Point of interest
Wells-next-the-Sea
219 locals recommend
Tips from locals
Sarah
August 29, 2022
There are many options with Wells. The sandy beach which is a mile out of town with colourful beach huts is great for playing in the sand with children, walking the dog, paddling and swimming (lifeguards on the beach). Cafe and toilets in the beach car park. The harbour provides a great spot to sit and look, take the children crabbing, grab some fish and chips and ice cream, either eat in or out of the paper. And wander through the town with its selection of small shops. The Albatross is moored in the harbour for a drink on board or the Fleece has good food and a drink on offer.
There are many options with Wells. The sandy beach which is a mile out of town with colourful beach huts is great for playing in the sand with children, walking the dog, paddling and swimming (lifeguards on the beach). Cafe and toilets in the beach car park. The harbour provides a great spot to sit…
Jessica
August 23, 2022
The name Wells comes from Guella, half Latinised from Anglian Wella, a spring. This derives from spring wells of which Wells used to have many, rising through the chalk of the area. The town started to be known as Wells-next-the-Sea in the early 19th century to distinguish it from other places of the same name. When the Wells and Fakenham Railway was opened on 1 December 1857, the terminus was given the name of "Wells-on-Sea". In 1956 the Wells Urban District Council voted to re-adopt the name Wells-next-the- Sea, and this has been the official name since then. Wells is situated on the North Norfolk coast which runs for some thirty miles from Hunstanton to Cromer. The North Sea is now a mile from the town, as a result of the silting of the harbour. The town has long thrived as a seaport and is now also a popular seaside resort with a popular beach that can be reached on foot or by a narrow gauge railway that runs partway alongside the mile-long sea wall north of the harbour. The Quay in Wells is the hub of activity during the summer months, especially at weekends. People come to walk head to the beach, to fish for crabs on the Quay (called gillying), sample locally caught fresh shell fish and, of course, partake of good old local fish and chips! You can also buy Samphire which is found growing on the marshes locally. If you want to see the quieter side of Wells, head off through some of the back streets and you will find plenty of pretty traditional cottages and gardens or wander up Staithe Street which has a wealth of shops, both traditional and modern. Beaches: Wells and Holkham Beaches To get to Wells beach you can either walk along the sea path, take the railway to the Caravan Park or drive and park in the carpark. Beware as in the summer the car park can be very busy indeed and you may have to queue. Wells beach is famous for its gaily painted beach huts and sand dunes. Some beach huts can be rented by the day. The beach is backed by dense pine woods which are part of the Holkham National Nature Reserve. The woods comprise Scots pine, Maritime pine and Corsican Pine growing on sand. More pinewoods exist to the east of the beach over the shipping channel at an area called the East Hills. This can be accessed on foot at low tide though all of the tidal sands in the arestarts to coma are extremely dangerous due to the speed and currents of the rising tide. It is not advisable to cross the channel without detailed local knowledge. The sea is very shallow and swimming is only really possible at high tide. However, since the channel was built for the boats to supply the building of the new off-shore wind farm, there is a new channel which you can use for swimming. Do take care when the tide is coming in. Wells has its own lifeboat station on the beach and has both an all- weather lifeboat and an inshore rescue boat. The old lifeboat house, now used as the harbour offices, is at the western end of the quay. In 1880, Wells was the scene of a lifeboat disaster in which 11 of the 13 lifeboat crew drowned, leaving 10 widows and 27 children without fathers. A memorial to the crew stands adjacent to the old lifeboat house. Visitors are welcome to look around the lifeboat house on the beach and there are open days and displays at various times of the year. Further to the west you will find Holkham beach and, of course, Holkham Hall, home to the Earl of Leicester. You can park in Queen Anne’s Drive which leads up to the beach (it’s paying). Holkham Bay is a stunning flat expanse of sand which gives you quite a walk to the sea when the tide is out. It’s great for kite flying, exploring the sand dunes, horse riding or just taking in those big Norfolk skies. Other great beaches with acres of space: Brancaster (has a car park by the beach), Burnham Overy Staithe Beach (about a 1.5 mile walk) but worth it.
The name Wells comes from Guella, half Latinised from Anglian Wella, a spring. This derives from spring wells of which Wells used to have many, rising through the chalk of the area. The town started to be known as Wells-next-the-Sea in the early 19th century to distinguish it from other places of th…
Lisa
April 13, 2022
Wells next to the sea is a lovely place to visit. It has a busy little town to explore and amazing fish and chips. Why not take a walk along the harbour to the beautiful beach. It’s Close to Stiffkey, Blakeney and Holkham, all amazing places to visit. Approximately 40 minute drive from the Folly.
Helen
October 7, 2021
Wells is a bustling seaside town right on the quayside and boasts an expansive beach with attractive beach huts. Take a harbour boat tour on the restored Lucy Lavers lifeboat and meander the shops in Staithe Street.
Lucy
September 22, 2021
So much to do. A great little town. It can get very busy in high season. A popular destination to set off on a boat trip, go crabbing and eat fish and chips on the quayside. There is a great beach and a fun little train that joins it to the town. Very family friendly.
Location
Wells-next-the-Sea, England