With unspoiled beaches, vast salt marshes and charming countryside footpaths, North Norfolk makes a perfect outdoorsy break on England’s east coast.
However, when the UK’s infamous weather conspires against you, the area still has plenty to offer on a rainy day.
We visited North Norfolk in October 2023 at the height of Storm Babet. Roads turned to rivers as the rain lashed relentlessly down. From steam trains to fish and chips, here are our recommendations for our 9 favourite things to do in North Norfolk when it rains.
If you have any other suggestions, please do let us know in the comments!
1) Go for a coffee at the Cley Marshes Visitor Centre
Best for: Sweeping marshland views with a hot drink.
With enviable views over the windswept expanse of North Norfolk’s salt marshes, the Cley Marshes Visitor Centre is an ideal spot for a lazy coffee on a rainy day.
The big draw here is the centre’s excellent cafe. Here, the busy team serves a good range of hot drinks, soups and meals that are perfect for warming up on a cold, rainy day.
We arrived at the visitor centre at lunchtime in the middle of a deluge. After parking, we had to sprint across the car park as horizontal rain splattered angrily against our jackets.
Once inside, we grabbed a spot on the benches that overlook the salt flats and ordered some coffee. Even on a grey day, the views were spectacular and we could spot a few brave birds doing their best to battle the strong winds. Distant waves crashed on the horizon, the only hint that the sea lay beyond.
At the back of the centre, be sure to make a quick dash over the courtyard to the Simon Aspinall Wildlife Education Centre, which has an ever-changing roster of exhibitions.
How to do it: The visitor centre is open 10am to 5pm during the summer season. It closes at 4pm from November to February. Entry to the Cley Marshes Visitor Centre is free, but car parking starts at £3 for 3 hours.
Top tip: The bacon sandwiches are fantastic.
2) Explore the haunted corridors of Blickling Hall
Best for: Visiting one of Britain’s haunted houses.
Purportedly haunted by Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife, Blickling Estate and Hall is one of Norfolk’s finest country estates. The 4,600-acre estate is managed by the National Trust, who maintain everything from the sweeping parkland to the impressive formal gardens.
Blicking Hall itself is a stunning example of a Jacobean mansion and is an ideal place to visit on a rainy day in North Norfolk. Inside, the book collection at Long Gallery Library is particularly impressive.
How to do it: The house is open from 11am to 3pm. Entry is free for National Trust members, but is otherwise £15 for adults.
Top tip: The second-hand bookshop is a great resource for anyone looking to pick up a bargain.
3) Visit the curious Shell Museum
Best for: Admiring the UK’s largest collection of shells.
One of Norfolk’s more unusual museums, the Shell Museum in Glandford is Norfolk’s oldest purpose-built museum. Within the walls of this small, early-20th-century building, you will find a delightful collection of seashells, fossils and local treasures.
The museum is tiny and, we suspect, infrequently visited. As a result, it’s sometimes locked during its advertised opening hours. If the museum door is locked, there’s a doorbell to ring. Alternatively, try the mobile phone number in the window.
We loved: After your trip to the Shell Museum, it’s worth calling in at the charming St Martin’s Church. Inside, the impressive wooden carvings belie the building’s humble size.
How to do it: The Shell Museum is open from Easter Saturday until the end of October. The museum opens between 10am and 3pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Entry costs £3 for adults and £1 for children.
4) Learn about North Norfolk’s history at Sheringham Museum
Best for: Learning about the history of a seaside town in North Norfolk.
A short drive west of Cromer, the small town of Sheringham looks out over the Norfolk coast. In the Sheringham Museum, you can discover the town’s storied past through a series of fascinating collections.
The jewel in the crown of the museum is its collection of lifeboats and fishing boats, whose stories were so often intertwined. Other exhibits in the museum include paintings by local artists, stills photography and a collection of traditional woollen sweaters won by Sheringham fishermen.
For those interested in offshore windfarms, which you can spot from the viewing tower on a clear day, the museum has a section dedicated to this important source of renewable energy. Don’t worry – the viewing tower is enclosed, so you needn’t worry about the conditions on a rainy day.
How to do it: The Sheringham Museum is open from April to October. Admission costs £5 for adults and £2.50 for children. Family tickets are available.
5) Admire the artwork at the BIRDscapes Gallery
Best for: Supporting local artists.
