The Old Chapel is the perfect self-catering Norfolk holiday cottage from which to explore North Norfolk’s many attractions. With miles of sandy beaches, 81 conservation areas, over 2,000 listed buildings and and 100 scheduled ancient monuments, there’s no shortage of things to see and do. The whole of the North Norfolk coast is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty so there’s far too much to list, but in no particular order here are our top ten, all within 20 miles of The Old Chapel.

Holkham Bay. Come to North Norfolk and meet a genuine Hollywood star. The pristine sands of Holkham beach provided the location for the closing scenes of the Oscar-winning “Shakespeare In Love” as the bard struggled with his latest blockbuster “Romeo And Ethel”. This being Hollywood, there’s no evidence that Shakespeare ever actually visited Holkham beach, but you’ll be glad you did.


Blakeney. A gem of a fishing village, with its narrow streets of fishermen’s cottages. A high point is a boat trip to Blakeney Point, where seals gather to bask in the sun and gaze at holidaymakers.


Wells-Next-The-Sea. A genuine British seaside town, but all in the best possible taste. This is the place to stock up on sticks of rock and Kiss-Me-Quick hats, but afterwards wander out to the woods, sand-dunes, peaceful beach and ponder that eternal question: what is it about the British that makes them spend tens of thousands of pounds on a brightly-coloured beach hut?


Blickling Hall. Now this is our idea of a Norfolk holiday cottage, although we doubt if it was ever self-catering. This National Trust property is one of the finest Jacobean houses in the country, and has a garden to match. Only slightly larger than the Old Chapel, this is your chance to see how the other half used to live.

Little Walsingham. This medieval village is one of Britain’s most important centres of pilgrimage, and has been voted the most spiritual place in the UK: visit at the right time and you may feel the need to don a cassock to blend in with the crowds. But there’s lots to see here for non-believers, and like all the best places of pilgrimage there are a number of fine hostelries where you can quench your thirst. After which you can relieve yourself in one of Britain’s only Grade One listed public lavatories.

Pensthorpe Nature Reserve. Host to the BBC’s Springwatch, this multi award-winning reserve promises to get you “up close and personal” with the local wild-life.


Cley-Next-The-Sea. A victim of earlier climate change, this former fishing village ought to be renamed Cley-Some-Distance-From-The-Sea. What’s left today is a near-perfect near-coastal village with character pubs, fine dining and a collection of quality artists’ shops. It’s also home to the Cley Smokehouse, purveyor of the finest smoked fish anywhere.

Holt. Residents recently celebrated - yes, really - the 300th anniversary of the Great Fire of Holt, when 1708 Mayday festivities got out of hand and the town was razed to the ground. Proving that every smoke-cloud has a silver lining, the residents then set about building the beautiful Georgian town you see today.


Cley Marshes. The oldest Wildlife Trust reserve in the country has an international reputation as one of the finest bird-watching sites in Britain. As a major transport hub for migrating species it’s nature’s version of Heathrow - except that everything works.

Norwich. We know you’ve come to the Old Chapel to get away from the city, but Norwich is that rarity, a city you’ll actually want to visit. Compact enough to stroll around, this beautiful medieval city boasts two cathedrals, a castle, a world-class art gallery and extensive retail therapy opportunities. It’s also the first British city to have its entire centre wireless-enabled. So if you’re very sad you can just sit on a park bench with your laptop and check your email.

Haven't seen enough yet? Feast your eyes on our North Norfolk photo gallery: then pack a camera and make a reservation!



North Norfolk’s policy on road signs, which is largely to have no road signs at all, means that you’ll almost certainly get lost at some point en route from your self-catering Norfolk holiday cottage to our top ten. But it doesn’t matter: wherever you lose yourself in North Norfolk, it’s bound to be interesting, beautiful and an enhancement to your holiday.