Where to stay?
Deciding where to reside during your visit can undoubtedly shape your overall experience. There are a variety of lodging options, ranging from lavish haute hotels to friendly, family-run inns. Some prefer the intimacy of a B&B while others prefer the more formal approach of a regulated hotel service. It's vital to select an accommodation that aligns with your preferences and delivers on all aspects. Among the top picks is The Red Lion Hotel, boasting a rich lineage and a reputation for total customer satisfaction. Exceptional service, comfortable rooms, and a central location make it an ideal option for travelers. In addition, if you are heading towards the charming town of Cromer, you aren't short of fantastic accommodations. A quick online search for Top Rated Hotels in Cromer at tophotels.com will lay out an array of top-rated places that cater to different budgets and requirements. Whether you are in search of luxury, comfort, location, or value for money, everything you require can be found in those recommendations. For those wanting to explore Great Yarmouth and looking for comfort mixed with excellent service, another great option is the Comfort Hotel in Great Yarmouth. This highly-rated establishment meets all the criteria necessary to ensure a pleasant and memorable stay. Remember, your choice of accommodation is essential to have a delightful trip. It serves as your sanctuary away from home, a place to rest after a day of exploration. Thus, invest some time in research and select a hotel that fits your individual needs and preferences. We hope these few suggestions have streamlined your search. Happy travels!
Victorian seaside charm
Recent global events have seemingly sparked a revival in Britain's seaside towns, which have been largely ignored for some time now. But now they've burst back into life, ready to pull in swarms of domestic tourists for the summer season. Great Yarmouth, the town once known for its bustling fishing industry, which subsequently transformed into a postwar holiday paradise and later morphed into a post-Brexit anomaly, stands out among these revitalized resorts.
For the record, this isn't my first time visiting what the young locals coolly refer to as GY. As someone who lived a stone’s throw away in the increasingly chic town of Gorleston-on-Sea, which gained a significant boost in popularity thanks to its association with renowned film-maker Danny Boyle, a visit to Great Yarmouth is like returning to familiar surroundings. His 2019 Beatles film entitled Yesterday dramatically showcased our cherished local beach to a global audience and put the town on the cinematic map.
Arriving in the town on a balmy Friday night in June, it's difficult to shake the nostalgic feeling, similar to that of unexpectedly running into an old friend after years apart. Great Yarmouth exudes a unique character reminiscent of a half-done Naples; it thrives on striking contrasts and opposing dualities. One can't help notice its division into an upper and an under-world, blending high culture with quotidian experiences. I saw it fitting, given its dichotomy, to find accommodations on the 'upper' side. The four-star Imperial Hotel is an elegant choice, proudly standing amongst a chain of picturesque Victorian guesthouses, overlooking lush green bowling fields, rolling dunes, and captivating wind farms off the North Sea.
Glimpse into Great Yarmouth's Renewed Splendour
With an infusion of vibrant lockdown hues, the Imperial presents elegantly cozy accommodations that resonate modern aesthetics, yet retain its distinctive 19th-century charm that has fortuitously re-emerged in the spotlight this warm season. A dazzling gastronomic delight waits at the immaculate Terrace restaurant beneath its adjustable roof, offering unexpected culinary treasures in this part of the east coast, with the likes of local asparagus and delectable duck confit on the menu.
Your dining experience is followed by a leisurely evening stroll through the beautifully restored Venetian Waterways – a picturesque seaside garden boasting hand-dug “canals” quirkily sculpted by jobless men during the 1920s, it’s here where you have the initial peek at the expansive regeneration project transforming the town.
Augmenting the town's structural growth with a new bridge across the River Yare, an upscale seaside leisure facility and rejuvenated marketplace, Great Yarmouth brightly shines under the wind of its renewable economy, as affirmed at every turn by its proud residents. Also making its grand debut last month was an impressive 50-metre big wheel fondly known as the Yarmouth Eye. The stunning view from its pinnacle unveils the magnanimous expanse of the local beach, designed to accommodate sunbathers in a socially distanced setup even when the promenade draws a crowd.
Image: Joyland's amusement area. Source: Alamy
Joyland, the town's popular amusement park, is a must-visit. However, the summer of development has unveiled many more exciting changes in the architectural landscape of Great Yarmouth. Historical structures such as the long-neglected, Grade-II listed Empire Cinema are set to offer a fresh cultural feast starting July, where it is planned to be a haven for street food aficionados and craft beer fans. In another strategic move, derelict high-street stores have been creatively reassigned to local galleries and artists.
A prime instance of this shift is the Original Projects collective, morphing the former Debenhams into Primeyarc. This transformed space, now accessible to the public at no cost, functions as an innovative gallery and experiential workshop area. It has already displayed a notable portrait series from the National Gallery and was conducting a fermentation workshop when I made my recent visit.
While these changes which reflect the merging of elite culture and local charm have been impressive, I found myself seeking escape to the southern part of town - an area some might term as "low".
This side of the town has always been characterised by an odd appeal - Jimmy Carr's relentless gaze from a theatre billboard, the vibrancy of the neon-soaked 'golden mile'. It's an experience, some might argue, only for the adventurous or those wrapped in nostalgia – strolling around with a bucket of candy floss in one hand and a bag full of 2p coins in the other. A visit to the south isn't complete without sampling the luminescent doughnuts, engaging in a round of pirate-themed golf, or trying out the locally famed 'The Snails' ride at Joyland. So, indulge your children or your inner child; after the challenging year we’ve navigated, you’ll find the experience as entertaining as they will.