A Guide to Buying a Holiday Home in Norfolk

Cley Windmill, image courtesy of Shutterstock

Holiday homes

Golden sandy beaches, a National Park filled with a network of waterways, and quaint little villages – all part of Norfolk's charm.

While relaxing here is one way to spend holiday time, there's also lots of outdoor activities, from water sports and walking, to stargazing and birdwatching. Nestled along a picturesque coastline, this idyllic region presents the perfect base for a holiday home investment.

This guide reveals highlights about the county and a selection of quality holiday parks and locations with a choice of holiday homes for sale.

Claire Tupholme Content Editor: Travel/Campsites

As well as being the Content Editor for Travel and Campsites, Claire also looks after Premier Parks, which means she has seen her fair share of campsites and knows her way around Great Britain. Claire now loves to share her wealth of travel knowledge with other intrepid explorers.

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Photo courtesy of Trawsdir caravan park

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Is Norfolk a good place for a holiday home?

If holidays for you entail days out at the seaside, walking the coastal path, boating on the Broads, or exploring pretty villages, there’s plenty to occupy your holiday time in Norfolk.

Couples looking to enjoy regular relaxing breaks might head for the expansive dunes of Holkham Bay, the wildlife-rich nature reserves, or historic sites such as Norwich Cathedral and Sandringham Estate.

Families with children in tow will enjoy the lively coastal resorts such as Great Yarmouth or Hunstanton, or maybe hop on a boat in the Broads National Park, for a day of fun on the water.

If you're ready to open up a whole new way to holiday, take a look at our Complete Guide to Buying a Holiday Home, to get you started on your holiday home-owning journey!

Holkham Beach, image courtesy of Shutterstock

What to do in Norfolk

Walking, birdwatching, exploring historic estates .... Norfolk has it all.

Quaint villages like Burnham Market exude charm with traditional flint cottages and boutique shops. The coastline, adorned with iconic landmarks like Cromer Pier, invites exploration. Birdwatchers flock to the many nature reserves such as Blakeney Point, which is also home to England's largest seal colony – a boat trip out to see them is a must!

To stretch the legs, take a walk along the Norfolk Coast Path. This long-distance trail stretches for 84 miles between Hunstanton and Hopton-on-Sea, with a handy Coasthopper bus service to get back should legs get tired.

The Holkham Estate encompasses a hall and grounds that includes grand interiors, walled gardens, a deer park and lake. There's also Sheringham Park, managed by the National Trust, with a woodland garden and and plenty of walking or cycling routes. It is also the perfect place for a summer’s day picnic or a wintry morning walk.

If children need to be entertained, BeWILDerwood is a magical forest adventure park, with treehouses, zip wires, slides, a treetop maze, and den building, making for a fun and creative day out.

Norfolk Coast Path, image courtesy of Pixabay

Seals at Blakeney, image courtesy of Shutterstock

Must-visit places in Norfolk

Beach lovers are spoilt for choice in Norfolk. With a holiday home here you could visit a different beach every time. Norfolk boasts miles of unspoilt coastline, with beautiful beaches and wildlife havens. On top of that is a selection of charming seaside resorts, ranging from quaint villages through to bigger coastal towns.

The most beautiful part of the Norfolk coast is often considered to be the stretch around Holkham Bay and Wells-next-the-Sea. Holkham Bay is renowned for its expansive, unspoiled, four-mile sandy beach, backed by pinewoods and salt marshes that form part of a nature reserve. Nearby, Wells-next-the-Sea features a charming harbour with colourful beach huts and a lively seaside town atmosphere.

For a family-fun coastal resort, there's Hunstanton Beach, which faces west, and enjoys lots of sunshine and some dramatic sunsets. It boasts a long promenade, funfair and amusements, and the beach at the original village of Old Hunstanton is known for its famous striped cliffs.

If you're holidaying with dogs, Brancaster Beach, with around two miles of unspoilt golden sand, is dog-friendly all year round. It is also a great place for a day of building sandcastles, paddling in the sea or just relaxing and soaking up the sun.

Away from the coast, and a magnet for those who love messing about in boats, the Broads National Park comprises a network of navigable rivers and lakes. You can explore here by boat on the water or simply stay on land and enjoy the tranquil waterside. Various vessels – picnic boats or day boats – can be hired by the hour or day, with many also accepting dogs, too.

Boating on the Broads, image courtesy of Pixabay

Sheringham Beach, image courtesy of Pixabay

Windmill on the Broads, image courtesy of Pixabay

FAQs

How to buy a holiday home in Norfolk?

Buying a holiday home can seem a daunting process, but is one of the best investments in a new leisure lifestyle - after all, who doesn't want holidays on tap?
Our Complete Guide to Buying a Holiday Home will guide you through the buying process, from initial considerations, through to choosing the right holiday park, and the important things like insurance and fees.
How much do holiday homes in Norfolk cost?

Prices for holiday homes vary, with brand new homes being more expensive than ones a few years old. There are also entry-level homes for those on a budget and luxury holiday homes with no expense spared.
In order to see what models or homes are available, our handy Guide to Buying a Holiday Home is a useful resource, along with our Holiday Homes for All Budgets article.
We also have guides tailored to specific budgets, from affordable holiday homes, and mid-level holiday homes, right up to luxury holiday homes.
Where to buy a holiday home in Norfolk?

Coast or countryside? Full-facility holiday park or rural retreat? Once you've decided on the ideal location in Norfolk for your holiday home, and considered what type of holiday park you want to be sited on, take a look at the parks we've featured in this article who have a selection of holiday homes for sale.
How to rent out a holiday home in Norfolk

You can invest in a holiday home in Norfolk and then when you are not using it, you can get additional income by renting the home out to other people for their holidays. For more details on how to do this and what to consider, read our Complete Guide to Buying a Holiday Home.
Alternatively, if you're looking to hire a holiday home for a short break in Norfolk, take a look at our best campsites in Norfolk, some of which have holiday homes and lodges to hire in addition to camping and touring pitches.