The best places to stay on the North Norfolk coast

February 14, 2025 | Things to do | 14 minute read

We might be biased, but we truly believe that the area around Holkham Park and nearby Wells-next-the-Sea is the best area in North Norfolk (and there are some fabulous places to stay here). Why’s that? Well, as well as being home to two of Britain’s best beaches, there’s the Holkham National Nature Reserve, a popular and bustling harbour town full of shops, cafés and restaurants to enjoy, stunning scenery, the Palladian-style Holkham Hall and Walled Garden, and bus routes should you wish to explore further afield. Yes, we’re truly spoiled in this part of North Norfolk!

Holkham and Wells-next-the-Sea (or Wells as it’s known around here) are perfect bases for a Norfolk holiday, whether you want slow days on the beach, activity and adventure, history and heritage or a fun-filled family holiday. So we’ve put together this guide to the best places to stay in Wells and Holkham, right by the North Norfolk coast. We’ve got suggestions for luxury hotel stays, shepherd huts and safari tents, caravan holidays and campsites and self-catering holiday cottages with a difference. Whatever your preferred accommodation type, we’ve got something to offer you. 

The Victoria for a luxury hotel break

If you’re celebrating a special occasion, planning a romantic getaway by the Norfolk coast or love a luxury hotel break, The Victoria is the place for you. This 4-star hotel is located at the gates of Holkham Park and a short walk from one of the best beaches in the UK – Holkham Beach. Some of the hotel rooms even overlook the stunning Holkham National Nature Reserve.

The hotel’s 20 rooms are spread across two buildings – The Victoria’s main building, with the Two AA Rosette awarded restaurant, guest lounge and bar on the ground floor, and Ancient House, a stunning historical building just a moment’s walk away. Each room is individually designed and there are a variety of sizes between snug and cosy rooms to larger suites suitable for families. Ten bedrooms and the common areas are dog friendly.

Enjoy bed and breakfast or book a dinner, bed and breakfast package so that you can make the most of the fantastic restaurant, headed up by Head Chef Michael Chamberlain. With a focus on seasonal and local produce, the menu changes each evening to ensure plenty of choice during your stay.

Brand new self-catered shepherd huts

Enjoy both countryside and coast on your Norfolk holiday with a stay in one of the four brand new self-catered shepherd huts, looked after by the team at The Victoria.

At the time of writing, the shepherd huts are being handcrafted in Lincolnshire and will soon arrive in North Norfolk ready for stays from April 2025. The photo above is a sneak preview! 

Each hut enjoys views over a country meadow from a private decking area and is equipped with a fitted kitchen, beautiful shower room and lounge and bedroom spaces.

If you’re looking for a rural getaway in which you can enjoy your morning brew or a glass of wine in the evening while listening to birdsong, this is the stay for you. And you’ll be able to enjoy a relaxing stroll to the expansive sands of Holkham Beach.

Each shepherd hut sleeps two people and welcomes up to two dogs. There’s even a dog den under the bed, so they can enjoy a cosy night’s sleep too!

Caravan holiday homes by the beach

Pinewoods Holiday Park is located in the much-loved Norfolk seaside town of Wells-next-the-Sea. At the end of Beach Road, a stay at Pinewoods allows you to enjoy the bustle of the quay and high street and the golden sands of Wells Beach too.

Perfect for family holidays, nature-loving couples and groups of friends alike, the caravan holiday homes are well-equipped and modern, with options sleeping up to eight people. Dog friendly caravans are available too.

Pinewoods offers a large selection of caravan holiday homes to suit different preferences and budgets. The lakeside range enjoys decking with stunning views over Abraham’s Bosom Lake on the Holkham National Nature Reserve, and you can even stay in the region’s first ever all-electric caravan! The Beach and Park selections offer comfort and convenience in a contemporary space.

Lakeside evenings at Pinewoods

Luxury lodges at Pinewoods

If you love the sound of Pinewoods Holiday Park but want to push the boat out, take a look at the luxury lodges. These sleep up to seven people (and up to two dogs) across three bedrooms, making them ideal for a family holiday in Norfolk. 

These lodges are twice the size of a caravan holiday home, so there’s more space to enjoy! With a wrap-around decking, stylish decor, well-equipped kitchens and spacious bathrooms, it’s hard to believe you’re not in an actual house or cottage!

But these lodges benefit from a fabulous location too – a particularly scenic and quiet area of the holiday park. Nearby is a small path that will take you directly to the Norfolk Coast Path, pine woods and the wonderful Wells Beach.

Unique accommodation in the Holkham Lodges

If you’re looking for a place to stay that’s truly special, consider one of the Holkham Lodges, perfect for a romantic getaway or to celebrate a special occasion. 

The lodges offer truly unique holiday accommodation, as each is an old folly, gatehouse or arch now cleverly renovated to offer a place to stay. The Telegraph Luxury Online named Triumphal Arch as one of the most stylish holiday spots (and we’d have to agree!).

Whether you choose the Triumphal Arch, Palmers Folly or another of the lodges, you can expect beautiful interiors, comfortable furniture and a healthy dose of peace and quiet, since most are tucked away, nestled in a hidden corner of the estate. 

