Last updated: January 2026.
When R was just three months old, we took our first getaway as a family of four (I’m counting the fur-baby!) to Norfolk, on the east coast of the UK. We’d been to London with my parents, and stayed in Devon with Jack’s mum – so for our first solo trip we wanted somewhere peaceful, with beautiful scenery, and of course family-friendly, and Norfolk absolutely delivered as our first family holiday.
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With quiet beach strolls (just us and hundreds of seals!) to some of the best seafood, here’s how our trip unfolded…
Where we stayed: a cosy barn conversion in Norfolk
Tucked away in the rural countryside but close to the Norfolk Broads National Park, Bengate Barn Cottage was our base for the trip. 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. With rustic charm, a spacious living area, an enclosed garden for our dog, and an all-important hot tub right outside the patio for when Rory was in bed, it made a lovely retreat.
If a hotel is more your thing, I’d check out anywhere along the coast or in the Norfolk Broads.
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 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.
As always, let us know if you found this useful or what else we’re missing.
Allie, Jack & R x
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