9 Best Things To Do In Great Yarmouth, England

best things to do in great yarmouth uk
Pala
Pala 
Updated
| 5 min read

Yarmouth, which is also known as Great Yarmouth, is a beautiful seaside town in Norfolk, United Kingdom. The town is situated about twenty miles from Norfolk near the River Yare. Great Yarmouth has been popular as a coastal seaside town since way back in 1760. The town has been an important fishing port for several hundred years and relied primarily on herring. However, the fishing industry of this town has declined since the later half of the twentieth century. Today, there are no traces of it. But, the town offers plenty of sightseeing opportunities and exciting activities for both its visitors and residents alike. Here are some of the best things to do when you are in a Great Yarmouth, UK.

1. Time and Tide Museum

The old curing works at Great Yarmouth - geograph.org.uk - 1067984
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ashley Dace used under CC BY-SA 2.0

The story and history of Great Yarmouth are narrated in the Time and Tide Museum. You can learn about its once famous herring industry as well as feel the aroma of the remains of the smokehouse. The museum was initially constructed in 1850 and was expanded in 1880. Work at the museum ended in 1988. It is located within the premises of the Tower Fish Curing Works in Greater Yarmouth. The purchase of Tower Fish Curing Works was made in 1998 to convert the place into a museum. Purcell Miller Tritton, the Norwich based architects, designed the museum. About 4.7 million GBP (6,118,459.95 USD) were spent to redevelop this site. It took two years for the project be completed. The museum opened its doors for the first time in 2004.

Time and Tide Museum

Address: Blackfriars’ Rd, Great Yarmouth NR30 3BX, UK

Website: Time and Tide Museum

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2. Gorleston Beach

Gorleston, benches overlooking the beach - geograph.org.uk - 1605240
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Chris Downer used under CC BY-SA 2.0

This pristine beach is located in the southern part of Great Yarmouth and is known for its stunning sandy beach, a beautiful riverside, and a huge bay of its own. The beach stretches up to a charming promenade and cliff gardens. If you are into adventure sports, this is the perfect site to visit as you can indulge in activities like body-boarding, surfing, or windsurfing near Gorleston Beach. There is a big paddling pool, tennis courts, bowling greens, beautiful lawns, green cliffs, and a yacht pond, which you can enjoy while visiting the beach. There are shops and beachside cafes right behind the promenade where you can shop for a variety of items including spades, multi-colored buckets, beach wear, stylish sun shades, and much more.

Gorleston Beach

Address: Great Yarmouth, UK

Website: Gorleston Beach

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3. Joyland

Joyland at Great Yarmouth. Who's had a ride on those snails? BN Group @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/britnostalgia

Posted by British Nostalgia ㅿ on Tuesday, 7 July 2015

Joyland is a historic amusement park where entry is absolutely free of cost in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Joyland, a theme park, was inaugurated way back in 1949 and is situated near East Anglian Coast. This park is popular across the country as well as locally for its famous snails and Tyrolean Tub rides. The Tyrolean Tub ride is famous as it is the sole Virginia Reel roller coaster that exists in the world today. This amusement park is well-known for its unique heritage rides that have remained unaltered for several generations enabling parents to share their favorite rides here with their kids.

Joyland

Address: Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth NR30 2EH, UK

Website: Joyland

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4. Merrivale Model Village


This is one of the best-loved tourist attractions of Great Yarmouth. Merrivale Model Village is a superb model village nestled within floral landscaped gardens near the seafront, spanning over an acre (0.4 hectares) or so. Your kids will simply love the site so take some time and visit this stunning model village as well as its captivating inhabitants. Explore the humpback bridges, the wonderful paths, the amateur cricketers playing a match in the village, and see the brave firemen as they conduct a rescue operation from a smoking structure. In short, relive the magic of a village lifestyle in miniature form.

