Wroxham and Hoveton
Wroxham and Hoveton are two towns in Norfolk separated by the River Bure. They are connected by a road, foot and rail bridges. Wroxham is unofficially often known as "Capital of the Broads", though in practice Hoveton has the vast majority of marinas, boat yards and boat hire centres, and most of the commercial activity.
Understand
The Broads are an important aspect to the area and both towns have "their" broads 1 Wroxham Broad and 2 Hoveton Great Broad & 3 Hoveton Little Broad.
Both towns have a lot for tourists are can get quite busy during the height of summer. The River Bure from the town and downstream can also get busy through high season. However, the road bridge connecting the towns is quite low and upstream the river is generally quieter as the larger cruisers are unable to get under the low bridge.
Get in
By road
The A1151 main road connects the towns to Norwich to the S (9 miles to the SW) and runs on to the NE to other local towns. The B1354 connects the towns to Coltishall (2½ miles to the NW) and the A1062 connects the towns to Horning (3 miles to the E) and on to Ludham and Potter Heighham (9 miles to the E).
By rain
- 4 Railway Station, Station Rd, Hoveton, NR12 8UR. Station and rail services provided by Greater Anglia. station on the Bittern Line running from Norwich to Cromer & Sheringham.
By bus
Sanders Coaches X11 service connects the towns to Norwich (to the SW) and Stalham (to the NE).
By boat
The towns lie on the River Bure and are in the Norfolk Broads National Park (at least the river bank parts of the towns lie within the National Park). There are both commercial marinas (private) and some free Broads Authority moorings in and close to the towns. The river can get busy in the height of the summer holiday season.
Get around
The towns are small enough to see on foot.
See
- 1 Wroxham Minature Worlds (Indoor Model (Railways) Attraction/Exhibition), Station Business Park, Horning Rd West, Hoveton NR12 8QJ, ☏ +44 1603 781728, info@wroxhamminiatureworlds.co.uk. Adult £9.93, child (5+) £6.95, concession £9.95.
Do
- 1 BeWILDerwood (Forest Family Adventure), Horning Rd, Hoveton, NR12 8JW, ☏ +44 1692 633033, explore@BeWILDerwood.co.uk. Treehouses, zip wires, jungle bridges, Crocklebogs, Twiggles and Boggles, storytelling, boat trips, bike hire, marsh walks, etc.
- 2 Bure Valley Railway (Steam railway line between Aylsham and Hoveton), ☏ +44 1263 733858.
- 3 Broadland Cycle Hire Centre (Between Hoveton and Horning on the A1062 at BeWILDerwood), ☏ +44 7887 480331 (mobile).
- 4 Broadland Cycle Hire Automated Station, Station Rd, Hoveton, NR12 8UR, ☏ +44 1603 552563 (to book). 24/7. Call in advance to book and get PIN to release bike from station.
- 5 Barton House Railway (Miniature ride on railway & railway artefact museum), Hartwell Rd, The Avenue, Wroxham, NR12 8TL, ☏ +44 1603 782008, enquiries@bartonhouserailway.org.uk. Adult £3.00 child £1.50.
- 6 Wroxham Barns, Tunstead Rd, Hoveton, NR12 8QU, ☏ +44 1603 783762, info@wroxhambarns.co.uk. Daily 10AM-5PM (closes at dusk in winter). Junior farm (incl. bottle feeding lambs). Children's fun-fair. Shops and crafts. Restaurants and cafés. Free parking.
Boat hire
If out on the water on the River Bure in the Wroxham/Hoveton/Salhouse area, keep your eye's open for the "Ice Cream Boat" (you'll know it when you see it - selling ice creams to those in boats or on the shore.
- 7 Wroxham Boat Hire, The Broads Centre, Riverside Rd, Hoveton, NR12 8UD, ☏ +44 1603 783051. High season: 1 hr £20 to 4 hr £65; low season: 1 hr £20 to 4 hr £65. Day boat and Canadian canoe hire.
- 8 Barnes Brinkcraft, Riverside Rd, Hoveton, NR12 8UD, ☏ +44 1603 782625, bookings@barnesbrinkcraft.co.uk. Summer: daily 8AM-5PM; winter: M-F 8AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-4PM. Cruiser and day boat hire
- 9 Broads Tours, The Bridge, Wroxham, NR12 8RX, ☏ +44 1603 782207, info@broadstours.co.uk. Ma-Oct: daily 8AM-5:30PM Nov-Feb: M-F 8AM-5:30PM, Sa 9AM-2PM, Su 10AM-3PM. Day boat hire and river trips.
- 10 Richardson’s Day Boat Hire, The Rhond, Hoveton, NR12 8UD, ☏ +44 1603 782309. Various different day boats.
- 11 Wroxham Launch Hire (Day boat hire), King's Staithe, The Bridge, Hoveton, NR12 8DA, ☏ +44 1603 783043, mail@wroxhamlaunchhire.co.uk.
