Cromer

The drive from Norwich on the A140 takes about 35-40 minutes. This is a much more dangerous road than it appears - at harvest time especially you should watch for farm vehicles emerging from side roads. Alternatively you might try the train. The Bittern Line is allegedly one of the great railway journeys of the world. Leaving Norwich, it crosses the broads via Salhouse, Hoveton & Wroxham (change for the wee Bure Valley railway to Aylsham), Worstead, North Walsham, Gunton and Cromer. The line extends to West Runton and Sheringham, where it joins up with the North Norfolk steam railway to Holt. You can also get to Cromer quite easily by bus from Norwich. The Coast Hopper operates throughout the year runs to Wells next the Sea with connections to Hunstanton. This is a great way to explore the coast. As you go west along the coast, especially after Sheringham, each village is more picturesque than the last. Lots of barn conversions and vernacular brick-and-flint architecture. By air, the nearest airport is at Norwich.

By bicycle

Regional Cycle Route 30 goes through the town.

On foot

• Norfolk Coast PathA long distance (63 miles) footpath originally ending at Cromer (running westwards to Hunstanton) but the path now run westwards to Sea Palling. Links to the Peddlars Way long distance footpath near Hunstanton

• The Weavers' Way (56 miles) ling distance footpath runs to the town from Great Yarmouth.

Cromer is 23 miles from the centre of Norwich, and is a good base for exploring the north coast of Norfolk. Cromer is on several main roads - to Norwich, Holt, along the coast to Sheringham to the west and Overstrand to the west - it can get congested in the town centre especially during the summer months. Although Cromer bustles at all times of the year it is much busier in the summer, especially during Carnival Week in mid-August. There are several car parks inside the town, all of which are pay-and-display. Competition for the few free parking bays is fierce. On the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month, Cromer's Market is held inside the Meadow Car Park, reducing the number of available spaces.
In Cromer and in general in East Anglia, bringing or hiring a car is highly recommended as the area has many small villages and towns separated by long country roads. There are quite a few reasonably good local bus companies (Sanders is the main one) and although Cromer is remarkably hilly for Norfolk, cycling is a good way to get around.

• The Lighthouse

  address: Overstrand Rd, Cromer, NR27 0JH
  A pleasant walk eastwards from the town centre and affords fine views.

• Amazona Zoo

  phone: +44 1263 510741
  address: Hall Road, Cromer, NR27 9JG
  View and learn about a wide variety of animals from South America. Cafe and Gift Shop on site.

• Cromer Beach

  address: Runton Rd, Cromer, NR27 9HP
  The beach at Cromer is public and free to access and rated very highly. The West Beach (west of the pier) is more built up, with toilets, a shop and a funfair. The East Beach (east of the pier) has fewer amenities. Walking east along the shore, you'll soon be out of the main tourist orbit, and even in the summer holidays you can have huge stretches of beautiful beach more or less to yourself. Even in winter it has a rugged grandeur. The most notable beach fauna is the edible crab (Carcinus edulis), served when available in local cafés and restaurants. Crab boats can be seen launching and returning with their catch.

• Cromer Museum

  phone: +44 1263 513543
  address: East Cottages, Tucker Street, Cromer, NR27 9HB
  The Cromer Museum is housed in several converted fishermen's cottages, and includes many interesting and picturesque arcana of local and town life. It also includes a few scraps of the famous West Runton Elephant. Some of the rest of this enormous fossil beast can be found in the Norwich Castle museum. There are also displays of local lore and legend including the Black Shuck.

• Cromer Pier and Pavilion Theatre

  phone: +44 1263 512495
  Cromer Pier is one of the oldest in the country and has been damaged and restored several times. The Pavilion Theatre at the end of the pier runs a Seaside Special variety show during the summer season (June 21 to September 20 in 2014), and also around Christmas. There is lots of other entertainment throughout the year from ballet to variety to blues and folk and rock. Check the web-site for dates, times, prices, and tickets. Fireworks on the pier are a highlight on 1 January and in Carnival Week, and the pier is a good place to stand when observing the traditional Boxing Day Swim on 26 December. Beyond the theatre is the new lifeboat station. The old one is on shore, next to the Henry Blogg RNLI lifeboat museum.

• RNLI Henry Blogg Museum

  phone: +44 1263 511294
  address: The Rocket House, The Gangway, Cromer, NR27 9ET
  Learn about the courageous lifesavers. See one of the lifesaving boats.

