Wells-next-the-Sea
Wells-next-the-Sea is a town on the north Norfolk coast, with a population of 2165 in 2011. The chief attraction is Holkham Hall, and the coast is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Get in
[edit]
Map of Wells-next-the-Sea
By train
[edit]The Wells & Walsingham Light Railway, a narrow gauge railway and visitor attraction, has its northern terminus in Stiffkey Road to the east of the town. It operates between spring and autumn annually, with direct trains from Walsingham.
The nearest National Rail (
) stations are in:
- Sheringham with Greater Anglia trains from Norwich and Cromer. Coasthopper CH1 bus connects Sheringham with Wells
- King's Lynn with Great Northern trains from London King's Cross, Cambridge and Ely. Coastliner 36 bus connects King's Lynn with Wells.
By bus
[edit]Wells-next-the-Sea is on several bus routes:
- Lynx Coastliner 36 - from King's Lynn (change for: ), Hunstanton, Brancaster, Fakenham and Walsingham;
- Sanders 46 - from Holt, Blakeney and Thursford (limited);
- Sanders Coasthopper CH1 - from Cromer (change for: ), Sheringham (change for: ) and Blakeney.
By car
[edit]There are several car parks throughout Wells-next-the-Sea, including Wells Beach and on the Quay, but these fill up during the summer months. Use:
- A149
- King's Lynn (onward connections include
from Ely, 
from Newark-on-Trent, and 
from Wisbech and Peterborough) - Hunstanton
- Sheringham
- Cromer (onward connections include
from North Walsham)
- King's Lynn (onward connections include
- B1105
- Local routes from Walsingham.
By bike
[edit]Wells is on the long-distance National Cycle Network Route 1. The route follows mainly minor roads and some off-road paths along the coastline, and is signposted:
By long-distance footpath
[edit]The North Norfolk Coast Path, one of the National Trails, follows the county's northern North Sea coastline - from Hunstanton and Brancaster in the west and Cromer and Sheringham in the east.
Get around
[edit]Most parts of Wells are accessible on foot, using pavements, off-road footpaths or shopping streets. The town is mostly flat with some shallow inclines. Some of the town's streets are very narrow.
Wells Beach is over a mile to the north of Wells Quay, accessible using off-road footpaths, with its own car park.
See
[edit]
- Seals. From Morston, take a ferry to see the seals at Blakeney Point for listing and further information of seal colony and viewing trips.
- 1 Holkham National Nature Reserve. At 3,900 hectares (9,600 acres), England's largest national nature reserve, comprising of grazing marsh, woodland, salt marsh, sand dunes and foreshore.
- 2 Holkham Hall, Wells-next-the-Sea, NR23 1AB, ☏ 44 1328 713111, [email protected]. Visit hall, gardens, deer park, cycle hire, boat hire, children's play area, cafe.
- 3 Walsingham is an attractive village 5 miles south of Wells. In the Middle Ages it was a major destination for pilgrimage, and this tradition was revived in the 20th century. The Augustinian priory was virtually erased in 1538 by Henry VIII, leaving only the east facade. The shrine just north, built in 1938, is an unusual example of an Anglican Marian shrine, commemorating a vision of 1061. The equivalent RC shrine and basilica is just south. There are some dozen other chapels and shrines dotted about. You can get here on the W&W Light Railway (see below), but in a twist worthy of Tolstoy, the original railway station is now a Russian Orthodox chapel.
Do
[edit]
- 1 Wells and Walsingham Light Railway, Wells Next-the-Sea NR23 1QB (on A149), ☏ 44 1328 711630, [email protected]. Apr-Oct. This was the route of a standard-gauge branch line axed by Beeching in 1969. A 10 1⁄4 in (260 mm) gauge railway was rebuilt over four miles of the track bed, opening in 1982. In summer trains (usually steam-hauled) putter along it to the village of Walsingham.
- The Beach is west side of the creek outflow, a mile north of town via Beach Road, with sands extending away to Holkham and Burnham. East of the creek is muddy, and with access impeded by wetland.
- Festival of Sport is a family-oriented taster weekend for various sports, led by big names. It's in the grounds of Holkham Hall (see above), in mid-August.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Natural East, The Quay, 2 Pauls Maltings, Wells-Next-The-Sea, NR23 1AH, ☏ 44 1328 710205, [email protected]. Gift shop selling Asian product (rugs, jewellery, statues, furniture and toys).