The Holkham Lodges are bookable via Original Cottages and welcome dogs.

Holiday cottages in Holkham Village

Lapwing Cottage

More holiday cottage than unique lodge, these recently renovated buildings across the estate still offer a well-designed and comfortable place to stay at Holkham.

Lapwing Cottage sleeps up to four people and is ideal for a family holiday in North Norfolk, while the two neighbouring Holm Oak Hideaway apartments are best suited to couples. These properties were all updated and reopened in 2024 as holiday cottages. Situated in Holkham Village, they are close to Holkham Park and Hall, the National Nature Reserve and Holkham Beach. They’re next to The Victoria, too, which is perfect if you don’t fancy cooking one evening!

The View

The View opened in 2022 and is a truly wonderful place to stay. A former agricultural building, it has been fully renovated and is now a beautifully stylish, spacious accommodation for groups of up to eight people across four en-suite bedrooms and has a large, open-plan living space. With breathtaking views across neighbouring fields and marshes, it’s a perfect place to relax.

Visit Original Cottages to see full details of The View and the holiday cottages in Holkham village. They all welcome dogs if you’d like to bring your pup along.

Touring park for campervans, caravans and motorhomes

If you have a caravan, motorhome or campervan and are looking for a touring site on the Norfolk coast, take a look at Pinewoods’ Spoonbill Drift.

This caravan site offers expansive views over the Holkham National Nature Reserve and towards Wells town, with that big Norfolk sky we all know and love. 

Pitch up and prepare to relax in the natural surroundings. Spoonbill Drift was designed to have minimal impact on the landscape environmentally and visually, and the fantastic gardening team work hard to enhance biodiversity in the area while keeping the pitches neat and tidy.

With two award-winning amenity blocks (complete with toilets, showers, washing up and laundry facilities), it’s a well-loved site ideal for nature lovers and those seeking a quiet and relaxing caravan site. 

Off-grid camping and glamping at Norfolk Brickyard

Holkham tenants Tim and Catherine Zoll run the Norfolk Brickyard, a campsite with a difference. The private pitches for tents and tourers are separated by trees and bushes, so you’ll feel at one with nature (especially when you spot hedgehogs, deer, raptors and hares on site!).

Some pitches are large enough for ten tents, so it’s great for group getaways. If you aren’t into camping but love being surrounded by nature, why not book a safari tent?! These have real beds, leather sofas, stoves and their own bathrooms too. One is even two-storey!

Brickyard offers a wild and off-grid experience while still benefitting from a fantastic location near the popular Norfolk spots of Burnham Market and Wells-next-the-Sea, the beaches and Holkham Park, all within walking or cycling distance. 

Blue Skies Campsite

Blue Skies campsite is on Stiffkey Road at the edge of Wells, just a short walk from the town.

With camping pitches and pitches for caravans, motorhomes and caravans, Blue Skies is a small, family-friendly site that welcomes dogs. There’s also a cute recycled beach hut you can hire to stay in!

While it’s a little further from the beach than Pinewoods, Blue Skies is only a 10 minute walk from the quayside and shops of Wells town, and mere seconds from the North Norfolk countryside! The Norfolk Coast Path is just a couple of fields away, and the Coasthopper bus service stops right by the campsite so you can hop on and explore further afield with ease.

Pop-up Campsite in Holkham Park

Between 14th August and 10th September 2025, the Caravan and Motorhome Club are hosting a pop-up campsite in Holkham Park!

If you’re looking for a late summer break, bring your tent, motorhome, caravan or camper to Holkham. Alternatively, there’s an option to hire a bell tent for a spot of glamping! Enjoy being at the centre of Holkham Park, with 30% off entry to Holkham Hall, Holkham Stories and Walled Garden during your stay. There’ll be plenty of events taking place too! Find out more here.

What makes Holkham and Wells-next-the-Sea the best places to stay in North Norfolk?

Wells-next-the-Sea is a fantastic place to base yourself for your North Norfolk holiday, as is the neighbouring village of Holkham.

Wells is a popular seaside town for coastal breaks thanks to its stunning beach lined with candy-coloured beach huts, its lovely high street full of independent shops and cafés, and the array of pubs and restaurants for those relaxing evenings on holiday.

The town and beach provide all you need, but Wells is also on the North Norfolk coast path and the Coasthopper bus route, allowing for easy excursions should you wish to explore further. All this and more makes Wells-next-the-Sea perhaps the best place to stay in Norfolk. 

Nearby Holkham is quieter and surrounded by stunning countryside, marshes and, as mentioned, the nature reserve. If you like the idea of being close to Wells-next-the-Sea but want somewhere more tranquil, the places to stay in Holkham we’ve referred to will be perfect for you. A gentle stroll, cycle, bus ride or car journey away from Wells, you’ll have the best of both worlds.

Plus, Holkham hosts numerous events throughout the year, so why not browse, see what’s on, and start planning your trip to the North Norfolk coast.

So, as you’ll see, there are a number of places to stay in Holkham and Wells-next-the-Sea, whether you’re looking for high-end luxury or something a little more down to earth. We hope we’ve inspired you to come and visit soon!