6 historic sites in Norfolk you must visit
Norfolk is a unique county filled with incredibly important history – that's why the county has always taken pride in treasuring its heritage with a wide range of museums and visitor centres.
From captivating castles and cathedrals to splendid stately homes, there's a fascinating array of historic intrigue to discover here. That’s what makes Norfolk such a wonderful county to visit and a Haven favourite; kids and adults alike are sure to learn something new as they discover the secrets of this ancient county through its many wonderful sites and engrossing museums. We’ve compiled this list of the best historic sites in Norfolk to help you plan your journey of discover through East Anglia.
1. Sandringham Estate, Sandringham
Sandringham House is perhaps one the most famous country houses in the UK. It is one of the royal residences of Elizabeth II and was the place in which her father and grandfather, George VI and V died. The building is listed as Grade II and stands in a 20,000-acre estate in the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This estate is home to magnificent, landscaped gardens, parkland, and woodlands.
The 600-acre Royal Park has two marked trails winding through woodlands and parkland with further unmarked paths for you to explore by foot, by bike or with your dog. Sandringham House and Gardens are open Saturday – Thursday to visit via pre-booked tickets while the excellent restaurant is open for pre-booked afternoon teas in two sittings - 12-2pm or 2-5pm.
2. Felbrigg Hall, Felbrigg
Found near the village of the same name, Felbrigg Hall is a Grade I National Trust property. The building is unaltered since it was built in the 17th-century and is noted for its Jacobean architecture and beautiful Georgian interior. Outside, in the estate’s grounds lies the famous walled garden, an orangery, and several orchards. Most of the grounds are part of Felbrigg Woods, a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
There is also the excellent Squire's Pantry tearoom for refreshments as well as a shop and second-hand bookshop. Felbrigg Hall is open from Saturday to Wednesday between 12pm - 4pm with last entry 3:30pm so make sure to get there early to give yourself plenty of time to look around one of the best historic sites in Norfolk!
3. Norwich Cathedral, Norwich
Norwich Cathedral took over 150 years to build – construction work began on this impressive Norfolk cathedral in 1096, yet it was not complete until 1145. This is testament to what a magnificent, detailed structure it is. The cathedral now dominates the city's skyline and is one of the Norwich 12 heritage sites. The awe-inspiring building has magnificent architecture, vibrant stained-glass windows, splendid art and a fascinating history. Today is welcomes the public of all faiths and none.
The cathedral is perhaps best explored with a free guided tour, available on the hour. You can learn about the destruction of the statues inside the cathedral, the secrets of the cathedral gardens, and the mystery of the standing skeleton. There is a £5 discretionary charge for entry, but you will find this is worth every penny!
4. Norwich Castle
Address: Castle St, Norwich NR1 3JU
Built after the Norman Conquest 900 years ago, the medieval castle of Norwich now houses a museum and art gallery with decorative art collections, costumes, jewellery, glass, ceramic and silver pots amongst other treasure. On your visit you can also enter the fine art gallery and museum with a combined ticket that allows visitors to browse displays of watercolour paintings, Dutch landscapes and modern British paintings as well as a well-stocked natural history exhibition.
The palace is rich with history and culture which can be discovered on one of the tours available at the dungeons and battlements. These unique tours, delivered by enthusiastic members of staff, are what make the castle one of the best things to do in Norwich. This unmissable historic site is full of interesting artefacts and provides a history of the city and the wider history of the country.
5. Strangers' Hall, Norwich
Strangers' Hall is a marvellous Tudor merchant's house that has been used as a museum of domestic history since the 1930s, taking its place in Norfolk history. The museum is a Grade I listed building, the oldest parts of which date back to the 14th-century.
The building is named after Flemish weavers who migrated to Norwich to escape religious persecution. These weavers were the same ones who brought canaries to the UK, leading to the nickname for the widely supported football club Norwich City. Navigate your way through the interlinked rooms and maze of passages to discover the secret history of the building, and in warmer weather, take a wander around the lavender-filled garden. Strangers’ Hall is one of the oldest and most fascinating sites in Norwich, so history buffs would regret leaving this one off their itinerary when visiting the city. The museum is open on Sundays from 13:00 – 16:30 and you can get a discount if you book online before you go.
6. Dad’s Army Museum
For nine years from 1968 Thetford, Norfolk became Walmington-on-Sea, the fictional setting of Dad's Army. Originally a guided location tour was launched in 2004, but this proved so popular that a museum was established in 2007. Run entirely by a platoon of volunteers much like the characters of the television programme itself, the museum is located in the Old Fire Station to the rear of the Guildhall - the building that featured in several episodes as Walmington on Sea Town Hall – and now houses a large amount of Dad’s Army memorabilia. As of 2010, the museum has developed and expanded to also include the 1940s inspired Marigold Tea Rooms.
The museum has quite short opening hours - Saturdays from 10:00 to 15:00 – so make sure to combine your visit to this, one of the most interesting museums in Norfolk, with some other of count’s other coastal delights.
