Hunstanton

The Victorian resort of Hunstanton in Norfolk was built in 1846 and has a unique charm that remains popular today. A classical British seaside resort in every way, it has something to offer all the family and it attracts around 45000 visitors per year from the UK. Having been born and raised in Norfolk it will come as no surprise that I have spent a lot of time in Hunstanton. On the beach, in the amusements and amongst the rides. Now grown up I still often visit but tend to be found on the quieter stretches of Old Hunstanton beach and enjoying a drink at the Mariners inn watching the sun go down and reliving memories. The family friendly resort is like home from home and when you arrive you can tell if the tide is in according to how many people are on the sloping green in front of the pier. If it’s packed the tide is in and you have a little wait to get off of the promenade and onto the beach. The town has a range of local shops and eateries as well as a Tesco and Sainsburys. Amongst them is claimed to be the largest joke shop in the world. Near the Lookout Tower is the imposing Hunstanton Lighthouse. A lighthouse has been here since 1665, but the present lighthouse was built in 1840, although it ceased operations in 1922 and became a private residence.

Some of the town facilities and things to do in Hunstanton are listed below.

Hunstanton Beach

The Hunstanton beach (also known as new hunstanton) is not accessible at high tide but is gradually revealed as the sea receded. The beach is made up of shingle and rocks. You can find rock pools to explore and the sea is fairly shallow. It can get very busy during the summer season with families securing their bit of sand with towels and wind shields. Buckets and spades abound creating a traditional british beach scene.Hunstanton’s main beach is one of 132 beaches nationwide to be awarded a Seaside Award for 2021 by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy. Keep Britain Tidy’s Seaside Award recognises and rewards beaches in England that achieve the highest standards of beach management. Each beach is assessed for safety and services, environmental management, water quality and information. Between the South beach and Old Hunstanton beach you will not only pass the iconic striped cliffs but there is also an old shipwreck revealed as the tide goes out.

Hunstanton Cliffs

Seen on many postcards and an iconic image of Hunstanton are the striped rock cliffs. Caused by layers of coloured rock, the main layers are carrstone and chalk. Carrstone is the brown layer and consists of sandstone held together by iron oxide. There are no fossils in this layer. The red and white layer is made from Limestone which generally forms in warmer climates.

Between 70 and 135 million years ago the cliffs were under the sea and as a consequence are rich in fossils. The safest way to find them is by cracking open rocks from the base of the cliffs. However if you venture around the cliffs you will notice that on occasions large portions have cracked and subsided so there is always a danger of falling rocks.

Numerous birds have colonised the cliffs. Although they look like seagulls they are in fact Fulmars that nest amongst the cliffs

Old Hunstanton

Old Hunstanton in Norfolk is a quiet village covering 2.07 sq miles. It is a huge contrast to its busy neighbour Hunstanton. Its main attraction is a beautiful beach near the cliffs and cliff top walks. It houses the Hunstanton lighthouse and has a small post office and general stores. Ruins from the 1272 St Edmund’s Chapel on display at the cliff tops. St Mary’s Church, dating back to the 14th century is also found in the village.

Old Hunstanton Beach

Old Hunstanton beach overlooks the wash and is a beautiful sandy beach backed by sand dunes and beach huts. The sea recedes a long way at low tide and It enjoys spectacular sunsets over the sea despite being on the North Norfolk Coast. Kite and windsurfing conditions are ideal. It is very dog friendly and rarely over busy. A great spot for a family beach holiday. It is much quieter than its neighbouring beach Hunstanton and has a natural feel with patches of salt marsh. Looking out to the mouth of the Wash you will be able to see the wind farm offshore from Skegness, generating electrical power for thousands of homes.

General Information

Car Parking

Car Parking is available on the cliff top car park near the lighthouse and a small car park in Sandy Lane. On entering Hunstanton, turn right towards Tesco and there are a number of car parks on the left hand side just prior to the green and bandstand. If parking roadside please read the parking notices as they are different throughout the year.

Toilets

There are public toilets within the cliff top car park and near the pier amusements.

