Add to shortlist button.
Things to do out of season and over winter in Great Yarmouth
Winter itinerary ideas
When the nights draw in, the clocks go back and the crowds leave Great Yarmouth, it's a great time for an out of season break, to explore the area as the locals know and love it. There's still plenty going on and great fun to be had, whatever time of year you visit.
Animals, afternoon tea, winter walks and pub sports
The unusual collection of Asian animals at Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens is open all year round and well worth a visit at any time of year. You can see tigers, monkeys, leopards and alligators up close all round this lovely zoo.
In nearby Ormesby St. Margaret, The Boathouse overlooking The Trinity Broads has a warm welcome, delicious food and a roaring fire during winter. Next-door Rollesby, another pretty village also on the edge of the Trinity Broads, is home to The Waterside, a fabulous restaurant serving delicious afternoon teas.
If you're up for a winter beach walk, then a trip to the dunes at Winterton-on-Sea from November onwards and a walk along the beach towards Horsey will bring you face to face with grey and harbour seals who breed in the dunes and on the beach. Make sure you watch the wildlife from a safe distance though. There's a great beach café at Winterton serving amazing home made cake and hot chocolate on your return and a traditional fisherman's pub in the village.
If you'd rather stay inland, there are some great walks near Filby and from Fleggburgh up to Rollesby and back, which are also tranquil places for birdwatching and fishing. Norfolk is one of the driest counties in England, perfect to get wrapped up and stride out over rolling Norfolk countryside at any time of year, especially if you know there's Sunday lunch, a pub supper or a blazing fire waiting on your return.
Quiz nights and pub games such as darts or snooker, are great fun at pubs all over the borough, some also have live entertainment evenings, perfect to round off your day.
Attractions open out of season
Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens
Thrigby Hall, Filby, Norfolk, NR29 3DR
01493 369477
Reopen 4 July! Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens, near Great Yarmouth has a 250-year-old landscaped garden, a play area and a wide selection of Asian mammals, birds and reptiles including tigers, crocodiles and storks.
Time and Tide - Museum of Great Yarmouth
Time and Tide Museum, Blackfriars Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 3BX
01493 743930
Reopen 3 August! Pre-booking essential. Time & Tide in Great Yarmouth is set in one of the UK's best preserved Victorian Herring curing works, and tells the story of the area from its ice age origins to the present day.
Wellington Pier
Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, NR30 3JF
01493 845947
Reopen 4 July! Built in 1854, the Wellington Pier was only the seventh pier to be constructed in Britain. Following significant reconstruction, the pier has a bright and airy ten-pin bowling alley and a family-friendly amusement arcade.
Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre
Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 3AH
01493 330631
Reopen 4 July! Explore an incredible underwater world at SEA LIFE Great Yarmouth & get closer than ever before to over 1500 creatures & features of the world's oceans! From the colourful to the curious, the majestic to the mystical, get...
St. George's Theatre
King Street, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2PG
01493 331484
Reopening TBC.St George's Theatre is one of only 10 Grade 1 listed theatres in the UK. With over 100 different productions a year, the theatre is the heritage jewel in the crown of entertainment venues in Great Yarmouth.Open 52 weeks a year
The Arc Cinema
83 Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2DL
01493 923145
Open from 4 July! Visit The Arc Cinema in Great Yarmouth to catch the latest blockbuster movie releases on the big screen in state of the art luxurious auditoriums with all leather reclining seats and full Dolby digital 7.1 sound systems.
Merlins Sports Bar
38 Apsley Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2HB
01493 856150
Merlins Sports Bar, Great Yarmouth, has a lot to offer the keen indoor sportsman. With a range of pool and snooker tables, dartboards, large screen tv's and a bar serving food all day, Merlins is the perfect place to unwind with friends.
Docwras Rock Factory & Shop
13 Regent Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2AF
01493 844676
Docwras Rock Factory & Shop, Great Yarmouth, has a long history in the town going back over a century. Come and watch seaside rock being made and see the fabulous range of rock and confectionery on display in the shop. Sweet heaven!