• Felbrigg Hall, Gardens and Estate

  phone: +44 1263 837444
  address: Felbrigg, NR11 8PR

• Cromer Church

  address: Church St, Cromer, NR27 9HH
  Like many Norfolk churches, it is much vaster than would seem to be necessary. Much of it was restored after partial destruction by a World War II bomb. The view from the tower is, reputedly, extensive.

• Cromer has three Amusement Arcades on or near the Promenade.
• Surf - believe it or not, Cromer and nearby East Runton offer reasonable surfing.

• Regal Movieplex

  phone: +44 1263 510151
  address: 2-4 Hans Place, Cromer, NR27 9EQ
  shows all the latest releases. Screen one still has a mighty wurlitzer in it. Screen four is hardly bigger than one's front room. If you like 3D and earsplitting surroundsound, go elsewhere - it's a popular local cinema, even more so when it rains (frequently) during the summer holidays. It's also much cheaper than big city picture houses.

• Royal Cromer Golf Club

  phone: +44 1263 512884
  address: 145 Overstrand Rd, Cromer, NR27 0JH
  offers a course as challenging as it is spectacular.

• Glide Surf School

  phone: +44 1263 805005
  address: Cromer Promenade, Cromer, NR27 9HE
  Surf School, Paddle Boarding, Equipment Hire.

• Shopping - Cromer has many of the usual chain stores, charity shops and so on, but has a selection of unusual independent gift shops, secondhand book stores, grocers, hardware stores and so on, and in the Crossways tobacconists, one of the last of its kind.

• Morrisons

  phone: +44 1263 515275
  address: Holt Rd, Cromer, NR27 9SW
  ATMs.

• Co-Op

  phone: +44 1263 511277
  address: Middlebrook Way. Holt Rd, Cromer, NR27 9JR
  ATMs.

• Wet Dog Surf Shop

  phone: +44 1263 519703
  address: 7 Tucker St, Cromer, NR27 9HA
  Surf & skate shop.

• Amy's Sweet Shop

  phone: +44 1263-511418
  address: 11b West Street, Cromer, NR27 9HZ

Cyclists

• Black Bikes

  phone: +44 1263 822255
  address: 28 Beeston Rd, Sheringham, NR26 8EH
  Sales, service & repair, hire.

• Halfords

  phone: +44 1263 510 420
  address: Unit C, North Norfolk Retail Park, Holt Rd, Cromer, NR27 9ST

• Will's Plaice

  phone: +44 1263 519222
  address: Beach Road, East Runton, NR27 9PA

• The Old Rock Shop Bistro

  phone: +44 1263 511926
  address: 10 Hamilton Road, Cromer, NR27 9HL
  Great local café.

• The Rocket House café

  phone: +44 1263 519126
  address: The Gangway, East Promenade, Cromer, NR27 9ET
  A room with a view, this is found on top of the lifeboat museum

• Peggotty's

  phone: +44 1263 511876
  address: 6 Hamilton Rd, Cromer, NR27 9HL
  Great when you need that all-day fry-up.

• The Bann Thai

  phone: +44 1263 513193
  address: 1a Church St, Cromer, NR27 9ER
  Homecooked Thai cuisine

• Browne’s on Bond Street

  phone: +44 1263 512320
  address: 5 Bond St, Cromer, NR27 9DA
  Formerly Aristocrats Tea Rooms.

• Cromer Tandoori Restaurant

  phone: +44 1263 513166
  address: 29 Church St, Cromer, NR27 9ES

• Dalia Spice

  phone: +44 1263 519700
  address: 36 Prince Of Wales Rd, Cromer, NR27 9HS

• Mary Jane's Fish Restaurant

  phone: +44 1263 511 208
  address: 27-29 Garden St, Cromer, NR27 0AA
  Take-away & restaurant.

• Bolton's Bistro

  phone: +44 1263 512543
  address: Seafront, Cromer, NR27 9AS
  Slightly posher than most, a short walk from the town centre.