Dogs

Hunstanton beach has restrictions on dogs. Dogs are not permitted from the power boat ramp (near Searles) to the northern end of the Promenade (where the Cliffs are) from 10th April until 31st October. Dogs must also be kept on a lead on the Promenade, the Green and the Esplanade Gardens. However, its neighbour, Old Hunstanton beach, is however very dog friendly, with dogs allowed all year round. Lots of dog walkers use the beach and consequently you will always meet plenty of dogs.

RHS Britain in Bloom

Britain in Bloom is a competition run by RHS every year to encourage volunteers to plant and tend to flowers in their community. Each year Hunstanton puts on a stunning display and is a regular winner of medals. You can walk amongst the displays and take in the atmosphere created by the blooms.

Hunstanton Hall

Hunstanton Hall, Old Hunstanton, Norfolk, England is a Stunning moated country house dating originally from the 15th century. It is built originally from clunch and carrstone, and the wings were built in the seventeenth century. There are also and there are Victorian additions to the building. The house was the ancestral home of the L'Estrange family, resident from the time of Domesday until after World War II.

Hunstanton Pier Amusements

Sitting where the start of the old Hunstanton pier was sited is a two storey building with traditional seaside amusements and ten pin bowling. Ideal for an evening's entertainment with the family, and it quickly fills up on a rainy summer day. You will find all the classic games, fruit machines and two pence falls inside. Who can resist having a go at the cranes to lift out a soft toy?

RNLI Lifeboat Station

Located in Sea lane, Old Hunstanton you will find the Lifeboat Station. The Station has seen several types of craft during its history at Hunstanton. It saw the RNLI’s first motor tractor and today it operates an inshore B class Atlantic 85 Lifeboat and one of only four inshore rescue hovercraft. The station is open for visits Monday to Friday 10-4pm Easter to October and Sunday 9-12 which includes a station exercise. In winter it is only open 9-12 on a Sunday. The station telephone number is 01485 532 597. There is a small shop inside the building. The RNLI is a charity operated by volunteers that has saved many lives at sea.

St Mary’s Church Old Hunstanton

The Church is built of flint and free stone and apart from the addition of modern vestries (1950) and an organ chamber, the building is virtually as built in the 14th century by Sir Hamon le Strange. In 1853 the roof was raised and the upper walls were pierced for the clerestory windows improving the light within the nave. Entry into the church is through the South Porch which has a decorated entrance with stone tracery. An etching dated 1817 shows a beamed ceiling within the porch which was removed during renovation in 1864.

Princess Theatre Hunstanton

The Princess Theatre in Hunstanton opened in 1932 as the Capitol Cinema, having previously been a hotel. It was built by Ben Culey of Kings Lynn and it contains the largest gable wall of carrstone in existence. After many years it closed its doors in the 1960’s. After resale in 1974 it reopened once again showing films but attendance declined and it ended up as a bingo hall for a while till closing a lying derelict for several years. In 1981 it was bought by King’s Lynn Borough council and reopened as the Princess theatre in honour of Princess Diana with a concert featuring the Wurzels. The Princess Theatre box office Is now open every day of the year except Christmas) and offers a wide range of acts and events from pantomime to tribute acts, and still has film showings honouring its cinema origins. A great local venus to pop in and see a show. It also now has an elevated bar outside which is ideal for sunset watchers.

Hunstanton Sea Life Centre

Hunstanton Sealife centre is a state-of-the-art marine aquarium with a big selection of sea based animals and fish to view as well as penguins, seals and otters. Home to over 2000 creatures from shrimps to sharks, prices at the sealife centre start at £18.95 and they are open from 10 till 5 in the summer months. There are special opportunities for animal feeds and they have a dedicated seal rescue hospital. It can be found at Seagate Rd, Hunstanton PE36 5BH, near to the leisure centre.

