west norfolk tourism forum

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Explore West Norfolk

West Norfolk is a great place to explore, unwind and discover amazing rural history and heritage, stunning coastline, breathtaking countryside and some truly outstanding natural habitats.

Discover unexplored gems in West Norfolk’s countryside, farmland and forest that are dotted with amazing flint and carrstone villages. To the south, the ancient market town of Downham Market provides an ideal base from which to explore the fascinating open landscape of the Fens and surrounding countryside.

West Norfolk Tourism Forum Evening Event

Wed Nov 23 2022 at 07:00 pm to 09:00 pm

New Conduit Street | King's Lynn, EN

The West Norfolk Tourism Forum: Evening Event

Free to attend! Limited spaces, so booking is essential for this year's event.

Join the West Norfolk Tourism Forum at The Place on New Conduit Street in King's Lynn town centre (ample car parking around the town) for a superb west Norfolk tourism business evening, including two great business support presentations, free evening buffet and networking with your local business community.

Our Chair, Tess Gilder, will kick the evening off with a warm welcome, followed by two superb guest speakers, a buffet selection and the chance to network with other local tourism businesses.

Our first guest speaker, from Sandringham Estate, will explore how recent years have seen the estate go through a major period of change at the same time as managing to change the venue’s visitor offer for the better – but not without pain!

Our second guest speaker, from Richer Solutions, will highlight how your business can inspire more domestic visitors during the cost-of-living crisis. Richer Solutions will also share an offer of a free 30-minute consultation for all businesses attending this event, for mentoring and marketing, with 50% off any subsequent session. yet another great reason for attending this evening event!

You can also make your vote on the night for private business representatives to join the West Norfolk Tourism Forum for 2023.

19:00 - Event starts: Welcome from the Chair of the West Norfolk Tourism Forum.

19:15 - WNTF Tourism Report: A reflection on the past year of local tourism.

19:30 - Guest Presentation: “No Pain, No Gain” by Garry Marsden from the Sandringham Estate.

20:00 - Guest Presentation: “How to inspire domestic visitors to your West Norfolk business during the cost-of-living crisis in 2023” by Richard Liverman from Richer Solutions.

20:30 - Networking & Buffet.

21:00 - Event close.

We recommend you arrive around 6.50pm to be comfortably settled for the AGM event at 7pm.

Who is it for?

All West Norfolk tourism businesses, visitor-oriented groups and community organisations. Booking is essential as there is a strict limit for attendees.

Evening Buffet:

We will be providing a buffet selection for this event, which is included within your free ticket. a range of food will be available on the evening, including vegetarian and vegan options too. While every care is taken to avoid the presence of nuts in food, there is no guarantee that specific foods will not contain them.

Cancellation policy:

If you have received free tickets via email for this event and can no longer attend, please notify us at [email protected]

Where is it happening?

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Host or Publisher The West Norfolk Tourism Forum

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West Norfolk… Naturally

West Norfolk is home to diverse wildlife, wide natural landscapes and spectacular sandy beaches. Our aim is to promote sustainable and responsible tourism far and wide to help protect the coast, countryside and communities in west Norfolk for us all.

Sustainable Tourism aims to increase the benefits and minimise any negative impacts linked to tourism. This can be achieved by protecting landscapes, wildlife and natural resources when visiting tourist destinations. The way you choose to travel, how you dispose of your waste, where you seek local experiences and so on – there are many great (and even fun!) steps you can take to help us protect the environment and support local and independent tourism businesses.

This general guide highlights how visitors and tourism businesses can help move towards a greener West Norfolk.

Nature Reserves and Wildlife Parks in West Norfolk

Art for the Environment | A GroundWork Gallery Exhibition

Explore West Norfolk

Good Journey – West Norfolk

Five West Norfolk parks awarded the coveted Green Flag Award

Road Safety Awareness for Pedestrians and Cyclists

Sustainable Transport in West Norfolk

Safe and Responsible Travel

Walking in West Norfolk

Cycling in West Norfolk

West Norfolk Guide to Electric Car Travel

Sustainability guides for businesses in west norfolk.

Sustainable tourism is on the rise and as a result, consumers are seeking greener alternatives that can help reduce their environmental impact. It is important for businesses in west Norfolk to integrate eco-friendly practices in order to meet the needs of this growing market.

Visit West Norfolk have created simple guides to help Accommodation , Food & Drink and Retail tourism businesses become more sustainable. Each guide includes easy to implement tips that can be incorporated into different areas of your business. Take a look below:

How to Make Your Accommodation More Sustainable

How to Make Your Food Business More Sustainable

How To Make Your Retail Business More Sustainable

A final helpful tip for businesses from us: the national tourism agency VisitBritain also offers a superb range of resources and guidance on how you can make your business more sustainable on their website .

