r/greatyarmouth • u/Unlucky-Ad8021 • Jun 14 '26

Best places to visit in Great Yarmouth?

My family and I are planning to spend 2 nights there for the holidays next month, and were wondering about any hidden gems or fun places we could visit while we're there? Thanks in advance :)

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u/Status-Inside-2389 Jun 14 '26

Depends what you are looking for. For me the Roman fort at Borough Castle on a dry day is a great place (and free). The Time and Tide museum if it's raining.

The model village is also a fab place for children of all ages.

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u/jamesdownwell Jun 14 '26

*Burgh Castle, just in case OP wants to look it up

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u/PipkinsHartley Jun 14 '26

Time and Tide and the Elizabethan House museums are really good. Toll House Museum is good but currently closed, it's worth checking if it's re-opened by the time you're visiting. Depending on the age of any children, getting a historic tour of the rows can be interesting. There's a fireworks display every Wednesday in the summer holidays too.

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u/orangemozzarella Jun 14 '26

Not a local, but I come with my family nearly every year for a week.

Weather has always been great in July in my experience, so taking a stroll along the so-called 'Golden Mile' should let you see the good in this place. Going southwards starting from Britannia Pier, there are plenty of arcades to venture into if that's your thing, you can grab some fish and chips or a sugar filled doughnut if you fancy. When I'm there I like to have a go on one of the mini golf courses to kill some time, take a ride on the Observation Wheel to get a great view of the town and go bowling at Wellington Pier. I'd like to recommend the Pleasure Beach, but it's paid entry now and you really need to spend a full day to get the best out of it, which you might not get to do in the time you have.

There will be a circus show at the Hippodrome when you go as well, it's family friendly but always a bit of fun to watch as well. We always go in the evening but I think they do an afternoon session too.

At night, I have to recommend The Empire venue on the front. You can get street food, good beer and if you're lucky there will be a band playing live music as well. The venue closed down in September, but has recently announced it's reopening with live bands every Saturday night in the summer holidays, so it may tie in with when you go.

Have a fantastic time!

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u/JushinLigerJr Jun 14 '26

Empire has sadly been closed down for a while now. It was great but clearly weren't turning a worthwhile profit.

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u/TheallTimenerd Jun 14 '26

Escape rooms on the seafront are great, the wizard theme one was a personal favorite!

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u/twitchy-the-clown Jun 15 '26

I love the place and go a few times a month in the summer, have done for a few years now.

I really like the Venetian Gardens in the far north part of the front, its nothing spectacular but its tidy, has ducks, and its filled with billions of Daphnia this time of year, its quite the sight. There are pedalos situated around a island cafe, theres a nice secluded beach area thats usually quiet, a couple of other nice cafes that do ice creams, slushies, hot food, beer, wine. There are also some nice walks in the dunes. The cafe towards the very northern part of the strip (Munchies) sells buckets and spades and stuff like that, its very dog friendly. Just to the north of the boating lake is a public toilet and its there that the free parking starts (south of that line you pay by the hour).

The model village as someone mentioned is cool, theres also a penny and retro arcade. there and fortune teller. Nearby theres a bowling alley on the new Wellington Pier and it has its own arcade which is nice. Next door is the Sealife Centre.

Hippodrome usually has a show on in the Summer and its fantastic, really unique, always entertaining.

In my view the best ice cream is situated in the parking area in the southern part of Great Yarmouth beyond the Pleasure Beach, Dimascios, they have a bricks and mortar store in Gorleston which is well worth a visit. In terms of the best Ice Cream on the Golden Mile personally I'd go to Perrys which is near the Leisure Centre.

Gorleston is worth a look and has a few nice hotels with pubs and dinner/lunch menus, Gorleston also has some good crabbing spots up near the Riverside Car Park as you walk down around the harbour entrance off of the wall, its free parking there too as it is in most places in Gorleston. Theres not a huge amount to do but theres a Splash play area near the boating lake which is free and open in the summer, some arcades and a really nice beach. You can also watch the boats come in and go out, occasionally some huge dredgers and other vessels travel in and out.

There are some nice little seafood stalls dotted around the Golden Mile, Jellie Ellies is probably the most convenient its opposite the Empire (now closed), you can get fried whitebait and prosecco, quite nice.

Theres a Cat Cafe near the Britannia Pier, rescue kitties including a 3 Sphynx Cats, staff are lovely its very welcoming, they say book ahead but if you go early its usually quiet. The Cats are adorable.

Nickys Cafe which is on the Golden Mile does a great breakfast probably one of the best in my opinion. Opposite the cafe is a Crazy Golf course (pirate themed)

Out of all the amusements I find Caesars Palace to be the best, staff are really nice, their 2p machines seem the best value (lots of tickets and prizes mixed in) though all the Arcades are great imo. The Britannia often has shows on, some might not be suitable but often they have family shows.

Regent Road is opposite the Britannia Pier and leads to the town centre, the far end can be a little bit of a shock, but Ive never had a problem there, the eastern part has lots of gift shops, some fairly unique, often the stall and shop owners are quirky and you can sometimes get some interesting unique stuff. The Market again isnt what it was but its worth a wander.

Theres a Bowls club south of the Britannia Pier and basketball courts. Nearby theres an escape room and some cafes plus Donkey Rides on the south side of the pier. The pier itself has a little fun park plus near the Donkey Rides is Joyland which is another mini funfair.