Great Yarmouth

The seafront arcades might flash and the donkeys still trot along the sand, but there's more to this stretch of Norfolk coast than first meets the eye. Great Yarmouth proper does seaside tradition with bells on - proper fish and chips, penny arcades that have barely changed since the 1970s, and a beach that runs for miles. But venture just inland and you'll find yourself on the edge of The Broads National Park, where the pace drops to canal boat speed and the horizons stretch wide across reed beds and water.

Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens makes for a brilliant day out with the kids, while the network of village signs dotted around spots like Filby and Ormesby St. Michael tells the story of Norfolk's quieter corners. Each one's a proper work of art. The Willow Pattern Garden offers something completely different - a slice of oriental calm that feels wonderfully out of place.

Getting here's straightforward enough. The A47 runs straight from Norwich, about 20 miles west, and there's a decent train service from London Liverpool Street if you fancy leaving the car at home. The surrounding countryside is classic Norfolk - flat, big skies, and waterways threading through it all like veins.

Staying at one of the holiday parks nearby gives you the best of both worlds. California Cliffs Holiday Park puts you right on the coast, while Wild Duck Holiday Park sits closer to the Broads for those morning mist moments over the water. You're never more than a short drive from either the seaside chaos or the pastoral peace - and that's exactly what makes this corner of Norfolk work so well.