Cromer pier at night

Cromer is a town on the North Norfolk coast famous for its crabs, fishermen and lifeboats. The North Norfolk coast is one of the most rapidly eroding coastlines in Europe. A thousand years ago Cromer was inland ('Crow Mere', the lake of crows seen on the town's coat of arms), and the coastal village was called Shipden. This is now several hundred metres out to sea.

Modern Cromer is a mélange of architectural styles. Everything from charming brick-and-flint and stately Georgian, to 1960s carbuncular to modern bungalows and caravan sites. But the heyday was the 19th century, as witnessed by several streets of tall townhouses (now mainly B&B hotels), the growth stimulated by the coming of the railways and when the popularity of the town and environs was raised by the writings of Clement Scott.

Get in

By plane

Norwich Airport (NWI ^IATA) is a small international airport around 19 mi (31 km) south of Cromer. Several airlines operate a small number of shorter-distance routes from destinations in Europe and the UK. Use bus routes X40/X41/44A/44/X44 to Cromer.

London Stansted Airport (STN ^IATA) is a major international airport in Essex, more than 100 mi (160 km) from Cromer by road. Fly into Stansted from destinations throughout the UK, Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. By train, use National Rail trains from Stansted Airport to Norwich, where you can change for trains to Cromer. By bus, use National Express 727/728 to Norwich Bus Station and change for Sanders X40/X41/44A/44/X44.

London Heathrow Airport (LHR ^IATA) is the one of the world's biggest international airports west of London, with routes from destinations in the UK, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and North and South America. It is more than 150 mi (240 km) from Cromer by road. By bus, use National Express 727/728 to Norwich Bus Station and change for Sanders X40/X41/44A/44/X44.

By train

1 Cromer railway station is served by Greater Anglia trains, part of the National Rail network. You must buy a ticket to travel at ticket machines at stations, ticket offices, or using an online retailer like National Rail or The Trainline.

Cromer is on the Bittern Line, named after the Bittern, a wetland bird native to England and resident in Norfolk year-round. Services operate direct from: Norwich, Salhouse, Hoveton and Wroxham, Worstead, North Walsham, Gunton, West Runton and Sheringham.

2 Roughton Road railway station is on the same line, in the south of Cromer.

From destinations further afield, change at Norwich for services to Cromer. Travel to Norwich direct from:

• Greater Anglia from London Liverpool Street, London Stratford, Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, Stowmarket, Diss, Stansted Airport, Audley End for Saffron Walden, Cambridge, Ely, Brandon, Thetford, Attleborough, Wymondham, Lowestoft, Reedham, Great Yarmouth, Acle, Brundall, and other destinations throughout the East of England.
• East Midlands Railway from Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham, Grantham, Peterborough, March, Ely, Thetford, and other destinations throughout the East Midlands and North West England.

By bus

Cromer is served by several bus routes, including:

• Coasthopper CH1 along the North Norfolk coastline from Wells-next-the-Sea, Stiffkey, Morston, Blakeney, Cley, Salthouse, Weybourne, Sheringham, West Runton and East Runton. From King's Lynn, Dersingham, Snettisham, Heacham, Hunstanton, Holme-next-the-Sea, Thornham, Titchwell, Brancaster, Brancaster Staithe, Burnham Deepdale, Burnham Market, Burnham Overy Staithe, Holkham, Wighton, Little Walsingham and Fakenham, use Coastliner 36 and change at Wells-next-the-Sea.
• Coasthopper CH2 from North Walsham, Mundesley and Overstrand.
• Sanders 6A/X6 from Great Yarmouth, Caister, Stalham, North Walsham and Roughton.
• Sanders X40/X41/44A/44/X44 from Norwich, Hellesdon (for Norwich International Airport), Aylsham, Roughton, and Holt, Sheringham, West Runton, and East Runton.

Long-distance National Express coaches call at Norwich Bus Station from London Victoria (490/491), London Stratford (490/491), London Heathrow Airport (727/728), London Stansted Airport (727/728), Cambridge (727/728), Newmarket (727/728), Thetford (490/491) and Great Yarmouth (491/727). Change at Norwich for routes X40/X41/44A/44/X44 to Cromer.

By car

Cromer is in the north-eastern corner of Norfolk.

• from (Ipswich via A14), Stowmarket, Diss, (London via A11), Norwich and Aylsham
• from (Peterborough via A47), King's Lynn, Fakenham and Holt
• from Hunstanton, Brancaster, Wells-next-the-Sea, Sheringham, and Great Yarmouth, Stalham and North Walsham

By bicycle

Regional Cycle Route 30 goes through the town. The Norfolk cycling route, The Rebellion Way, passes close to the town through Sheringham.

