26 Things to Do in Great Yarmouth

It may well have been the place your grandparents holidayed in back in the day, but, actually, Yarmouth's history as a seaside resort goes back much further than that, with tourists first visiting the area as far back as 1760, and increasing in numbers with the arrival of the railway near the town in the mid nineteenth century.

While the advent of cheap foreign holidays has led to diminishing numbers of visitors for many British seaside towns, however, Yarmouth continues to flourish, with its famous Golden Mile continuing to attract visitors by the thousand. A traditional seaside holiday is the main reason to visit the town, but once you tire of the beach and its associated attractions, you'll still find plenty of other things to do in Great Yarmouth, come rain or shine. Here are some suggestions for you:

Walk The Golden Mile

This mile-long stretch of Great Yarmouth's seafront is probably the primary reason for the town's continued popularity. Featuring everything you could possibly expect from the British seaside, from mini golf to arcades, and everything in between, this is likely to be the first stop on your itinerary when visiting the area, and it's also a place you'll want to return to many times during your stay. With neon lights, beachside amusements, and a vast choice of places to eat and drink, the Golden Mile has more than enough to keep you occupied, both day and night.

Visit the Pleasure Beach 

Not only one of the most popular amusement parks in the country, but also one of the oldest, Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach first opened in 1909, and centres around the traditional wooden roller coaster, which opened in the 1930s, and has been operating ever since. You'll also find a dizzying selection of more modern rides and attractions here, ranging from high-speed thrill rides to classic carousels, dodgems and log flumes. While many of the rides at the park are relatively new, and change on a regular basis, there are also several which have been in the park for decades, and become part of its history, so if you ever visited Great Yarmouth as a child, prepare for a blast of nostalgia!

See the sights in miniature at the model village

Merrivale Model Village is another Great Yarmouth institution: since it opened in 1961 it's been delighting generations of Great Yarmouth visitors with its charming scenes of the world in miniature. In addition to the model village itself, there's also an old-fashioned penny arcade where you can play the vintage arcade machines and imagine yourself back in time, before stopping off at the traditional tea room for refreshments. 

Have a day at one of the town's many beaches

Great Yarmouth might be one of the busiest resorts in the country, but its 15 miles of sandy beaches mean you're unlikely to have difficulty finding a quiet spot. There are nine beaches in total within easy reach of the town, all packed with the usual kind of seaside entertainment you'd expect, from donkey rides to ice cream parlours, and gift shops selling everything you could possibly need for a fun day out on the golden sands. Take your pick from: 

• Central Beach: as the name suggests, it’s the town’s main beach, and where you’ll find most activities and amenities. 
• North Beach, which is a little quieter, and popular with birdwatchers. 
• Power Station Beach. The industrial backdrop this beach is named for makes it sound like an unlikely place for a relaxing day out, but it’s quiet, sandy, and a popular spot for windsurfers.
• South Denes Beach is also rather industrial, but don’t overlook it: it’s definitely quieter than some of the locations closer to town!
• California Beach may not always be as sunny as the U.S. state it’s named after, but the rocky shoreline makes it a picturesque spot for a visit.
• Hemsby Beach has tons of attractions and shops on its promenade.
• Scratby Beach combines sand and shingle: the best of both worlds!

Visit the busiest pier in town 

No seaside resort is complete without a pier, and Great Yarmouth has two of them. Britannia Pier has its own theatre, plus a wide selection of fairground rides, amusement arcades, bars and kiosks, making it a vibrant and bustling location, whatever the time of day or night.

...and the slightly quieter one!

The slightly quieter Wellington Pier, by contrast, still has plenty to do, with a casino, bowling alley, and plenty of kiosks and shops. 

Visit the museum

A trip to a museum may not be the first activity you'd associate with a town like Great Yarmouth, but there's no better way to find out about the history and heritage of the area than with a visit to the Time and Tide Museum of Great Yarmouth life. Located in a former herring curing works which dates back to Victorian times, the museum tells the story of Yarmouth going all the way back to the ice age, and includes a life-sized Victorian "row" and fisherman's cottage.

Spend an afternoon scuba diving

The waters around Great Yarmouth might be cold all year round, but don't worry: this scuba diving experience allows you to learn the basics of the sport in the safety of a swimming pool, rather than in the open sea. All of the equipment you'll need is provided for the lesson, which is a fun an unique way to spend some of your time in Great Yarmouth.

Step inside an Elizabethan house

The Elizabethan House Museum may have a Georgian façade, but the interior is entirely Tudor, offering a fascinating insight into life in Elizabethan times.  An interactive experience, the museum also offers visitors the opportunity to dress up in period costume and experience Elizabethan life first hand. 

