Cromer - town in Norfolk, England

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

The drive from Norwich on the A140 takes about 35-40 minutes. This is a much more dangerous road than it appears - at harvest time especially you should watch for farm vehicles emerging from side roads. You can also get to Cromer quite easily by bus from Norwich. The Coast Hopper operates throughout the year runs to Wells next the Sea with connections to Hunstanton. This is a great way to explore the coast. As you go west along the coast, especially after Sheringham, each village is more picturesque than the last. Lots of barn conversions and vernacular brick-and-flint architecture. By air, the nearest airport is at Norwich.

Trains run hourly from Norwich, taking 45 min via Salhouse, Hoveton & Wroxham (for Bure Valley railway to Aylsham), Worstead, North Walsham and Gunton, and continuing to West Runton and Sheringham. The last train leaves Norwich around 23:00; in 2022 a walk-up single is £8.70.

The railway station 📍 is on Holt Rd half a mile west of town centre. It has ticket machines but no office or toilets. There is level access to the sole platform.

By bicycle

Regional Cycle Route 30 goes through the town.

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 2017-06-19
• 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 - it 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

• The Lighthouse, Overstrand Rd, Cromer, NR27 0JH, 52.924722°, 1.3165°. A pleasant walk eastwards from the town centre and affords fine views.
• Amazona Zoo, Hall Road, Cromer, NR27 9JG, 52.9220°, 1.2968°, +44 1263 510741, hello@amazonazoo.co.uk. 10:00-17:00 (last admission 16:00). 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) 2017-04-22
• Cromer Beach, Runton Rd, Cromer, NR27 9HP, 52.9347°, 1.2876°. 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. 2017-04-22
• Cromer Museum, East Cottages, Tucker Street, Cromer, NR27 9HB (near the church), 52.93124°, 1.30191°, +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. 2017-04-22
• Cromer Pier and Pavilion Theatre, 52.934278°, 1.301622°, +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 21 to September 20 in 2014), 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.
• RNLI Henry Blogg Museum (Cromer Lifeboat Museum), The Rocket House, The Gangway, Cromer, NR27 9ET, 52.9311°, 1.3038°, +44 1263 511294, blogg_museum@rnli.org.uk. 10am to 4pm February to early December. Learn about the courageous lifesavers. See one of the lifesaving boats. Free
• Felbrigg Hall, Felbrigg NR11 8PR, 52.906°, 1.268°, +44 1263 837444, felbrigg@nationaltrust.org.uk. Daily 09:30-16:30. 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 2021-04-02
• Cromer Church, Church St, Cromer, NR27 9HH, 52.93133°, 1.30093°. 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. 2017-04-22

Do

• 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.
• Regal Movieplex, 2-4 Hans Place, Cromer, NR27 9EQ, 52.93059°, 1.30044°, +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. 2017-04-22
• Royal Cromer Golf Club, 145 Overstrand Rd, Cromer, NR27 0JH, 52.9229°, 1.3183°, +44 1263 512884. offers a course as challenging as it is spectacular. 2017-04-22
• Glide Surf School, Cromer Promenade, Cromer, NR27 9HE, 52.9319°, 1.3021°, +44 1263 805005, benjaminkewell@glidesurfschool.co.uk. Surf School, Paddle Boarding, Equipment Hire. 2017-04-22

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.
• Morrisons (Supermarket), Holt Rd, Cromer, NR27 9SW, 52.9305°, 1.2926°, +44 1263 515275. M-Sa 07:00-22:00. Su 10:00-16:00. ATMs. 2017-04-22
• Co-Op (Supermarket), Middlebrook Way. Holt Rd, Cromer, NR27 9JR, 52.9283°, 1.2869°, +44 1263 511277. M-F 08:00-21:00. Sa 08:00-20:00. Su 10:00-16:00. ATMs. 2017-04-22
• Wet Dog Surf Shop, 7 Tucker St, Cromer, NR27 9HA, 52.93169°, 1.30118°, +44 1263 519703, info@wetdogsurfshop.co.uk. M-Sa 10:00-17:00. Su 11:00-16:00. Surf & skate shop. 2017-04-22
• Amy's Sweet Shop (Traditional Sweet Shop), 11b West Street, Cromer, NR27 9HZ, 52.9309°, 1.2981°, +44 1263-511418, amyssweetshop@googlemail.com. M Tu 09:00-17:00. W 09:30-13:00. Th-Sa 09:00-17:00. Su 11:00-16:00.. 2017-04-22

