- For other places with the same name, see Holt (disambiguation).
Understand
[edit]The town dates back to Roman times. The town's name derives from the Anglo-Saxon name for woodland. In the early 1700s the town comprised predominantly wooden buildings and in 1708 was almost completely destroyed by fire. However, over the subsequent 100 years the town was re-built though mainly using stone and flint construction, thus most building are now Georgian.
The town is known for Gresham's Public School which has many prominent former pupils.
Get in
[edit]By train
[edit]- 1 Railway Station (Poppy Line), NR25 6AJ (1 minute from town centre), ☏ +44 1263 820800, enquiries@nnrailway.co.uk. The town is the terminus of Poppy Line from Sheringham. The station is actually a 1½ miles from the town centre. Large car park with disabled spaces.
By coach
[edit]There is a daily National Express service to London
By bus
[edit]Sanders Coaches run a wide variety of services and route from the town to nearby towns including Norwich, Cromer, North Walsham, Sheringham, Aylsham and Wells-next-the-Sea.
By car
[edit]The town lies on the A148 King's Lynn (via Fakenham) to Cromer main road, 11 miles from Cromer, 35 miles from King's Lynn and 13 miles from Fakenham. The town is around 45 minutes drive from Norwich.
By bicycle
[edit]The town lies 1½ miles from Regional Cycle Route 30 (which runs round the N Norfolk Coast, then from Lowestoft W inland, through Diss, Thetford and beyond).
Get around
[edit]The town is small enough to get around on foot.
See
[edit]- 1 Letheringsett Watermill (Working Watermill), Riverside Rd, Letheringsett, NR25 7YD (1½ miles W of town), ☏ +44 1263 713153, watermill@ic24.net. Mill shop: M-F 9AM-4PM, Sa 9AM-1PM; mill working: Tu W F 11AM-3PM. Shop selling flour ground at the mill. Guided tours (by prior arrangement only).
In the nearby village of 1 Hunworth
- 2 Parish Church of St Lawrence (3 miles S of Holt).
- 3 Hunworth Hall.
- 4 Hunworth Watermill. Dates back to 1760. On River Glaven.
- 5 Thursford Steam Engine Collection, Thursford, NR21 0AS, ☏ +44 1328 878477.
Do
[edit]- Take a walk at Spout Hills, or in the Country Park.
- 1 North Norfolk Railway (The Poppy Line), NR25 6AJ, ☏ +44 1263 820800, enquiries@nnrailway.co.uk. A 5-mile, 23-minute steam train ride from Holt to Sheringham. Or 18 minutes if diesel hauled.
- 2 Holt Country Park (Woodland Walks), Hempstead Rd, NR25 6ES (1 mile SE of town). Visitor centre. Car parking (£1.50 per day). Way-marked routes (suitable for push chairs and wheel chairs).
- 3 Huff & Puff cycles (Bicycle Hire), Kelling Heath Holiday Park, Weybourne, NR25 7HW (4 miles ENE of town), ☏ +44 7788 132909 (mobile), contact@huffandpuffcycles.co.uk.
Event
[edit]- Holt Lights. The town centre is beautifully lit up prior to Christmas. "Switch on Night" is in mid-November.
- Holt Festival (Music, Theatre and Arts Festival). Lasting 1 week, held in summer.
Buy
[edit]There are many antique shops in the town.
- 1 Budgens Convenience Store, 6 Kerridge Way, NR25 6DN, ☏ +44 1263 713734. M-Sa 8AM-8PM, Su 10AM-4PM.
- 2 Bakers & Larners (Department Store), 8 Market Place, NR25 6BW, ☏ +44 1263 712244, sales@bakersandlarners.com. M-Sa 8:30AM-5PM.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Byfords, 1-3 Shirehall Plain, Holt NR25 6BG, ☏ +44 1263 711400, queries@byfords.org.uk. Su-Th 8AM-5PM, F Sa 8AM-7PM. In town centre, this cafe and deli also has 16 rooms (no dogs) plus self-catering. B&B double £160.
- 2 Taste of India (Indian Restaurant), 31 Bull St, Holt, NR25 6HP, ☏ +44 1263 711484. M-Th noon-2PM & 6-11PM, F 5:30-11PM, Sa noon-2PM & 5:30-11PM, Su noon-2PM & 6-11PM.