Old Hunstanton Golf Course

The 18 hole links course at Old Hunstanton is rated as one of Britain and Ireland’s Top 100 courses and has been established for 125 years. Overlooking The Wash, Hunstanton is the only golf course on the east coast of England where the sun sets over the sea, providing striking views in both summer and winter. This year, 2022, it hosted the R & A Women's Amateur Championships which was won by Jess Baker. Address: Golf Course Rd, Hunstanton, Norfolk PE36 6JQ. For information about their guest player policy call 01485 532 811

Pitch and Putt Golf Course

Located at golf course road near the lighthouse car park is a pitch and putt golf course with the added bonus of a football version as well. With some great views overlooking the wash it is great fun for everyone. No one expects you to be a great golfer, just bring the family and have some fun.The pitch and putt course is open daily 10am - 5pm from 1 April until the end of September. It's also open during weekends and school holidays in October. It's closed from November to March.

The History Of Hunstanton Pier

The original pier which was designed by J.W.Wilson opened on Easter Sunday 1870 and believe it or not paddle steamers operated a service from it to the Skegness pier across the wash. A pavilion was added in the 1890’s that was destroyed by fire on 11th June 1939 was never replaced. After World War II, the pier housed a roller-skating centre and, believe it or not, a small zoo. A miniature steam railway, powered by a Bassett-Lowke engine, ran the length of the pier. This line was dismantled in the 1950s, and the seaward end gradually fell into disrepair. On the shore end however a two storey amusement building was completed in 1964.

Hunstanton Sailing Club

Hunstanton Sailing Club members enjoy a wide range of water sports including windsurfing, sailing and Kayaking. The club is conveniently located on the sea front in Hunstanton and has parking showers and a bar for members. Their website has Hunstanton weather forecasts including wind and Hunstanton tide times. http://www.hunstantonsc.co.uk/

Hunstanton Webcams

There live Hunstanton webcams which can be monitored from:
Webcam
This site is community run.

Bandstand

Located on The Green at Hunstanton, near the Central Prom, the Bandstand hosts free musical performances from May to September, especially on Sunday afternoons, including concert bands, brass bands, town bands, pop and country groups, and other events.

Motorbike Rallies

Hunstanton is a magnet for bikers and motorbike lovers. There are often rows of precious bikes lined up near the pier entrance, especially on Sundays. There is even a facebook group of Hunstanton loving bikers:

https://en-gb.facebook.com/groups/sunnyhunnybikers/

Mini Land Train

There is a fun Land train that The Hunstanton land train travels between Searles Leisure Resort and the Old Lighthouse, calling at Hunstanton Town Centre and The Green during high season. Great fun for the kids and great views as you travel

The land train runs daily, with the exception of Mondays and Fridays

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Amphibious Vehicle Hunstanton Beach

A Highly unusual attraction in Hunstanton is “Wiley, the Wash Monster” This incredible machine is an ex. military vehicle manufactured in 1967 for use as a landing craft by American forces in Vietnam. It pulls out of the sea onto the sand to pick up groups of people for tours along the coast. It seats 60 and has a speed of 8 knots in the water and 13 knots on land.

Sandringham Royal Estate

Sandringham Royal Parkland is only 10 miles from Hunstanton. It is a dog friendly estate spread over 600 acres that is also home to the Queen and her family for part of the year. You can explore country park all year round, with the two waymarked trails through the woodlands and parkland. There is a shop, café, and many events throughout the year including bushcraft classes and Land Rover safaris.

SUNSET

Places to Stay and to Eat In Old Hunstanton and Nearby

The Golden Lion

The Burleigh

Hunstanton beach camping

To Find out more click below: Camping

Hunstanton Fish and Chips and Cafes

Hunstanton has a huge number of cafes, restaurants and fish and chip shops, including Henrys and Fishers. Hunstanton. There is simply an overwhelming choice for all tastes. There are so many that it's best to pop over to tripadvisor to check what they offer and how they are being ranked.

