Things to do in North Norfolk

Tucked conveniently right next to the iconic church is Cromer Museum. You shouldn’t have any difficulty finding it, unless you’re temporarily distracted by the presence of its huge neighbour!

The day we visited during a cool and blustery Easter week was perfect weather for a 90 minute museum visit. The museum is a 2 minute walk from North Cottage Cromer. There were 5 of us in the group and we all found plenty to entertain us. The museum appeals to visitors of all ages – even children who may especially like the fossil collections and oportunity to ‘find fossils’ in the sand tray. You can even discover about Norfolk’s own ‘Atlantis’ the lost town of Shipden – now buried beneath the waves. Coastal erosion made Cromer – which once lay inland, a coastal town.

Cromer’s past brought to life

The bulk of the museum is cleverly housed in a terrace of 5 former fisherman’s cottages with a courtyard linking to some other buildings. The entranceway with the ticket counter is modern and sells all the usual postcards, books and souveniers. The first exhibit we saw was the recreation of the ‘wash house’ at the foot of the stairs into the courtyard (a lift is also available). Here there are a whole host of paraphenalia designed to make laundry easier – the mangle, and a galvanised wash tub to pummel clothes in soapy water.

Bringing the past alive continues with the reconstruction of a fisherman’s kitchen, complete with fisherman relaxing by the fire-cum-stove (an early AGA which apparently still works) and other fascinating household stuff dotted around. Their cottages were tiny and they certainly didn’t have the home comforts we take for granted today. They did have gadgets though – but a boot remover propped up against the wall is about as high-tech as it gets.

We also loved the shop display cabinets. Gift shops and chemists have been a feature of Cromer’s narrow lanes since the Victorians arrived for their holidays. Another fascinating room fetaures the photpgraphy of Olive Edis the noted turn of the century photographer, the first female war photographer famed for photographing all walks of life from fishermen, to prime ministers and royalty.

The railway changed Cromer forever

The framed nostalgia railway posters for Cromer remind us how important the railways were in establishing Cromer as a seaside resort from the 1880’s and 90’s. The railway changed the town forever. Before its arrival ships regularly brought coal unloaded onto horse and cart from the beach. There are large explainer boards on the walls with succinct and lively text. In 1907 there was even a ‘Norfolk Coast Express’ service direct from London, via North Walsham onto Cromer.

Fun with fossil finding

Another of the buildings in the courtyard, across from the fisherman’s cottages, features lots of fossils you can go searching for on the beaches between Mundesley and East Runton – from Belemnites to mammoths to sponges. There are well-labelled exhibits to help identify your own finds – you can even take them into the museum and ask for help identifying them. The fossilised mammoth tooth on display is huge and has left us wondering whether the fragment we found on the beach is actually even from a mammoth – it seems so puny in comparison.

Touchy – Feely

Cromer museum isn’t about stuffy exhibits and display cases. There’s stuff visitors are encouraged to touch – including fossils and homewares. There’s even a fruit machine from the 1960s which one younger visitor has noted in their review needs replacing as it doesn’t work! The museum encourages feedback and visitors comment cards are showcased.

We loved our visit

Cromer museum is compact, but there’s much more to see than the small entranceway suggests. It’s good value and your entrance fee helps keep our local history alive. Admission prices and opening times are here https://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/cromer-museum/plan-your-visit/admission-prices

Cromer Museum is just 2 minutes walk from 5* rated North Cottage Cromer – the perfect place to stay for up to 12 guests.

We’ve written about some other things to do on your holiday in Norfolk. Links are here:

https://www.northcottagecromer.co.uk/things-to-do-in-north-norfolk-during-january-february-march-and-april/
https://www.northcottagecromer.co.uk/things-to-do-in-north-norfolk-during-december-christmas-new-year/
https://www.northcottagecromer.co.uk/why-we-love-to-spend-our-holidays-in-norfolk/