Home > Norfolk > Discovering Norfolk > West Norfolk

West Norfolk

West Norfolk has a superb unspoilt coastline with pretty villages, all with their own individual charm. The medieval port of King's Lynn has some very interesting architecture. The town’s 17th century Custom House is now the local tourist information centre and is also home to a maritime display. It was initially built in 1683 as a merchant exchange, and had open ground floor arcades. King's Lynn was a noted harbour at the time of the Doomsday book, and was once considered to be England’s third port.

Five miles north-east of King's Lynn is Castle Rising , a Norman fortress built around 1140, covering an area of 12 acres. Parts of the great tower, gatehouse, fine Norman arches and vaulting still remain and a tour of the castle offers a fascinating insight into its history and its most famous occupant, Queen Isabella.

Sandringham , our Royal Family’s estate, is situated within West Norfolk. More information about this beautiful estate can be found within our Historic Houses section.

Northwards from Sandringham is a place called Heacham . A large seaside village, Heacham is the centre of Norfolk’s lavender growing industry. The scent of lavender fills the air during the summer months.

Further along the coast is Hunstanton , a Victorian town with long sandy beaches and cliffs some 60 feet high. At the top of these cliffs is where the ruins of the old St Edmunds Chapel remain. This chapel was said to commemorate the landing of the King of the East Angles in 850 AD.

Thursford is home to the Thursford Collection. Here you will find painstakingly restored steam engines, as well as nine mechanical organs, Carousel and Wurlitzer. During the summer season there are live musical shows and later in the year there is a Christmas extravaganza show.

A 12th century priory is set in the village of Castle Acre . Headsets available from the gift shop give its history as you stroll around the grounds.

King's Lynn

Sandringham

The finest holiday cottages & self-catering accommodation in Norfolk.

Book with norfolk hideaways.

Holland House (6)

Docking, Norfolk

More details & Book

With classical style and charming in every way, Holland House is a romantically-styled Grade II-listed house with three bedrooms and three bathrooms, located just five miles to the North Norfolk coast and Brancaster beach.

The Old Butcher's Shop (D)

The warmest of welcomes awaits you at this super-stylish luxury cottage, brimming with country charm, which is only ten minutes drive to the beautiful beach at Brancaster, making it a relaxing retreat whatever time of year you choose to visit.

The Old Butcher's Shop

Heacham, Norfolk

The Old Butcher’s Shop is a spacious and delightful detached luxury conversion, oozing character and style, located in the centre of Heacham within easy walking distance of the beach, shops and pubs/restaurants.

Rural Retreats - Norfolk

Find your perfect Norfolk Coast Holiday Cottages Retreat

Norfolk Hideaways

Beautiful Norfolk holiday cottages and self-catering accommodation - find your Norfolk Hideaway

Sykes Cottages

Norfolk Holiday Cottages, great choices, great locations

Pensthorpe Norfolk - Something for Everyone

Pensthorpe Natural Park is one of Norfolk’s finest attractions and is located 45 minutes from Norwich on the A1067 Fakenham to Norwich road. It is home to many species of mammals, birds, invertebrates and plants and its diverse range of habitats creates a stunning rich landscape which Pensthorpe Conservation Trust manages. With indoor and outdoor adventure play areas, educational facilities, talks and guided tours, bird hides, a café and gift shop, it’s a great place to visit, whatever your age.

Useful links

www.visitnorfolk.co.uk

Visit Norfolk is the strategic voice of the county's visitor industry. This brand delivery vehicle, operated by Visit East Anglia, is responsible for promoting all that the county has to offer at local, regional and national levels.

www.tournorfolk.co.uk

An independent tourist guide for the county of Norfolk in England, that shows you what places actually look like.

www.norfolkandsuffolkattractions.co.uk

Norfolk + Suffolk Tourist Attractions is the trade association for tourist attractions in Norfolk and Suffolk.

English Heritage - Norfolk

Become a member of English Heritage today

National Trust Holidays Norfolk

For the iconic Norfolk Broads, a prestigious scholarly history and vast sandy beaches

Go Ape Thetford Forest

Have you got what it takes to Go Ape in Thetford Forest?