- 12 Salhouse Broad Canoe & Kayak Hire, Lower St, Salhouse NR13 6RX (3 miles SE of towns (by road)), ☏ +44 1603 722775, theranger@salhousebroad.org.uk.
Buy
- 1 Roys (Department Store), Stalham Rd, Hoveton, NR12 8DB, ☏ +44 1603 782131. M-F 9AM-8PM, Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 10:30AM-4:30PM (browsing from 10AM). Department store, and nearby garden centre, toy store, food hall, petrol station. Known as "the world's largest village store".
- 2 Nisa (Convenience Store), Riverside Rd, Hoveton, NR12 8AJ, ☏ +44 1603 782859. M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 9AM-9PM.
Eat
- 1 Ken's Traditional Fish & Chips (Restaurant & Take-away), The Bridge, 63 Norwich Rd, Hoveton, NR12 8DA, ☏ +44 1603 784445. Summer: M-Sa 11:30AM-2:30PM & 4:30-7:30PM, Su 11:30AM-6PM.
- 2 The Old Mill (Restaurant & Café Bar), Norwich Rd, Hoveton, NR12 8DA, ☏ +44 1603 783744. Free Wi-Fi. Riverside.
- 3 Yim Siam (Thai Restaurant), Riverside Centre, Hoveton, NR12 8AJ, ☏ +44 1603 781133, contact@yimsiam.co.uk. Tu-F noon-3PM & 5:30-10PM, Su M 5:30-10PM.
- 4 Wherryman's (Restaurant), The Bridge, Norwich Rd, Wroxham, NR12 8RX, ☏ +44 1603 784041, wherrymans@btconnect.com. Jun-Sep: 9AM-9PM; Apr May Oct 9AM-3:30OM. Pizza £8; 8-oz steak £15..
- 5 The Station Smokehouse (Restaurant), Station Rd, Hoveton, NR12 8UT, ☏ +44 1603 920123. Hand made burgers, smoked meats cooked over a fire.
Drink
- 1 No 14 Coffee, Number 14, Norwich Rd, Hoveton, NR12 8DA, ☏ +44 1603 784348. M-Sa 9AM-4PM, Su 10AM-4PM.
- 2 The River Kitchen (Café & Restaurant), Riverside Rd, Hoveton, NR12 8UD, ☏ +44 1603 926560, admin@theriverkitchen.com. M-F 9AM-3:30PM, Sa Su 9AM-4PM.
- 3 The King's Head Hotel (Restaurant & Bar), Station Rd, Hoveton, NR12 8UR, ☏ +44 1603 782429, 6924@greeneking.co.uk.
- 4 [dead link] The Boatshed (Bar & Food), Staitheway Rd, Wroxham, NR12 8TH, ☏ +44 1603 783892. M-F 4-11PM, Sa Su 1-11PM; food Th F 6-10PM, Sa 1-3PM & 6-10PM.
- 5 Bijou (Wine Bar, wine shop & Delicatessen), Station Business Park, Horning Rd West, Hoveton, NR12 8QJ, ☏ +44 1603 784990, info@bouchonwinebar.com. Tu W 10AM-6PM, Th-Sa 10AM-late.
Sleep
- 1 Hotel Wroxham, The Wroxham, The Bridge, Hoveton, NR12 8AJ, ☏ +44 1603 782061, reservations@hotelwroxham.co.uk.
- 2 Delaware Wroxham (B&B), Tunstead Rd, Hoveton, NR12 8QN, ☏ +44 1603 781947, eilidh-villa@hotmail.co.uk. Check-in: 10AM, check-out: 4-9:30PM. AA 4*. No children under 14. No pets. £65-75 per night (2 people sharing).
- 3 St Gregory's (B&B), 11 Stalham Rd, Hoveton, NR12 8DG, ☏ +44 1603 784319, info@stgregoryswroxham.co.uk. Double/twin £75 per night (single occupancy £55).
- 4 The Coach House (B&B), 96 Norwich Rd, Wroxham, NR12 8RY, ☏ +44 1603 784 376, stay@coachhousewroxham.com. No children. No pets. Single occupancy from £70. Double occupancy from £90..
- 5 Wroxham Park Lodge (Guest House), 142 Norwich Rd, Wroxham, NR12 8SA, ☏ +44 1603 782991, parklodge@computer-assist.net. Double/twin £68-70, single £48-50.
- 6 [dead link] The Vineries (B&B), 72 Stalham Rd, Hoveton, NR12 8D, ☏ +44 1603 782514, enquiries@thevineries.com. £75 per couple per night.
- 7 Salhouse Broad Camping, Lower St, Salhouse NR13 6RX (3 miles SE of towns (by road)), ☏ +44 1603 722775, theranger@salhousebroad.org.uk. Pitches and camping "pods"
Connect
As of Sep 2022, these villages and their approach roads have 4G with all UK carriers, though O2 is patchy. 5G has not reached this area.
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