This elegant Victorian seaside town is situated on the beautiful Norfolk coast and these are some of the best things to do in Hunstanton.
1. Hunstanton Beach
This clean, family friendly beach is great for picnicking, paddling, shell hunting and sandcastle building.
With relatively shallow waters it is also popular with kite-surfers, body-boarders and other water sport activities.
When the tide is out, you can go exploring in the rock pools and discover crabs, starfish and lots of other marine life.
Alternatively try some kite flying or sand sculpting on the beautiful expanse of soft sands that the receding sea leaves exposed.
From the beach you get a great view of the Hunstanton’s famous red and white striped cliffs.
Take a walk along the base of the cliffs and discover a variety of marine fossils, including sharks teeth and ammonites. (Stay a safe distance from the cliffs to avoid rockfalls.)
A day on the beach is definitely one of the best things to do in Hunstanton.
2. The Lookout
Situated at the North end of Hunstanton, the Lookout is a great spot to spend some time. This viewing point gives you amazing panoramic views.
Built in 2017, the Lookout was part of the Heritage Lottery funded project to restore the Victorian gardens and Cliff Top areas.
With its stunning views across the Wash, this is a perfect place for watching, birds, people, ships and the ever changing tide and weather.
A large map helps you identify all the landmarks on the horizon, including Skegness and the North Sea Wind Farm.
3. Explore The High Street
Set back off the sea front, Hunstanton High Street has a good selection of shops and cafes.
You can pick up essentials, browse the gift shops or relax and enjoy some refreshments whilst people watching.
Highly recommend is Moss Bakery, where you will find an impressive selection of take-away snacks at great prices. From filled rolls, hot/cold pasties, sausage rolls and a variety of cakes you will definitely find something to tempt you.
If you would prefer to sit and eat, you have a choice of cafes including Berni Beans, a vintage tea room with amazing decor.
Or you may prefer the Mediterranean style Chives Brasserie, where you have the choice of pizza, pasta and British dishes.
A visit to this bustling little High Street is well worth putting on your list of things to do in Hunstanton.
4. Visit Britain’s Largest Joke Shop
We had an amusing time in the ‘World of Fun’ situated in the centre of Hunstanton.
Opened in 1978 and famous for being the largest joke shop in Britain, you are sure to find something to ‘tickle your funny bone’ here.
Amongst the jokes you can purchase are the ever popular, Stink Bombs, Whoopee Cushions and Fake Poo! All guaranteed to cause chaos and laughter.
In addition to the jokes, you can also purchase souvenirs, fancy dress outfits and gifts. Popular with people looking to pick up fun items for stag and hen dos.
Give yourself time to browse in this shop as you are likely to become engrossed in all the fascinating things on offer!
5. Walk The Promenade
Why not enjoy some invigorating sea air and take a walk along the promenade in Hunstanton.
Starting under the famous red and white cliffs, you can walk the two mile long promenade all the way to the pretty neighbouring village of Heacham.
Along the way you will pass lots of entertainment, amusements, food outlets and places to purchase food/drink.
We were amazed by the constantly changing view across the Wash, as the beach, rock pools and mudflats are exposed and covered.
This is an access-for-all route, with the wide concrete pathway suitable for pushchairs and wheelchair users.
6. Ride The Wash Monster
The Wash Monster is one of the most popular and unusual attractions in Hunstanton.
This incredible amphibious vessel is an ex military vehicle, manufactured in 1967 for use as a landing craft by American forces in Vietnam.
The beautiful Norfolk coast is steeped in history as you will discover whilst taking one of these guided tours. Included in the tour are binoculars and information leaflets.
Take on of these relaxing cruises and listen to the fascinating facts about shipwrecks, smuggling and how the stripes on the famous Hunstanton cliffs were formed. You might also spot some of the local seal population!
Leaving at regular intervals from the promenade, choose from six different tours lasting from 20 minutes to 1 hour.
7. Visit Rainbow Park
Rainbow Park is a small, family-owned amusement park with traditional and modern rides, plus two gaming arcades. Situated on the sea front, there is ample parking opposite the site.
With a wide range of rides for children and adults this amusement park is suitable for all ages.
You’ll find bumper cars, a ghost train, a ferris wheel and much more, this amusement park is ideal for a few hours of family fun.
We found the park to be nice and clean and the staff very friendly. The different rides seemed to be priced fairly and lasted a decent amount of time.
Offering all the traditional family favourites as well as unique thrill rides that you don’t always see on a park of this size, this is a must of things to do in Hunstanton.
8. Sea Life Centre
You will find the the Hunstanton Sea Life Centre on the promenade. This state-of-the-art marine aquarium is well worth a visit to get up close and personal with an amazing variety of sea creatures.
Suitable for all ages, you can watch and learn about turtles, rays, sharks, penguins and seals to name but a few. The wide variety of species and replication of their natural habitats is truly impressive.
Meet the Forest Rangers and immerse yourself in a world of creepy crawlies. Don’t forget to visit the colony of adorable Humboldt penguins.
