Broads Haven Marina

The marina sits right on the water's edge, a proper working hub where narrowboats bob gently alongside day-trippers' vessels. You've got the full scene here - mooring posts, boat hire facilities, and enough nautical activity to keep anyone interested for an hour or two. The waterfront itself is straightforward rather than spectacular, but that's rather the point. This is a functional spot, not a manicured tourist attraction.

It works brilliantly if you're based at one of the nearby parks - Norfolk Broads Country Park is barely a quarter-mile away, and Clippesby Hall or Hickling Campsite are also close. Families staying in the area will find it useful more than unmissable. The real appeal is how it slots into a Broads holiday. You're here to hire a boat, watch the comings and goings, maybe grab lunch at a waterside café if one's operating. Keen photographers will find decent shots during late afternoon light.

Walkers shouldn't make it their sole destination - the immediate surroundings are flat and unremarkable. But if you're exploring Great Yarmouth's quieter inland reaches, it's worth a 20-minute detour. The Broads themselves are the main event here, and Broads Haven Marina is essentially your launching point. Allow an hour maximum for a nose around unless you're actually hiring a boat, which opens up a completely different day entirely. Admission appears free for looking around, though boat hire obviously costs.