Things to do in North Norfolk during December, Christmas & New Year
We love to spend Christmas and New Year in North Norfolk and we’ve made many happy memories here over many years. From spotting ‘Crazy Christmas Houses’ festooned with lights, santas and reindeer, to real life seal watching and invigorating beach walks to recover from all the festive feasting.
Although a small coastal town, the streets in Cromer are always decorated with lights and a large Christmas tree – it has quite the seasonal buzz. There’s also the famous end of the Pier variety show with a Santa twist at the Pavillion Theatre. ‘The Cromer Pier Christmas Show’, a variety show of music, comedy and magic is very popular. This year’s show promises to be every bit as entertaining with Olly Day returning as compere. Nearby Thursford also hosts a Christmas variety extravaganza attracting coach parties from far and wide.
For the very brave and hardy there is also the Boxing Day dip held alongside the Pier. It’s certain to shake off any turkey, nut roast excess. Around 300 eager bathers take to water, many donning santa hats or even fancy dress (note no wet suits are allowed, this is for the hardy only!) for as long as they can endure the icy waters (clue: not very long at all). Hundreds more folk watch un-enviously from the cliff and promenade. The Boxing Day dip is a very short walk from North Cottage Cromer – so this is an ideal place to stay for Christmas!
The Christmas show isn’t the only attraction on the Pier. On New Year’s Day once darkness falls there are the famous Cromer New Year’s Day fireworks. The free 15 minute display is staged by Millenium Fireworks – the same people responsible for London’s spectacular New Year’s Eve display. Cromer’s fireworks attract visitors from far and wide – and the good news is there are some great vantage points along the cliffs and on the beach to view the extravaganza.
Many of the market towns around North Norfolk also hold Christmas fayres and markets – Holt, North Walsham, Aylsham and even some of the smaller villages like Mundesley have been known to get in on the act so there’s always plenty to visit and see.
Seal spotting is always popular throughout the year along the coast, but in deep winter the seals come ashore to produce their pups. Horsea Gap is one of the best beaches to see this amazing phenomenon with hundreds of seals sprawling the beach and dunes. It’s well set up with roped off areas to protect the main attraction and parking facilities for spectators. It’s a great day out – but do wrap up warmly and bring a flask of hot chocolate!
We always decorate the house for the festive season (in 2020 there was even heavy snow fall which is highly unusual at the coast and it truly did create a winter wonderland). Here at North Cottage Cromer our guests enjoy celebrating with the whole family – let’s face it not many homes are big enough for everyone to stay over at Christmas. With 6 bedrooms and 4 reception rooms hiring North Cottage Cromer for the Christmas holidays can make the perfect gift for the entire family. There are two large dining tables – the dining room seats 12 and the conservatory seats 8/10. There’s nothing like a turkey roasted to perfection in the AGA and relaxing with a glass of mulled wine beside the log burner.
Do check our availability calendar – you could be making memories in North Norfolk this year! We hope to have the great pleasure of welcoming you soon – as you’ve seen there’s plenty to keep you occupied, that’s if you can tear yourself away from the wood burning stove!
You can read more about the house at Christmas here
To see even more things to do watch the Christmas in North Norfolk video on youtube
We’ve written about some other ideas for things to do in Norfolk 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/
Happy holidays!
Jerry & Andrea
North Cottage Cromer
