Hunstanton Beach
Hunstanton is the only resort town in East Anglia which faces west, making the beach relatively sheltered from sea breezes and an excellent place to enjoy watching the sun set.
There are two main areas of beach, the part nearest the resort being mainly made of shingle and boulders leading into the sea, and just north of that, the delightful beach of Old Hunstanton, which has a vast expanse of fine, golden sand when the tide is out.
Hunstanton beach is remarkable for its striking pink and white striped cliffs, formed from a combination of Norfolk carstone and white chalk.
The spacious beach area has plenty of interesting rock pools for visitors to enjoy, and young explorers may be lucky enough to find fossils among the rocks and shingle.
Three attractive day chalets on the beach are available to rent during the summer months.
The calm, relatively shallow waters make the beach particularly popular with kite-surfers and body-boarders. When the tide is out, a wide expanse of sand is exposed. The tide can come in quite rapidly and can catch out unwary day trippers. Visitors are advised to buy tidal tables, which are available from most of the local shops.
The charming, Victorian resort of Hunstanton was purpose-built in 1846 and retains a particular type of old-world charm. Visitors will find the arcades and other traditional British beach holiday attractions that one would expect. The promenade is home to Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary, which features an underwater tunnel and a seal hospital. In peak season a mini-train operates along the seafront. A World War II amphibious craft operates from the South Promenade.
The Norfolk Coast Path starts at the end of the North Promenade and is popular with walkers.
In 2015 Hunstanton beach was awarded the Seaside Award for its cleanliness and beach management. There are toilets and disabled facilities, as well as a beach office next to the Alive Oasis Leisure Centre.
Type of beach
Sandy
Lifeguard service
No
Dogs friendly beach?
The beach is cleaned regularly and dogs are banned during the summer months. Dog bins are provided.
Norfolk dog friendly beaches »
Activities
- Donkey rides
- Kite surfing
- Wind surfing
Facilities
- Cafe/restaurant
- Toilets
- Disabled facilities
- Town centre nearby
- Pub nearby
- Promenade
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Hunstanton Beach Reviews
Amazing Holiday!!
Anna
Nov 09th 2020Lovely place I enjoyed it very much with my family we had an absolutely splendid time!!
Hunstanton
Caroline Dawson
Aug 03rd 2020Lovely promenade walks. Great sandy beach. Lifeguard services. Typical seaside shops. Toilet facilities. Parking available via ticket machine don’t be late back or u will get a ticket.gentle sloping beach idea.for small children. Good views. Arcades and.quaint teashops. Can be classed as having a short hill (for Norfolk) to walk up to town. Places to sit and relax in good weather and bad. Lovely gardens. Lovely Band stand often frequented by Brass bands and other groups. Has a theatre, swimming pool/gym/carpet bowls, Bowling alley, amusements, permanent seaside fair exciting at night as all.lit up making great atmosphere. On the promenade fish stalls, tea and coffee and donuts etc. Dogs not allowed on beach in peak season. Watch out for the traffic queue going towards King’s Lynn as can get very busy watch out for the speed camera. If u want a quieter beach with no attractions then head for old Hunstanton with it’s red cliffs and sandy beach. Don’t picnic right under the cliffs as they are eroding.
Sunny Hunny
Beautiful Promenade with flower gardens planted and cared for by local people and organisations which give it a loved and cherished feel. Clean beach. When the cold North wind blows its always worth trying Sunny Hunny
PS very good fish and chips to take away or eat in air conditioned restaurant.
Cheap and nasty
Rach
Aug 18th 2023The beach is disappointing, mostly shingle, seemed tidy enough with no obvious rubbish. Gardens well kept. Had a round of crazy golf, that was as exciting as it gets. The area is just full of cheap nasty shops selling plastic rubbish and the usual offerings of chips, ice cream and donuts. Not for me and won’t be visiting again
Shaz1
Jun 27th 2023This was the worst beach that I’ve ever seen! It smelt disgusting mostly from that craft that goes on the water/sea. That was pouring out disel fumes enough to make you feel sick. Then the foreshore was covered in a thick layer of sludge! Looking like sewage and smelling same. Dirty nappies strewn open in amongst this filth! Then to top it off as we were desperately making our way to the car the last bay that we came to had a lovely black oil slick floating back and forth with the tide. Why ANYONE would put up with this I have no idea!
Amazing
Mary
Jul 01st 2022This is the best beach I’ve ever been to top quality. Lovely sunsets and lots of places to go. Best chips ever and so many things to see.
It's ok but people are messy
Andy
Jun 02nd 2021I’ve been here today over 4 hours and I’ve seen the poor little pinnies tired , no water and no food just a couple of buckets with, am presume water, it’s been a real sad sight, ladies toilets are ok but some women have no consideration for the next person who will use the toilet after them. No one with masks.
bad
bob
Jun 04th 2019this was a horrible place and experience