Great Yarmouth

One of the UK's most popular seaside resorts, offering great family entertainment, miles of sandy beaches, a rich and proud maritime heritage and quality accommodation. The area includes Gorleston-on-Sea and neighbouring coastal/rural villages.

Great Yarmouth www.great-yarmouth.co.uk
Built on a spit of sand, between the sea and the River Yare, the town's wealth comes from its port and the former herring industry. Explore the historic quayside with its old merchants' houses and narrow medieval alleys called 'rows'. Several museums and historic buildings tell the story of the town's rich history. Great Yarmouth is packed with countless seaside attractions and entertainment. Discover 15 miles (24 kilometres) of clean sandy beaches, attractive seafront gardens and two fun-packed piers. Then when the sun goes down enjoy nightclubs, casinos, summer theatre shows and seafront illuminations.

Tourist Information Centre - Maritime House, 25 Marine Parade, +44 (0)1493 846345.

Things to do

- Go underwater amongst the sharks at the Sea Life Centre.
- View the medieval Town Wall, one of the best in the country.
- Give the children a real treat on the famous snails at Joyland.
- Explore the Nelson Museum to learn about the great naval hero.
- Hire a pedalo for some water fun on the North Drive lake.
- Pick up lots of goodies at the world's biggest rock shop.
- Visit a 16th C. merchants' house at the Elizabethan House Museum.
- Enjoy breathtaking acts at the famous Hippodrome Circus.
- See the world in miniature at the Merrivale Model Village.
- Ride the historic roller coaster at the Pleasure Beach.
- Seek out the reptiles at Amazonia - Britain's largest collection.
- Take the wheel of a coastal drifter at the Time and Tide Museum.
- Have a flutter on the horses at the resort's very own racecourse.
- Jump aboard for a boat trip to see the seals on Scroby Sands.
- Let the children loose at the tropical indoor swimming pool.
- Get back to nature at Breydon Water - rich in birdlife.

Other 'Seaside' Places of Interest

To the north lies Hemsby, a self-contained seaside resort in its own right - with family entertainment, amusements, sandy beaches and dunes. Winterton-on-Sea was once an ancient fishing village, noted today for its fine 12th C. church and 300 year old pub. The dunes here are home to colonies of little terns. At Caister-on-Sea, you can visit the remains of a Roman port, plus a 14th C. castle. It is also the location for a famous volunteer lifeboat service, alongside many caravan and chalet parks. Enjoy the wide, sandy and unspoilt beach. Heading south from Great Yarmouth is Gorleston-on-Sea, with its own theatre, pretty gardens and a sandy beach backed by low cliffs to form a bay. Neighbouring Hopton-on-Sea is a seaside village, with several family holiday centres.