Potters Rock Factory
38-39 Regent Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2AJ
Potters Rock Factory, Great Yarmouth, sells an impressive variety of sweet items including seaside rock, pick and mix confectionery and soft drinks. Perfect for gifts or as a personal treat.
The Tower
32 Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, NR30 2EW
01493 851530
The Tower Complex, Great Yarmouth, is an all-in-one leisure & entertainment complex. Fun family activities, Jurassic Journey, a viewing tower, eateries, clubs & bars and live entertainment are all under one roof.
The Palace Cinema
159 High Street, Gorleston-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR31 6RG
01493 440506
The Palace Cinema in Gorleston-on-Sea near Great Yarmouth is a recently renovated 4 screen cinema with some 3D screens, showing the latest blockbuster movies.
Merrivale Model Village
Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 3JG
01493 842097
Reopen February 2021. One of Great Yarmouth's best loved family attractions, is set in over an acre of award winning landscaped gardens with streams, waterfalls, lake with Koi Carp, garden railway & picnic area.
Jump Warehouse
Main Cross Road, Great Yarmouth, NR30 3NZ
01493 853 389
Reopen 28 July! Jump Warehouse in Great Yarmouth, our first indoor trampoline park and a great place to have fun and burn off some energy!
Great Yarmouth walks
Celebrate the relative flatness of Norfolk with stunning scenery as you stride out on a walk.
Browse walks
Turn on the sound for more ideas
Fun on the seafront in midwinter
A winter's day on Great Yarmouth seafront is still a whole lot of fun. A quick walk along the beach or esplanade will blow any cobwebs away, then visit the Sea Life Centre, an amazing opportunity to learn more about the coast and the animals who live off shore both locally and further afield.
Several arcades remain open all winter, so you can have a play on the 2p slot machines or on a virtual reality video game.
If you walk through the amusement arcade at Wellington Pier, you'll find a fantastic ten-pin bowling alley with floor to ceiling views out over the beach and the sea.
A short stroll from the seafront towards the river brings you to Blackfriars Road, home to a large section of the medieval town wall. You'll also find Silver Darlings café just next to the award winning Time & Tide museum of Great Yarmouth life, well worth a visit to find out all about the herring industry and how this small fish impacted on Great Yarmouth life. Know before you go - book tickets online for Time & Tide museum.
Shopping, pottery, rock and theatre
Start your day on historic South Quay where wealthy merchants built their houses creating a fine architectural display, a private heritage guided tour can be booked any time of year.
From here it's a short walk to the town centre with lots of shops, the market place, the Victoria arcade and a shopping mall. The town centre has a number of unusual independent shops and stores, well worth a visit if you're looking for something a bit different. You'll also find plenty of places to eat.
There are more shops along pedestrianised Regent Road as you head towards the seafront. You can also see traditional seaside rock being made in the two rock factories.
To round off your day, watch a show at the theatre with a varied programme of all sorts of entertaining performances, from musicals to comedy to plays and shows.
Shows and Plays
Circus of Horrors Revamped & Rocking Adult Show
The Hippodrome Circus, St Georges Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2EU
01493 844172
Fri 5 Mar 2021
The dark and deviant acts at a typically atypical performance mix together a witch’s brew of the rock theatrics of an Alice Cooper show with a heady combination of burlesque, steampunk, gothic horror, black comedy and Victorian freak shows.
Circus of Horrors Revamped & Rocking Adult Show
The Hippodrome Circus, St Georges Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2EU
01493 844172
Sat 6 Mar 2021
The dark and deviant acts at a typically atypical performance mix together a witch’s brew of the rock theatrics of an Alice Cooper show with a heady combination of burlesque, steampunk, gothic horror, black comedy and Victorian freak shows.