Waterside Bar Hunstanton

The waterside Bar has been around since 1892 . It can be found on the Promenade and has parking nearby. Offering food for all the family including pizzas and burgers it also has a great elevated terrace to view sunsets. Open from 10am till 11 pm every day and accepts dogs. Telephone. 01485 535 810

The Honeystone Hunstanton

The Honeystone in Hunstanton is a family-friendly pub serving an exciting menu packed full of tender grills, stonebaked pizzas and pub classics. Ideal for the whole family, they table service and plenty of choice. There are indoor and outdoor play zones to keep the little ones happy, and a great patio and garden area. And with the beach only a short distance away, they are a great place to begin or end a walk too. Telephone 01485 534 563

The Golden Lion Hunstanton

One of several hotels in Hunstanton, The Golden Lion Hotel has 29 rooms, with a selection of single, twin, double, and family rooms to choose from. If you’re looking for hotels in Hunstanton with something special then make sure to ask for a room with a sea view. All rooms are beautifully appointed with all you could need to be comfortable during your stay.

Guests at the Golden Lion Hotel in Hunstanton can treat themselves to some delicious pub grub and a few drinks at the hotel’s own on-site pub – the Lion Inn. There’s also a large beer garden so you can have a drink outside and take in the wonderful ocean view. The Golden Lion hotel is one of the licensed wedding venues in Norfolk that offer a spectacular sea panoramic view. Telephone 0330 094 5920

Caley Hall Old Hunstanton

With thirty-eight en-suite bedrooms, an AA rosette awarded restaurant, relaxing bar and lounge and beautiful outdoor patios, Caley offers the perfect base from which to explore Norfolk, and is only a ten-minute walk from the beach. I have popped in here a couple of times for a hot breakfast and have been warmly welcomed with a great breakfast, so I can definitely recommend it. Telephone 01485 533486

The Wash and Tope Hunstanton

The Wash and Tope is a family run hotel with a restaurant and bed and breakfast accommodation. It is just two minutes from the town centre. All rooms have en suite showers and many have sea views. One of many pubs in Hunstanton, the bar offers a wide range of beers, spirits and hot and cold soft drinks alongside traditional pub food all day. Telephone 01842 532 250

Mariner Inn Old Hunstanton

A traditional pub near the sea at Old Hunstanton, making use of its great sea views. Inside there are low beams, snug seating and plenty of nooks and crannies to explore. Atmospheric, the pub has a fine collection of local nautical prints and regalia. You’ll also find a warm Norfolk welcome, excellent food and drink.br>
Outside there is a well designed terrace and decking with lawns that lead down to sand dunes and the sea beyond. Sit out on a fine summer’s evening and watch the sun go down over the Wash - it's an idyllic setting for a drink and a meal. Telephone 01485 534 411

White Horse Holme next the Sea

The White Horse is an old traditional Pub which has been welcoming visitors for centuriesThis coastal pub is popular with walkers, holidaymakers, families and is happy to allow dogs inside. They have a menu to suit all.In summer, enjoy alfresco dining in one of the Beer Gardens or take a seat in the Gazebo.In winter, choose between their oak-beamed bar or one of their dining rooms complete with cosy log burner. Telephone 01485 525512

The Neptune Old Hunstanton

This fine dining restaurant serves modern British food, skillfully cooked and served in relaxed surroundings with attentive, friendly service. The restaurant has been awarded 3 AA rosettes and has retained a Michelin star since 2009. The restaurant has an emphasis on fresh, local produce. Always call beforehand to check opening times and availability. Telephone 01485 532 122

The Lodge Hunstanton

The Lodge is a Hotel, Bar and restaurant with a casual and relaxed atmosphere. It is just a short walk from the beach. Telephone 01485 532 896

Gin Trap

Located only a stone's throw from the scenic North Norfolk coast, The Gin Trap is found in the heart of Ringstead, a charming village surrounded by the natural beauty of the English countryside. The pub itself has a characterful history welcoming all guests since 1668, be they locals, visitors, families with children and dogs. It serves over 100 gins and local seasonal food on its menu. Telephone 01485 525 264

Orange Tree Thornham

The Orange Tree is a stylish, contemporary dining pub, nestled in one of North Norfolk’s most beautiful coastal villages, Thornham. It is a family owned business serving award-winning food, from top quality local produce in a laid back environment. The Inn offers a haven of tranquillity where couples, families and friends are welcomed with open arms.