The Seal Hospital, which has helped rehabilitate 750 self since opening in 1989, is also well worth a visit. The standards of care and commitment to conservation and rescue are all clear to see.
Open hours vary between 10/11am to 4pm seven days a week. (Last entry one hour before closing.)
Pre-booking your Sea Life Hunstanton tickets is essential.
9. Play Crazy Golf
There are a good selection of crazy golf courses to choose from in Hunstanton but we tried Cliff Parade Crazy Golf.
Set in the heart of Hunstanton sea front, this is a fun and exiting course for all ages.
The layout is very good and the holes themselves offer a decent challenge along with lots of laughs.
The most popular crazy golf in town though is definitely Blackbeard’s Adventure Golf.
With 18 themed holes split into two 9 hole games, it’s the perfect place to bring out your competitive side. There is also a bonus 19th hole that gives you the chance to win a free game!
Read about the life of the villainous pirate ‘Blackbeard’ and then it’s onto the Aztec course to play and learn about the mysterious Mexican race.
Open seven days a week from 10am until late, a great way to have some family fun.
10. Play The Arcades
Who can resist playing the arcades at the seaside? Hunstanton, like most seaside towns, has a selection to choose from.
Hunstanton pier is home to one of the amusement arcades. It offers some of the latest machines and is recommended as one of the better value arcades with a good selection of prizes.
Try your luck on one of the traditional coin push, toy grabber or fruit machines or go for a prize on one of the family fun games. A great way to while away some time, especially if the weather is not great.
Don’t forget to your take your bag of 2p coins for the exciting coin push game. And of course you can’t leave without winning that special toy from the grabber machine!
11. Fish And Chips
A visit to an English seaside town is never complete without trying a tasty bag of traditional fish and chips.
After a busy day in the fresh sea air there’s nothing better than the smell of a bag full of salt and vinegar!
Hunstanton has 5 or 6 fish and chip restaurants, all within a short distance of each other. Most of them give you the option to purchase take-away food or sit in to eat.
All of the restaurants serve a varied selection of foods in addition to fish and chips including pies, sausages and burgers with vegetarian/vegan options also available.
Treating yourself to this traditional, value for money, meal is surely one of the best things to do in Hunstanton!
12. Sunset On The Green
The Green is a large expanse of grass that slopes up from the sea front to the town and is the perfect spot to experience one of Hunstanton’s stunning sunsets.
Hunstanton faces west across the Wash, making it one of the few places on the east coast of Great Britain where the sun sets over the sea.
Relaxing on the grass and looking down across the promenade, out to sea as the sunsets in the distance, is a magical way to finish your day in Hunstanton.
Definitely up there as one of the best things to do in Hunstanton!
Where To Stay In Hunstanton
Luxury – The Lifeboat Inn
The Lifeboat Inn is just a 2-minute walk away from marshes and sand dunes along the Norfolk Coast Path. This charming 16th century property is found in the picturesque village of Thornham, on the outskirts of Hunstanton.
The inn’s original character has been carefully preserved throughout, whilst being updated to include all modern comforts expected of a 3-star property. The en suite bedrooms feature free toiletries and a hairdryer, a TV and a radio.
Providing the perfect base from which to explore the delightful County of Norfolk, Lifeboat is within easy reach of a number of attractions, including Holkham Hall, Sandringham House and Nelson’s birthplace at nearby Burnham Thorpe.
Mid-Budget – No 33, Hunstanton
Less than 400 yards from the seafront, No. 33 Huntstanton is a boutique establishment, stylishly decorated offering room-only accommodation. Free parking is available, and free WiFi is accessible in all areas.
With king-size beds, the en suite rooms at No. 33 Huntstanton are decorated in calming tones of soft white and grey, reflecting the property’s proximity to the sea. Rooms come complete with a flat-screen TV, over-sized walk-in showers, complimentary brownies upon arrival and fair trade cafetière coffee.
The property provides breakfast picnic in the room which consists of a muffin, yoghurt & granola pot, fruit, fresh juice & milk.
Sandringham Estate is a 20-minute drive from the property, whilst Norfolk Lavender is 2.5 miles away. Holme Dunes Nature Reserve can be reached in 10 minutes by car.
Budget – Sunset Guest House
This property is 3 minutes walk from the beach. The Sunset Guest House is located in the quiet Victorian seaside resort of Hunstanton, which faces West across the Wash with views of magnificent sunsets.
The Sunset Guest House has 5 Double Sea Facing Rooms and a further 3 non-seaview rooms. Each room is individually furnished and decorated with its own colour scheme, en-suite shower facilities, 2 chairs, free slippers, TV/DVD, coffee/tea tray and a host of other facilities. The rooms are on the ground, 1st and 2nd floor with no lift.
The Breakfast Room is light and airy with views to the sea, and guests can enjoy an English Breakfast every morning.
Hunstanton offers beaches, shallow waters, good amenities, independent shops and restaurants. One of the UK’s Links Golf Courses is located 1 miles away in Old Hunstanton.
For more places to stay in Hunstanton, you can check the latest prices on Booking.com.
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