Eastern Orthodox Church

The Eastern Orthodox Church in Wells-next-the-Sea stands out like a proper curio among Norfolk's flint-built cottages and Georgian townhouses. It's a striking sight - Byzantine domes and Orthodox crosses rising above the quaint streets of this coastal town, which makes you do a double-take if you're not expecting it.

Inside, the iconography and liturgical layout feel genuinely transported from another tradition entirely. The air smells different - incense and centuries of devotion seem to hang around the place. Whether services are on or you're just passing through, it's worth popping in if the doors are unlocked. The contrast between this and the surrounding Anglican Norfolk is exactly what makes it fascinating rather than twee.

This works best for architecture enthusiasts and anyone curious about religious traditions beyond the C of E norm. You'll spend ten minutes here maximum unless you catch a service, but it's the sort of thing that sticks with you - a small reminder that English towns contain stranger, richer layers than postcards suggest.

Wells-next-the-Sea itself is lovely for a wander, with proper independent shops and decent crab sandwiches at the quay. If you're based at one of the nearby parks - North Norfolk Glamping is closest at under five miles, with Pinewoods and Old Brick Kilns also within striking distance - combine this church visit with the town's beaches and the wider Norfolk Coast walking routes. Go on a quieter weekday morning to actually get inside; summer weekends can draw crowds to the seafront.