Start planning your Great British break
Related Posts
Visit norfolk’s nature reserves and wildlife parks
Best walks in Norwich
Places to visit in Norfolk
Important information
Brand new holiday homes from £34,995
Holiday home price is for a new 3-bedroom ABI New Horizon holiday home and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
Price excludes 2024 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 19 July 2024, price is available at all parks, excluding Church Farm, Cala Gran, Kiln Park, Littlesea, Lydstep Beach, Penally Court, Perran Sands, Rockley Park, Seashore, Seaview and Thornwick Bay.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
New holiday homes from £33,995
Holiday home price is for a new 3-bedroom Willerby Ellerton Extra holiday and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
From 12 July 2024 the holiday home price is reduced from £37,995 to £33,995 and will remain at this price until all available stock is sold.
The holiday home price excludes 2024 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 12 July 2024 this price is available at Berwick, Burnham-on-Sea, Devon Cliffs, Doniford Bay, Hafan y Mor, Kent Coast, Lakeland, Marton Mere, Presthaven, Primrose Valley, Reighton Sands, Seton Sands and Weymouth Bay.
Haven reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Pre-owned holiday homes from £14,995 Holiday home price is based on a pre-owned holiday home and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
Price excludes 2024 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 12 July 2024, price is available at Blue Dolphin, Combe Haven, Caister, Cleethorpes Beach, Craig Tara, Golden Sands, Greenacres, Haggerston Castle, Skegness, The Orchards, Quay West and Wild Duck only until the stock has been sold. Haven reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
New holiday homes from £29,995 – reduced from £33,995
Holiday home price is for a new 3-bedroom Willerby Ellerton Extra holiday and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
From 12 July 2024 the holiday home price is reduced from £37,995 to £29,995 until 31 August 2024 at which point it will revert to £33,995. At Far Grange the holiday home price point is reduced from £33,995 and will revert to this price on 31 August 2024.
The holiday home price excludes 2024 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 12 July 2024 this price is available at – Blue Dolphin, Caister-on-Sea, Cleethorpes Beach, Combe Haven, Craig Tara, Far Grange, Greenacres, Haggerston Castle, The Orchards, Quay West, and Wild Duck
Haven reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Pre-owned holiday homes from £19,995
Holiday home price is based on a Bronze Grade pre-owned holiday home 6 years or older and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
Price excludes 2024 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 12 July 2024, price is available at all parks, excluding Cala Gran, Church Farm, Cardigan View, Cleethorpes Beach, Craig Tara, Far Grange, Golden Sands, Haggerston Castle, Kiln Park, Littlesea, Lydstep Beach, Orchards, Penally Court, Perran Sands, Rockley Park, Riviere Sands, Seashore, Seaview, Skegness and Thornwick Bay.
Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times. Park cannot be used as a permanent residence.
Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Free 2024 site fees when you buy a Haven holiday home
Offer is applicable to new customer purchases made through Haven from 19 April 2024, completing by 31 December 2024.
Offer excludes part-exchanges or private sales. Available on new & pre-owned holiday homes at the following selected parks only: Kent Coast, Burnham-on-Sea, Cleethorpes Beach, Craig Tara, Far Grange, Golden Sands, Haggerston Castle, Hopton, Orchards, Skegness and Wild Duck.
A credit equivalent to the value of your site fees due during the 2024 season will be applied to your account balance on completion of your purchase for use against your running costs e.g. utilities, after-sale add-ons e.g storage boxes or site fees. It cannot be applied to your purchase or refunded in cash.
Subject to availability and status. Deposit required. Access to your holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Offer cannot be combined with any other offer, discount, or promotion. Offer may be withdrawn or changed at any time without notice. Full site fees will be payable for subsequent years.
Images are shown for representational purposes.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Let2offset - make no site fee payments until 2031
Let2offset is a contractual lettings product that offers eligible owners a guaranteed letting income at a preferential rate (calculated each year) in exchange for a stipulated number of letting breaks. It also allows eligible owners to pay their site fees and receive their letting income in 12 equal monthly instalments; the monthly site fee amount charged by Haven will be after deduction of the letting income.
‘Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031’ is available at 33 Haven parks excluding Burnham, Cardigan View, Far Grange, Garreg Wen, Lydstep Beach, Riviere Sands and Seaview. The letting income received will vary by make, model and location. The monthly site fee payment does not include running costs e.g. utilities, rates & insurance.
“Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031” is applicable to new and existing customer purchases of new Atlas Sahara 3 Bed or equivalent or superior grade holiday home purchases made through Haven where customers have also signed up to Haven’s Let2offset contract. It is not applicable to private sales and cannot be used in conjunction with our free Site Fee promotion. It is available across 40% of eligible Parks and applies when letting a new Atlas Sahara 3 Bed holiday home (or equivalent or superior grade for 15 weeks.
An example of how “Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031” operates under Let2offset is the purchase of an Atlas Sahara 3 Bed holiday home at Primrose Valley with a monthly site fee of £585.00 (includes purchasing discount of £45) and monthly letting income of £803.67. The monthly difference equates to £218.67, which will be credited to the owner's account. Both letting income and site fees are subject to yearly pricing reviews and the monthly site fee costs and letting income shown in the example are based on 2024 figures.
Modelled assumptions on expected annual site fee and letting income charges over the 7-year lettable life of the Atlas Sahara 3 Bed indicate that under Let2offset it is anticipated that these customers will continue to receive a monthly credit during this period, however, this is not guaranteed. The modelled assumptions are based on the historical performance of Haven over the past 5 years of trading.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.