With three rooms packed with paintings, sculptures and prints from local artists, Glandford’s BIRDscapes Gallery is an intriguing blend of wildlife and art. Inside, you can find works from over 80 of the UK’s best bird and nature artists, many of whom were inspired by the landscapes and fauna of North Norfolk.
The family-run gallery has stood for 18 years and is a perfect place to wander on a rainy day. Every item is for sale, with prices ranging from £50 to several thousands for the most expensive pieces. However, there is no pressure to buy anything – you are encouraged to browse at your own pace.
Our favourite section was the linocuts, which Lucy found fascinating thanks to her work on LucyDoodlesPrints. Meanwhile, I enjoyed the sketches and paintings by Jonathan Pomroy, which had enchanting observations about the birds scrawled on the edges of the canvas.
How to do it: The BIRDscapes gallery is open every day from 11am to 5pm. Entry is free.
We loved: If you don’t want to break the budget on a full-priced print, check out the collection of greeting cards near the door. They make for lovely souvenirs and are a great way to lend some support to the gallery.
6) Take a tour of Holkham Hall
Best for: An information-packed experience of a classic English stately home.
Home to the Earl of Leicester and his family, Holkham Hall sits on a 25,000-acre estate a short walk from the enormous Holkham beach, which is one of the best beaches in North Norfolk. Under the big Norfolk skies, attractions include vast parkland, a walled garden and the Holkham National Nature Reserve.
However, the hall itself is a great attraction for a rainy day. Whilst you do need to visit as part of a tour, this is a great way to see behind the scenes of a lived-in stately home. The tour takes in everything from the lavish state rooms to the cavernous kitchens, where food has been prepared for centuries. After the tour, if it’s still raining, you can escape to the courtyard cafe for a hot drink and a bite to eat.
How to do it: Holkam Hall is open for tours on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays.
7) Muckleburgh Military Collection
Best for: History and military enthusiasts.
When driving along the A149, you can’t help but notice the rather conspicuous army tank standing by the roadside. This tank marks the entrance to the Muckleburgh Military Collection, an impressive museum that maintains a range of tanks and armour cars from around the world.
Whilst there are a few exhibits outside, much of the Muckleburgh Military Collection is indoors, making it a perfect spot for a rainy day in North Norfolk. There is also an on-site cafe serving hot food and drinks.
How to do it: The museum is open from 10am to 5pm from the start of the season until the end of October.
Why not try: As well as the museum, Muckleburgh also has a tank driving experience. This must be booked in advance and costs £150.
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8) Tuck into fish and chips at No1 Cromer
Best for: A classic seaside meal.
There’s no getting away from it – when visiting North Norfolk, tucking into a fish supper is a must.
The award-winning No1 Cromer is one of the area’s most celebrated chippies. When we visited during lockdown, No. 1 was doing takeaway only, and there was a gigantic queue around the block.
These days, the full restaurant is open again. The main attraction is the ground-floor Fish & Chips Restaurant, which offers unreserved seating with table service. With huge windows that look over the sea, this is a great place for lunch with a view on a rainy day.
When we visited, haddock and chips cost £16 – certainly on the pricey side for a fish supper. However, the quality was superb – particularly when washed down with a can of their excellent No. 1 lager.
On a rainy day, their second-story restaurant, Upstairs at No1 Cromer, is a great place to enjoy a more refined dining experience, including a 3-course Sunday roast.
Top tip: For lunch in the unreserved section on a busy day, arrive before 1pm. Otherwise, you may be waiting a short time for a table to become free. It’s worth the wait – lunch here is one of our favourite things to do in Cromer.
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9) Take a journey on the North Norfolk Railway
Best for: Experiencing a heritage steam train.
Whilst North Norfolk is most easily navigated by car or bus, a trip on the North Norfolk Railway is an enjoyable way to spend a morning or afternoon. Steam trains speed down this 11-mile long heritage railway between Sheringham and Holt, with a regular timetable throughout the year.
The railway, which is known as the ‘Poppy Line’, also hosts a range of special experiences. These vary from dining trips to murder mystery and comedy events.
How to do it: The railway is open from April to October, with some trains running during the February half term. An advanced day rover ticket, which gives you unlimited travel, costs £17.
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Conclusion
As we discovered, there’s no reason why bad weather should ruin your visit to North Norfolk. From the list above, we highly recommend combining a trip to the Shell Museum and the BIRDscapes Gallery – they are just a short walk from each other. Next to the gallery, the Cley Smokehouse Deli serves hot drinks, food and excellent kippers on toast – perfect for a rainy day.