Norfolk's north coast fields the same question every summer: which of the big three seaside towns deserves the weekend you have going spare? Cromer, Wells-next-the-Sea and Hunstanton sit within roughly an hour of each other along the same stretch of coast, and they are not interchangeable. One has a pier and a working crab fleet, one has a harbour and a proper walk to the sand, and one faces west and does sunsets better than anywhere else in the county. Here is how they compare on the things that actually decide a trip.
The short version
If you want to skip ahead, match the town to the traveller:
- Cromer for piers, crab, arcades, a cliff-top walk and a town that stays open in February.
- Wells-next-the-Sea for handsome streets, a working quay, good pubs, pine woods and a beach that rewards the walk.
- Hunstanton for shallow water, rock pools, amusements, and the easiest day out with small children.
In one line each: Wells is the best-looking, Hunstanton is the most traditional resort, and Cromer is the best all-rounder. None of them is a bad choice. They just suit different weekends.
Beaches: sand, shingle and the tidal question
Cromer gives you a wide sandy beach backed by a promenade, a sea wall and a run of wooden groynes that keep the sand in place. At low tide there is room for a full game of cricket; towards the water's edge it turns pebbly underfoot. The beach sits below the cliffs, with the pier at the eastern end, and there is usually seasonal lifeguard cover in summer. Walk west along the cliff path towards Overstrand for a quieter stretch and a view back at the town.
Wells is different in kind. The beach is roughly a mile from the quay, reached along a path beside the pines, past the boathouse and a line of beach huts painted in every colour of the paint chart. The sand is fine, the dunes are protected, and the whole thing sits inside the Holkham estate. The tide goes out an enormous distance, leaving shallow channels and sandbanks that are lovely for paddling and genuinely worth respecting on the way back. Check tide times before you commit to a spot far from the path.
Hunstanton offers two beaches for the price of one. The town beach sits under the striped red-and-white cliffs, with sand, shallow water and rock pools that appear at low tide. A mile or so north, Old Hunstanton is quieter, backed by dunes, popular with dog walkers, and much less crowded in August. The water here is shallow a long way out, which is why families like it.
Food and drink: crab, chips and cake
Cromer's identity is built on crab. The town sits above the chalk reef that the boats work, and dressed crab, crab sandwiches and crab salads appear on almost every menu. Buy a dressed crab from a shellfish shop on the front and eat it on the wall. Fish and chips are strong here too, and the pier has an ice cream kiosk that does steady business whatever the weather.
Wells is more of a café-and-deli town. You will find fish and chips near the quay, a bakery worth queuing for, and several pubs doing decent pub food within a few minutes of the harbour. Book a table for a summer Saturday evening rather than hoping to walk in.
Hunstanton is the most grab-and-go of the three. Chips, ice cream, cafés along the front and a supermarket within walking distance of the beach make it easy with hungry children who will not wait. It is not the county's dining destination, and it does not pretend to be. It is reliable.
Families: what works at each stage
With toddlers and small children
Hunstanton wins. The walk from car to sand is short, the water is shallow, the rock pools are a free morning's entertainment, and there are amusements and a small funfair for the afternoon. Cromer runs it close: a gently sloping beach, a promenade for scooters and a pier to walk along.
Wells is harder work with very young children. That mile to the beach is fine with a sling and less fine with a buggy, a cool box and a tired three-year-old. A seasonal land train has run from the town towards the beach in recent summers; check locally before you rely on it.
With older children and teenagers
Cromer keeps them busy: arcades, the pier, the cliff path, surf when there is swell. Wells offers crabbing off the quay, paddleboarding and kayaking on the harbour, and long bike rides through the pines towards Holkham. Hunstanton has amusements, kite-flying space on the green and plenty of room on the sand.
If you are bringing a dog, note that all three towns restrict dogs on parts of their beaches during the summer season. Read the signs at the access points rather than guessing.
Parking, traffic and the summer squeeze
All three charge for parking and all three fill up. The rule that saves a trip is simple: arrive before ten in high season, or come after four and enjoy the evening light.
- Cromer: the cliff-top car parks take the pressure, with more space in the town a short walk away. Seafront spaces go first on a hot morning.
- Wells: the quay car park is small, and the beach car park is smaller still and closes when it is full. On a sunny August afternoon you may well park on the edge of town and walk in, which is no hardship.
- Hunstanton: the most generous of the three for seafront parking, with cliff-top and southern car parks plus a separate one at Old Hunstanton. Still busy on a fine Sunday.
Keep coins or a card handy, and photograph the machine's terms if you are paying for a long stay.
Atmosphere: what each town feels like at six o'clock
Cromer is brisk and slightly workaday in the best sense. The pier theatre puts on summer shows, the church tower dominates the skyline, and the town carries on through winter rather than shutting up shop in September. It feels like a place where people live.
Wells is prettier and quieter. Boats lean over on the mud at low tide, the quay is good for an evening stroll, and once the day-trippers have gone the streets go quiet in a way that suits a slow weekend. It is a town for couples, walkers and anyone who would rather have a glass of wine on a harbour wall than a go on the penny slots.
Hunstanton is unapologetically a holiday town. Buckets, spades, amusement arcades, families in wet swimsuits walking back to the car. Then the sun goes down over the Wash and the whole front turns gold, which is worth the trip on its own.
Before you book: the practical bits
Check tide times for Wells and Hunstanton in particular, because both have big tidal ranges and a habit of rearranging your plans. Swim between the flags where lifeguards are on duty, and keep an eye on children near harbour channels. Book evening meals in Wells ahead of time, and in Cromer on a summer weekend. Take layers whatever the forecast says.
If you have one weekend and no strong preference, pick Cromer for a bit of everything, Wells for a slower, prettier stay, and Hunstanton if you are travelling with young children or want a sunset over the sea. Any of the three will send you home sandy.
Photo: Daniel Eliashevsky / Pexels