On foot

• Norfolk Coast Path. A long distance (63 miles) footpath originally ending at Cromer (running westwards to Hunstanton) but the path now run westwards to Sea Palling. Links to the Peddlars Way long distance footpath near Hunstanton (updated Jun 2017)
• The Weavers' Way (56 miles) ling distance footpath runs to the town from Great Yarmouth.

Get around

Cromer is 23 miles from the centre of Norwich, and is a good base for exploring the north coast of Norfolk. Cromer is on several main roads: to Norwich, Holt, along the coast to Sheringham to the west and Overstrand to the west, which can get congested in the town centre especially during the summer months. Although Cromer bustles at all times of the year it is much busier in the summer, especially during Carnival Week in mid-August. There are several car parks inside the town, all of which are pay-and-display. Competition for the few free parking bays is fierce. On the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month, Cromer's Market is held inside the Meadow Car Park, reducing the number of available spaces.

In Cromer and in general in East Anglia, bringing or hiring a car is highly recommended as the area has many small villages and towns separated by long country roads. There are quite a few reasonably good local bus companies (Sanders is the main one) and although Cromer is remarkably hilly for Norfolk, cycling is a good way to get around.

See

Cromer Church

Cromer Lighthouse

Cromer Pier Lifeboat Station

• 1 The Lighthouse, Overstrand Rd, Cromer, NR27 0JH. A pleasant walk eastwards from the town centre and affords fine views.  
• 2 Amazona Zoo, Hall Road, Cromer, NR27 9JG, ☏ +44 1263 510741, hello@amazonazoo.co.uk. 10AM-5PM (last admission 4PM). View and learn about a wide variety of animals from South America. Cafe and Gift Shop on site. £11.50 adult, £8.50 child (other options). (updated Apr 2017)
• 3 Cromer Beach, Runton Rd, Cromer, NR27 9HP. The beach at Cromer is public and free to access and rated very highly. The West Beach (west of the pier) is more built up, with toilets, a shop and a funfair. The East Beach (east of the pier) has fewer amenities. Walking east along the shore, you'll soon be out of the main tourist orbit, and even in the summer holidays you can have huge stretches of beautiful beach more or less to yourself. Even in winter it has a rugged grandeur. The most notable beach fauna is the edible crab (Carcinus edulis), served when available in local cafés and restaurants. Crab boats can be seen launching and returning with their catch. (updated Apr 2017)
• 4 Cromer Museum, East Cottages, Tucker Street, Cromer, NR27 9HB (near the church), ☏ +44 1263 513543, cromer.museum@norfolk.gov.uk. The Cromer Museum is housed in several converted fishermen's cottages, and includes many interesting and picturesque arcana of local and town life. It also includes a few scraps of the famous West Runton Elephant. Some of the rest of this enormous fossil beast can be found in the Norwich Castle museum. There are also displays of local lore and legend including the Black Shuck. (updated Apr 2017)
• 5 Cromer Pier and Pavilion Theatre, ☏ +44 1263 512495. Cromer Pier is one of the oldest in the country and has been damaged and restored several times. The Pavilion Theatre at the end of the pier runs a Seaside Special variety show during the summer season (June to September), and also around Christmas. There is lots of other entertainment throughout the year from ballet to variety to blues and folk and rock. Check the web-site for dates, times, prices, and tickets. Fireworks on the pier are a highlight on 1 January and in Carnival Week, and the pier is a good place to stand when observing the traditional Boxing Day Swim on 26 December. Beyond the theatre is the new lifeboat station. The old one is on shore, next to the Henry Blogg RNLI lifeboat museum.  
• 6 RNLI Henry Blogg Museum (Cromer Lifeboat Museum), The Rocket House, The Gangway, Cromer, NR27 9ET, ☏ +44 1263 511294, blogg_museum@rnli.org.uk. February to early December: 10AM-4PM. Learn about the courageous lifesavers. See one of the lifesaving boats. Free. 
• 7 Felbrigg Hall, Felbrigg NR11 8PR, ☏ +44 1263 837444, felbrigg@nationaltrust.org.uk. Daily 9:30AM-4:30PM. Sumptuous hall built from 1624 with Jacobean exterior and Georgian interior; it was inherited by the National Trust in 1969. The grounds include an attractive walled garden. Gardens £8. (updated Apr 2021)
• 8 Cromer Church, Church St, Cromer, NR27 9HH. Like many Norfolk churches, it is much vaster than would seem to be necessary. Much of it was restored after partial destruction by a World War II bomb. The view from the tower is, reputedly, extensive. (updated Apr 2017)