- 3 The Blue Bell (Gastro Pub), 22 Holt Rd, Langham, NR25 7BX (5 miles WNW of town), ☏ +44 1328 830630, info@langhambluebell.co.uk. Daily noon-11:30PM.
- 4 Meadowsweet, 37 Norwich Road, NR25 6SA, ☏ +44 1263 586954. Gourmet restaurant with 3 bedrooms. 5-course dinner £75.
Drink
[edit]- Try the public bar at the Feathers Hotel.
- 1 The Hunny Bell (Pub), The Green, Hunworth, NR24 2AA, ☏ +44 1263 712300, hunnybell@hotmail.com. M-Th noon-3PM & 5:30-11PM, F Sa noon-3PM & 5:30-11:30PM, Su noon-11PM.
- 2 The Kings Head (Pub, Foor & B&B), 19 High St, Holt, NR25 6BN, ☏ +44 1263 712543, info@kingsheadholt.org.uk. M-Sa 11:30AM-11PM, Su 11:30AM-10:30PM; food served noon-3PM & 6-9PM.
- 3 Folly Tea Room, Hoppers Yard, Bull St, Holt, NR25 6LN, ☏ +44 1263 713569, enjoy@follytearoom.co.uk. M-Sa 9AM-6PM.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 The Feathers Hotel (Hotel, Bar & Restaurant), 6 Market Place, High St, NR25 6BW, ☏ +44 1263 712318, enquiries@thefeathershotel.com.
- 2 The Lawns (Hotel & Wine Bar), 26 Station Rd, Holt, NR25 6BS, ☏ +44 1263 713390, info@lawnshotelholt.co.uk. AA 4*. £99-145.
- 3 Holm Oaks (B&B), 83A Cromer Rd, Holt, NR25 6DY, ☏ +44 1263 711061, holmoaks@btinternet.com. Check-in: 4-9PM, check-out: 10AM.
- 4 Willows House (B&B), 43 Cromer Rd, Holt, NR25 6EX, ☏ +44 1263 712205. £50-60 single occupancy, £65-75 double occupancy.
- 5 The Stables (B&B), Lodge Farm Barns, Norwich Rd, Holt, NR25 6SW, ☏ +44 1263 713402, david@holtbnb.com. Minimum stay 2 nights. Unable to take card payments. £80 (two people sharing room).
- 6 Hempstead Hall (B&B), Hall Cottages, Hempstead, NR25 6TN (3 miles SE of town), ☏ +44 1263 712224, wl60mac@btconnect.com. Adults only. No pets. Minimum stay 2 nights. WiFi. £40 per person per night (double occupancy).
- 7 Morston Hall, The Street, Holt NR25 7AA, ☏ +44 1263 741041. Upscale restaurant with seven rooms in a 17th-century building and six in the Pavilion. Open Feb-Dec. Half-board £370.
- 8 Cley Windmill, The Quay, Cley-next-the-Sea NR25 7RP, ☏ +44 1263 740209. Modern B&B in stylishly converted 18th-century windmill, which still functions. B&B double £160.
Camping
[edit]- 9 Foxhills Camping, Weybourne, Holt, NR25 7EH, ☏ +44 1263 588253 (between 9AM-6PM). Open all year. Tents, Motorhomes and Campervans. Minimum stays for Bank Holidays and high season. Dogs allowed (charged and must be booked in advance).
- 10 Swallowtails (Camping/Glamping), Holt Hall, Kelling Rd, Holt, NR25 7DU (access is via Kelling Rd only (for satnav purposes NR25 6RT)), ☏ +44 7771 620790 (mobile), info@swallowtailholidays.co.uk. Pitch £33 per night. Various yurts available.
- 11 Kelling Heath (Camping & Lodges), Weybourne, Holt, NR25 7HW, ☏ +44 1263 588181, info@kellingheath.co.uk.
Connect
[edit]As of Sep 2022, Holt and its approach roads have 4G from EE, O2 and Vodafone but no signal from Three. 5G has not reached this area.
Go next
[edit]- Blakeney (Norfolk) with Blakeney Point Seal Colony and Norfolk Wildlife Trust Cley Marshes Nature Reserve
- Wells-next-the-Sea with its oysters and its seal-watching trips.
- Cromer with its beach
- Sheringham