Best campsites in Norfolk (2026 guide)
No mountains, no crowds fighting for the same three car parks — just the Broads, a genuinely unspoilt coastline, and some of the biggest skies in England. Here's where to pitch.
Norfolk doesn't compete on drama the way the Lake District or Snowdonia do, and that's exactly its appeal. It's flat, it's quiet outside a handful of honeypots, and it has two genuinely distinct kinds of camping in one county: the inland waterways of the Broads and a north coast that regularly turns up on best-beach lists without the Cornwall-style traffic.
Where to pitch
For the Broads, campsites around Wroxham and Horning put you close to boat hire and the network of rivers and reconnected lakes that make this England's largest protected wetland. For the coast, the stretch from Wells-next-the-Sea to Sheringham has campsites within reach of Blakeney's seal colony boat trips, Holkham's vast dune-backed beach, and Cromer's pier and crab. Inland, quieter farm sites around Norwich and the Wensum valley are a good base if you want easy access to both without committing to either end of the county.
Beyond the tent
Blakeney Point's seal colony (accessible by boat trip from Morston or Blakeney quay) is one of the most reliable wildlife sightings in England — hundreds of grey and common seals hauled out on the sandbar most of the year. Holkham beach is vast enough that it rarely feels crowded even in August. The Broads are best explored by hiring a boat for a day rather than trying to walk them — Wroxham and Horning both have day-hire options. Norwich itself, with its cathedral, castle and market, is a genuine city day out that most Norfolk campsites put within a 30–40 minute drive.
When to go
May and June for the Broads — the waterways are at their best before the summer boat traffic peaks, and the reed beds are full of nesting birds. Late September and October are prime for the coast — seal pupping season begins at Blakeney Point, and the crowds thin noticeably after the school summer holidays. Norfolk is also one of the drier counties in England, which makes it a sound choice for a spring bank-holiday trip when the west of the UK is still a coin-flip on weather.
Booking ahead
Coastal campsites near Wells and Blakeney book out for July and August weekends by early summer — earlier than the Broads sites, which have more flexibility since the boat-hire crowd spreads demand across weekdays too. Norfolk's flat, quiet character means even peak-season midweek availability is usually decent, especially inland.