways comprise a miniature canal system, which small boats can navigate and walkers can stroll along; the Waterways run parallel with the beach within easy walking distance of Great Yarmouth's center. Meanwhile, the Pleasure Beach Gardens maintain a kid-friendly carnival atmosphere with rides and games, and they're also located right next to the sand and sea. The most magical attraction is the Hippodrome Circus, a centrally located brick-built complex that has entertained audiences since 1903. Acrobats, dance numbers, clowns — the Hippodrome's got it all.

As for food, Great Yarmouth has a long history of commercial herring fishing, and the robust local dining scene is packed with seafood restaurants. Local eateries appeal to a nice range of tastes and budgets: A cozy local favorite like White Swan Fish & Seafood serves both traditional fish and chips and monkfish and tiger prawn tikka masala. Meanwhile, the fine dining restaurant Kings Arms Fleggburgh serves artful tapas like fried whitebait, grilled goat cheese, and charcuterie platters, among other delicacies. 

UK residents are generally acquainted with the roads and trains of their home country; Great Yarmouth takes some time to reach, but the options should be pretty familiar. U.S. tourists will likely want to conquer their fear of left-side motorways and drive rental cars to the coast; the journey will take you about three and a half hours from London, or two hours from Cambridge, one of the prettiest cities in England and an easy London day trip with riverside trails and greenery galore. 

For a faster (and more relaxing) commute, consider hopping the train from London to Norwich, then a second train to Great Yarmouth; even with the transfer, this journey can take less than 3 hours. You can watch the countryside whisk by and possibly meet some fellow beachgoers along the way. You could also just stop over in Norwich, a historic city with a strong dining scene and a magnificent cathedral in its center.

As for places to stay, the shore is drenched in hotels, many of them costing less than $100 per night. These run the gamut of styles, from massive resorts right near the water to homey bed-and-breakfasts; Rick Steves recommends B&Bs specifically as a lodging option for a more authentic and affordable vacation. Like most tourist towns on the English coast, Great Yarmouth is extremely busy in the warmest months, and traffic slows to a trickle during the winter. Some folks come here to enjoy the peace and quiet — and the authenticity of a small town without tourists — but assume that many of its attractions are shuttered or have reduced hours during this time.