Cyclists

• Black Bikes (http://www.black-bikes.co.uk), 28 Beeston Rd, Sheringham, NR26 8EH (4½ miles W of town.), 52.9430°, 1.2145°, +44 1263 822255, blackbikes.gs@gmail.com. M-Sa 09:00-17:30.. Sales, service & repair, hire. 2017-04-22
• Halfords, Unit C, North Norfolk Retail Park, Holt Rd, Cromer, NR27 9ST, 52.9295°, 1.2910°, +44 1263 510 420. M-Sa 09:00-18:00. Su 10:00-17:00.. 2017-04-22

Eat

• Will's Plaice (East Runton Fish & Chip Shop), Beach Road, East Runton, NR27 9PA, 52.93607°, 1.27219°, +44 1263 519222. Daily 12:30-14:00& 17:00-20:30 (seasonal variations). 2017-04-22
• The Old Rock Shop Bistro, 10 Hamilton Road, Cromer, NR27 9HL, 52.93152°, 1.29837°, +44 1263 511926, info@theoldrockshopbistro.co.uk. Daily 08:00-18:00. Great local café. 2017-04-22
• The Rocket House café, The Gangway, East Promenade, Cromer, NR27 9ET (above RNLI Henry Blogg Museum), 52.9311°, 1.3038°, +44 1263 519126, rockethousecafe@hotmail.com. M-F: 09:00-17:00. Sa-Su 10:00-17:00.. A room with a view, this is found on top of the lifeboat museum 2017-04-22
• Peggotty's, 6 Hamilton Rd, Cromer, NR27 9HL, 52.93154°, 1.29823°, +44 1263 511876. Daily 07:30-18:00. Great when you need that all-day fry-up. 2017-04-22
• The Bann Thai, 1a Church St, Cromer, NR27 9ER, 52.92957°, 1.30312°, +44 1263 513193. M 17:00-22:00. Tu-Sa 12:00-14:.30 & 17:00-22:00. Su 17:00-22:00.. Homecooked Thai cuisine 2017-04-22
• Browne’s on Bond Street (Tea Rooms), 5 Bond St, Cromer, NR27 9DA, 52.93031°, 1.30123°, +44 1263 512320. M-Sa 08:30-16:30. Formerly Aristocrats Tea Rooms. 2017-04-22
• Cromer Tandoori Restaurant, 29 Church St, Cromer, NR27 9ES, 52.93078°, 1.30195°, +44 1263 513166. M-Sa 12:00-14:00 & 17:00-23:00. Su 12:00-23:00.. 2017-04-22
• Dalia Spice, 36 Prince Of Wales Rd, Cromer, NR27 9HS, 52.93130°, 1.29770°, +44 1263 519700. M-Sa 12:00-14:00 & 17:00-23:00. Su 12:00-22:00.. 2017-04-22
• Mary Jane's Fish Restaurant, 27-29 Garden St, Cromer, NR27 0AA, 52.93186°, 1.29953°, +44 1263 511 208, maryjanes@gmail.com. Take-away & restaurant. 2017-04-22
• Bolton's Bistro, Seafront, Cromer, NR27 9AS (Inside Cliftonville Hotel.), 52.9330°, 1.2931°, +44 1263 512543. Slightly posher than most, a short walk from the town centre. 2017-04-22
• Kanton Chinese Takeaway, 30 Church St, Cromer, NR27 9ES, 52.93071°, 1.30211°, +44 1263 517171. 2017-04-22
• No. 1 Cromer, 1 New St NR27 9HPR (by pier), +44 1263 515983. Daily 12:00-20:00. Upmarket fish & chips restaurant and takeaway with views of the pier. 2022-08-19
• Le Moon Chinese Restaurant, 5a Prince of Wales Rd, Cromer, NR27 9HR, 52.93237°, 1.29795°, +44 1263 511615. Daily 17:00-23:00. 2017-04-22
• Breakers Cafe, 28 Garden St, Cromer, NR27 9HN, 52.93196°, 1.29981°, +44 1263 515 060. Daily from 08:30 (close time seasonal). 2017-04-22
• Park Chippy, 37 Station Rd, Cromer, NR27 0DX, 52.9203°, 1.3096°, +44 1263 513050. 2017-04-22
• Groveland Farm Shop, Thorpe Market Road, Roughton, NR11 8TB, 52.8811°, 1.3113°, +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. 2017-04-22
• Rocky Bottoms is a seafood restaurant and takeaway next to Dormy House Hotel on West Runton Beach, open Su-Th 12:00-17:00, F Sa 12:00-20:00.

