The pretty UK seaside town just as good as Cornwall or Blackpool but without the crowds

boasts all the rugged beauty of a British seaside escape, without the tourists – or arcades. Dubbed the “gem of the Norfolk coast”, this  instead offers visitors sandy beaches, surfing and stunning coastal walks.

Not a single arcade tune drowns out the relaxing lulls of the waves along Cromer’s prominent pier, which is only lit up during the variety show that takes place each Summer and Winter. It’s a prime example of enduring Victorian architecture, having remained standing even when the Government tried to blow it up in to prevent enemies from using it to land on British shores. Still very much a working town, it’s commonplace to see boats pulled up on the sand nearby to bring Cromer’s famous

You can get involved in the local pastime of crabbing along the sandy Cromer beach, before taking the the Cromer Lighthouse circular walk through beaches, cliffs and heathlands. 

If the weather isn’t playing ball, Cromer Museum, housed in a row of fishermen’s cottages, takes you through the area’s rich history, as well as geology and archaeology exhibits. 

Its Royal National Lifeboat Henry Blogg Museum, named after the RNLI’s most decorated lifeboatman, charts the town’s proud lifesaving heritage. 

Dominated by the tower of its 14th-century parish church, which is the tallest in the county, Cromer offers visitors a slightly more peaceful escape, with business owners having reported a quieter year last year. 

In August last year, Chrisie Tanser from Davies Fish Shop told the North Norfolk News: “It’s not as busy as it has been in recent years.”

Georgia Cutting, from Cromer Pier shop and box office, added: “It has definitely been quieter than normal this summer”. 

According to a report for the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, data suggested more than 9.4 million visitors travelled to North Norfolk in 2023.