The best place to stay in Norfolk is The Harper, a luxury boutique hotel in the village of Langham, just minutes from the North Norfolk coast, and widely considered the best hotel in Norfolk for a stylish country escape. From here, you can fill a weekend in Norfolk with seal-spotting boat trips to Blakeney Point, long walks across Holkham’s award-winning beach, crabbing at Wells-next-the-Sea, visits to grand country estates such as Sandringham and Holkham Hall, and unhurried lunches at the coast’s celebrated seafood spots. Back at the hotel, a stone-clad pool, cosy spa, and seasonal dining at Stanley’s restaurant make The Harper the perfect base for exploring everything this unspoiled corner of England has to offer.
There’s a reason in-the-know travellers have quietly been escaping to North Norfolk for years. Big skies, salty creeks and sweeping sandy beaches give this stretch of coast — affectionately known as the “Champagne Coast” — a sense of space and freedom that’s hard to find anywhere else in England. And in summer, when the samphire is in season and the evenings stretch long over the marshes, it’s simply glorious.
If you’re planning a summer escape, here’s our guide to the very best things to do in Norfolk — and where to stay, eat and unwind while you’re here.
Start with the right base: The Harper.
Any great Norfolk weekend begins with a great hotel, and The Harper sets the standard. Tucked into the flint-and-brick village of Langham, a stone’s throw from the coast, this 32-bedroom boutique bolthole is a contemporary take on the English country escape and is frequently named among the best hotels in Norfolk. Rooms are spacious havens of calm, and for families, the self-contained Biggest Cottage sits just a hop and a skip from the front door. If you’re searching for a hotel in Norfolk that pairs polish with personality, you’ve found it.
Take to the water at Blakeney Point.
No summer in Norfolk is complete without a boat trip from Morston Quay to Blakeney National Nature Reserve, home to England’s largest grey seal colony. Common seals pup here in the summer months, and the more inquisitive ones will sometimes swim right around the boat. Trips run daily through the season, but be sure to book ahead. Pair your voyage with a stroll along the salt marshes towards Cley-next-the-Sea, where the iconic windmill towers over Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Cley Marshes reserve, a haven for birdwatchers.
Walk the best beach in Britain.
A short drive west lies Holkham, whose vast golden bay has been voted the best beach in Britain and starred in more than a few films. Arrive early, fly a kite, paddle in the shallows, then wander up to Holkham Hall itself, where deer roam freely through the parkland. Country house lovers are spoiled here — Felbrigg, Blickling, Houghton and the royal retreat of Sandringham are all within easy reach of The Harper.
Seaside charm at Wells and Cromer
For old-fashioned seaside fun, Wells-next-the-Sea is hard to beat: colourful beach huts, an atmospheric quayside, and some of the finest crabbing on the coast. Further east, Cromer’s restored Victorian pier is the place for fish and chips with a sea view. For more inspiration, Visit Norfolk has a full calendar of summer events across the county.
Where to eat in North Norfolk
The places to eat in North Norfolk are reason enough to visit. Where land meets sea, menus dance to nature’s beat — and nowhere more so than at Stanley’s, The Harper’s own restaurant, where bright culinary talent turns the best of the season into dishes free of frippery and full of flavour.
Unwind at one of the best spas in Norfolk.
After a day of sea air, sink into The Harper’s stone-clad pool, bathed in natural light, before a pre-bookable treatment in the hotel’s cosy spa. Among spas in Norfolk, it’s a gem — wellbeing here comes as naturally indoors as it does out on those big, boundless beaches.
Ready for your summer escape? Book your stay at The Harper and discover Norfolk at its sun-drenched best.
