Last updated: September 2026.
Norfolk was R’s first proper trip away when he was just three months old, and it turned out to be a very easy place to start travelling as a family. We based ourselves near the Norfolk Broads and mixed quiet beach walks with seal spotting at Horsey Gap, Cromer, Norwich, a steamboat trip from Horning and plenty of excellent seafood.
It’s particularly good with a baby or toddler because you don’t need a packed itinerary. There are long beaches, pram-friendly walks, small seaside towns and plenty of self-catering accommodation where you can work around naps and early bedtimes.
Below I’ve pulled together the things we’d do again, where I’d base a family trip and our actual itinerary from that first stay.
In this guide:
Is it good for families Where to base yourselves Quick picks Where we stayed Things to do FAQs
Don’t have time to read the whole article? Here’s where we’d start looking.
Is Norfolk good for families?
Yes, especially if you want a slower UK break built around beaches, wildlife and easy days out rather than big-ticket attractions. With a baby, we liked being able to choose one outing each day and spend the rest of the time walking or back at the cottage. With toddlers and older children, you can add more of the Broads, seaside attractions and family days out around Cromer and Norwich.
Where to base yourselves in Norfolk
| Best for | Base | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Our kind of first trip with a baby | North-east Norfolk / Broads edge | Easy access to Happisburgh, Horsey Gap, Horning and countryside walks. |
| Classic seaside break | Cromer / north coast | Beach, pier, food and more going on within walking distance. |
| Norfolk Broads | Horning / Wroxham area | Best if boats and waterways are the main reason for the trip. |
| City + day trips | Norwich | Useful for a shorter break or if you prefer hotels and restaurants on the doorstep. |
Norfolk with kids: our quick picks
| What we wanted | Our pick | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Beach with a baby | Happisburgh | Quiet on our Easter visit, with the lighthouse right by the coast. |
| Wildlife | Horsey Gap | The seal walk was one of the highlights of our trip. Pupping season runs late October to February, when paths are roped off and part of the beach closes voluntarily to protect the seals. |
| Broads experience | Horning steamboat trip | An easy way to get out on the water without planning a full boating holiday. The Southern Comfort runs public trips from April to November. |
| Seaside town | Cromer | Good for a wander, cafes and a Cromer crab lunch. |
| City day | Norwich | Compact and easy for us with the pram. |
| Simple walk | Weavers’ Way | The old railway route was right by our cottage and worked well around R’s wake windows. |
Where we stayed: a cosy barn conversion in Norfolk
We stayed at Bengate Barn Cottage, close to the Norfolk Broads, and I’d choose this part of Norfolk again if the priority was a quiet first trip with a baby. Having a separate living space, kitchen, enclosed garden and somewhere for us to sit once R was asleep mattered more than being in the middle of a town. I’d actually been a few years earlier with some girl friends, and going back to somewhere I knew (when we were unsure about so much) was a good idea.
If you’d rather have restaurants and the beach on foot, I’d look around Cromer or the north Norfolk coast. For a Broads-first trip, Horning or Wroxham makes more sense.
Things to do in Norfolk with kids
Baby-friendly beaches and towns
Just around the corner from our accommodation is Happisburgh Beach, with its lovely long beach that was remarkably quiet for a sunny day over Easter. By the car park sits a stunning lighthouse, and the quintessential English ice cream van! Had it not been April, I might have even had a brief swim in the North Sea.
We also visited Cromer, a seaside town that offered some cute shops, plenty of cafes, and for me my first Cromer crab sandwich.
One of my favourite mornings was to the village of Horning, which is just inside the Norfolk Broads (see a full map of the broads). We went on an old steam boat which took us back to our trip to New Orleans, where the first river steam boat was located.
Child-friendly walks around Norfolk
With plenty of lovely walks to choose from, we spent several of R’s wake windows sampling some of Norfolk’s finest paths and some of our favourites included:
- Walking from Horsey Windpump National Trust (free car park for NT members, or you can pay if not) to Horsey Gap beach (follow this route), with many a seal waiting for us when we got there! Our dog wasn’t too sure about them but it was a pretty incredible sight to see. If you’re visiting during pupping season (late October to February), the beach itself has a voluntary closure and you’ll view the seals from roped-off paths on top of the dunes instead, which is exactly what we did. If you don’t fancy the walk there and just want to spend your time seal-spotting, we walked through this car park (featuring a lovely gelato van) on the way back.
- The 61 mile long Weavers’ Way was right on the doorstep of our barn, so we walked an hour or so in both directions over the course of our trip. The walk is along an old train line, with some cool things to look at that both adults and children are sure to appreciate – like the Honing station waiting room ruin, pictured below.
Pram-friendly culture in Norfolk’s capital city of Norwich
If you’re visiting for long enough, Norwich offers a lovely change of pace from coastal and countryside days. As a city it’s relatively compact, walkable, and full of character.
We found it easy to navigate with a pram, as the city centre is flat and pedestrian-friendly, with plenty of places to stop to feed or change your baby if needed. Some of the things we did included a stroll to Norwich Cathedral and the castle plus a walk along the river Wensum, and we also found there were ample independent cafes to choose from.
A treat for the parent: Norfolk seafood at Brancaster Staithe
Aside from the famous Cromer crab, Norfolk has some of the best seafood the UK has to offer. We visited The White Horse at Brancaster Staithe and sampled their seafood platter, and it was really quite special. The photo says everything!
Why Norfolk for your first family holiday
Looking back, our Norfolk escape was the perfect introduction to travelling as a family. It offered the right balance of ease, chilled pace but with some gentle adventure, reminding us that we can very much travel with a baby without too much disruption. We left feeling refreshed, reassured, and ready for more family travels ahead. I can’t recommend more going somewhere in your home country before you embark on an international trip, as you learn a lot – including what to pack and ditch (although my packing guide may help you). If you’re not sure what kind of holiday to choose, I’ve reviewed the different types we’ve been on – from city break to UK staycation – and shared the pros and cons of each.
If you’re planning your first trip with a baby, Norfolk is a wonderfully welcoming place to start. Or if you’re looking for your next UK family adventure, we also loved our baby-friendly trip to Devon and can’t recommend the Cotswolds more. I’ve also rounded up a complete UK beach destinations guide.
Norfolk with kids: frequently asked questions
Yes. Norfolk works well for a family holiday because it’s built around beaches, wildlife and easy days out rather than big-ticket attractions, and it suits everything from a first trip with a baby to a week with older children exploring the Broads and Norwich.
Our highlights are the seal colony at Horsey Gap, Happisburgh beach, a steamboat trip from Horning on the Broads, a day in Norwich, and the Weavers’ Way walking trail. A Cromer crab lunch and dinner at The White Horse in Brancaster Staithe are worth the detour too.
Yes, we took R here at three months old and it was an easy first trip. The beaches are long and quiet outside peak summer, the walks are pram-friendly, and self-catering accommodation like our barn near the Broads gave us the flexibility to work around naps and early bedtimes.
You can see seals at Horsey Gap year-round, but pupping season runs from late October to February, when the colony is at its biggest. During this period the beach has a voluntary closure and you’ll view the seals from roped-off paths on top of the dunes instead.
A long weekend is enough to cover a beach, a walk and a day in Norwich, but we’d suggest four to five days if you want to add the Broads and a slower pace with a baby or toddler.
As always, let us know if you found this useful or what else we’re missing.
Allie, Jack & R x
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