They have 17 ensuite bedrooms, including 7 rooms in the luxurious Manor Lodge – opened August 2017, making them the perfect spot to relax and enjoy our stunning beaches by day and our award-winning food and wine by night. Telephone 01485 512 213

Lifeboat Inn Thornham

The Lifeboat Inn Hotel, restaurant and bar in Thornham offers sumptuous food, fine wines and a selection of local ales. Roaring fires in winter complete the ambience of this typical coastal inn. Dogs are welcome. Telephone 01485 512 236

Le Strange Hotel Old Hunstanton

Located in the picturesque seaside town of Old Hunstanton on the North Norfolk coast, the Le Strange Arms Hotel is the perfect venue for the ultimate relaxing seaside break. Standing just a stone’s throw from the sea, with lawns leading down to a sandy beach, the hotel offers guests the perfect location to escape from the city, and relax in affordable, stylish and comfortable surroundings. Telephone 01485 534411

Local Holiday Rental Cottages

As you may guess, Hunstanton, or Sunny Hunny, as it is known is awash with self catering holiday accommodation of all sizes. You can often find them on dedicated letting sites or indeed on some occasions in the windows of local estate agents which include Sowerbys, Abbots, Birds, Fine and Country, William H Brown, all found in the town centre. Many properties also have dedicated signs outside advertising availability or not.

Beach Huts and Chalets

There are numerous differently coloured Beach Huts on the Beach behind the sand dunes at Old Hunstanton. Many can be hired out for the duration of your holiday. Visit https://www.beachhuts4hire.co.uk/ for options. In addition The local council has a number of chalets along the north promenade with great views across the wash. They are available to rent from the 1st of April until 31st October each year on a daily, weekly or seasonal basis. For information telephone 01485 535150

Caravans in Hunstanton

Mention caravaning in Hunstanton and the name that immediately comes to mind is Searles. The Norfolk Coasts award winning holiday resort offers caravans and lodges and provides an array of family based entertainment including cabaret and guest acts throughout the summer. It is a large Hunstanton caravan park and resort that is very popular. For information call Searles, Hunstanton on: 01485 534 211

Beaches Nearby

There are a number of great beaches nearby including Holme next the sea, Holkham and Wells next the sea.

NWT Holme Dunes Nature Reserve

All nature lovers and bird watchers should check out the nature reserve at Holme. There is a visitor centre with information, books and gifts. There are three bird watching hides overlooking grazing marsh and pools Visitor centre with information, displays, books, gifts and refreshments. The reserve is open all year round from 10am to 5pm April to October. There is a small charge for entry but children and NWT members are free. Broadwater Road, Holme-next-the-Sea, Hunstanton, Norfolk, PE36 6LQ. Telephone 01485 525240.

Norfolk Coast Path

The Norfolk Coast Path runs 84 miles from Hunstanton in west Norfolk round to Hopton on Sea on the north east Norfolk coast.

The majority of this walking trail runs through the dramatic landscape of the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Experience seaside towns and villages, tidal marshes teeming with wildlife, wide sandy beaches, pine woodlands and huge skies. A walk along Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path National Trail is the perfect way to lose yourself in this magical land of sand dunes and salt marsh, sea air and warm welcomes. The Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path is one of England’s most gentle National Trails. The terrain is varied but it is generally flat or with only gentle gradients. You can walk the trail at any time of year, but during the summer the weather is usually better and the hedgerows are in full blossom. Spring and autumn are the main bird migration periods, so you’ll spot stunning wildlife, and walking along the coast in winter can be a wonderful experience.The coastline of Norfolk is enormously varied, with long stretches of golden beach interspersed with mud flats and salt marsh, shingle and pebbles. There are wonderful dunes and marram grass to traverse, cliffs to marvel at, and between King’s Lynn and Hunstanton, treacle-like mud where The Wash empties into the North Sea, a favourite of birds and bird watchers alike. The Norfolk Coast Path is a fairly modern walking route, created from a network of existing footpaths and newly-created ones to link the coastal end of the Peddars Way (which starts at Knettishall Heath Country Park in Suffolk) to Hopton-on-Sea. The Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path became joined to form a Long Distance National Trail in 1986.

Henry Le Strange

It’s hard to spend any time around Hunstanton without hearing the name Le Strange. Few people recognise the details behind the name despite the fact that he is credited with founding Hunstanton.

