Things to do in Hemsby, Norfolk
Hemsby is a small seaside village in Norfolk, just a few miles north of Great Yarmouth. It has around 3,000 residents.
![Hemsby beach[looking north] © Philip Cookson](/images/towns/big/hemsby-5020-4.jpg "Hemsby Beach (looking north) © Philip Cookson")
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 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 hairdresser's, gift shops, a fish and chip shop and a Chinese restaurant along with a few other local services.
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 beach[looking south] © Philip Cookson](/images/towns/big/hemsby-5020-5.jpg "Hemsby Beach (looking south) © Philip Cookson")
Hemsby is four miles from the scenic Norfolk Broads National Park where boating and wildlife offer a quiet day out with nature.
History of Hemsby
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.
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.
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Days Out in Hemsby
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Great Yarmouth Racecourse (4 Miles)*
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Horsey Windpump (5 Miles)*
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Elizabethan House Museum (5 Miles)*
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The Tolhouse (5 Miles)*
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Time and Tide Museum of Great Yarmouth Life (6 Miles)*
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Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre (6 Miles)*
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BeWILDerwood (10 Miles)*
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Somerleyton Hall & Gardens (11 Miles)*
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Lowestoft & East Suffolk Maritime Museum (13 Miles)*
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East Anglia Transport Museum (16 Miles)*
Places to Visit near Hemsby
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Winterton on Sea (2 Miles)*
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Caister-on-Sea (3 Miles)*
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Great Yarmouth (6 Miles)*
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Sea Palling (8 Miles)*
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Belton (8 Miles)*
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Gorleston-on-Sea (8 Miles)*
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Hopton on Sea (10 Miles)*
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Corton (11 Miles)*
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Wroxham (12 Miles)*
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Gunton (12 Miles)*
Also near Hemsby |
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