Summary
In the early 19th century, Cromer, renowned for its exquisite crab, transformed into a destination for affluent families and was referenced by Jane Austen in her novel “Emma” in 1815.
Cromer is characterized by its charming gardens and elaborate Victorian residences and hotels, featuring a pier that houses the UK’s most famous lifeboat station.
The local lifeboat crews are recognized for their bravery, including Cromer’s own Henry Blogg, the most honored lifeboatman in the history of the RNLI. Additionally, Cromer lends its name to the Cromerian Stage from the Middle Pleistocene epoch, and the skeleton of a mammoth from this era is showcased in Cromer Museum.
Let us explore the most notable activities in Cromer:
1. Cromer Beach
Flat and sandy, Cromer Beach stretches for miles and is separated by the pier into the East Beach and West Beach.
Both locations are suitable for swimming on clear summer days, particularly when low tide reveals expansive stretches of soft sand.
The view of Cromer’s Victorian architecture, such as the Hotel de Paris from the East Beach, is particularly picturesque.
Further east, the more secluded stretches boast high, grass-covered chalk cliffs soaring over 60 meters.
In the town, at the end of the Esplanade, lies the Gangway, where one can observe crabbing boats being pulled on and off the beach by tractors.
2. Cromer Pier
Currently, Cromer Pier, inaugurated in 1901, ranks as one of the resort’s hallmark attractions, having recently undergone several years of renovations and restorations.
The pier is a treasured element of Cromer’s seafront and was honored with the National Piers Society’s “Pier of the Year” award in 2015. The Pavilion Theatre, also dating back to 1901, has been reconstructed after damage from a storm in the 1950s and regularly hosts touring tribute acts, variety shows, comedians, and lectures from cultural figures.
Visitors can relax on a sheltered bench while enjoying tea, coffee, or a light meal from the café located at the landward end.
3. Cromer Lifeboat Station
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution has maintained a presence in Cromer since 1804, during which time the lifeboats have performed 1,266 rescues.
Cromer is also the hometown of Henry Blogg, the most celebrated lifeboatman in RNLI history, and a museum dedicated to him is located on the seafront, east of the pier.
At the end of the pier is Cromer’s principal lifeboat station, established in 1923 and reconstructed in the late 1990s. It houses Lester, a Tamar-class lifeboat manufactured in 2008, which is fully watertight and can right itself in seconds while accommodating 60 individuals.
The vessel averages approximately 12 rescues annually, swiftly launching from the pier’s slipway.
During the Cromer Lifeboat Day each July, visitors can witness the launch of Lester, view lifeguarding demonstrations, enjoy live music, and explore various market stalls.
4. RNLI Henry Blogg Museum
Located in the Rocket House on East Promenade, this museum is dedicated to Henry Blogg, the most honoree lifeboatman in the history of the RNLI.
Henry Blogg (1876-1954) dedicated 53 years to the RNLI, achieving 387 rescues and saving 873 lives.
His illustrious career earned him numerous accolades, including Gold and Silver Medals from the RNLI, a British Empire Medal, and the George Cross, all of which are exhibited at the museum.
The museum also chronicles the 215-year history of lifeboats in Cromer, using paintings, photographs, archival footage, and models.
5. Felbrigg Hall
The stunning country estate of Felbrigg Hall dates back to the 17th century, featuring a Jacobean east wing constructed in 1624 and a Baroque west wing from 1680. The estate’s origins trace back further, to medieval times, and from the 15th century it belonged to the Wyndham family.
Their heraldic lion and fetterlock motif is present throughout the estate.
The interior boasts Georgian design, balancing opulence with homeliness.
Visitors will be guided through the Great Hall, which features 15th-century windows, as well as the Dining Room, Drawing Room, Cabinet Room, Library, and the Chinese Bedroom, adorned with block-printed wallpaper from China, ordered through the East India Company.
Felbrigg Hall is surrounded by over 500 acres of woodland for exploration, alongside a walled garden, orchard, and orangery.
6. Cromer Parish Church
The Church of St Peter and St Paul dates to the 1300s but fell into disrepair by the 18th century, facing potential demolition.
In the late 1800s, the architect Arthur Blomfield undertook extensive restoration work.
While lacking in vast historical significance, the church does offer impressive features such as high arcades, a wooden ceiling, and stained glass windows that vary from Gothic styles to modern post-war designs celebrating Cromer’s lifeboat crews.
Visitors can ascend the 58-meter tower, the tallest of any parish church in Norfolk, to enjoy panoramic views of the North Norfolk countryside, Cromer’s rooftops, and the coast.
7. Crabbing
Cromer is celebrated for its namesake crab, featured on numerous menus throughout the town.
