With staycations becoming more popular all the time, people are beginning to truly see the hidden treasures and delights that the UK has to offer, which they perhaps wouldn’t have done without the arrival of Covid. Its important to always try to find postives in every challanging situation and for places like Great Yarmouth the pandemic has really given them an opportunity to show case what they have to offer tourists lookng to explore their home country. You may think it doesnt’t have the same to offer as its more southerly sisters, like the best beaches in Cornwall, or the most delicious cream tea in Devon, but it is a quality destination in its own right.
Great Yarmouth is a seaside town in Norfolk, and offers over 15 miles of sandy coastline to enjoy. Infact, people have been holidaying in Great Yarmouth form as far back as 1760! As well as water sports, fishing and buildign sandcastles on the beaches, Great Yarmouth is also well known for its traditional seaside attractions, for example crazy golf, a charming fun fair, donkey rides and bouncy castles, plus a wonderful open air market. It is not uncommon to spot beautiful seals basking on the rocks during your visit to the Great Yarmouth coast too.
Great Yarmouth offers many interesting historical places of interest to visit, and a fascinating fact you can bring out to impress friends and family on your staycation is that Charles Dickens used Great Yarmouth as a key location in his world wide famous novel, David Copperfield. He went as far as to describe it as ” the finest place in the universe”! Another fascinating literacy based fact about the area involves St Nicholas Church, which stands near the Market Place. Originally built in the 1100’s, it was then rebuilt around 1960 after it was almost destroyed during world war II. Any way, adjacent to this church is the birthplace of Anna Sewell, author of ‘Black Beauty’!
As well as the beaches and seaside attractions, Great Yarmouth offers a variety of fabulous days out to enjoy with kids.
The Sealife Centre has to be one of the favorites for all the family. This magical marine world invites you to meet and learn about many weird and wonderful seaborn creatures. You will be treated to astonishing close up views of an extraordinary variety of sealife animals and welcomed into their underwater worlds. You can marvel at the fasincating lives of ferocious looking sharks, friendly sea turtles, spooky jellyfish and adorable sea horses.
Another fabulous day out is the Merrivale Model Village. It is interesting, entertaining, enjoyable and lots of fun! It recreates the English countryside in miniature, and stretches to just over one acre in size! It showcases a town centre, a village inn, a typical english farm, a traditional travelling fair, a sports stadium, a zoo and much more!
The perfect day out for dinosaur enthusiasts is the Jurassic Journey. Infact, all members of the family will enjoy this prehistoric life like adventure through the ages. Exciting animatronic dinosaurs will tower over you as you make your way through the attraction. The children will be effortlessly educated as you follow the Jurassic timeline and see the lives of the T-rex and Stegosaurus come to life in front of you. You can get involved on a fossil hunt, explore the Dino-Dig, plus there is an onsite restaurant and gift shop so you can take away souvenirs of your day.
Joyland is a childrens fun park, which has been opersting since 1949. Designed specifically to suit and entertain children of all ages, the rodes include the world renowned ” Snails” and the “Tyrolean Tub Twist”. Plus, there is a pirate ship, jet cars and a skydiver! The perfect adrenaline fuelled day out!
In addition to all of these wonderful attractions and days out, Great Yarmouth has an array of wonderful pubs and restaurants, walks and hikes, and hotels and B and B’s. It should be at the top of your staycation destiantion list!