- 2 Co-op (Convenience store & supermarket), Polka Road, Wells-next-the-Sea, NR23 1JG, ☏ 44 1328 713006. M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM. ATM, in-store café (different hours)
- 3 Whin Hill Norfolk Cider, The Ciderworks, Stearman’s Yard, Wells-next-the-Sea, NR23 1BW, ☏ 44 1328 711821, [email protected]. Cider, perry and apple juice from local produce.
- The village also has many gift shops around and to the S or the Quay.
Eat
[edit]- 1 The Globe Inn (Restaurant & hotel), The Buttlands, Wells-next-the-Sea, NR23 1EU, ☏ 44 1328 710206, [email protected].
- 2 The Picnic Hut (Coffee & sandwich bar), 73 Staithe Street Wells Next The Sea, NR23 1AN, ☏ 44 1328 710436, [email protected]. M F Su 10AM-4PM, Sa 10AM-4:30PM. Coffee & sandwich bar
- 3 Wells Crab House (Seafood Restaurant), 38 Freeman Street, Wells-next-the-Sea, NR23 1BA, ☏ 44 1328 710456, [email protected]. Tu-Sa noon-2:30PM & 6-9PM, Su noon-3PM.
- 4 Fortune House Chinese Take Away, 16 Northfield Ln, Wells-Next-The-Sea, NR23 1LQ, ☏ 44 1328 711655.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Beach Café, Beach Road, Wells-next-the-Sea, NR23 1DR (Close to beach, 1½ miles N of village.), ☏ 44 1328 713055, [email protected].
- 2 The Golden Fleece (Pub), The Quay, Wells-next-the-Sea, NR23 1AH, ☏ 44 1328 710650, [email protected]. Daily 9AM-midnight breakfast 9–11:30AM, full menu noon–9PM. Also serves food.
- 3 The Albatros, The Quay, Wells-next-the-Sea, NR23 1AT, ☏ 44 7979 087228, [email protected]. Former Dutch cargo ship built in 1899. Now permanently moored alongside the Quay and used as a bar, restaurant, music venue and B&B.
- 4 Bang (Cafe, bar, rooms), 2 Staithe St, Wells-next-the-Sea, NR23 1AF, ☏ 44 1328 712149, [email protected]. Daily 8:30AM-5PM.
- 5 The Edinburgh Inn (Pub, restaurant, B&B), 6a Station Rd, Wells-next-the-sea, NR23 1AE, ☏ 44 1328 710120, [email protected].
Sleep
[edit]
- 1 Morston Hall, Morston, Holt, NR25 7AA, ☏ 44 1263 741041, fax: 44 1263 740419, [email protected].
- 2 The Old Custom House (B&B & Self-Catering), East Quay, Wells-next-the-Sea, NR23 1LD, ☏ 44 1328 711463. £110 (incl. breakfast).
- 3 The Cobblers Guest House, Standard Road, Wells-next-the-Sea, NR23 1JU, ☏ 44 1328 710155, [email protected]. Peak season: £52.50 (surcharges e.g. single occupancy, etc.).
- 4 Arch House B&B, 50 Mill Rd, Wells next the Sea, NR23 1DB, ☏ 44 1328 710112, [email protected].
Camping
[edit]- 5 Blue Skies Camping, Stiffkey Road, Wells-next-the-Sea, NR23 1QB, ☏ 44 7557 021660, [email protected]. Also bike rental.
- 6 High Sand Creek, Vale Farm, The Greenway, Stiffkey, NR23 1QF, ☏ 44 1328 830235. Tents, small campervans and motorhomes. No caravans.
Stay healthy
[edit]
- 1 Nearest Accident & Emergency: The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Casualty or the Emergency Room), Gayton Road, King's Lynn, PE30 4ET (26 miles to SW). 24/7.
- 2 Wells Health Centre (GP or Primary Healthcare), Bolts Close, Wells-next-the-Sea, NR23 1JP, ☏ 44 1328 710741. M-F 8AM-6:30PM.
- 3 Nearest Dentist: Wensum Dental Practice, 65 Norwich Road, Fakenham, NR21 8BA (11 miles S of village), ☏ 44 1328 862363, [email protected].
- 4 David Jagger Ltd, 5-7 Staithe St, Wells-Next-The-Sea, NR23 1AG, ☏ 44 1328 710239. M-F 9AM-1PM & 2-6PM, Sa 9AM-1PM & 2-5PM. Pharmacy.
Connect
[edit]As of March 2022, Wells has 4G from EE, O2 and Vodafone, but no signal from Three. 5G has not reached this corner of Norfolk.
Go next
[edit]| Routes through Wells-next-the-Sea |
| King's Lynn ← Holkham ← | W  E |
→ Stiffkey → Cromer |