Cromer

Cromer is dominated by its parish church with its 160 feet high tower, thought to be the tallest in Norfolk. The church is open daily and during certain months visitors can climb the church tower via a steep, narrow, spiral staircase for a small charge. On a clear, fine day the view from the top of the tower is quite breath-taking.
By the early 19th century Cromer was becoming known as a holiday resort and is mentioned in Jane Austen’s novel, ‘Emma’. Today Cromer is a very popular sea-side destination, famous for its clean beaches and many attractions, including Amazona Zoo, crabbing on the pier, Cromer carnival, its rugged coastline, museums, fish and chip shops, water sports, cinema and end-of-the-pier show. Even during the cold, wet and windy winter months, Cromer is still a popular holiday destination, especially with walkers.

The town is renowned for its Cromer crabs, a particularly flavoursome and tender brown crab, and fishing boats still work off the beach bringing in fresh catches daily. A crab sandwich or salad can be sampled in many of the local restaurants, cafes, pubs and hotels and dressed and undressed varieties can be purchased from fishmongers around the town.

One of Cromer’s best-known features is its pier, which was built in 1900, replacing a number of jetties. During the summer months the Pavilion Theatre hosts the popular ‘Seaside Special’; this is the only remaining traditional end-of-the-pier show in the country. The pier is also home to the Cromer lifeboat which is situated at the end of the pier.

The Henry Blogg Museum can be found on Cromer’s promenade and is a small family friendly museum that is free to enter. Henry Blogg is considered to be Cromer’s greatest hero and was coxswain of the lifeboat from 1909 – 1947. He won the Gold Medal of the R.N.L.I. three times and four silver medals, the B.E.M. and the George Cross for saving lives at sea. It is said that he knew the seas around Cromer better than anyone. The museum tells the incredible stories of lifeboatmen putting their lives in danger to rescue strangers from the sea.

The conspicuous white painted lighthouse towers high above the cliffs at Cromer, sending its beams out to sea. Built in 1833, it was once a manned lighthouse but is now radio-controlled and unmanned and there are two self-catering holiday cottages, The Link and Valonia available to hire.

During August Cromer is at its busiest with Carnival Week taking place. The carnival has grown over the years into one of the largest in the U.K, attracting vast crowds of visitors and locals. Organisers of Cromer Carnival always put on a great event and previous attractions have included the world-famous Red Arrows flying team.

Cromer has a good selection of shops, cafes, coffee shops, restaurants, pubs and of course fish and chip shops. There are many hotels, bed and breakfasts, static caravans, self-catering accommodation and camping and caravan sites from which to choose.

Interesting facts about Cromer

Cromer is featured as a location in the novel Emma by Jane Austen
In 1901, author Arthur Conan Doyle was a guest at Cromer Hall and after hearing about the legend of the Black Shuck, a ghostly black dog, it is said he was inspired to write the novel The Hound of the Baskervilles
The bell tower of Cromer’s Church of St Peter and St Paul is the highest of any church in the county, at 160ft 4ins
Cromer became a seaside resort in the early 19th century, with some of the rich Norwich banking families making it their summer home. Visitors to Cromer included the future King Edward VII, who enjoyed playing golf in Cromer
The end-of-the-pier variety show on Cromer’s pier is now thought to be the only one of its kind in the world
Henry George Blogg (6th February 1876 – 13th June 1954) was one of Cromer’s most famous residents and is the RNLI’s most decorated lifeboatman, having saved 873 lives from the North Sea during his 53-year career
The town is famous for its Cromer Crab - more than 50 boats used to regularly gather these plump and sweet crabs, but today there are only a few vessels that continue this trade
For one week in August the town celebrates its Carnival Week, attracting vast crowds of visitors and locals
Keith Skipper, journalist and author and television presenter Simon Thomas are both from Cromer

A Day Out in Cromer

The north Norfolk coastal town of Cromer is located 23 miles north of Norwich and is a popular seaside destination, attracting a vast number of visitors from the UK and further afield each year. Renowned for its world-famous Cromer Crab, there are plenty of restaurants and fishmongers in the town where this can be sampled. Its beautiful beaches, historic pier and Seaside Special Show are just some of the reasons people visit this Norfolk town; with so many things to see and do, you may need to spend more than a day in Cromer to see all its highlights.

Iconic Norfolk Lighthouses

With its long and rugged coastline, Norfolk has always had a strong and important relationship with the sea. The lighthouses dotted along the Norfolk coast have been invaluable, warning vessels of dangerous areas and to also serve as navigational aids. These iconic historical constructions can be seen for miles and are an important part of the Norfolk landscape.

The Famous Cromer Crab

Cromer crabs are caught in the North Sea around the Norfolk village of Cromer. The nutrient-rich waters and chalk shelf in this area mean the crabs are particularly flavoursome, fragrant and tender and are one of Norfolk’s most famous exports. These meaty crabs have a relatively high proportion of white to brown meat and can be used in lots of recipes but are arguably at their best when eaten freshly dressed with a squeeze of lemon juice and some freshly milled black pepper.

Cromer Pier

Cromer’s seaside pier attracts many visitors each year and stands strong and proud in the often-unforgiving and sometimes brutally destructive North Sea. Spending many months battered by harsh winds and rough seas, Cromer Pier enjoys calmer times during the summer months when the sun shines, waves gently lap and visitors flock. It’s the town’s most famous landmark and if you head towards the beach, you simply can’t miss it.

Go Crabbing in Norfolk

Norfolk is a crabbing hotspot, and even has an annual crabbing competition in Cromer, this year taking place on Sunday 25th August 2019 on Cromer Pier. Crabbing or gillying, as it is often referred to in Norfolk, is a fun activity, suitable for the whole family and particularly popular during the summer months.

Cromer Hotels

Perched on the edge of the north Norfolk coast, Cromer is probably most famous for its delicious crabs, wide open beaches and skies and its iconic pier and end of the pier variety show. A traditional seaside town with many locally owned and run shops, Cromer has a rich fishing heritage and a proud and strong relationship with the RNLI. The Henry Blogg Museum on Cromer’s promenade offers a fascinating insight into the service’s history and is worth a visit.

Cromer Museum

Cromer Museum is located along Church Street, near the church in the town’s centre. Cromer Museum opened in 1978 on 15th June and in 1981 the collection was improved. In 2003, the museum was given funding for a re-development project and a new education room, entrance and shop was developed.