Do

Cromer (7970748860)

• Cromer has three Amusement Arcades on or near the Promenade.
• Go gillying – catch edible crabs with a line, bait, weight and net from Cromer Pier, or attend the Cromer Crab Festival.
• Surf – believe it or not, Cromer and nearby East Runton offer reasonable surfing.
• 1 Regal Movieplex, 2-4 Hans Place, Cromer, NR27 9EQ, ☏ +44 1263 510151. shows all the latest releases. Screen one still has a mighty wurlitzer in it. Screen four is hardly bigger than one's front room. If you like 3D and earsplitting surroundsound, go elsewhere; it's a popular local cinema, even more so when it rains (frequently) during the summer holidays. It's also much cheaper than big city picture houses. (updated Apr 2017)
• 2 Royal Cromer Golf Club, 145 Overstrand Rd, Cromer, NR27 0JH, ☏ +44 1263 512884. It offers a course as challenging as it is spectacular. (updated Apr 2017)
• 3 Glide Surf School, Cromer Promenade, Cromer, NR27 9HE, ☏ +44 1263 805005, benjaminkewell@glidesurfschool.co.uk. Surf school, paddle boarding, equipment hire. (updated Apr 2017)

Buy

• Shopping: Cromer has many of the usual chain stores, charity shops and so on, but has a selection of unusual independent gift shops, secondhand book stores, grocers, hardware stores and so on, and in the Crossways tobacconists, one of the last of its kind.
• 1 Morrisons (Supermarket), Holt Rd, Cromer, NR27 9SW, ☏ +44 1263 515275. M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM. ATMs. (updated Apr 2017)
• 2 Co-Op (Supermarket), Middlebrook Way. Holt Rd, Cromer, NR27 9JR, ☏ +44 1263 511277. M-F 8AM-9PM, Sa 8AM-8PM, Su 10AM-4PM. ATMs. (updated Apr 2017)
• 3 Wet Dog Surf Shop, 7 Tucker St, Cromer, NR27 9HA, ☏ +44 1263 519703, info@wetdogsurfshop.co.uk. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 11AM-4PM. Surf & skate shop. (updated Apr 2017)
• 4 Amy's Sweet Shop (Traditional Sweet Shop), 11b West Street, Cromer, NR27 9HZ, ☏ +44 1263 511418, amyssweetshop@googlemail.com. M Tu 9AM-5PM, W 9:30AM-1PM, Th-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 11AM-4PM. (updated Apr 2017)

Cyclists

• 5 Black Bikes (http://www.black-bikes.co.uk), 28 Beeston Rd, Sheringham, NR26 8EH (4½ miles W of town.), ☏ +44 1263 822255, blackbikes.gs@gmail.com. M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM. Sales, service & repair, hire. (updated Apr 2017)
• 6 Halfords, Unit C, North Norfolk Retail Park, Holt Rd, Cromer, NR27 9ST, ☏ +44 1263 510420. M-Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 10AM-5PM. (updated Apr 2017)

