Book a holiday cottage in Wells-next-the-Sea and enjoy a traditional British holiday by the seaside. One of the many attractions on the North Norfolk Coast, Wells has been popular holiday destination for many decades, and it’s easy to see why. With one of the best beaches in the country, a picturesque harbour and popular quay, award-winning fish & chips, bustling town centre full of independent shops and gastro-pubs, it would be hard to keep it a secret!
Bustling Staithe Street is the main thoroughfare where you’ll find Arthur Howell’s butcher shop, coffee shops, art galleries, gift shops and more. Wells Maltings, also on Staithe Street, hosts cultural events including theatre, cinema, live music and art exhibitions. The Buttlands, a pretty, leafy Georgian square, is home to The Globe Inn and The Crown Hotel, two of the town’s best eateries, and the Wells Carnival is an annual event not to be missed!
The Quay and Harbour is the beating heart of Wells, with a working fishing fleet, seaside shops and amusements, crab fishing in the harbour and two fantastic chippies for hungry holidaymakers. Crabbing on the quay is a favourite pursuit for families visiting Wells, and an activity Wells is famous for. You can’t miss The Lifeboat Horse, a 3-metre high sculpture that stands on the harbour sand opposite the Quay during spring & summer.
The much-loved Wells Harbour Railway that ferried excited children to and from the beach may be gone, but Wells is home to another miniature narrow-gauge railway, the Wells and Walsingham Light Railway, which runs from just outside the town to the village of Little Walsingham, famous for its Abbey and shrines. The Wells Beach Bus service now runs between the town and beach. A fully electric bus is joined by a vintage open-top bus in summer.
The famous Beach is located a mile from the Quay, and can be reached using the Wells Beach Bus, or by walking along Beach Bank Walk which overlooks the harbour and salt marshes. The beach itself is breathtaking – miles of soft, pale sand, perfect for building sandcastles, playing games, walking the dogs, or just lazing in the sunshine. Colourful beach huts on stilts provide a pretty backdrop and feature in countless paintings & postcards of Wells.
Behind the beach are the pinewoods, a shady dell of scented Corsican pines planted in the late 19th century to protect the land from tidal surges, providing a welcome respite from the sun and a home for local wildlife. The pinewoods burst with colour in summer when foxgloves are in bloom. The Norfolk Coast Path passes the pinewoods as it meanders along the coast through the stunning landscapes of the North Norfolk Coast.
Many of the traditional fishermen’s cottages in Wells-next-the-Sea have now been converted into holiday homes, some featuring the famously steep & narrow Norfolk winder staircase. Located throughout the town and in the surrounding villages, holiday properties come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny “two-up, two-down” holiday cottages to spacious barn conversions and stylish apartments. You can even stay in the iconic Granary building.
Wells Guide offers a wide range of accommodation to suit your needs. Search for your ideal holiday rental using the filters provided to pinpoint your perfect coastal getaway. We also offer a wealth of information to help you make the most of your seaside holiday in Wells-next-the-Sea!