Have you got a business that’s worth shouting about? Advertise with us for FREE

There are several advertising options available, these include:

• Simple business, accommodation or restaurant listing - FREE
• Full page business listing advertising your brand, accommodation, restaurant
• Full page article
• Bespoke banners

Contact us for options available and costs

West Norfolk Tourist Attractions

WEST NORFOLK ATTRACTIONS

With outstanding beaches, incredible wildlife, award-winning restaurants, fun-filled attractions and outdoor pursuits, there is truly something for everyone in west Norfolk.

With its outstanding coastline and beautiful rolling countryside, so many people come to west Norfolk to enjoy the special environment.

From famous historic houses, parks and gardens, to castles, churches, museums, heritage sites and working windmills, discover a host of fascinating places to visit.

Top 5 West Norfolk Attra ctions

Sandringham house and gardens.

Attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, the beloved Sandringham Estate of Her Majesty The Queen has become a widely admired tourism attraction in west Norfolk. With rooms bursting with Edwardian beauty, visitors are guaranteed to spot antique treasures including the porcelain chandelier gifted by Kaiser Wilheim I of Germany. A highlight of any visit is a walk around the stunning gardens surrounding the house, uniquely personalised to the tastes of The Queen and previous British monarchs.

Norfolk Lavender

Spot many different varieties of lavender and a large range of herbs at Norfolk Lavender , Heacham. Learn about the ancient process of lavender distillation and how the small aromatic evergreen shrub is harvested. You’ll be able to uncover a fantastic range of themed gifts in the Countryside Gift Shop . If you fancy a cream tea or a slice of freshly-baked cake, The Norfolk Lavender Lounge is on site to satisfy your cravings.

Hunstanton Beach

Enjoy west Norfolk’s outstanding coastline at the Victorian seaside resort of Hunstanton . As an east coast resort facing west, visitors are guaranteed to catch the sun and enjoy spectacular sunsets. During the warmer months of the year, you’re invited to follow the town’s self-guided Horticultural Trail or tour along the coast on a Wash Monster . Hunstanton has all the traditional seaside attractions including amusements, crazy golf, and donkey rides. The resort also offers shows at the Princess Theatre , interactive aquarium zones in the Sealife Centre , and has an indoor swimming pool at Alive Oasis .

Snettisham Park

Meet the miniature animals, witness new-born lambs take their very first steps or go on a 45-minute deer safari at Snettisham Park . From collecting and grading eggs to grooming and riding ponies along the wonderful farm trails, you and your family are guaranteed an all-round farm experience with something for every animal lover to enjoy.

Bircham Windmill

Explore the only working windmill open to the public in west Norfolk, Bircham Windmill . Climb up to the top to enjoy unmissable views of Great Bircham’s undulating countryside. Learn along the way, listen to the audio boxes, and watch the mill machinery turning. Visitors are welcome to meet and feed the farm animals on site or bake a bread loaf from scratch in the bakery adjoining the mill.  

West Norfolk Festivals

From food and drink events to music and literacy festivals, West Norfolk has something for everyone to enjoy throughout the year.

King’s Lynn’s annual Heritage Open Day is a celebration of local history and architecture.  The free festival gives visitors the opportunity to learn more about the town’s historic houses, offices, gardens, chapels, and towers that are not normally open to the public.

The town also hosts the annual King’s Lynn Poetry Festival . In a friendly and relaxed setting, attendees will have the opportunity to meet some of the best contemporary writers, hear them read and purchase their books.

Deepdale Camping hosts the Deepdale Festival . A weekend of great live music, with a strong focus on the best original talent East Anglia and beyond has to offer.

Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, the following festivals were cancelled in 2021 but are expected to make a return in 2022:

• King’s Lynn Fiction Festival
• The Soul Family Affair Weekend
• King’s Lynn Hanse Festival
• Festival Too
• Sandringham Food and Drink Festival
• Heacham Carnival
• Downham Market Water Festival
• Norfolk Walking and Cycling Festival

Check out the Visit West Norfolk Events page for updates.

Find out more

For more information about tourist attractions in west Norfolk, please see Visit West Norfolk website.

• Sea Fishing
• Sea Kayaking
• Narrowboating
• Dinghy Sailing
• Non-tidal Waterways
• Passage planning
• Day Cruising
• Explore Boston
• Explore Fenland
• Explore Fosdyke
• Explore East Lincolnshire
• Explore Norfolk
• Dining and drinking
• Tourist attractions
• Accommodation

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Contact details

West norfolk tourism forum executive forum.

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Councillor Alistair Beales

Shangri La Back Street Gayton King's Lynn PE32 1QR

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cllr.alistair.beales@west-norfolk.gov.uk

Councillor Simon Ring

Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk Kings Court Chapel Street King's Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1EX

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cllr.simon.ring@west-norfolk.gov.uk