‘An iconic seaside ride’ – Sun readers’ favourite Great Yarmouth spots – from top beaches to rude tourist attractions
GREAT Yarmouth has everything you need for a traditional British seaside holiday – sea, sand, amusement parks, arcades… and quirky old-fashioned fun.
But if you’ve only got a 12-hour day trip to fit everything in – which places should you hit and what should you miss?
As part of our Best Of British series, we asked The Sun readers for their favourite places to visit in Great Yarmouth – from the best beaches to the perfect pub lunch… and the little-known spot where Captain Birds eye invented fish fingers.
Ride the iconic snails at Joyland amusement park
Sun reader Daryl Smith said: “I have so many very happy memories of going to Joyland in Great Yarmouth. The snail ride is an iconic part of the seafront. If you don’t ride the snails when you visit,then you haven’t had a proper Great Yarmouth experience.”
The Super Snails ride at Joyland has been entertaining children and adults alike since the theme park‘s opening. The ride was designed and built by Horace Cole, whose family opened the park back in 1949.
Other rides to enjoy nowadays include the Tubs, Jet Cars, Spook Express and Neptune’s Kingdom, and no theme park visit is complete without a visit to the food and drink stands, where you can pick up theme park classics like slush drinks, ice-creams and sweets.
Location: Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2EH
Entry is free but you must purchase tokens to go on the rides – each of the main rides is one token per person, equivalent to £2.
Take a stroll around beautiful Breydon Water
Sun reader Steve Myatt said: “Take a walk around Breydon Water.”
For those wanting to escape the crowds on Great Yarmouth seafront for the day, Breydon Water Nature Reserve is around a 10-minute drive away.
It’s home to thousands of geese, ducks and swans, Wigeons, Lapwings and more – making it a twitcher’s paradise.
Breydon Water to Burgh Castle is a popular walking route – a 8.5 mile circular countryside and riverside walk with stunning views over the marshes.
The walk begins at the Burgh Castle Roman Fort car park in Burgh Castle, which is £1.50 for two hours, £2 for four hours or £4 all day.
Location: Burgh Castle Roman Fort car park, Butt Lane, Burgh Castle, Great Yarmouth, NR31 9QG
Tuck into a traditional pub lunch right on the riverfront in nearby Stokesby
Sun reader Jason Barrow said: “For a great lunch with all the family, pop to Stokesby, The Ferry Inn. Right on The Broads.”
It takes under 20 minutes to reach Stokesby by car, a quiet riverside village in the Norfolk Broads, with pretty walks nearby.
The Ferry Inn is a traditional Norfolk Broads pub open daily, 9am to 9pm. It offers pub classics such as steak and ale pie, and fish and chips, and for those with a sweet tooth, homemade cakes and chocolates.
On sunny days, perch on one of the picnic tables out the front with views of the river, and there’s also a small activity area for children.
Location: Riverfront, The Green, Stokesby, Great Yarmouth, NR29 3EX
Find one of the UK’s best beaches at Gorleston-on-Sea
Sun reader Jenny Rae said: “Gorleston-on-Sea Beach is only 10 minutes away from Great Yarmouth Beach and is considerably more quiet. It is a lovely sandy beach and has a nice restaurant called The Fig which is a pizzeria/Greek restaurant overlooking the beach.”
Gorleston-on-Sea is located just south of Great Yarmouth – a seven minute drive or 50 minute walk.
As well as having its own bay and riverside, it has a stunning stretch of sandy beach, which sits below cliff gardens and a grand promenade.
Last year, it was named the UK’s best beach by TripAdvisor.
When you’re done relaxing on the beach, Gorleston-on-Sea also offers plenty of activities, including pitch and putt, tennis and basketball courts, a children’s playground, a model yacht pond, and a children’s splash pad.
Location: Gorleston-on-Sea, NR31 6LR
Step back in time at the Elizabethan House Museum
Sun reader Jon Settle said: “The Elizabethan House museum. It’s a bit of a hidden gem but full of interesting things for all the family. It had an important role in the civil war as a parliamentarian meeting place and supposedly the fate of Charles I was plotted there.”
Located on the quayside in Great Yarmouth is the Elizabethan House Museum that offers visitors a great insight into domestic life from Tudor to Victorian times.
The museum has something for all ages with its hands-on approach – try replica costumes in the bedroom, and on special event days, see the range in the kitchen being fired up and old recipes being created.
