One of England’s prettiest villages has bright red poppy fields and renowned pub
GREAT Massingham village is one of the prettiest in Norfolk.
The village of Great Massingham 13 miles from Kings Lynn is a jewel of Norfolk with bright red poppy fields and a classic British pub.
The village was named one of the best places to live in the UK by the Sundays Times in 2022.
And in 2023, Telegraph named it as one of the UK’s most unspoiled villages.
It is tucked away from the Norfolk coast and is known for flint and cobble cottages.
In the village is the renowned pub, The Dabbling Duck, which is a great place to stop for a refreshing pint.
They also serve classic pub dishes from fish and chips to Norfolk pigeon dishes and a speciality burger that comes with a duck egg.
One reviewer on TripAdvisor said they enjoyed “the best Saturday night tea we’ve ever had”.
For any overnight stay, The Dabbling Duck have seven rooms available to book as a B&B from £87 per night.
The Duckling Cottage next door is also available for a self-catering stay and has a wood burning stove in the cosy living room.
Opposite the pub is the award-winning Massingham Stores & Post Office.
What used to be a normal corner shop was transformed – they won the Independent Retailer of the Year in 2021.
Behind the shop is The Cartshed Tearooms, you can pop in if you fancy a full English, or classic pork pies and tasty sandwiches.
Of course, they serve afternoon tea after 2pm, where you can enjoy sandwiches, a fruit scone with jam and clotted cream, and various mini cakes for £11.99 per person.
For an extra £7 you can add Prosecco, or for £24 you can have afternoon tea with champagne.
Anyone who is active and wants to play some games can play tennis at the village hall courts.
For those who like to fish, the Scotmans pit pond is a popular spot with tickets available from Massingham Stores.
While the village offers lots of greenery, on the outskirts are fields of red poppies.
They were planted as part of a rewilding project and have since been left to nature creating stunning red fields.
If you want to see them in full bloom then go between June and August.
The village church, St Mary’s, had its porch once used as a schoolroom. It’s thought that England‘s first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, was educated there in 1720.
His descendants still live in Houghton Hall three miles away, and you are able to visit.
The manor house and walled gardens are open to the public throughout the spring and summer season.
It’s also home to sculpture exhibitions and a model soldier museum, tickets start at £10.
The nearest beach to Great Massingham is Heacham where you might be able to spot some seals depending on the tide.
On the north beach, you’ll find an amusement arcade, café, fish bar and beach huts for hire. Down on the south beach is where you’ll find the gift shop.
Holiday parks in Norfolk for a half-term break
With Norfolk on the mind, here are three holiday parks to explore...
Heacham Beach, Heacham
Splash about in the heated indoor swimming pool with a waterslide at this park near Heacham Beach. The sports court is a great place to work up an appetite before enjoying lunch at on-site The Boathouse Tavern, or if you’re feeling more relaxed – stroll to the sandy shingle beach, just 200 metres away.
Thorpe Forest, Thetford
Adults will love Thorpe Forest, where cabins come with a hot tub as standard. The park is based in woodland on the banks of the River Thet, close to where the Norfolk and Suffolk borders meet, so there’s lots to see and do in the area including visiting Wells-Next-The-Sea, , Bury St Edmunds the Norfolk Broads, Great Yarmouth and spotting seals at Blakeney Point.
Caister-on-Sea, Caister-on-Sea
Big families are well catered for at this traditional seaside holiday park in Caister-on-Sea. It is home to Deck Houses – which provide lots of space for larger groups – and the park has direct access to miles of beautiful sandy beaches. It also boasts an Adventure Village, where kids will be kept occupied for hours with aerial assault courses, 4×4 off-roading and indoor play areas