Spend a day with SEA LIFE

One of the area's most popular attractions, SEA LIFE Great Yarmouth is your ticket to an enthralling underwater world. The centrepiece of the aquarium would have to be the underwater tunnel which allows you to walk through the water and see some of the aquatic inhabitants up close, and there's also penguin and crocodile enclosures, a rock pool area, and various other zones which combine education with entertainment.

Ride the giant wheel

The Great Yarmouth Observation Wheel is possibly the best possible way to see the town at a glance, offering 360 degree views of Yarmouth and it's surrounding areas from one of its pods high above the earth.

Outdoor activities in Great Yarmouth

Buckle up for a drifting passenger experience

Being in the lead car during a high-speed race is something few of us will ever get to experience: which is what makes this six lap drifting passenger experience so unique. After a short safety briefing, your experienced driver will take you on an exhilarating 6-lap ride, allowing you to see for yourself what it's like to drift round bends faster than you've ever gone before!

Go boating on the Norfolk Broads

One of the best things about Great Yarmouth is its proximity to the beautiful Norfolk Broads: a network of rivers and lakes which are well known for both their natural beauty and the plethora of outdoor activities available in the area. The Broads National Park is a haven for wildlife, and is popular with birdwatchers: if you'd rather try something a little more active, however, there are plenty of places where you can try canoeing, kayaking and paddle boarding, or even hire a boat for a full-day's adventure.

Visit a theme park just for kids

The Pleasure Beach may be Norfolk's best known theme park, but it's far from the only one, and if you're visiting Great Yarmouth with kids, a trip to Joyland should definitely be part of your itinerary. The park opened in 1949,and still contains some of the original rides, along with a selection of more modern additions, so there's plenty of variety to keep the smaller members of your party occupied until it's time to hit the 50s-style American diner for a spot of lunch or dinner. 

Have a day at the farm

Located just outside Great Yarmouth, Hirsty's Family Fun Park is a working farm with seasonal attractions which include a mega maze in summer, and pumpkin-picking in autumn. There's also year-round opportunities to meet the animals, and find out more about life on a farm. 

Things to do in Great Yarmouth at night

Great Yarmouth might have plenty of daytime activities to keep you occupied, but you'll probably want to save some of your energy for evening, when the town quite literally lights up with neon signs advertising the various bars, theatres and other night-time entertainment venues. The town's two piers alone should have more than enough entertainment for anyone, but if you're still looking for other options, try one of these:

See a show at the Pavilion Theatre 

The Pavilion celebrated its 120th birthday in 2021, and continues to be one of Great Yarmouth's most popular venues for plays, musicals and more. Don't forget to book in advance: it can get busy, especially during the height of the summer season!

Get a ringside seat at the circus

Great Yarmouth's Hippodrome Circus is the stuff of legends - both in the town itself, and beyond. It's been entertaining holiday makers and locals alike since 1903, and puts on a series of spectacular shows all year round, so, no matter when you choose to visit Great Yarmouth, you won't be disappointed. 

Try your luck at the amusement arcade

Nothing says 'seaside resort' quite like an amusement arcade, and the Gold Rush, located on the famous Golden Mile is one of Great Yarmouth's finest, offering traditional slot machines and arcade games for the whole family. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What shops are there in Great Yarmouth?

Great Yarmouth offers a wide selection of shopping opportunities, from the traditional market in the town centre, to a range of high-street brands and smaller boutiques dotted around town. Market Gates Shopping Centre, meanwhile, is a covered mall which is the perfect place to while away a rainy afternoon, with a range of fast food and drinks retailers also available once you've worked up an appetite.

What is there to do in Great Yarmouth for dogs?

Great Yarmouth is generally a dog-friendly town, and while there are some restrictions on the main beach during the busiest part of the summer season, the southern beach allows dog walking all year round. You'll also find that many of the town's outdoor attractions allow canine visitors, while sections of the Norfolk Broads (with the exception of the nature reserves) can also be a great place for a long walk with your dog. Even the town's Leisureland Arcade is dog-friendly, so you don't have to miss out on the action if you decide to bring your pet with you on holiday. 

What is Great Yarmouth famous for? 

It's described in David Copperfield as "The finest place in the universe," and while the Great Yarmouth  Charles Dickens wrote about was very different - and considerably smaller - than the one you see today, the many visitors who choose to return to the town year after year would surely agree with that description. These days, Yarmouth is best known for its long golden beaches, and numerous theme parks and arcades. It offers traditional entertainment with a modern twist, plus easy access to the scenic beauty of the Norfolk Broads: what more could you ask?