• Kanton Chinese Takeaway

  phone: +44 1263 517171
  address: 30 Church St, Cromer, NR27 9ES

• Le Moon Chinese Restaurant

  phone: +44 1263 511615
  address: 5a Prince of Wales Rd, Cromer, NR27 9HR

• Breakers Cafe

  phone: +44 1263 515 060
  address: 28 Garden St, Cromer, NR27 9HN

• Park Chippy

  phone: +44 1263 513050
  address: 37 Station Rd,Cromer, NR27 0DX

• Groveland Farm Shop

  phone: +44 1263 833777
  address: Thorpe Market Road, Roughton, NR11 8TB
  Has a small attached cafe specializing in sweet and savory waffles. Many of the ingredients are fresh grown on the farm.

• Sticky Earth Café

  phone: +44 1263 519642
  address: 15 Church St, Cromer, NR27 9ES
  Enjoy hot and cold drinks while painting pottery.

• The White Horse

  phone: +44 1263 512275
  address: West St, Cromer, NR27 9DS
  Live music occasionally on Saturdays. also food & rooms.

• The Red Lion

  phone: +44 1263 514964
  address: Brook St, Cromer, NR27 9HD
  Great selection of beers and superior bar food. A good place for a quiet pint overlooking the sea. Also food & rooms.

• The Kings Head

  address: High St, Cromer, NR27 9HG
  Also food.

• The Wellington

  phone: +44 1263 511075
  address: Garden Street, Cromer, NR27 9HN

Accommodation is plentiful and cheap, especially out of season.

• Cromer House Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +44 1263 510923
  address: 10 Alfred Road, Cromer, NR27 9AN
  Satellite TV. Free Wi-Fi.

• The White Housebed and breakfast on cliff drive.

• The Dormy House Hotel

  phone: +44 1263 837 537
  address: 100 Cromer Rd, West Runton, NR27 9QA

• Beachcomber Guest House

  phone: +44 1263 513 398
  address: 17 Macdonald Rd, Cromer, NR27 9AP
  No pets.

• Ogilvy House B&B

  phone: +44 1263 511170
  address: 7 St Mary's Rd, Cromer, NR27 9DJ
  No pets.

• Pantiles B&B

  phone: +44 1263 512728
  address: The Croft, Cromer, NR27 9EH
  No children, no pets, no one night stays.

• Glendale Guest House

  phone: +44 1263 513278
  address: 33 Macdonald Rd, Cromer, NR27 9AP
  3

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• Many of the private homes in Cromer are Holiday Homes and may be available for rental or time sharing, especially out of season.
• Touring - there are many touring parks and campsites around Cromer, especially on the west side towards East Runton.
• Visitor Centre. Next to the Meadow Car Park. Inside are some very nice loos - and all the information you'll need on local sights and accommodation.

• Nearest Accident & Emergency: Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

  address: Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UY

• Minor Injuries Unit, Cromer and District Hospital

  address: Mill Road, Cromer, Norfolk, NR27 0BQ
  Minor head injuries (with no loss of consciousness) simple wounds; Simple eye conditions, foreign body, corneal abrasions; minor burns; soft tissue injury; bites and stings, with no associated complications, or acute reaction; simple fractures; fingers that may be broken or dislocated

• Cromer Group Practice

  phone: +44 1263 513148
  address: 48 Overstrand Rd, Cromer, NR27 0AJ

• Corner House Dental Practice

  phone: +44 1263 512390
  address: 24 Norwich Rd, Cromer, NR27 0AX

• Lloyds Pharmacy

  phone: +44 1263 512171
  address: 51 Church Street, Cromer, NR27 9HH

• Post Office

  address: 50 Mill Road, Suffield Park, Cromer, NR27 0AD

• Blakeney (Norfolk) with Blakeney Point Seal Colony and Norfolk Wildlife Trust Cley Marshes Nature Reserve
• Hunstanton
• Wells-next-the-Sea with its oysters and its seal-watching trips.
• Weybourne
• Norwich
• Walking long distance North Norfolk Coast Path that leads via spectacular cliffs, breathtaking beaches and charming woodland to Hunstanton westbound and Sea Palling eastbound. A lovely walk at low tide is the mile between Cromer and Overstrand, which has refreshments and loos, and back again. Where else can you walk a mile completely barefoot?
• Along the coast - to the west, visit the village of Overstrand. This was once very fashionable with some spectacular houses and one or two fairly upscale hotels such as the Sea Marge, reminiscent of an earlier age.
• Inland - lovers of great houses can visit Blickling Hall (National Trust) nr Aylsham, home of the Boleyns, with lovely gardens and one of the best secondhand bookshops anywhere
• National Trust's Sheringham Park, woodland park and gardens with costal views.