Places to visit locally

Our corner of North Norfolk is steeped in history and in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
If you're visiting Wells, there's plenty to see and do...

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Historic sites and villages

Binham Priory

Binham Priory was founded by a nephew of William the Conqueror and is one of the earliest Norman religious foundations in the country. The impressive ruins are set amoung some of the most beautiful countryside with earthworks visible in adjoining fields. Binham is about five miles from Wells.

Warham Camp

If it is earthworks that you are interested in, at Warham there are some of the most impressive and complete in the county. Warham Camp is an Iron Age hill fort in the form of steep banks and deep ditches built on a rise over looking the river Stiffkey. It is a fascinating place to visit and very atmospheric. Warham is around two miles out of Wells.

Burham Thorpe

This is a fascinating village to visit for anybody interested in Naval history as it was the birthplace of Lord Nelson, who father was rector of the parish church. The village's main pub was built in 1637 and was known as The Plough until 1798 when it was renamed The Lord Nelson in honour of the victory at the Battle of the Nile. Nelson held a dinner here prior to his departure to join HMS Agamemnon and a visit to the pub is like stepping back in time. Also a visit to the church is an absolute must with all its Nelson history. Burnham Thorpe is around five miles from Wells.

Walsingham

Around 5 miles from Wells, Walsingham has been a place of pilgrimage since medieval times. Both the Roman Catholic and Anglican shrines in the village attract thousand of visitors and pilgrims each year. It is a beautiful place with an almost tangible atmosphere - a place to forget the material world. Walsingham can be reached from Wells on the Wells and Walsingham Light Railway, the world's longest 10¼" inch railway, which operates a busy timetable with steam and diesel-hauled trains from late March to the start of November.

Holkham Hall

From the spiritual to the splendid, Holkham Hall, situated just along the coast from Wells, is a magnificent Palladian mansion built between 1734 and 1764 by Thomas Coke, the first Earl of Leicester. Not only is the house itself worth a visit but the estate boasts tea rooms, café and the most magnificent parkland to walk around in Norfolk.

Getting about

The Coasthopper bus is an easy way to travel along the north Norfolk coast between King's Lynn and Sheringham, with onward connections to Cromer. Just catch the bus outside the Harbour Chandlery and the Ark Royal at ten minutes to the hour. There are regular buses from Wells to Fakenham and on to Norwich and main line railway services at Kings Lynn and Norwich.

Wells sits on the centre of the North Norfolk Coast path, with just over 20 miles of breath-taking scenery in either direction as well as many fine walks in the local area. Bicycles are a great alternative and can be hired in Wells on Staithe Street or from the Beach Road Car Park in season.

Food for thought

We are very luck in Wells to be spoilt for choice for places to eat and good pubs.

If you are looking for home cooked food, real ales, and a good wine list The Bowling Green Inn on Church Street is a good place to begin. It is said to be the oldest pub in Wells with records of landlords going back to the 1680s and evidence of a pub on the site dating before that; just head for the Church at the bottom of High Street and you will find the Pub nearby.

A warm welcome awaits you at Ollies at the Edinburgh pub. It has a traditional bar, featuring fine local ales, and a cosy winter fire and a summer suntrap beer garden. Ollie's menus include mainly home cooked dishes at affordable prices with a friendly atmosphere and is a family run restaurant that can be found at the top of Staithe Street.

The Crown Hotel, a former coaching inn which overlooks The Buttlands, offers both a formal restaurant and bar meals. There are traditional favourites beside the best of modern British cuisine and dishes influenced by the cooking of the Pacific Rim. Quietly sophisticated - a real experience.

However, if you are after the very best breakfast possible visit Rosemary and Staff at the Harbour Café on the Quayside. Perfect!