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Hemsby Tourist Information


Hemsby is a small seaside village in Norfolk, just a few miles north of Great Yarmouth. It has around 3,000 residents.

A county map of the area around Hemsby in 1610 shows a very altered scene from today, with a large headland called the Winterton Ness now all but disappeared due to sea erosion. Certainly the invading Vikings who arrived in search of slaves and loot would have seen a very different coastline.

By the 11th century the village was listed as Haimesbei, not so different from the name we have today. The manor was described in the Domesday Book as having 43 meadow acres, three slaves and 160 sheep and later a priory was established.

The village expanded with the advent of tourism in the Victorian era. It cleverly markets itself as “1200 Years of Seaside Fun” and plays on its Viking past. In recent years it has started an annual Viking Festival in mid-June.

Benny Andersson of Abba fame performed at the first festival and judged an Abba tribute band competition of local talent. The festival also has Viking battle re-enactments and a Scandinavian market among other fun events.


Present Day Hemsby

The sandy beaches at Hemsby draw many summer visitors. Separated from the sea by huge sand dunes, Hemsby village is about a mile inland from Hemsby Beach. The wide bay and extensive sand dunes give Hemsby a good deal of protection from the eroding waves which have affected other villages along the Norfolk coast more severely.

The beach at Hemsby still has the remains of several anti-tank blocks on the sands, a relic from World War II sea defences. The beach is surrounded by beach chalets and holiday homes and was until recently the site of a local Pontins holiday camp.

This site is now destined to be the “Eden of the East” with an eco-park within giant domes, similar to that at Cornwall's successful Eden Project.

As you would expect there are several cafés, colourful amusements and small shops serving the beach and there is an inshore lifeboat.

The village of Hemsby has a local supermarket, pubs, a hairdressers, gift shops, a fish and chip shop and a Chinese restaurant along with a few other local services. The main focal point of the village is St Mary the Virgin Church which has been a landmark in the area since the 12th century.

Other more modern landmarks are the wind farms in the area at Blood Hill and offshore on a sandbank at Scroby Sands.


Things to do in Hemsby

Hemsby is known for its amusement arcades. It offers ten-pin bowling, crazy golf, fairground rides, bingo, a play area and other activities for all ages.

Hemsby is four miles from the scenic a href="/articles/the-broads-national-park.asp">Norfolk Broads National Park where boating and wildlife offer a quiet day out with nature.

There is a regular bus service to Great Yarmouth, seven miles away, which has museums, restaurants, nightclubs, a racecourse and a casino for more lively entertainment.

 

Images of Hemsby
Hemsby beach[looking south] © Philip Cookson
Old wartime defense's on Hemsby beach © Philip Cookson
Directions
Show map of Hemsby...


Attractions near Hemsby
Great Yarmouth Racecourse (4 Miles)*
Situated in East Anglia's premier holiday resort Great Yarmouth Racecourse provides a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, which attracts serious racegoers and holidaymakers alike.
Horsey Windpump (5 Miles)*
Horsey is a restored drainage windpump that affords striking views across Horsey Mere.
Elizabethan House Museum (5 Miles)*
The Museum is housed in a sixteenth century building with rooms displayed to reflect the lives of families who have lived there.
more attractions in Hemsby and things to do in Hemsby ...
* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

What's near Hemsby

Attractions:
  Great Yarmouth Racecourse  4 Miles
  Horsey Windpump  5 Miles
  Elizabethan House Museum  5 Miles
more attractions in Hemsby...
 
Towns:
  Ormesby St. Margaret  1 Mile
  Rollesby  1 Mile
  Winterton on Sea  2 Miles
more towns near Hemsby...
 
Estate Agents:
  Aldreds Residential  2 Miles
  Bairstow Eves Countrywide  5 Miles
  Watsons Residential  5 Miles
Hotels:
  Gable End Hotel  5 Miles
  Imperial Hotel  5 Miles
  Hadleigh Gables  5 Miles
more hotels in Hemsby area...
 
Bed and Breakfast:
  Burleigh House  2 Miles
more bed and breakfasts near Hemsby...
 
Self Catering:
  133 Florida Park  1 Mile
  California Sands Chalet  1 Mile
  2 bedroomed holiday chalet  1 Mile
more self catering near Hemsby...
 
Campsites:
  Toppers  1 Mile
  The Lawns and Paddock View  1 Mile
  Grange Touring Park  1 Mile
TIC: Great Yarmouth Tourist Information Centre     Tel: 01493 842195  5 Miles



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Towns near Hemsby
Ormesby St. Margaret Tourist Information (1 Mile)*
Rollesby Tourist Information (1 Mile)*
Winterton on Sea Tourist Information (2 Miles)*
The delightfully unspoilt village of Winterton-on-Sea lies on the east coast of Norfolk. It is only ten miles distant from the bustle of Great Yarmouth, but its a million miles away in character.
more towns near Hemsby...
* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

Hotels near Hemsby
The Grange Hotel (1 Mile)*
The Grange Hotel is an independantly owned situated a short distance from Gt Yarmouth We offer a good quality service and food served by friendly staff at reasonable prices The Grange Hotel is a listed building in a picturesque village within a few...
Gable End Hotel (5 Miles)*
The Gable End is situated in a quiet area of Great Yarmouth, on the seafront, a short walk to all amenities. It boasts good food, free parking and free Wi-Fi.
Imperial Hotel (5 Miles)*
Overlooking the beach and the sea, this 4-star hotel was named Hotel of the Year in the Greater Yarmouth Tourist Authority Awards and offers a high standard of accommodation, food and service.
more Hemsby hotels (and nearby)...
* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

Self Catering near Hemsby
2 bedroomed holiday chalet (1 Mile)*
We are a family owned company leasing good clean well furnished holiday chalet accommodation to families who want to enjoy a holiday in the Great Yarmouth/Norfolk Broads area.
Winterton Holidays (2 Miles)*
Winterton Valley is a very quiet and peaceful site, set in an area of natural beauty. The front of the site has uninterrupted views over the valley and dunes to the beach and sea, a few minutes walk away (no roads to cross).
Your property could be here
Advertising your self catering property or holiday cottage on AboutBritain.com will get you noticed by thousands of potential guests every day.
more self catering near Hemsby ...
* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

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