Discover the best river, stream, or creek and dog-friendly campsites near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

Situated on a wide sandy bay on the Norfolk coast, east of Norwich, Great Yarmouth is one of the best-known seaside resorts in Britain and has been attracting holidaymakers for centuries. As well as the wide, long stretch of golden sand and beachside amusements and leisure activities, Great Yarmouth also offers easy access to The Broads, a national park with a network of navigable rivers and waterways. From beachside caravan parks to meadow-side tent sites to houseboats and cabins in the Broads, campers have a range of options around Great Yarmouth.

Top things to do near Great Yarmouth

Pack the bucket and spade, the bodyboard and don’t forget your swimming cossie. Holidays in Great Yarmouth start at the seaside, where you can enjoy the golden sands and safe shallows of its expansive beach. You might also want a bag of pennies for the amusement arcades that line the golden mile. Crazy golf, fun fair rides, a Sea Life Centre, a cinema, and 10-pin bowling mean there’s never a dull moment. A quieter beach sits a few miles up the road at Winterton, where the sands are backed by the rolling dunes of a national nature reserve. Even further north brings you to Horsey Beach, where you’ve got a great chance of spotting the resident seal population.

If you tire of swimming, sandcastle building, and fun fair rides, there are plenty of other East Anglian treasures to explore. From the surrounding Broads National Park to the wild beaches in the north of the county, there’s a variety of experiences beyond the boardwalks of Great Yarmouth’s two piers.

Inland from Great Yarmouth takes you to the heart of The Broads, where wildlife and bird watching are part of the fun of exploring the waterways on foot, by bike, or by boat. It’s also only about a 30-minute drive to reach the cathedral city of Norwich. For more ideas on things to do in Great Yarmouth and the surrounding parts of Norfolk, visit the tourist information centre in the middle of the promenade.

Where to go

Norfolk Broads

The Norfolk Broads—part of the larger Broads National Park that spans Norfolk and Suffolk—is a network of largely navigable rivers and lakes that were formed by the flooding of peatlands. They are a picturesque area of calm waters, windmills, wildlife, and birds. Campers staying in Great Yarmouth can visit the Broads on a day trip or opt to stay in a cottage, at a simple tent site, or in a well-equipped caravan park in the national park area.

Mid-Yare National Nature Reserve

Further west of the Norfolk Broads, towards Norwich, this nature reserve on the floodplain of the River Yar was established and is maintained by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Birdwatchers won’t want to miss visiting from Great Yarmouth or Norwich as this is an important wetland site that’s home to a number of Eurasian and European bird species.

Horsey Gap

Despite its equine name, Horsey Gap is the place to come to see seals basking on the beach. The quiet, sandy beach is directly north of Great Yarmouth, along the same stretch of sand that extends along much of Norfolk’s eastern coast. There’s a beachside holiday park between the village of Horsey and the coast, or campers can visit from Great Yarmouth to see the wildlife.

When to go

Summer is the best time to visit Great Yarmouth, as this is when the weather is best for beach camping and outdoor activities. Tent camping is most comfortable between June and September. Visiting outside of summer is possible, but campers might prefer to look for cabin, cottage, or houseboat accommodation (in the Broads) rather than tent sites.