Henry Styleman L’estrange was an English decorative painter born in 1815 in part responsible for the paintings on the ceiling of Ely Cathedral. He was the only son of Henry Styleman of Snettisham and Hunstanton, part of a wealthy Norfolk farming dynasty. And he married into the L’Estrange family which was established in Norfolk in the reign of William the Conqueror. He was educated at Eton and Oxford. On leaving Oxford he travelled in Portugal, Spain, and Egypt .One of his finest achievements was the railway line which ran through Wolferton, which proved useful to residents, holidaymakers and indeed to members of the Royal family. He was heir to 10,000 acres of Northwest Norfolk, the estate stretching from the western edge of Holme through the whole of Hunstanton and Snettisham as far as Wolferton creek, including parts of Heacham and Sedgeford. He inherited this estate and royal licence for the additional family name of Le Strange when he was 21 and a few years later he moved in as Lord of the Manor with his new wife. He converted Hunstanton Hall into a wonderful home for his wife and six children. He took interest in local farming and built schools and cottages as well as re roofing and refurbishing St Mary's Church. His greatest legacy considered by many was the creation of the Norfolk town of Hunstanton. In 1847 he made an unsuccessful attempt to enter Parliament forWest Norfolk. He died suddenly of heart disease in 1862 and is buried in Hunstanton.

Hunstanton Railway

Although mention has been made recently of restoring it, there is currently no rail link to Hunstanton. Construction of the first line to Hunstanton coincided with the rising popularity of north-west Norfolk as a destination for holidaymakers who were arriving in large numbers. Hunstanton was promoted as a seaside resort by Henry Styleman Le Strange, the principal landowner, who gifted land and money towards the line's construction. The station had two long island platforms which could take excursion trains with up to a thousand people aboard, and its seafront location meant that passengers were discharged directly on to the promenade and pier. Long stay holiday makers came and left on Saturdays, whilst day-trippers generally came on Sundays in a constant stream of trains at ten-minute intervals. Many stayed at the Sandringham Hotel which was situated at the end of the platforms.

Having reached its peak in the mid-1950s, passenger numbers declined. Most through services from Liverpool Street were withdrawn from 1959, leaving Hunstanton with a mainly DMU service to and from King's Lynn. By 1966, services to London had been reduced to one working on weekdays and two up and one down on summer Saturdays.

As fewer and fewer passengers were using the line, British Rail announced that the line was losing £40,000 per year and would close from Monday 5 May 1969. The last train ran at 9.05pm on Saturday 3 May from King's Lynn packed with around 250 passengers and a similar number waiting at Hunstanton to mark the occasion. The station site is now a car and coach park.The former coal shed, the only remaining trace of the railway, was converted into an art gallery with help from West Norfolk Council and opened in May 2008.

Location

Hunstanon lies on the A149 between Heacham and Holme next the sea,with historic King’s Lynn only 30 minutes drive away.

While you are spoilt for choice for beaches to visit on the Norfolk coast, Hunstanton beach remains a firm favourite among many locals and a place for tourists to visit and stay.

Frequently Asked Questions and tripadvisor

Toilets facilities

Hunstanton has toilet facilities within a short distant from the beach.

Are there hotels to stay at in Hunstanton?

There are number of hotels, self catering and bed and breakfast options including a large caravan park.

Can I walk my dog on the beach?

Hunstanton is a dog friendly beach for part of the year.

Is Hunstanton beach Sandy?

The large sandy beach is ideal for families, dog walking and is home to amazing rock pools to explore and a great place for kite-surfing.

How to I get to Hunstanton?

While there is no train service, there is a bus service however most people travel by car on the A149.

Is Hunstanton worth visiting?

Hunstanton resort, close to King Lynn has so much to offer with the its grand history and Victorian heritage combined with a wide selection of good places to eat, the arcades and ten pin bowling along with the sea life centre sanctuary and oasis leisure centre.

Is Hunstanton beach busy?

Hustanton remains a very popular destination and is very busy during the summer months, especially around school summer holiday.