Eat

• North Sea Coffee by the lifeboat museum only serves coffee and cake, but thy're good. It's open daily 8:30AM-4PM.
• 1 Will's Plaice (East Runton Fish & Chip Shop), Beach Road, East Runton, NR27 9PA, ☏ +44 1263 519222. Daily 12:30-2PM, 5-8:30PM (seasonal variations). (updated Apr 2017)
• 2 The Old Rock Shop Bistro, 10 Hamilton Road, Cromer, NR27 9HL, ☏ +44 1263 511926, info@theoldrockshopbistro.co.uk. Daily 8AM-6PM. Great local café. (updated Apr 2017)
• 3 The Rocket House café, The Gangway, East Promenade, Cromer, NR27 9ET (above RNLI Henry Blogg Museum), ☏ +44 1263 519126, rockethousecafe@hotmail.com. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa Su 10AM-5PM. A room with a view, this is found on top of the lifeboat museum (updated Apr 2017)
• 4 Peggotty's, 6 Hamilton Rd, Cromer, NR27 9HL, ☏ +44 1263 511876. Daily 7:30AM-6PM. Great when you need that all-day fry-up. (updated Apr 2017)
• 5 The Bann Thai, 1a Church St, Cromer, NR27 9ER, ☏ +44 1263 513193. M 5-10PM, Tu-Sa noon-2:30PM & 5-10PM, Su 5-10PM. Homecooked Thai cuisine (updated Apr 2017)
• 6 Browne’s on Bond Street (Tea Rooms), 5 Bond St, Cromer, NR27 9DA, ☏ +44 1263 512320. M-Sa 8:30AM-4:30PM. Formerly Aristocrats Tea Rooms. (updated Apr 2017)
• 7 Cromer Tandoori Restaurant, 29 Church St, Cromer, NR27 9ES, ☏ +44 1263 513166. M-Sa noon-2PM & 5-11PM, Su noon-11PM. (updated Apr 2017)
• 8 Dalia Spice, 36 Prince Of Wales Rd, Cromer, NR27 9HS, ☏ +44 1263 519700. M-Sa noon-2PM & 5-11PM, Su noon-10PM. (updated Apr 2017)
• 9 Mary Jane's Fish Restaurant, 27-29 Garden St, Cromer, NR27 0AA, ☏ +44 1263 511208, maryjanes@gmail.com. Take-away & restaurant. (updated Apr 2017)
• 10 Bolton's Bistro, Seafront, Cromer, NR27 9AS (Inside Cliftonville Hotel.), ☏ +44 1263 512543. Slightly posher than most, a short walk from the town centre. (updated Apr 2017)
• 11 Kanton Chinese Takeaway, 30 Church St, Cromer, NR27 9ES, ☏ +44 1263 517171. (updated Apr 2017)
• No. 1 Cromer, 1 New St NR27 9HPR (by pier), ☏ +44 1263 515983. Daily noon-8PM. Upmarket fish & chips restaurant and takeaway with views of the pier. (updated Aug 2022)
• 12 Le Moon Chinese Restaurant, 5a Prince of Wales Rd, Cromer, NR27 9HR, ☏ +44 1263 511615. Daily 5-11PM. (updated Apr 2017)
• 13 Breakers Cafe, 28 Garden St, Cromer, NR27 9HN, ☏ +44 1263 515060. Daily from 8:30AM (close time seasonal). (updated Apr 2017)
• 14 Park Chippy, 37 Station Rd, Cromer, NR27 0DX, ☏ +44 1263 513050. (updated Apr 2017)
• 15 Groveland Farm Shop, Thorpe Market Road, Roughton, NR11 8TB, ☏ +44 1263 833777, admin@grovelandfarmshop.co.uk. Has a small attached cafe specializing in sweet and savory waffles. Many of the ingredients are fresh grown on the farm. (updated Apr 2017)
• Rocky Bottoms is a seafood restaurant and takeaway next to Dormy House Hotel on West Runton Beach, open Su-Th noon-17:00, F Sa noon-8PM.

Drink

• 1 Sticky Earth Café, 15 Church St, Cromer, NR27 9ES, ☏ +44 1263 519642. M Th F 10AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-5:30PM, Su 11AM-4:30PM. Enjoy hot and cold drinks while painting pottery. (updated Apr 2017)
• 2 The White Horse, West St, Cromer, NR27 9DS, ☏ +44 1263 512275. Live music occasionally on Saturdays. Also food & rooms. (updated Apr 2017)
• 3 The Red Lion, Brook St, Cromer, NR27 9HD, ☏ +44 1263 514964, info@redlion-cromer.co.uk. Daily 11AM-11PM. Great selection of beers and superior bar food. A good place for a quiet pint overlooking the sea. Also food & rooms. (updated Apr 2017)
• 4 The Kings Head, High St, Cromer, NR27 9HG, mark@kingsheadcromer.co.uk. Also food. (updated Apr 2017)
• 5 The Wellington, Garden Street, Cromer, NR27 9HN, ☏ +44 1263 511075. M-Th 11AM-11PM, F Sa 11AM-midnight, Su noon-10:30PM. (updated Apr 2017)
• 6 Cromer pier bar. (updated Oct 2020)

Sleep

Accommodation is plentiful and cheap, especially out of season.