These crustaceans are abundant in the waters, particularly around Cromer Pier, and crabbing has been a family-friendly activity for over a century.
All that is needed is a length of line, bait, and a bucket filled with water.
Crabbing is free from the pier, and the key to successfully landing a crab is to gently lift it from the water when a pinch is felt on the line.
The objective is to capture the largest crab rather than the most.
Once finished, it is customary to return the crabs safely to their natural environment.
8. Hillside Shire Horse Sanctuary
Opposing factory farming practices, this sanctuary primarily rescues equines from unfortunate circumstances on farms.
As of 2018, Hillside was home to over 3,000 animals, including horses, mules, donkeys, ponies, turkeys, sheep, pigs, goats, and alpacas.
The animals are housed in clean paddocks and stables, where visitors can learn about their individual stories and the care provided for them.
Hillside also features a vegan café, a gift shop, a play area for children, and a museum housed in converted outbuildings showcasing historic farming tools.
9. Cromer Museum
Located behind the Parish Church, Cromer Museum delves into the town’s social history and geological richness.
The museum includes a preserved Victorian fisherman’s cottage, adorned with period furnishings and artifacts.
Visitors will learn about Cromer’s evolution into a seaside resort and the controversy surrounding its status as the first British resort to permit “mixed bathing.” insights into the Cromer shoal chalk beds, which are the largest chalk reefs in Europe, as well as remarkable fossils discovered in the region.
An especially fascinating exhibit features the bones of the West Runton Mammoth, the oldest and most complete Steppe Mammoth specimen, discovered at the foot of the cliffs in 1990.
10. North Lodge Park
A peaceful location to enjoy the sunshine and coastal air, this cliff-top park offers vistas to the Parish Church tower and down towards Cromer Pier.
It features a pond for model yachts, a putting green, a bowls green, and a designated area for children.
The charming tearoom adjacent to the pond receives high praise for its selection of coffees, teas, and crêpes.
Be sure to check local listings, as the park hosts regular theatrical performances during the summer months.
Adults can watch Shakespearean plays, while children may enjoy productions such as “Treasure Island.”
11. Cromer Lighthouse
The lighthouse, perched on the cliffs at Foulness, just east of Cromer, is the third in a series dating back to 1680. The current structure was completed in 1833, a few decades before its predecessor from 1719 succumbed to coastal erosion.
At the time of its construction, Cromer Lighthouse was situated half a mile from the sea; nearly 200 years later, it is now considerably closer.
Since the automation of its light, the adjoining cottage has been available as holiday accommodation. Although entering the lighthouse is not permitted, visitors can admire its exterior and surroundings.
A circular walk can be initiated and concluded at the Parish Church, leading to the lighthouse.
12. Boating Lake
Small attractions such as this boating lake have been integral to English seaside resorts since the Victorian era.
Cromer’s boating lake is located at the northern end of Evington Gardens, directly across from the cliff-top promenade.
Surrounded by lovely Victorian homes, the lake offers pedal boats and single or double canoes for hire, complemented by a café and terrace.
The lake was operational throughout the 2018 summer season, although plans were reported for converting it into an 18-hole crazy golf course in 2019.
13. Golf
For those wishing to enjoy a round of golf while on holiday, Cromer boasts one of England’s premier cliff-top courses.
The Royal Cromer Golf Club welcomes visitors every day of the week, although prior reservation of tee times is typically required.
Pricing is reasonable, peaking at £40 per person during the busy summer months.
Royal Cromer features traditional coastal characteristics, including bracken and gorse rough, sandy hills, lush valleys, and distant views of the North Sea.
Visiting guests staying at local hotels benefit from a 10% discount on 18-hole play.
14. Amazona Zoo
This zoo, nestled within serene parkland slightly inland from Cromer, is home to over 200 species of animals indigenous to tropical South America.
Residents include jaguars, peccaries, tapirs, spider monkeys, rheas, macaws, and capuchins, along with various reptiles, birds of prey, and arachnids.
Younger visitors can interact with guinea pigs, and the zoo features an “Education Yurt” that provides engaging facts about the wildlife and geography of South America.
Amazona also offers two play areas for children under 12, one outdoors and the other indoor, named Jungle Tumbles.
15. West Runton Circular Walk
A short train ride of just one stop and six minutes takes you from Cromer to West Runton, where you can embark on a delightful 2.5-mile walk on a trail maintained by the National Trust.
While Norfolk is primarily flat, this path incorporates some lively inclines, including Beacon Hill, the highest elevation in the county at 103 meters.
This enjoyable excursion winds through meadows and mature oak and beech forests.
Along the way, at Beeston Regis Heath, one can access the Norfolk Coast Path, which follows the coastline from northwest to southeast Norfolk, allowing for a picturesque return to Cromer on foot if desired.
