Great Yarmouth

Golden Mile amusements flash and jingle against a backdrop of proper Victorian seaside grandeur. Great Yarmouth wears its resort credentials proudly - this is Norfolk's biggest seaside town, where generations have come for bucket-and-spade holidays since the railway arrived in 1844.

The wide sandy beach stretches for miles, backed by a promenade that's seen better days but still delivers on nostalgia. Beach Golf and Beach Trampolines keep the kids entertained, while the Outdoor Pool offers a refreshing dip when the North Sea feels too bracing. Nelson's Monument stands tall above the town, a reminder that this was once England's herring capital and a proper working port.

Great Yarmouth Yacht Station hints at the town's maritime heritage, though these days pleasure craft outnumber fishing boats. The town centre has that slightly faded seaside charm - arcade games, fish and chips, and ice cream parlours doing a roaring trade in summer.

Beyond the immediate seafront, the Norfolk Broads spread inland - a network of rivers and lakes that's properly spectacular for boating and wildlife watching. It's a 20-minute drive to reach the heart of Broads country, where reed beds and windmills define the landscape.

Staying at one of the holiday parks dotted around the area makes perfect sense. Places like Haven Caister-on-Sea and Parkdean California Cliffs put you within easy reach of both beach and Broads, while Clippesby Hall offers a more rural base for exploring the countryside. The town's well connected by rail to Norwich and London, making it surprisingly accessible for a proper seaside break.