• 1 Cromer House Bed & Breakfast, 10 Alfred Road, Cromer, NR27 9AN, ☏ +44 1263 510923, cromerhouse@hotmail.co.uk. Satellite TV. Free Wi-Fi. (updated Apr 2017)
• The White House. Bed and breakfast on cliff drive. 
• 2 The Dormy House Hotel, 100 Cromer Rd, West Runton, NR27 9QA, ☏ +44 1263 837537, enquiries@dormyhouse.net. £135-145 (offers sometimes available). (updated Apr 2017)
• 3 Beachcomber Guest House, 17 Macdonald Rd, Cromer, NR27 9AP, ☏ +44 1263 513398, jill@cromer-beachcomber.co.uk. Check-in: 1PM (prior arrangement for after 8PM), check-out: 10:30AM. No pets. (updated Apr 2017)
• 4 Ogilvy House B&B, 7 St Mary's Rd, Cromer, NR27 9DJ, ☏ +44 1263 511170, ogilvyhouse@gmail.com. No pets. £78-£88. (updated Apr 2017)
• 5 Pantiles B&B, The Croft, Cromer, NR27 9EH, ☏ +44 1263 512728, jilly@pantiles-cromer.co.uk. No children, no pets, no one night stays. (updated Apr 2017)
• 6 Glendale Guest House, 33 Macdonald Rd, Cromer, NR27 9AP, ☏ +44 1263 513278, glendalecromer@btconnect.com. 3* £35-45 (one night, lower for longer stays). (updated Apr 2017)
• Many of the private homes in Cromer are Holiday Homes and may be available for rental or time sharing, especially out of season.
• Touring: there are many touring parks and campsites around Cromer, especially on the west side towards East Runton.
• Visitor Centre. Next to the Meadow Car Park. Inside are some very nice loos - and all the information you'll need on local sights and accommodation.
• 7 Gunton Arms, Cromer Rd, Thorpe Market NR11 8TZ, ☏ +44 1263 832010. Off-beat small hotel in deer park, quirky mixture of antique, modern, and art-junk. Good dining. B&B double £130. (updated Jun 2020)
• 8 Saracen's Head, Wall Rd, Walterton NR11 7LZ, ☏ +44 1263 768909. Country inn with rooms, dog-friendly, and good restaurant. B&B double £110. (updated Dec 2021)

Stay healthy

• 1 Nearest Accident & Emergency: Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital (Casualty or the Emergency Room), Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UY (25 miles S of the town.). 24/7. (updated Apr 2017)
• 2 Minor Injuries Unit, Cromer and District Hospital, Mill Road, Cromer, Norfolk, NR27 0BQ. Daily 8AM-8PM. Minor head injuries (with no loss of consciousness) simple wounds; Simple eye conditions, foreign body, corneal abrasions; minor burns; soft tissue injury; bites and stings, with no associated complications, or acute reaction; simple fractures; fingers that may be broken or dislocated (updated Apr 2017)
• 3 Cromer Group Practice (GP/Primary Healthcare), 48 Overstrand Rd, Cromer, NR27 0AJ, ☏ +44 1263 513148. M 8:30AM-6PM, Tu 8:30AM-1PM & 2-6PM, W-F 8:30AM-6PM. (updated Apr 2017)
• 4 Corner House Dental Practice, 24 Norwich Rd, Cromer, NR27 0AX, ☏ +44 1263 512390. M-F 8:30AM-5PM. (updated Apr 2017)
• 5 Lloyds Pharmacy, 51 Church Street, Cromer, NR27 9HH, ☏ +44 1263 512171. M-F 9AM-6PM, Sa 9AM-5:30PM. (updated Apr 2017)

Connect

As of July 2022, Cromer and its approach roads have 4G from EE, O2 and Vodafone, but no signal from Three. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

• Blakeney (Norfolk) with Blakeney Point Seal Colony and Norfolk Wildlife Trust Cley Marshes Nature Reserve
• Hunstanton
• Wells-next-the-Sea with its oysters and its seal-watching trips.
• Weybourne
• Norwich
• Walking long distance North Norfolk Coast Path that leads via spectacular cliffs, breathtaking beaches and charming woodland to Hunstanton westbound and Sea Palling eastbound. A lovely walk at low tide is the mile between Cromer and Overstrand, which has refreshments and loos, and back again. Where else can you walk a mile completely barefoot?
• Along the coast - to the west, visit the village of Overstrand. This was once very fashionable with some spectacular houses and one or two fairly upscale hotels such as the Sea Marge, reminiscent of an earlier age.
• Inland - lovers of great houses can visit Blickling Hall (National Trust) nr Aylsham, home of the Boleyns, with lovely gardens and one of the best secondhand bookshops anywhere
• National Trust's Sheringham Park, woodland park and gardens with coastal views.