Things to do in Summer in North Norfolk

There's so much fun to be had in north Norfolk this summer! There's music events, outdoor theatre, carnivals and festivals. There are also lots of family-friendly attractions, walking and cycling routes, beaches and history and heritage waiting to be discovered. We've also got suggestions for totally free activities that don't cost a penny. 

Cromer Pier Show

Cromer Pier Show (running 28 June to 20 September 2025). The famous Pavilion Theatre at the end of Cromer Pier is one of only five UK end of pier theatres and home to the award winning Cromer Pier Show - the only full season end of pier show in the world! Take the 151 metre walk along the pier to the theatre where you can look forward to a magical experience with a fusion of traditional and contemporary variety. Expect glitz and glamour, the finest production values, rib-tickling comedy, show-stopping vocals, mind-blowing specialty acts and an eclectic blend of dance!

Cromer Lifeboat Day

Another firm favourite in Cromer is the Cromer Lifeboat Day on 3 August 2025 (9am to 3pm) at the RNLI Cromer Lifeboat Station on the Promenade. This free event will feature open lifeboat stations, various stalls and opportunities to learn more about the RNLI's work, including water safety and rescue. Find out more.

Festivals, markets and carnivals

Summer is the time for north Norfolk festivals and carnivals (please check in advance the events are going head). There are events with music, food and children’s entertainment, all celebrating the area’s heritage. Wells Carnival (1 to 10 August 2025 with carnival day on 9 August) is hosting a fantastic range of events and activities for all the family. Take part in traditional seaside activities including a sand-castle competition, town crier competition, gillying (crabbing) on the Wells-next-sea quay and the crowning of the Carnival Royals. In addition you will find stalls selling everything from local delicacies to exotic street food. There will also be live music on The Buttlands. Sheringham Carnival is running from 3 to 7 August 2025 (with the main carinval parade on 6 August) with a packed programme of events includes live entertainment. Cromer Carnival is taking place 16 to 22 August 2025 (with carnival day on 20 August) with lots on including a car boot sale (on 17 August), craft stalls and events. 

The Worstead Festival returns on 26 and 27 July 2025 with a packed lineup of music, thrilling entertainment, animal displays, crafts and and incredible food and drink workshops. Nip along to Cromer on 31 August 2025 (10am - midday) for the World Pier Crabbing Championships! There's a prize for the greatest number of crabs caught and for the largest crab (crabs are returned to the sea). On the same day, there is the art trail auction of decorated treasure chests, raising money for charity.  For more information and updates please visit here.

Fantastic Foodie Events

To get a taste of north Norfolk, head to Holkham for Feast in the Park (19 July to 25 August 2025). Grab your picnic blankets and chairs, and relax and unwind in beautiful surroundings with mouthwatering street food and drinks from Norfolk’s finest foodies. There will be be plenty of local vendors serving up delicious nosh as well as live music. And at the end of the summer, there is the North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival in the Walled Garden at Holkham, on 30 and 31 August 2025, featuring artisan producers selling everything delightful and delicious.

Markets

The Stalham Area Business Forum is gearing up for a busy day on 17 August 2025 with a vintage market to be held in Stalham (NR12 9AS) between 10am and 4pm, and it always proves to be a great day. Over 40 intriguing stalls, inside and out, selling all things vintage and there will be a display of vintage vehicles (including cars and military machinery). Entry is free. For more information, call 07760 115153.

Holt Sunday Market will be on 3 August 2025 (10am to 3pm). The Holt Sunday Market (taking place the first Sunday of each month from April to December) is an award winning, destination street market, showcasing the best local independent craftspeople, designers, makers, food producers and street food traders. Find out more here. 

Festivals, concerts, exhibitions and outdoor theatre

There's a whole host of music festivals taking place over the summer. Rockstock: 19 July 2025, Bannaroo Festival: 2 and 3 August 2025, Reepham Festival: 9 and 10 August 2025, North Norfolk Music Festival: 5 - 16 August 2025.

The Potty Festival in Sheringham is taking place on 5 and 6 July and is a celebration of morris dancing and folk music. Find out more.

Another fun day out is the Blakeney Regatta Greasy Pole competition on 30 July 2025. The greasy pole dates back over a hundred years to 1873 when the prize for successfully sliding along the greasy pole was winning was a hog! The day kicks off at 9am with tug of war as the tide comes in, then swimming races, followed by the greasy pole. The regatta continues on Saturday 2nd August at 1.45pm with the gilly catching (crab) competition and then finally the sandcastle competition when the tide has gone out! 

At Holkham, the Gone Wild Festival, hosted by Bear Grylls returns from 7 to 10 August.  This unique four day festival is created for families to reconnect with the great outdoors and each other, offering activities that range from heart-pumping thrills such as abseiling and quad biking to imaginative workshops, the epic colour run, and so much more. Each evening, the adventure continues with live music from fantastic headliners. Find out more here. 

A favourite in the north Norfolk calendar is Classic Ibiza at Blickling Hall on 2 August 2025. It is an open-air celebration of White Isle-inspired house music, reinvented by the 32-piece Urban Soul Orchestra, headline DJs and live vocalists. Expect a feel-good atmosphere, with people of all ages, enjoying iconic music in a stunning location. Find out more here.

For outdoor theatre, there is the following to look forward to. At Holkham there are is: The Big Bad Wolf on 12 August 2025. At Deepdale, their outdoor theatre programme includes: Robin Hood on 7 August 2025 and Hamlet on 23 August 2025.

