Hunstanton
Hunstanton is a popular North Norfolk coastal town located approximately twelve miles north of Sandringham.
What is today called Hunstanton was original designed in the mid 19th century to serve as a sea bathing resort and was given the moniker “New Hunstanton” to differentiate it from the original village settlement (now Old Hunstanton), dropping the prefix once it had become the larger and more established holiday destination.
It's geographic location and proximity to The Wash give Hunstanton something of a micro-climate that does not follow always the surrounding area, making 'Sunny Hunny', as the town is affectionately called, a great alternative place to visit if your plans elsewhere in North Norfolk are inhibited by bad weather.
That's not to say that Hunstanton should be considered simply as a back up destination. The town's strong Victorian character and particular focus towards family holidays helps it to compete with the best of the other Norfolk seaside towns. There is plenty to see and do in Hunstanton.
The main beach at Hunstanton receives high ratings for its water quality and continually achieves awards Blue Flag awards for the beach itself. This considers the cleanliness of the beach, ease of disabled and pram access, provision of well maintained toilets, accessible information points and clearly signed car parks.
Hunstanton Beach has also become an increasingly popular with water sports enthusiasts. Activities such as canoeing, water skiing, kite surfing, wind surfing and much more benefit from the flat, shallow water and large open beaches at low tide (although participants should always be aware in advance of rips and tides which alter conditions).
The geological formation of the cliffs also makes the Hunstanton beach a great place for fossil hunters!
Hunstanton also has a well developed reputation for its golf and tennis events. Multiple Golf Clubs, offering 9 hole or Champion 18 hole courses, boast terrific landscaping and views of the coast as well as comfortable club houses and facilities.
Tennis fans are attracted in their thousands during Autumn for the ITA Hunstanton Lawn Tennis tournament, the second largest grass tennis competition in England after Wimbledon, which welcomes players of all ages.
There are plenty of activities for kids in Hunstanton. The Hunstanton Pier Family Entertainment Centre, built on the site of the town's once great pier, provides great entertainment for children, hosting bowling and arcade amusements. The Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary, Blackbeard's Adventure Golf and the Hunstanton Fair also prove to be extremely popular with children of all ages.
Hunstanton possesses a vibrant range of independent shops within walking distance of each other, including England's largest Joke Shop! The town provides all the amenities one could need when holidaying, with two supermarkets and a regular market on Wednesday and Sunday which sells fresh fish, fruit and vegetables.
Hunstanton offers visitors a number of great places to eat and drink, from fine dining to casual eating out. Some of the best eating is to be had at the local chippies which use fresh fish caught from the North Sea and chips made from locally sourced potatoes.
VisitNorthNorfolk.co.uk provides all the tourist information a visitor to Hunstanton could need. If you are looking for where to stay, we have a wide selection of accommodation options, including luxurious Hunstanton Hotels. If you are searching for where to eat out that's nice, we have great restaurant listings. And our 'Things To Do' category has a plethora of activities to keep you entertained, whether you are travelling alone or as family, for a day or for a week.