King's Lynn

Saturday market days still draw crowds to the cobbled streets, just as they have for over 900 years. King's Lynn wears its maritime heritage proudly - the Great Ouse winds through town past warehouses that once stored grain bound for Europe, their Georgian facades now housing galleries and cafes.

The old port's character runs deep. Trinity Guildhall dominates Tuesday Market Place with its distinctive chequered flint, while the Custom House cuts a striking figure down by the quayside. Markets still matter here - Tuesday's is proper old-school, Friday's has a good mix of locals and visitors browsing the stalls.

Beyond town, the Wash coastline opens up into something quite special. Snettisham Beach stretches for miles, backed by the RSPB Snettisham reserve where thousands of waders roost at high tide. It's a bit of a spectacle when they take flight - worth timing your visit right. The woods behind offer quieter walking, though most head straight for the beach.

Norfolk's royal connection sits just inland. Sandringham's close enough for a day trip, and the surrounding countryside rolls gently between Snettisham Woods and the various lakes dotted about - Shepherd's Lake and Stanton's Lake both draw anglers and dog walkers.

Getting here's straightforward enough. The A47 runs direct from Norwich, about 45 minutes by car. King's Lynn station connects to London and Cambridge if you're coming by rail. Staying at one of the holiday parks scattered around the area gives you proper access to both the historic town and that gorgeous stretch of Wash coastline - plus you're well placed for day trips to the North Norfolk coast proper.