Summary
Defined as a quintessential English seaside resort, Great Yarmouth features alluring golden beaches along a vibrant beachfront known as the Golden Mile.
This destination embodies charming vintage character through its Victorian piers, miniature village, and amusement parks that showcase classic wooden roller coasters.
Additionally, Great Yarmouth boasts the distinct advantage of being a port with historical significance in the military, fishing, and trade sectors.
The quayside along the River Yare presents museums housed in historic merchant residences, while the Time and Tide Museum occupies a repurposed herring curing facility.
For those interested in nature, the Norfolk Broads are located nearby, offering opportunities for day excursions to wildlife reserves or relaxing journeys along the River Bure.
Let us delve into the top attractions in Great Yarmouth:
1. Central Beach
Great Yarmouth is home to an expansive 15 miles of sandy shores.
This area is enhanced by amenities including deck chair rentals, ramps for disabled access, shops, cafes, and ice cream vendors.
During summer evenings, the beach hosts a captivating fireworks display on Wednesdays, and should inclement weather arise, a variety of attractions await on the piers and Golden Mile.
Moreover, visitors can embark on a boat from Britannia Pier to explore Scroby Sands and observe seals.
To the north, Hemsby Beach and Caister-on-Sea provide a contrast to Great Yarmouth’s vibrant atmosphere, characterized by flowing sand dunes and caravan parks.
2. Norfolk Broads
Great Yarmouth borders one of England’s most captivating national parks.
The Broads encompass a mosaic of navigable lakes and rivers situated in a low-lying landscape, partly shaped by human intervention during historic peat extraction.
The River Bure, a tributary of the Yare, trails into the park.
Visitors may rent boats to cruise the river, enjoying views of windmills and expansive skies while mooring at riverside pubs for refreshments.
Alternatively, by road, one can access Martham Broad, a National Nature Reserve, ideal for leisurely strolls along its banks and activities like stand-up paddleboarding or canoeing with family.
3. Golden Mile
Stretching from Britannia Pier to Pleasure Beach, the Golden Mile serves as a beachside promenade replete with numerous attractions.
Amidst adventure golf courses, model villages, aquariums, theatres, and amusement parks, visitors will find a vibrant selection of bars, restaurants, amusement arcades, souvenir shops, fish and chip outlets, and ice cream parlours.
The Golden Mile offers a myriad of experiences for everyone; its lively atmosphere is further enhanced by dazzling illuminations after sunset.
4. Time and Tide Museum
The Time and Tide Museum, the third largest in the county, is located within a preserved Victorian herring curing facility.
This museum explores the extensive history of Great Yarmouth, dating back to the Stone Age, with a particular focus on its fishing and maritime traditions.
Visitors will encounter immersive galleries that recreate various historical scenes, including a 1950s fishing wharf and a narrow working-class street from 1913, complete with engaging characters who provide insight into their occupations and lives.
Interactive displays, puzzles, and games keep children entertained, while a café offers refreshments amidst the historical courtyard.
5. Elizabethan House Museum
Concealed behind a Georgian façade, this museum on South Quay originates from the Tudor era and has been restored by the National Trust.
The wood-paneled interiors showcase exquisite art, furnishings, and decorations dating back to the 1500s, offering a captivating glimpse into the life of a Tudor merchant.
Visitors of all ages can engage in historical reenactments by dressing in period attire while learning about the challenges faced in the kitchen and scullery.
Children can explore traditional Elizabethan toys, and the museum features a schedule of special events where actors in costume provide insights into Tudor, Civil War, and Victorian life.
6. Norfolk Nelson Museum
Admiral Horatio Nelson, a notable individual from Norfolk, is the focus of this elegant Georgian townhouse, which features numerous exhibits celebrating one of Britain’s esteemed military figures.
The museum showcases an array of artifacts, including paintings, medals, ceramics, books, and a piece of wood from HMS Victory, the ship on which Nelson met his demise at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Some exhibits unveil insights into Nelson’s complex personality, personal relationships, and his numerous injuries sustained during his service.
A multisensory gallery provides a simulated experience of life aboard a ship during the Napoleonic Wars, complete with sounds of cannon fire and simulated crew conversations.
Additionally, the museum features a maritime courtyard for outdoor picnics and a Georgian-style herb garden.
7. Merrivale Model Village
Located on South Beach Parade, Merrivale Model Village is an intricately detailed traditional model village.
The village features a theater, castle, stadium, homes, cricket pitch, church, and mansion, all populated with hundreds of miniature figures depicting various scenes.
A model railway spans a 350-meter G gauge track, allowing 28 different kinds of locomotives to traverse the village.
Visitors can also enjoy a round of nine-hole crazy golf, and a nostalgic penny arcade is available, showcasing vintage slot machines from the mid-20th century and earlier.
8. Pleasure Beach
Ranked among the top ten most-visited amusement parks in the UK, Great Yarmouth’s Pleasure Beach has been a longstanding attraction since 1909, operating from March through October.