At Houghton Hall, there is a major exhibition by the acclaimed British sculptor, Stephen Cox: Myth will be presented across the park, gardens and interiors of Houghton Hall running until 28 September 2025. The exhibition will represent the largest and most comprehensive group of work the artist has ever shown. Around 20 sculptures in marble and stone will be placed in the landscape, while smaller works will be installed in the State Rooms on the first floor of the house, where William Kent’s exuberant decorative scheme has hardly changed since it was created in the early 18th century. Find out more here.

Amazing attractions

North Norfolk has some of the best visitor attractions in the country! For family fun, treehouses, jungle bridges, zip wires and outdoor adventure, head to award-winning BeWILDerwood in the Broads. Pensthorpe Natural Park in Fakenham, a multiple award-winning attraction lets you experience 700 acres of wildlife, gardens, adventure and indoor play. At Amazona Zoo, you can discover South American tropical animals in Cromer and at Watatunga you can enjoy a wildlife safari! 

Walking and cycling for everyone

There are plenty of walking and cycling routes for all abilities in north Norfolk and summer is spectacular for views with wild flowers, leafy trees and the famous Norfolk poppies. There are short and circular routes or if you’re looking for a quieter pace and for those looking for more of a challenge there a long distance trails. Around north Norfolk, there are plenty of places to hire bikes as well as electric bikes if you fancy a bit of extra pedal power.

Boating

The unique Broads National Park is perfect for exploring by boat. The 125 miles of lock-free magical waterways offer a tranquil setting with spectacular scenery and wildlife. When you’re ready to eat or stretch your land legs, moor up and take a walk or stop off for some local produce at the many pubs, restaurants and cafes.

Or if you'd like to spread your water wings, why not take a skippered boat trip along the north Norfolk coast and see this amazing stretch of coastline from a different view. Find out more here.

Historical homes and halls

North Norfolk's history is unique and intriguing. The wealth of landowners has left a legacy of stately homes and halls. Head to Holkham Hall to see one of the finest Palladian houses along with Houghton Hall & Gardens, the home of Britain’s first Prime Minister. The National Trust’s Blickling Hall, Anne Boleyn's birthplace and Felbrigg Hall are fascinating to explore and of course there's the Royal family's Sandringham which is a must see.

Take a step back in time for past adventures

North Norfolk has many museums and historic sites, open to visitors, explaining the area’s fascinating and unique heritage. From shell displays to lifeboats, from military tanks to fossils, there's so much to explore. There are many historical sites, castles, priories and abbeys including Walsingham Abbey, Binham Abbey and Creake Abbey.

Explore the Deep History Coast

Also north Norfolk has its own version of the Jurassic Coast, the Deep History Coast. Discoveries along the coast line have revealed, the largest woolly mammoth skeleton, Neolithic flint axes and the oldest-known human footprints outside the Rift Valley in Africa! Beachcombing on West Runton beach, where the remains of a 600,000 year old mammoth were discovered, is great for finding fossils and rummaging in rock pools. Follow the Discovery Trail and use the free app to play games and bring the past back to life!

Wonderful wildlife

Birdwatching in the summer months, may mean you get a glimpse of Common Terns, Sandwich and Arctic Terns and also Little Terns. Many begin to arrive from West Africa in April and breed into the season. To lay their eggs, they make a small scrape in the shingle. Also in the summer, common seals have their young between June and September and you can take a boat trip from Morston Quay to Blakeney Point to see the seals in their own habitat.

Heritage railways 

Hop aboard the North Norfolk Railway or the Poppy Line as it’s also known, one of the UK's most scenic heritage railways, and take in amazing views of the north Norfolk coast and countryside. Easily accessible from the main rail network by taking Bittern Line to Sheringham to pick up the heritage railway, the service operates both steam and diesel, and runs between Sheringham and the Georgian market town of Holt. Or take a ride on the Wells & Walsingham Railway, the longest 10 1/4" narrow gauge steam railway in the world in an open or covered carriage while taking in the glorious scenery.

Watersports

North Norfolk is the perfect place for watersports. Try canoeing and paddleboarding on the tranquil Broads, have a go at surfing on the gentle waves, or enjoy kite surfing on the shores of Hunstanton, Heacham and Brancaster. There's plenty of places to hire equipment and have lessons or for the more experienced, take advantage of the relatively quiet waters and mild climate. 

A Taste of North Norfolk

With its long coastline and rich agricultural heritage, north Norfolk is awash with local food producers, independent delis and restaurants serving dishes created from locally sourced produce. Head to markets to pick up some local food and drink as well as freshly caught seafood. There are many fantastic pubs and eateries to enjoy freshly prepared food using north Norfolk ingredients as well as locally brewed beer and gin. Summer is the time to try the famous Cromer crab which gets its sweet taste from the Cromer chalk beds as well as samphire which grows wild and is only in season a short time over the summer. For a real taste of the sea side, pick up some fish and chips or grab and ice cream to cool down.

Free things to do this summer

There's plenty of free family fun to be enjoyed in north Norfolk during the summer holidays, without spending a penny. A popular free, traditional seaside actvity is crabbing, or gillie-crabbing. There's lots of ways to do it but you won't go wrong with our step by step guide, which includes the best bait to use as well as how to look after your crabs for the short while before you release them back into the water. Also take a look at our our top five free things to do in summer, including free museums and attractions as well as activities such as fossil hunting.

Another free activity is to enjoy a day at the beach, and there's 45 miles of unspoilt coastline to explore! The north Norfolk coast has award-winning and Blue Flag stunning beaches, many within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, great for building sandcastles, water sports, swimming and walking. Take your pick from the dramatic white sands at Wells-next-the-Sea and Holkham, traditional seaside resorts at Sheringham, Cromer, Mundesley and the fossil-reach sands at West Runton. Snorkel along the Cromer chalk reef; in the summer the water is clear offering great underwater sights.