Car-free Christmas in NorfolkNorfolk
Merry Christmases in Norfolk, the UK’s first Good Journey county, don’t always have to include driving. Here are lots of ideas for places and events that you can reach by train, bus, bike and foot. Leaving the car behind can mean memorable days out as well as helping protect the environment. Some Norfolk attractions also offer money off or other incentives if you arrive without a car so why not have a car-free adventure this winter?
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1. Norwich
With its warmly-glowing cobbled streets and towering medieval cathedral, walkable Norwich already has some excellent ingredients for an atmospheric car-free Christmas outing. Add in several festive markets, a good sprinkling of seasonal concerts and pantos and some innovative walking tours to cook up a truly exceptional Christmas in Norwich.
- Norwich Cathedral has a full programme of Advent and Christmas concerts and services, from a candlelit procession on 3rd December to a ceremony of carols at the end of January. The historic organ is back, after ten years of planning and restoration and a special series of November concerts celebrates the Organ Re-born! To get there, follow Good Journey’s directions
- Shoebox Experiences have created a “Chronicles of Christmas” walking tour of Norwich. It will take place in November and December and explore how Christmas has been celebrated through the centuries. Tickets go on sale in October and visitors who arrive car-free can get 10% off.
- For Christmas shopping and refreshments, head for the seasonal markets like a Festive Fair at The Forum in late November and Clutter City winter market at Norwich Arts Centre on 9th December.
- There’s a brand-new design for the Christmas lights in the city this year and the big switch-on is happening on 16th November with a free family event. Look out for the new prettily-wrapped lampposts around the city with 100% LED lights and renewable energy.
- This year’s crowd-pleasing pantomime at Norwich Theatre Royal is Sleeping Beauty (oh no it isn’t!) If you’re heading to a matinee performance of the panto, why not take the bus or train and make a day of it? Or, if there’s no direct transport, travel via Norwich Park and Ride, which is now just £3 for an adult and £1 each additional passenger – much cheaper than the car parks!
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2. Around Cromer
Car-free Christmas in Cromer, forty minutes’ train ride from Norwich, can mean bracing walks along the beach and warming up in a toasty pub or through the elegant trees in Sheringham Park with 10% off in the café at the end for car-free visitors. There’s also the world’s only seasonal end-of-pier show and a host of fabulous National Trust properties nearby, all decked out for Christmas.
- Cromer Pier hosts a celebrated Christmas Show – the world’s only festive end-of-pier show. Easy to get to without a car, the pier is just a few minutes’ walk from Cromer station and is perfect for blustery seaside days and entertaining evenings. An eight-metre video wall enhances a traditional music and comedy with contemporary technical effects. Expect elaborate costumes, edge-of-your-seat stunts, illusions, magic and vintage musical numbers. And you’ll get 20% off tickets when you arrive car-free!
- You can also bag 20% off at Felbrigg Hall near Cromer, when you get there by bus, bike or on foot. The hall is decked for Christmas in traditional style and there are parkland walks and festive sights, followed by a hot drink in the Squire’s Pantry – with and extra 10% off in the café if you arrive car-free.
- It’s a Wild Winter at the Blickling Estate. Take in the smell of spiced apples and gingerbread in Temple Walk or of fallen oak and chestnut leaves under the ancient trees in the arboretum. A family-friendly trail through the Arts and Crafts-style house features snowy floors and frosty foliage, owls, bats and animal tracks. Free for National Trust members, there’s 20% off at Blickling during the day for non-members arriving on foot, by bike or by public transport.
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3. Around Fakenham
The mighty estate at Holkham and the watery nature reserve at Pensthorpe are both exceptional visitor attractions at any time of year and they don’t disappoint when it comes to Christmas. And Fakenham itself celebrates its seasonal illuminations with a family Christmas Fayre.
- Pensthorpe has a spacious Christmas Market in late November and a North Norfolk Pole Experience in December, where kids can visit Santa’s grotto for stories, crafts and prezzies. And the reserve itself, with its sculptures, wildlife, colourful flamingoes, red squirrels and all-season gardens, is well worth strolling round in winter. Hourly bus X29 from Norwich to Fakenham (every two hours on Sunday) stops at the gate and car-free visitors get £4 off the standard entry.
- Holkham Hall is lit by candles and open for a self-guided tour of the magnificently-decorated rooms, which includes fizz and mince pies. There’s a Christmas Market too on 9th to 10th December. Entry is free and you can avoid the parking fee if you arrive without a car. Bus 36 from Fakenham to King’s Lynn stops at the gate. The estate and neighbouring beach are ideal for wintry walks and wildlife spotting with deer roaming through the craggy trees and seabirds hiding in the pine-fringed dunes.
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4. King's Lynn
Lantern parades, markets, gingerbread installations… King’s Lynn has plenty of festive events lined up and is decking the halls in seasonal style. The new flat £1.50 bus fare means cheaper travel this Christmas around King’s Lynn. Any journey that starts and ends within the town zone will be just £1.50.
- King’s Lynn’s Christmas Lights Switch-on takes place this year on Sunday 21st November 2023. From 1pm onwards, there will be celebratory events including live music, a lantern-lit parade, street entertainers. In a big tent on the Tuesday Market Place, local food and drink sellers will keep visitors fed and warm with suitably festive fare.
- Life-sized gingerbread people in the town’s Vancouver Quarter are great for seasonal selfies. And there will be other specially-commissioned installations in the town centre too, like a giant, illuminated, walk-through Christmas present on the Tuesday Market Place. And don’t miss the roof angels and stained glass in St Nicholas’ chapel round the corner when it’s open.
- There’s a Christmas Market on 9th and 10th December. The former Argos building in King’s Lynn’s Vancouver Quarter will given a Christmas makeover and has room for up to 25 creators and stallholders each day. Locally-sourced and -produced gifts make Christmas shopping simple – everything from jam to jewellery, sloe gin to scarves.
- This year’s classic pantomime at the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange is Dick Whittington. There are morning performances as well as matinees so you can have a full festive day out. And there are other seasonal shows at the Corn Exchange too like the musical Fairytale of New York on 16 November.
- Get to King’s Lynn by train from Cambridge, Ely and stations in between or even direct from London Kings Cross. Arrive by bus from Dereham, Swaffham, Hunstanton, Wisbech, Fakenenham and lots of other places.
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5. Great Yarmouth
With direct trains and buses from all over Norfolk and beyond, Yarmouth is another great December destination.
- The town’s Christmas lights switch-on takes place on Friday November 24th and Great Yarmouth Christmas Fayre of crafts and food will be help in the Minster from 24th to 26th November. The Minster is a short walk from Yarmouth railway station.
- Famous far and wide for its lavish production and high octane entertainment, the traditional Hippodrome Circus Christmas Spectacular runs through to early January and offers international circus acts and water with its extraordinary round stage that transforms into a swimming pool.
- The Hippodrome is easy to get to by train or bus. It’s fifteen minutes walk from Great Yarmouth railway station (two trains an hour from Norwich) and ten minutes from the Market Gates bus station with regular buses from Lowestoft, Caister-on-Sea and lots of other places.
Discover more car-free adventures and discounts at attractions around Norfolk – the UK’s first Good Journey County.
