The Local Area
out and about...
North Norfolk is home to an abundance of beautiful countryside, award winning beaches, quaint coastal villages and sleepy towns.
As the only west facing town on the east coast, Hunstanton has also been famous for it's amazing seascape sunsets since the Victorians fell in love with the area over a century ago.
The coast is a nature lovers paradise, the kids will love the fun and games to be found in the seaside town of Hunstanton and foodies will be very pleased with the abundance of cosy gastropubs and local restaurants.
Even the Royal family make North Norfolk the first choice for their annual winter retreat, a preference that speaks volumes on the merits of this largely unspoiled British gem.
Local Attraction Discounts on the Norfolk Coast
Searles Leisure Resort are proud to have partnered with some of North West Norfolk's best attractions to bring you exclusive discounts on tickets and bookings.
Watatunga
Located near King's Lynn, Watatunga offers unique guides tours of their 17-acre estate. Home to one of Europe's largest collections of deer and antelope you'll explore the grounds in the comfort of your own golf buggy, complete with an expert guide offering insights into some rare and spectacular breeds. With conservation efforts serving as a huge driving force behind Watatunga, not only can you enjoy a fabulous day out, you can also feel satisfied that your visit is helping preserve these animals for future generations.
Searles Leisure Resort are pleased to have partnered with Watatunga to offer guests a 15% discount on Watatunga's off-peak tours (Tuesday-Thursday, March-October, excluding school holidays). Book your tour with Watatunga directly quoting SEARLES15 to secure your safari savings.
Photo: Liam's Photos
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Sea Life Hunstanton
You may be familiar with the Sea Life brand that boasts spectacular aquariums across the globe. Hunstanton is not only lucky to have their own Sea Life centre, but one with the unique addition of a Sea Hospital. Sea Life Hunstanton serves not only as a wonderful educational attractions with a huge selection of creatures including; sharks, penguins, turtles and caiman. but also one that supports conservation on our coastline by rehabilitating and releasing sick or injured seals.
Located only a short stroll from Searles Leisure Resort we are so grateful to have an exclusive booking link offering guests 30% pre-booked tickets for up to 5 people (subject to availability).
Snettisham Park
Just a short drive from Searles Leisure Resort, Snettisham Park is a working farm that has been welcoming visitors since 1986. It's an ideal spot for families keen to explore country life and interact with charming farm animals. Snettisham Park features expansive agricultural farmland, about 400 sheep, chickens, and ponies, as well as a herd of stunning red deer. Enjoy a traditional farm experience complete with a 45-minute guided deer safari.
We at Searles Leisure Resort are big fans of Snettisham Park, which is why we proudly offer our guests 10% OFF attraction tickets purchased through our reception.
Things to do near Hunstanton
If you're new to North West Norfolk you might need a little help in planning what to do when you're here. Hunstanton has been a popular tourism destination since the Victorian era, and with that comes a bounty of things to do and places to see.
Beaches
Hunstanton Beach, which holds a Blue Flag award is right on your doorstep, stretches for miles, all the way to the striking candy-striped cliffs beyond the town. The sandy beach is shallow, there are no nasty currents or undertows, and it’s lifeguarded, so it’s brilliant for children. It also happens to be Norfolk’s only west-facing beach, perfect for a beautiful sunset.
Best way to explore the beach? It’s a Searles Sea Tour of course! Hop aboard one of Captain Willie’s amphibious Wash Monsters and sail out to a sandbank or drive and wade along the beach. And it's a top-rated attraction, as voted for by Tripadvisor. Ask at reception for details or walk along the promenade towards town and you’ll find Captain Willie’s shore-based headquarters.
Round the corner of the coast, just minutes by car from Searles Leisure Resort, you’ll find the vast sandy beaches of the North Norfolk coast. Starting with the idyllic Holme-next-the-Sea, backed by pinewoods like a Greek Island, then onto Brancaster, surely the biggest stretch of flat sand you’ll ever find… hang on, that might be Holkham or Wells-next-the-Sea… seriously, you won’t find so much sandy beach anywhere else in the UK! And they’re all shallow and safe. But do be careful, as the tide comes in quick, so beware not to get stranded on a sandbank.
Nature
Norfolk is home to several areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and nature reserves, including the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, with whom we are proud to be Silver Sponsors. Holme and Cley have some fabulously fun things to do for the children, and so does RSPB Titchwell and Snettisham. Then there’s the National Trust at Brancaster, who also have some great days out for kids.
You serious bird-watchers will know where to go, but if you’ve always wanted to have a go at ‘twitching’ – and we do recommend it – all the reserves have tips and advice and even guided walks and talks. And don’t forget Pensthorpe Natural Park, which has lots of activities and walks for all the family.
A stone’s throw inland is Snettisham Deer Park, where the children get to feed Bambi, and just along the promenade from Searles Leisure Resort is the world famous Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary, where they can adopt an otter!
Town
Hunstanton is a thriving and rightly famous seaside resort town. But did you know it’s also home to the UK’s biggest (and best) joke shop? You’ll also find funfairs, fish and chips, fishing and camping gear and that vital ingredient for any summer holiday: lashings of ice cream!
Of course there are lots of shops too, with some great local crafts available from HoneyPots Studios, and everything smelling of well, lavender, at Norfolk Lavender.
Activities
If you’ve run out of fun things to do at Searles Leisure Resort – which we doubt very much – all sorts of activities can be enjoyed nearby. Hunstanton Watersports will teach you and the family to kitesurf, windsurf and paddle board.
Bircham Windmill, 20 minutes by car, is a charming old windmill and it’s still working! Children can look around the museum, watch the windmill in action, and to cap it all, bake their own bread. Stand back Paul Hollywood!
You can read more about serious golf here, but for family fun with a putter visit Hunstanton’s Putting Green, or get everyone in the family into the swing on Searles’s driving range.
History, Big Houses and the Royal Family
You know you’ve come to the right place for a holiday when the Royal family spend Christmas just down the road. Sandringham House is open to the public most of the year, and the beautiful park is open year round.
Along the coast, Holkham Hall, still privately owned and managed by the Leicester family, has a deer park, a farming museum and a brilliant adventure playground. Just beyond that are the National Trust properties of Blickling and Felbrigg, where Anne Boleyn grew up. With Houghton Hall offering curated contemporary art exhibitions, and beautiful grounds to explore heritage lovers will be spoilt for choice.
