Things to See and Do in Great Yarmouth, UK

The seaside town of Great Yarmouth is quite popular with visitors. According to a recent report, nearly 5 million people visit the seaside town each year. Whether you are visiting in Spring or Summer, Autumn or Winter, there is always something to see and do in the town. The town's proximity to the Norfolk Broads is another plus point in its favour, I feel.

The main attraction in Great Yarmouth is undoubtedly the miles and miles of beautiful sandy beach. The beaches in Great Yarmouth are clean and are prefect for families and walkers. Deck chairs and wind breaks are available for hire and you can while away hours enjoying the seaside.

There are two piers - Britannia Pier and Wellington Pier. Britannia Pier has a theatre in addition to the usual selection of amusement arcades that you would find on a pier. There is also a pub; as well as some food stalls. Wellington Pier has a good choice of gaming machines and entertainment for both children and adults. There is a bowling alley at the end of the pier. Both the piers offer good views of the beach.

For movie lovers there is the Yarmouth Hollywood Cinema which has 5 screens while for those interested in museums, you have the award winning Time and Tide museum which is very informative and interesting.

The Sea Life Centre makes for a great family day out as it has lots for children to see and do. The entry price to the centre allows you re-admission throughout the day, so you can experience all that Sea Life has to offer, including all the talks and animal feeding sessions.

Merrivale Model Village is perfect to spend a couple of hours or longer. Just like the Sea Life Centre, the entry ticket can be used all day long. You can go do something else, grab a bite to eat, relax on the beach and then come back again. The Model Village boasts of approximately 350 metres of train tracks running throughout the garden. There are also a wide range of vintage slot machines and a traditional 9 Hole Crazy Golf.

For those who wish to indulge in some retail therapy, Great Yarmouth has several shopping streets - King Street, Regent Road, Northgate Street - all leading to the town centre. You will find small independent shops, family-run shops as well as popular high street stores selling everything from fashion accessories & clothing to gift items & souvenirs and antiques & crafts. There are a number of cafes and tea rooms, takeaways and pubs where you can enjoy a delicious meal out or doughnuts or ice cream.

If you want to enjoy a spot of mini golf with some good scenery, then head to Pirate’s Cove, an 18 hole Adventure Golf Course right on the promenade.

You can also enjoy a horse and carriage ride or a train ride both of which take you along the sea front. The Great Yarmouth Road Train has two routes -  from Landaus Station to South Beach Parade and a town centre circular route. On the beach donkey rides (for children) seemed to be very popular when we visited.

Located at the top of Great Yarmouth's Golden Mile is the Pleasure Beach, a free entry pleasure park that has some popular high-octane rides like the Roller Coaster (also known as Scenic Railway), The View (a 108 foot tall Ferris wheel), Flying Dumbo and the recently opened Reverse Time. The park is not open daily, so check for the opening times and token/ride prices before you visit.

Another free entry amusement park in Great Yarmouth is Joyland. It is located next to Britannia Pier. The park is quite old (it opened in 1949) but has its own charm. It is great fun for families with young children.

There are many other fun attractions and things to do in Great Yarmouth, all in close proximity to the piers - The Golden Nugget (family entertainment centre), Quasar (laser tag arena), Indoor bowls at Great Yarmouth's Marina Leisure & Fitness Centre to name a few. All in all, Great Yarmouth Has loads of things to see and do for everyone.

Tip: If you are in Great Yarmouth, a trip to the Broads should be included in your itinerary. Depending on the time at hand, you could opt for a day boat hire or a luxury boat hire for a few days. The 3 day Norfolk Broads itinerary that I have put together would be a great way to explore the Broads, even for first-timers.