Location: 4 South Quay, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2QH
Entry for adults is £6.80 and for children aged 4-18, £5.90. See the full list of prices and opening times here.
Explore the boat that brought Willy Wonka to England
Sun reader David Turner said: “Lydia Eva, moored on South Quay, opposite the Town Hall. It’s an old steam drifter that used to catch herring, which made Yarmouth famous in the 1930s.
“It’s open most days from Easter and is totally free. The kids love it. It has a museum on board and the crew are excellent and know their stuff. It’s a great way to kill an hour and not much is free nowadays.”
Lydia Eva was built in 1930 and was used for fishing along the East Coast and North Sea for nine years. In 1939 it was bought by The Royal Air Force and used for a variety of roles, before being laid up in 1969.
More recently, the boat made its silver-screen debut as it featured in the new Wonka film. Eagle-eyed viewers may have spotted it during the scenes in which a young Willy Wonka, played by Timothée Chalamet, arrived in England.
The historic fishing boat travelled to Lyme Regis in Dorset for filming, but has now returned to its usual berth in Great Yarmouth.
Location: Cowtrott Lane, Rollesby, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR29 5ED
Entry is free but you can make donations onboard or online.
Find out more about how fish fingers were invented in Great Yarmouth
Sun reader Catherine Lofthouse said: “When you need to get far away from the bright lights, you can’t go wrong by heading to Time and Tide Museum, set in a quiet back street away from the front.
“It’s a fascinating slice of the history of one of our best beloved British resorts, with loads of interactive activities to give an idea of what life was like on the Norfolk coast before it was teeming with tourists.”
The museum tells the story of Great Yarmouth, how the town first invented fish fingers in 1955 and its famous herring industry – even the lingering aroma of the smokehouse remains today.
Exhibits include a fisherman’s house, historic sailing vessels, and Bronze age artefacts, including the Gorleston Hoard – 118 fragments, including axes, spear-heads and swords.
Location: Blackfriars’ Road, Great Yarmouth, NR30 3BX
Admission for adults is £7.80 and for children aged 4-18, £6.60. See the full list of prices and opening times here.
Spot the rude characters in the tiny houses at the Merrivale Model Village
Sun reader Richard Barker said: “The model village on the seafront, try to find the characters being rude in the model houses!”
Merrivale Model Village is on the seafront, just a stone’s throw away from the Time and Tide Museum. It boasts over an acre of landscaped gardens with streams, waterfalls and even a lake with Koi Carp.
Among the must-see attractions are the Merrivale Railway, the ‘laughing sailor’ and ‘what the butler saw’.
After seeing all there is to see you can head to Merrivale Tea Rooms to grab a bite to eat.
Location: Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, NR30 3JG
Admission is from £5 and also includes crazy golf.
Stay at Parkdean Resorts Vauxhall Holiday Park
Sun reader Lorna Lowe said: “Vauxhall holiday park. I’ve been there several times for special interest weekends, and am always impressed by the accommodation and facilities available on site.
“The food from the various outlets in the main complex is definitely value for money and very tasty. Staff are friendly and helpful.”
Parkdean Resorts Vauxhall Holiday Park is just over a five minute drive from Great Yarmouth beach and offers a wide range of accommodation to stay in, from caravans to apartments.
On site, there’s plenty of activities, including a tree house playground, and indoor and outdoor pool and a water slide, a jungle adventure golf course, mini bowling, and a virtual reality experience.
There’s also a bar and restaurant and bar, Costa Coffee, ice-cream station and takeaway available for hungry tummys.
Location: Acle New Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 1TB
To book, visit Vauxhall Holiday Park’s website.
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Hop on a boat and get up close to hundreds of seals in their natural habitat
Sun reader Eileen Bennett said: “Take a boat trip to see the seals and finish with ice cream watching the sea.”
The Norfolk coast is home to large colonies of grey seals – and off the coast of Great Yarmouth is no exception.
Scroby Sands sandbank, 2.5km away from the Great Yarmouth shoreline, is the best place to see them, and a number of boat companies offer day trips.
Jet Adventures offers 1.5 hour long Scroby Sands Seals Boat Trips that depart from Heritage Quay, South Pier, in nearby Lowestoft.
The seals are described as being extremely friendly and eager to interact with customers as they swim around the boat.
Location: The South Pier, Royal Plain, Lowestoft NR33 0AE
Prices are £44 per person (£40 for children and seniors).