Holiday at Wells-next-the-Sea on the North Norfolk coast at any time of year. Dog walking, beaches and the best places to eat.
Wells-next-the-Sea is a pretty coastal town on the North Norfolk coast and is one of mine and my husband’s favourite places to go. It has a busy harbour, full of fishing boats and pleasure boats, an iconic clean white sandy beach, which has frequently been voted the number one beach in the UK by national media, and crab fishing from the Quay is a popular pastime for families.
Wells is also becoming a go to foodie hotspot with an ever increasing range of restaurants, a deli and gastro pubs to dine at and it’s easy to buy a great cup of coffee! The old part of Wells up from the Quay to the main road is Georgian and there are lots of beautiful cottages and interesting shops to browse, as well as tearooms and coffee shops. There is so much I could say about Wells, and why I love it, but I only have 600 words so here goes…
Places to eat in Wells
You can’t write an article about Wells without mentioning fish and chips. In my opinion the best place to have fish and chips is sat on the Quay, looking out over the harbour. There are several fish and chips shops on the Quay and they are all very popular, although my personal favourite is French’s Fish Shop, as we have been going there for over 20 years. Another great option is Plattens Fish & Chips, where you can dine in or takeaway. The food is always freshly cooked, tasty and reasonably priced given its prime location on the Quay.
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If you fancy something a little more upmarket there is an excellent seafood restaurant just along from Wells Quay called The Wells Crab House. It serves fantastic seafood with great service and has amazing reviews on Trip Advisor. We’ve eaten there and loved it!
Walks on the North Norfolk Coast
There is a lovely flat walk from Wells Quay along to the Beach Cafe at Wells beach. It takes about 20-30 minutes and is pram and wheelchair friendly. If you don’t fancy the walk, there is a little train that you can pay to go on. It’s also a great walk for dogs. The beach cafe is great for refreshments for thirsty humans and pooches too!
Dog-friendly Norfolk
Wells is very popular with dog walkers and if you do not like dogs it may not be the best place to go. During peak season there are nearly as many dogs in Wells as people. It is a great place to take your dog either to socialise or train it. In the summer season some of the beach at Wells is designated dog free but it still leaves miles and miles of wonderful coastline and woods for dog walking. There is a wonderful walk from Wells to Holkham along the beach and back through the pine forest. Click here for year-round dog-friendly beaches.
Wells-next-the-Sea Beach
Wells beach has to be one of the best beaches in the UK. It is a beautiful enormous white sandy beach with dunes, backed by a pine forest. It is simply stunning and takes my breath away every time I visit. You approach the beach through a pine forest and the moment you first see the beach and the colourful beach huts through the trees is pure excitement. There is pay and display beach carpark if you do not fancy the walk from Wells, but it can get very busy in summer holidays so it’s best to arrive early. On a hot sunny day this is a very popular destination for holiday makes in North Norfolk and the queues to get to the beach can be big.
Things to do in Wells
I hope I’ve whet your appetite to come and visit Wells for yourself. It’s not just about the beach though, there is lots more to explore including an antiques centre, quirky shops, pitch and put, the Granary Theatre, art galleries and of course Holkham Hall, which is a short drive away!
If you’re thinking of visiting Wells for a weekend break check out Gardeners Cottage, in nearby Blakeney for a cosy stay on the North Norfolk Coast: www.blakeneycottagecompany.co.uk
