The Burnhams

The Burnham villages including popular Georgian Burnham Market, are situated around the River Burn on the north Norfolk coast. The Burnhams are pretty, unspoilt coastal villages, steeped in history including Nelson's birthplace at Burnham Thorpe. The villages are ideal for short breaks and holidays with access to a stunning coastline, landscape and beaches and are great for enjoying local produce and freshly caught seafood.

Burnham Market, the major of the Burnhams, is a unique traditional Georgian village. It lies just two miles from Brancaster Beach and six miles from Wells-next-the-Sea, and is close to several renowned nature reserves. Around the village green, you will find boutique and antique shops, eateries and galleries interspersed with charming cottages. Like the other Burnhams, Burnham Market retains a unique and special village feel, whilst also being a favourite haunt of celebrities.

Between Burnham Overy Staithe, popular for sailing, and the sea, you will find tidal creeks where the river spreads through the salt marshes and sand dunes at Burnham Harbour all the way to the sea. You can walk the one mile to the beach through the marshes, over the dunes and you'll be rewarded with secluded sands. From here you can walk all the way to Wells. 

From the harbour in the summer, you can catch a ferry to Scolt Head Island, National Nature Reserve, an offshore barrier island. The secluded and often quiet expanses of sandy beaches, dunes and rare wildlife make it a special place to visit. Watch out for areas of limited and restricted access in place to protect wildlife and always check tide times ahead of your visit.

Burnham Deepdale is home to a roundtower church and market with pop up shops, cafe and award-winning camping and glamping site. Its dark skies are ideal for star gazing and you can walk all the way to Holkham along the Norfolk Coast Path.

Burnham Overy Town and Burnham Norton are charming quiet villages, overlooking tidal Norton Marshes and Scolt Head Island. 

Burnham Thorpe is around half a mile inland from Burnham Market and is the birthplace of Horatio Nelson. In the village green, there is an impressive wood carving statue of Nelson made from maple.

Next to the village pub, The Lord Nelson, there is a free to enter Royal Navy museum called the Nelson Map Room. Here you can find information on the walls, a traditional Norfolk map on the floor with ships to find and informative voiceovers.

There are many circular routes to walk in the village and can see the site of Nelson's birthplace marked by a plaque. Lord Nelson’s father was Rector of All Saints Church and when the church was restored in 1890, the Admiralty donated wood from the HMS Victory to the church, from which the lectern, altar and rood screen were made. A bust of Nelson and the tombs of his parents are in the chancel. Find out more here about Nelson in north Norfolk.

With plenty of places to stay and eat, Burnham Market and all the Burnhams are ideal bases for exploring the villages and towns as well as the coast and countryside, while enjoying a traditional village stay.