Access to the park is complimentary, featuring approximately 30 rides which require tokens for use, alongside amusement arcades, child-friendly entertainment, food stalls, and ice cream parlours.
A must-try ride is the Roller Coaster, known as the Scenic Railway, which has been in operation since 1932. This wooden ride is unique due to its lack of brakes along the track, requiring a brakeman to ride between the first and second cars.
In addition, the park includes thrilling rides for older children and adults, a 4-D cinema, and various activities ensuring satisfaction for younger visitors.
9. Tolhouse Museum
Adjacent to Great Yarmouth’s central library lies one of the oldest civic structures in the United Kingdom. The Tolhouse Gaol, which dates back to the 1200s, originally served as a residence for a prosperous merchant before being repurposed by local officials as a courthouse and prison.
Throughout its history, the building has housed pirates, smugglers, bandits, accused witches, and murderers, and has endured damage during riots.
Visitors can take an audio tour to explore the original cells, discover stories about former inmates, and learn chilling details about crime and justice spanning over 800 years.
10. Joyland
Next to Britannia Pier, Joyland has delighted children since its inception in 1949. A noteworthy feature of Joyland is its preservation of several rides from its early years.
Among these, the Tyrolean Tubs is recognized as the last remaining Virginia Reel roller coaster globally, while another ride, “Snails,” has been operating since 1949, designed by the park’s founder Horace Cole.
More contemporary attractions include a swinging pirate ship, a small Ferris wheel with coastal views, and thrilling rides such as Spook Express and Major Orbit themed on ghosts and space.
The park is operational year-round, featuring an American-style diner that serves fast food, complete with a retro counter, checkerboard flooring, and leatherette seating.
11. Hirsty’s Family Fun Park
Located en route to Hemsby, a short ten-minute drive north of Great Yarmouth, Hirsty’s Family Fun Park is an attraction situated on a working farm.
The park offers seasonal activities to engage visitors.
During the summer months, the highlight is the Mega Maze located in a maize field, accompanied by a quiz to solve.
In autumn, children can handpick pumpkins from the farm and design them in the carving tent, while the springtime invites families to meet newborn lambs in the lambing and calving areas.
Throughout the seasons, the park features play structures for children to enjoy, as well as learning opportunities regarding farming practices and interaction with farm animals.
12. Great Yarmouth’s Piers
A hallmark of quintessential English coastal resorts, Great Yarmouth features two piers situated a few hundred meters apart.
The southernmost, Wellington Pier, measures 210 meters and opened its doors in 1853, encompassing a contemporary theater structure, a bowling alley, and an amusement arcade.
Adjacent to this is the Winter Gardens, an exquisite metal and glass hall that was transported piece by piece from Torquay in 1903. Further along the shore lies Britannia Pier, which debuted five years later and features various rides, amusements, and food vendors, alongside a theater showcasing tribute bands and acclaimed comedians.
Notable performers such as Sarah Millican and Jimmy Carr were featured in the summer program of 2018.
13. Great Yarmouth Minster
Designated as a “minster” in 2011, the parish church of Great Yarmouth has origins dating back to the early 12th century.
As the largest parish church in England, it stretches over 70 meters in length and nearly 8 meters in width.
The structure was commissioned by Herbert de Losinga, the inaugural Bishop of Norwich, as a form of penance for his ecclesiastical misdeeds. Following severe damage during World War II, the building underwent partial restoration.
Historical elements from the original structure remain in the tower, and visitors can access the church between 10:00 and 13:00 to appreciate the beautiful interior and explore a complimentary heritage exhibition detailing the history of Great Yarmouth.
A small café is also available during visiting hours.
14. Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens
Ideal for family outings, Thrigby Hall presents a rich assortment of Asian birds, reptiles, and mammals throughout its beautifully landscaped grounds spanning 250 years.
The outdoors features large felines, including Sumatran tigers, Amur leopards, clouded leopards, and snow leopards, as well as red pandas and small-clawed otters.
Raised pathways offer excellent views of outdoor enclosures, while indoor spaces such as the Swamp House and Forest House cater to reptile species including Asian water dragons, Burmese pythons, short-tailed pythons, and several types of crocodiles.
Brave visitors may venture across a shaky bridge that spans one of the crocodile pools.
15. Sea Life Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth is home to a branch of this renowned international aquarium, showcasing over 2,000 marine creatures, including sea turtles, rays, sharks, and jellyfish.
The centerpiece of the aquarium is the Ocean Tunnel, featuring a 250,000-litre tank that houses the largest ocean-dwelling species within an Atlantis-themed environment.
In addition to fish, mollusks, and crustaceans, Sea Life also features a colony of Humboldt penguins and a pair of African dwarf crocodiles.
Moreover, interactive experiences await children at the rockpools, where they can touch sea anemones, crabs, and starfish while learning fascinating facts about local marine life.