Merrivale Model Village

Address: Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth NR30 3JG, UK

Website: Merrivale Model Village

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5. Elizabethan House Museum


If you want to have a first-hand experience of the lives of people who resided in this majestic Quayside house during the time span of the Tudors to the Victorian era, then a visit to the Elizabethan House Museum at Great Yarmouth is a must. Marvel in how people lived in the Victorian era in detail and know how it feels to be in the scullery and the kitchen.

Elizabethan House Museum

Address: 4 S Quay, Great Yarmouth NR30 2QH, UK

Website: Elizabethan House Museum

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6. Hemsby Beach

"Dawn" - beautiful detached bungalow 2 mins walk from the dunes at Hemsby. Fully enclosed garden, lots of walks from the...

Posted by Dawn - super dog-friendly holiday beach bungalow on Sunday, 13 August 2017

Hemsby Beach is one of the prime attractions for visitors in the locality with miles of its gorgeous sandy coastline. There are big sand dunes that create a natural obstacle between the village that is located on this beach and the beach itself. Hemsby is divided into 2 parts, namely Hemsby Beach and the Hemsby Village. The village is primarily a residential area situated approximately a mile (1.6 km) inland. If you are famished after your long day at the beach, you can drop into the Chinese restaurant in the village and enjoy some fine dining.

Hemsby Beach

Address: Beach Rd, Hemsby, Great Yarmouth NR29 4HT, UK

Website: Hemsby Beach

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7. Caister Lifeboat Station


The good news is that now this site is open to the public. The Caister Lifeboat Experience is something you just cannot afford to skip while you are in Great Yarmouth, UK. You can get into real waterproof lifeboat gear and enjoy the novelty of being on a real lifeboat. It will be an experience worth remembering for the rest of your life. You can also be a part of several activities and games, and learn some interesting stories about the Caister Lifeboat through the audio systems that have been installed near the shed and added to the display boards.

Caister Lifeboat Station

Address: Lifeboat Station, Skippers Walk, Caister-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth NR30 5DJ, UK

Website: Caister Lifeboat Station

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8. Norfolk Nelson Museum


The Nelson Museum at Norfolk is special since it is the sole museum dedicated to narrating the tale of Lord Horatio Nelson, a national hero of the United Kingdom and of the era when he lived. You can also discover how he spent his childhood in Norfolk, the famous battles fought by him, his heroic and tragic demise, and his entire career. The museum also highlights Nelson’s complicated love life, his mesmerizing and charming personality, and last but not the least, the scandal that took place. The Maritime Courtyard has a picnic area where you can spend some relaxed time after your long tour to admire the pretty Georgian herb garden.

Norfolk Nelson Museum

Address: 26 S Quay, Great Yarmouth NR30 2RG, UK

Website: Norfolk Nelson Museum

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9. Pleasure Beach Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach 061
Source: Photo by user Jeremy Thompson used under CC BY 2.0

This tourist spot in Great Yarmouth is a splendid mixture of traditional attractions and high-octane rides. It is situated on the top of the Golden Mile and dominates the skyline facing the sea thanks to its well-known Skydrop. Pleasure Beach is spread over a sprawling area of 9 acres (3.6 hectares) and offers exciting and nail biting rides, big time family fun, and thrilling water attractions that are bound to make you catch your breath. Your kids will love the fun rides that will keep them happy and engaged for several hours. The star attraction of the Pleasure Beach is undoubtedly it’s roller coaster ride that has just celebrated its 85th year. It has been a crowd pleaser since 1932 and remains popular even today.

Pleasure Beach Great Yarmouth

Address: S Beach Parade, Great Yarmouth NR30 3EH, UK

Website: Pleasure Beach Great Yarmouth

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Have a great holiday in Great Yarmouth, UK

Great Yarmouth, UK offers fun, excitement, sandy beaches to laze around, museums to explore the past, and much more. If you are planning a visit to the town soon, this to do list will definitely come in handy for you and make your holiday a big success.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Pala Sen is an avid follower of travel and health updates, current affairs and entertainment news from all across the world and writing is a passion for her. She had been previously associated...Read more

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