Great Yarmouth - it’s one of those places forever linked with holidays, good times and happy memories. It’s a legendary and classic British seaside town. Take a look at just some of the reasons why Great Yarmouth is so…great!
Taking the Applause at Hippodrome Circus - Frank Kinch / CC BY 2.0 DEED
Great Yarmouth has a great history
Great Yarmouth was mentioned as a small and thriving borough in the Domesday book in 1086. 1119 saw St Nicholas church completed, and it was already a town by the time King John granted it a Royal Charter in 1208. There have been changes to the name - there was once a Little Yarmouth - but even before the advent of tourism Great Yarmouth was significant. By the seventeenth century the town had become the most important herring port in the world.
There’s military history here too. Henry III granted Great Yarmouth the right to build its own defensive town wall. Today, the remains of that construction are believed to be one of the most complete and important town walls in the country.
The town played an important role in the English Civil War, and actually appointed its first Mayor when King Charles II took the throne after that conflict.
Centuries later Great Yarmouth would earn more places in history because of war. In January 1915, the town was bombed by German Zeppelin airships and, sadly, became the location for the first person to be killed by aerial bombardment in World War 1. It suffered serious bombing and destruction throughout both world wars, so the amount of historic buildings left are really important to the town.
The Empire - TaleynaFletcher / CC BY-SA 4.0
On a happier note, Great Yarmouth’s history is rich in literary and artistic connections. Charles Dickens stayed at the Royal Hotel in 1849 and of course David Copperfield was born in Great Yarmouth. Before Dickens, Daniel Defoe of Robinson Crusoe fame, had visited the town and declared Great Yarmouth to have the finest quay in England.
Later in the nineteenth century Anna Sewell lived in Great Yarmouth and her ‘Black Beauty’ remains one of the best loved books in English literature. You can visit Anna Sewell house, now run by Redwings Horse Sanctuary (close friends of Tingdene Holiday Parks, with one of their sites at Caldecott Hall Country Park).
The fish finger was invented in Great Yarmouth in the 1950’s, and artists from Cotman and Turner to Banksy have all found inspiration in Great Yarmouth.
Pleasure Beach at Great Yarmouth - Jeremy Thompson / CC BY 2.0 DEED
And then of course there’s the fact that Great Yarmouth has a huge role in the history of tourism. By Victorian times, Great Yarmouth was a bustling resort boasting piers, shops, hotels, a busy sea front and numerous theatres. The town was early into the cinema boom with The Gem Theatre (which then became the Windmill Theatre, now an exciting indoor crazy golf course) showing films as early as 1908.
The Pleasure Beach
The following year would see the opening of the Pleasure Beach. It was run by no less a show business legend than C. B. Cochran. Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach is still a must-visit attraction, and you have to ride the Roller Coaster. It started as a bespoke construction for the 1931 Colonial Exhibition in Paris. Built by the German specialist engineer Erich Heidrich, the ride was bought by The Pleasure Beach when the exhibition ended. Dismantled and shipped to Great Yarmouth, it was reconstructed on-site by Heidrich and his team. It’s one of the world’s oldest roller coasters. Ride it today and you’re riding a piece of history.
Newspaper for Windmill Theatre, Great Yarmouth - Bradford Timeline / CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED
Great Yarmouth has a great ‘pop’ history
Iconic music history in Great Yarmouth
When it comes to entertainment, Great Yarmouth has a fascinating place in the history of pop culture. A key date in Great Yarmouth’s history books is June 30th 1963; fans flocked to a show at the ABC cinema on Great Yarmouth’s Regent Road, compered by Ted Rogers. The show featured none other than, The Beatles!
Many more legendary bands played Great Yarmouth, including The Who and the Rolling Stones. Remember Madness and their ear worm hit ‘House of Fun’? The classic video for the tune was filmed at Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach. Watch it below, the rollercoaster features at 2:13.
And there’s another important pop connection. Great Yarmouth is the home of Peter Jay.
Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers
Peter Jay’s band, ‘Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers’ constantly brushed against greatness; they were a brilliant and adored live act. So much so, that in 1963 they supported The Beatles. In fact, on the night of February 1963 when The Beatles had to leave the tour to be in the recording studios, it was Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers who stood in for them on stage.
Peter Jay and The Jaywalkers would go on to work with the Rolling Stones on the tour that featured Tina Turner.
But perhaps the most fascinating secret about this Great Yarmouth phenomenon is the influence they had on another performer. A young singer called David Jones was working with his band The Konrads. He was such a fan of Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers that David changed his name to David Jay. He would later change it again…to David Bowie. The influence remained undimmed. Years later Bowie would acknowledge the ‘look’ of his 1980s tour being influenced by the suits worn by The Jaywalkers in the early sixties.
And there was someone else they influenced. In 1964, Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers were playing a gig with a London band called The High Numbers. They, of course, would change their name to The Who. Keith Moon, already the drummer, saw Peter Jay’s drum kit which featured double bass drums. Moon was so impressed that he adopted the same set up himself. The rest is history…
Great Yarmouth Hippodrome Circus
In the late 1970s, Peter Jay and his father bought the Great Yarmouth Hippodrome. Originally built in 1903, the Jay’s restored it to being a theatre and circus venue. They created a circular performing area which could be lowered, revealing a swimming pool. Today it stands as Britain’s only surviving total circus building, continuing to impress audiences all year round.