The Handlebards - Macbeth
Pensthorpe Natural Park, Pensthorpe Natural Park, Fakenham, Norfolk, NR21 0LN
01328851465
Sat 12 Jun 2021
Pedalling from venue to venue with all of their set, props and costumes on the back of their bikes, the HandleBards are a four-strong troupe of actors who are spending the summer bringing environmentally sustainable Shakespeare to venues ac
Elvis Tribute Artist World Tour
Britannia Pier, Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2EH
01493 842209
Fri 2 Jul 2021
Direct from the USA, the biggest and best Elvis show in the world is back! Starring three 'Ultimate Elvis Tribute' World Champions Shawn Klush, Dean Z and Cody Ray Slaughter!
Jim Davidson Last Man Standing
Britannia Pier, Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2EH
01493 842209
Sat 31 Jul 2021
The masterful, outrageous and hysterically funny comedy legend General Jim Davidson OBE embarks on his comedy campaign around the UK. One thing's for certain, Jim never retreats!
Oh! What a Night
Britannia Pier, Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2EH
01493 842209
Thu 5 Aug 2021
With a repertoire which needs no introduction, OH WHAT A NIGHT! combines infectious personalities, amazing vocals, slick harmonies and even slicker dance moves to deliver a show full of energy and nostalgia which will leave you wanting more
King Of Pop Starring Navi
Britannia Pier, Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2EH
01493 842209
Fri 6 Aug 2021
Don't miss this incredible production which features all of Jackson's greatest hits such as Smooth Criminal, Beat It, Billie Jean, Black or White, Man In The Mirror and the 'Jackson Five' classics.
Showaddywaddy
Britannia Pier, Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2EH
01493 842914
Wed 11 Aug 2021
'The Greatest Rock & Roll Band In The World' is a bold statement but Showaddywaddy has lived up to that title for the last 4 decades!
Abba Mania
Britannia Pier, Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2EH
01493 842209
Thu 12 Aug 2021
ABBA MANIA brings ABBA fans old and new a night not to be missed. If you're looking for an excuse to party, reminisce or simply be entertained by the best music ever, then ABBA MANIA is for you!
The Drifters Live
Britannia Pier, Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2EH
01493 842209
Fri 13 Aug 2021
Don't miss their brand-new tour performing all the classic hits such as 'Saturday Night At Movies', 'You're 'More Than A Number', 'Come on Over to My Place', 'Up On The Roof', 'Under the Boardwalk', 'Kissin In The Back Row' and many more!
Sarah Millican - Bobby Dazzler
Britannia Pier, Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2EH
01493 842209
Thu 19 - Fri 20 Aug 2021
The hilarious Sarah Millican is back on tour with a Bobby Dazzler of a new stand-up show.
Jimmy Carr - Terribly Funny
Britannia Pier, Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2EH
01493 842209
Sat 21 Aug 2021
Jimmy's brand new show contains jokes about all kinds of terrible things.
Jim Davidson Last Man Standing
Britannia Pier, Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2EH
01493 842209
Sat 28 Aug 2021
The masterful, outrageous and hysterically funny comedy legend General Jim Davidson OBE embarks on his comedy campaign around the UK. One thing's for certain, Jim never retreats!
Supreme Queen
Britannia Pier, Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2EH
01493 842209
Sun 29 Aug 2021
Now one of the most recognisable Tribute bands in the world, SUPREME QUEEN continue to take things to a whole different level, with their homage to the halcyon days of one of the planet's greatest ever rock bands.
Roy Chubby Brown Live
Britannia Pier, Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2EH
01493 842209
Thu 16 Sep 2021
After 50 years in show business Roy Chubby Brown has proven himself time and time again!!
Great Yarmouth Webcam
Log on to one of the Great Yarmouth seafront webcams to see what's happening today.
Email eNewsletter
Join our e-news gang for information about what's on in Great Yarmouth straight to your inbox!
What's On Special Offers 2020
Save more than £100 with our savings vouchers and special offers.
Great Yarmouth App
Download the Great Yarmouth app for iPhone and Android - tourist information to hand all the time!