Drink

• Sticky Earth Café, 15 Church St, Cromer, NR27 9ES, 52.93027°, 1.30268°, +44 1263 519642. M, Th, F 10:00-17:00. Sa 10:00-17:30. Su 11:00-16:30.. Enjoy hot and cold drinks while painting pottery. 2017-04-22
• The White Horse, West St, Cromer, NR27 9DS, 52.93067°, 1.29704°, +44 1263 512275. Live music occasionally on Saturdays. also food & rooms. 2017-04-22
• The Red Lion, Brook St, Cromer, NR27 9HD, 52.93115°, 1.30225°, +44 1263 514964, info@redlion-cromer.co.uk. Daily 11:00-23:00. Great selection of beers and superior bar food. A good place for a quiet pint overlooking the sea. Also food & rooms. 2017-04-22
• The Kings Head, High St, Cromer, NR27 9HG, 52.93211°, 1.30037°, mark@kingsheadcromer.co.uk. Also food. 2017-04-22
• The Wellington, Garden Street, Cromer, NR27 9HN, 52.93234°, 1.30006°, +44 1263 511075. M-Th 11:00-23:00. F-Sa 11:00-23:59. Su 12:00-22:30.. 2017-04-22
• Cromer pier bar, 52.93179°, 1.30196°. 2020-10-25

Sleep

Accommodation is plentiful and cheap, especially out of season.

• Cromer House Bed & Breakfast, 10 Alfred Road, Cromer, NR27 9AN, 52.93260°, 1.29321°, +44 1263 510923, cromerhouse@hotmail.co.uk. Satellite TV. Free Wi-Fi. 2017-04-22
• The White House. bed and breakfast on cliff drive.
• The Dormy House Hotel, 100 Cromer Rd, West Runton, NR27 9QA, 52.9375°, 1.2493°, +44 1263 837 537, enquiries@dormyhouse.net. £135-£145 (offers sometimes available) 2017-04-22
• Beachcomber Guest House, 17 Macdonald Rd, Cromer, NR27 9AP, 52.93248°, 1.29227°, +44 1263 513 398, jill@cromer-beachcomber.co.uk. Check-in: after 13:00 (prior arrangement for after 20:00), check-out: by 10:30. No pets. 2017-04-22
• Ogilvy House B&B, 7 St Mary's Rd, Cromer, NR27 9DJ, 52.92779°, 1.30221°, +44 1263 511170, ogilvyhouse@gmail.com. No pets. £78-£88 2017-04-22
• Pantiles B&B, The Croft, Cromer, NR27 9EH, 52.92939°, 1.29832°, +44 1263 512728, jilly@pantiles-cromer.co.uk. No children, no pets, no one night stays. 2017-04-22
• {{sleep | name=Glendale Guest House | alt= | url=http://www.glendalecromer.co.uk (dead link: December 2020) | email=glendalecromer@btconnect.com | address=33 Macdonald Rd, Cromer, NR27 9AP | lat=52.93189 | long=1.29224 | directions= | phone=+44 1263 513278 | tollfree= | fax= | checkin= | checkout= | price=£35-45 (one night, lower for longer stays) | lastedit=2017-04-22 | content=3* }}
• 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.
• Gunton Arms, Cromer Rd, Thorpe Market NR11 8TZ, 52.838°, 1.330°, +44 1263 832010. Off-beat small hotel in deer park, quirky mixture of antique, modern, and art-junk. Good dining. B&B double £130 2020-06-06
• Saracen's Head, Wall Rd, Walterton NR11 7LZ, 52.844°, 1.222°, +44 1263 768909. Country inn with rooms, dog-friendly, and good restaurant. B&B double £110 2021-12-13

Stay healthy

• Nearest Accident & Emergency: Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital (Casualty or the Emergency Room), Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UY (25 miles S of the town.), 52.6173°, 1.2198°. 24/7. 2017-04-10
• Minor Injuries Unit, Cromer and District Hospital, Mill Road, Cromer, Norfolk, NR27 0BQ, 52.9241°, 1.3091°. Daily 08:00-20:00. 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 2017-04-24
• Cromer Group Practice (GP/Primary Healthcare), 48 Overstrand Rd, Cromer, NR27 0AJ, 52.9281°, 1.3062°, +44 1263 513148. M 08:30-18:00. Tu 08:30-13:00 & 14:00-18:00. W-F 08:30-18:00. 2017-04-24
• Corner House Dental Practice, 24 Norwich Rd, Cromer, NR27 0AX, 52.92720°, 1.30291°, +44 1263 512390. M-F 08:30-17:00. 2017-04-24
• Lloyds Pharmacy, 51 Church Street, Cromer, NR27 9HH, 52.93110°, 1.30011°, +44 1263 512171. M-F 09:00-18:00. Sa 09:00-17:30. 2017-04-24

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.