Cromer

Cromer is a town on the North Norfolk coast famous for its crabs, fishermen and lifeboats. The North Norfolk coast is one of the most rapidly eroding coastlines in Europe. A thousand years ago Cromer was inland ('Crow Mere', the lake of crows seen on the town's coat of arms), and the coastal village was called Shipden. This is now several hundred metres out to sea.

Modern Cromer is a mélange of architectural styles. Everything from charming brick-and-flint and stately Georgian, to 1960s carbuncular to modern bungalows and caravan sites. But the heyday was the 19th century, as witnessed by several streets of tall townhouses (now mainly B&B hotels), the growth stimulated by the coming of the railways and when the popularity of the town and environs was raised by the writings of Clement Scott.

By car
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. 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 train
Trains run hourly from Norwich, taking 45 min via Salhouse, Hoveton & Wroxham (for Bure Valley railway to Aylsham), Worstead, North Walsham and Gunton, and continuing to West Runton and Sheringham. The last train leaves Norwich around 11PM; in 2022 a walk-up single is £8.70.

The is on Holt Rd half a mile west of town centre. It has ticket machines but no office or toilets. There is level access to the sole platform.

By bicycle
Regional Cycle Route 30 goes through the town. The Norfolk cycling route, The Rebellion Way, passes close to the town through Sheringham.

On foot

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

Get around
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, which 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.

Do

 * Cromer has three Amusement Arcades on or near the Promenade.
 * Go gillying – catch edible crabs with a line, bait, weight and net from Cromer Pier, or attend the Cromer Crab Festival.
 * Surf – believe it or not, Cromer and nearby East Runton offer reasonable surfing.

Buy

 * 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.

Eat

 * North Sea Coffee by the lifeboat museum only serves coffee and cake, but thy're good. It's open daily 8:30AM-4PM.
 * Rocky Bottoms is a seafood restaurant and takeaway next to Dormy House Hotel on West Runton Beach, open Su-Th noon-17:00, F Sa noon-8PM.
 * Rocky Bottoms is a seafood restaurant and takeaway next to Dormy House Hotel on West Runton Beach, open Su-Th noon-17:00, F Sa noon-8PM.
 * Rocky Bottoms is a seafood restaurant and takeaway next to Dormy House Hotel on West Runton Beach, open Su-Th noon-17:00, F Sa noon-8PM.
 * Rocky Bottoms is a seafood restaurant and takeaway next to Dormy House Hotel on West Runton Beach, open Su-Th noon-17:00, F Sa noon-8PM.
 * Rocky Bottoms is a seafood restaurant and takeaway next to Dormy House Hotel on West Runton Beach, open Su-Th noon-17:00, F Sa noon-8PM.
 * Rocky Bottoms is a seafood restaurant and takeaway next to Dormy House Hotel on West Runton Beach, open Su-Th noon-17:00, F Sa noon-8PM.
 * Rocky Bottoms is a seafood restaurant and takeaway next to Dormy House Hotel on West Runton Beach, open Su-Th noon-17:00, F Sa noon-8PM.
 * Rocky Bottoms is a seafood restaurant and takeaway next to Dormy House Hotel on West Runton Beach, open Su-Th noon-17:00, F Sa noon-8PM.
 * Rocky Bottoms is a seafood restaurant and takeaway next to Dormy House Hotel on West Runton Beach, open Su-Th noon-17:00, F Sa noon-8PM.
 * Rocky Bottoms is a seafood restaurant and takeaway next to Dormy House Hotel on West Runton Beach, open Su-Th noon-17:00, F Sa noon-8PM.
 * Rocky Bottoms is a seafood restaurant and takeaway next to Dormy House Hotel on West Runton Beach, open Su-Th noon-17:00, F Sa noon-8PM.
 * Rocky Bottoms is a seafood restaurant and takeaway next to Dormy House Hotel on West Runton Beach, open Su-Th noon-17:00, F Sa noon-8PM.
 * Rocky Bottoms is a seafood restaurant and takeaway next to Dormy House Hotel on West Runton Beach, open Su-Th noon-17:00, F Sa noon-8PM.
 * Rocky Bottoms is a seafood restaurant and takeaway next to Dormy House Hotel on West Runton Beach, open Su-Th noon-17:00, F Sa noon-8PM.
 * Rocky Bottoms is a seafood restaurant and takeaway next to Dormy House Hotel on West Runton Beach, open Su-Th noon-17:00, F Sa noon-8PM.
 * Rocky Bottoms is a seafood restaurant and takeaway next to Dormy House Hotel on West Runton Beach, open Su-Th noon-17:00, F Sa noon-8PM.
 * Rocky Bottoms is a seafood restaurant and takeaway next to Dormy House Hotel on West Runton Beach, open Su-Th noon-17:00, F Sa noon-8PM.

Sleep
Accommodation is plentiful and cheap, especially out of season.
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.

Connect
As of July 2022, Cromer and its approach roads have 4G from EE, O2 and Vodafone, but no signal from Three. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * 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 coastal views.