Days out by bus from The Victoria: Wells-next-the-Sea

October 10, 2024 | The Victoria | 5 minute read

The Victoria‘s location between Holkham Park and Holkham Beach and National Nature Reserve is a beautiful one, with plenty to explore on foot. But did you know that The Vic is directly on the Coastliner bus route, perfect for hopping on and off and exploring the towns and villages along the coast? In this series of journal posts – which we will keep adding to – Flo will be giving ideas of day trips you can enjoy from The Vic by bus (or on foot or by bike, if you’re feeling active), so you can explore North Norfolk without the need for a car. In this post, we’re focusing on the nearby town of Wells-next-the-Sea, just over 1.5 miles from The Vic’s front door.

After starting your day with a leisurely breakfast at The Victoria, lovingly prepared by the chefs and with views over the marshes, take the bus to Wells-next-the-Sea from the bus stop opposite the hotel. Buses run every 14 minutes past the hour (at the time of writing – check with the reception team), and it will only take a couple of minutes to get to the vibrant seaside town.

Getting off the bus at The Buttlands gives you a chance to explore the high street – Staithe Street – and see what delights the shops have to offer as you walk down to the quayside. There are plenty of independent stores, art galleries and coffee shops to pop into, each full of lovely products, many of which are locally made. You’ll also find Wells Maltings, an arts, heritage, and community centre – it is definitely worth a visit to see what’s going on!

While in Wells, there are plenty of quirky experiences to try out! Why not go alpaca trekking, or perhaps cider sampling at Whinhill Cider? You could also go crabbing – or gillying as it’s known in North Norfolk. The Little Blue Hut located on the quayside hires out sustainable crabbing sets including a metal bucket, hessian hand-made drop nets and hessian baited bags meaning you can have all the fun without damaging the planet – there really is something for all ages!

Once at the quay, you might want to stop off for some fish and chips, an ice cream, or a pastry. There are a number of eateries along the quayside, so see which tickles your tastebuds on the day.

After soaking up the atmosphere in town, take a gentle stroll along the beach bank towards the sea. It is about a mile long and takes around 30-40 minutes to walk from one end to the other; you’ll most likely pause at points to admire the view of the boats bobbing in the harbour, if the tide is in.

Wander along the boardwalk and take a walk out to the sea. Will you be heading for a paddle or a swim?! Choose your favourite from the array of candy-coloured beach huts (some of which are available to hire from Pinewoods) and keep your eyes peeled for seals in the water.

You can also pop into the recently built RNLI lifeboat station, where you’ll find a viewing platform to observe two boats and a gift shop to support the cause. You’ll also find Wells Beach Café at the edge of the beach car park, where you can enjoy a range of delicious drinks, hot and cold food, and even some doggy ice-cream if you have a four-legged friend with you! You can get 10% off hot drinks if you take along your own reusable cup. Vegan and gluten-free options are available – do just ask for help if you’re unsure.

At this point, you could walk back to The Victoria through the pines, or – in peak season – you could catch the Wells beach bus back into the town to continue exploring the area. There is both a sustainable electric bus as well as a 1951 Leyland Tiger vintage open-top bus to take you where you need to go.

Buses to bring you back to The Victoria run at every 15 minutes past the hour and take less than 30 minutes to return you to the cosy confines of The Victoria.