Great Yarmouth is a great holiday resort
The Hippodrome is a vibrant part of Great Yarmouth as a holiday resort. Loved by holidaymakers and day trippers, it’s one of Britain’s favourite seaside towns. The beach is as great as a beach can be; miles of glorious golden sand, not to mention ice creams and donkey rides. The sea front - which of course includes the Pleasure Beach - has all the amusements and seaside treats you could want.
Great Yarmouth defines what a classic seaside resort is all about - the candy floss and the fish and chips, the horse drawn rides along the prom, the tea rooms and the arcades. There are places to find some peace and quiet if you want it, and there’s a vibrant world of entertainment and nightlife too. In fact, there’s something for everyone.
Venetian Waterways on Great Yarmouth Seafront - Reading Tom / CC BY 2.0 DEED
Great Yarmouth has some great things to see and do
Everyone will find something to see and do in Great Yarmouth. The beach is a given, naturally. North, Central and South Beach in Great Yarmouth covers part of 15 miles of coastline in the Great Yarmouth area stretching from Winterton-on-Sea to Hopton-on-Sea.
The Promenade walk passes the iconic cinema, bowling greens, Joyland, The Sealife Centre, 2 piers, and plenty of arcades, food and drink stalls, pubs and bars, and more!
The Venetian Waterways
Take a look at the Venetian Waterways. They are a joy - with a fascinating history. Originally built in the 1920’s, the Waterways underwent a huge restoration project in 2017 and reopened to the public in 2019.
The Empire
Check out the Empire, one of Great Yarmouth seafront’s iconic buildings, originally opened in 1911 as a purpose-built cinema and theatre. Falling into disrepair over the years, the Grade II listed venue reopened in 2021 and is now a hive of activity with comedy nights, live music, and some delectable food offerings from local businesses.
The town has a wonderful selection of really interesting museums and things to see and do.
Great museums in Great Yarmouth
Merrivale Model Village (Don’t miss this one, - Banksy didn’t!).
Boat trips, train rides, walking, and exploring. Old and new, fun for all ages, and friendly. Great Yarmouth is …great!
Out There Festival - Sasastro / CC BY 2.0 DEED
Great Yarmouth today is as great as it’s ever been
Great Yarmouth has a rich history but it’s as vibrant and relevant today as ever. It’s alive.
Events in Great Yarmouth
2024 sees The Out There International Festival of Street Arts and Circus back in town. From the end of May to the beginning of June dance, performance and comedy are everywhere - St. George's Park, the Golden Mile and the town centre. Acts from all over Europe make this a stunning spectacle.
June will see the wonderful Great Yarmouth Wheels Festival roll in. It’s a feast of classic cars and bikes. August and September sees the Great Yarmouth Festival of Bowls.
Take a look at Great Yarmouth Racecourse and find out all about The Eastern Festival of Racing in September.
Don’t miss the weekly Big Wednesday fireworks on the seafront throughout the Summer holidays, along with street acts and entertainment.
Festivals and events are all part of what makes Great Yarmouth the place it is today. Which is …great!
Holidays home for sale across our holiday parks near Great Yarmouth, including Waveney River Centre
All of this is why a holiday home nearby is a great idea…
Owning a UK holiday home is the fast growing trend in holiday thinking. Imagine owning somewhere you can go to, when you want to, and having it close to a classic resort like Great Yarmouth.
Caldecott Hall Country Park
6 miles / 14 min drive from Great Yarmouth
Tingdene Caldecott Hall Country Park makes that a reality. In a wonderful woodland setting and within easy reach of Great Yarmouth, the Broads and much more, Tingdene Caldecott Hall Country Park comes with some amazing advantages.
For a start, owning a lodge or caravan gets you discounts on some amazing golf and leisure activities. There’s a classic 18-hole golf course and the new Disc Golf course. Add in the pro shop, swimming pool, and Barn1 bar and restaurant, and you’ve got a dream holiday home location. And right next door is the aforementioned Redwings - the world famous horse charity’s largest visitor centre and sanctuary.
Waveney River Centre
13 miles / 28 min drive to Great Yarmouth
Tingdene have more holiday homes to offer at nearby Waveney River Centre. On the borders of Norfolk and Suffolk in the lovely Waveney Valley, this park is in the heart of authentic Broadland.
Lodges for sale and holidays are available, which include access to the lovely Waveney Inn bar and restaurant and swimming pool onsite. Plus, there’s a foot ferry over to SWT Carlton Marshes and access to the Broads National Park if you’re a boat lover too.
Broadlands Park & Marina
9.8 miles / 20 min drive from Broadlands Park & Marina
Absolutely superbly located for discovering more of Broadland is Tingdene Broadlands Park and Marina. They call it the gateway to the Broads.
Stay on the park - and why wouldn’t you, with lovely lodge or villa of your very own or on a staycation, as well as swimming pool and sauna- or set off to explore. You choose.
North Denes Caravan Park
9.1 miles / 18 min drive from Great Yarmouth
And there are even more Tingdene properties to choose from at North Denes Caravan Park. A caravan holiday home here puts you at the country’s most easterly point. See the sunrise before anyone else!
