Hotels in Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth or Lowestoft?

We list 45 hotels in this corner of Norfolk. Nearly all are in two places: 34 in Great Yarmouth and 10 in Lowestoft. In practice, your first decision is which of these two towns suits your trip.

Great Yarmouth has the bigger choice by some way. It's the natural pick if you want a classic seaside break built around the Pleasure Beach theme park and an evening drink or meal at your hotel. Lowestoft has fewer hotels but a good spread, from the Travelodge to the Ivy House Country Hotel. It's also handy for Pleasurewood Hills.

If you're after a countryside feel, our listings don't separate rural from town locations. Hotels such as the Ivy House Country Hotel in Lowestoft or the Fritton Arms (listed under Great Yarmouth) are worth a closer look, but check each listing and map to see exactly where they sit before you book.

Matching a hotel to your trip

Families will find Marine Lodge in Great Yarmouth stands out. It lists a swimming pool, a bar and amusements, which is useful on a wet afternoon. Theme parks are the big draw here: the Pleasure Beach, Pleasurewood Hills and BeWILDerwood in Wroxham. Animal lovers have Pettitts Animal Adventure Park in Great Yarmouth and Africa Alive in Southwold.

Couples wanting a bit more from their hotel have some good options:

• Furzedown Hotel combines a bar, a restaurant and sea views. Only 6 of the 45 hotels mention sea views, so it's a good one to shortlist.
• The Imperial Hotel offers evening entertainment alongside its bar and restaurant. Just 2 hotels in the whole set list evening entertainment.
• The Prom Hotel has a gym, bar and restaurant, which suits you if you like to keep up your routine.

Dog owners should know that none of the hotels in this set list a dog-friendly facility. That doesn't necessarily mean dogs aren't welcome. It means we can't confirm it, so contact the hotel directly before booking and get the answer in writing.

Getting there and getting about

The clearest pattern in these hotels is rail access. 39 of the 45 are flagged as near a train station. In Great Yarmouth, that includes The Georgian House, King's Lodge Hotel and Barons Court Hotel. In Lowestoft, it includes The Wherry Hotel, Hatfield Hotel and the Travelodge.

If you're driving, be aware that only 4 hotels list parking. Don't assume there'll be space outside. Check with the hotel, or plan to use public parking.

WiFi is another one to check. Only 10 hotels mention it, including the Travelodge in Lowestoft. If you need to work or stream, confirm it before you pay.

Accessibility

Seven hotels list disabled access, among them The Pier Hotel and Cliff Hotel in Great Yarmouth. Access means different things at different properties, so ask about step-free entrances, lifts and bathroom layouts for the specific room you're booking.

What to do once you're there

Beyond the theme parks, there's a good mix of quieter days out:

• Horsey Windpump is a National Trust property and a good choice for a slower day.
• Anna Sewell House in Great Yarmouth is one for book lovers.
• Lowestoft Maritime Museum covers the area's seafaring history.
• Sheringham Museum at The Mo in Cromer is a longer outing.
• Wartime aviation history is covered at The 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum in Norwich and the 95th Bomb Group Red Feather Club in Suffolk.

Check opening days and times directly with each attraction before you set off, as these can change through the year.

When to book

We don't publish availability or pricing trends for these hotels, so we won't guess at a 'best week'. A few things are clear from the facility data, though. The features many people want are scarce in this set: sea views (6 hotels), parking (4), evening entertainment (2) and, among our example stays, only one pool.

If one of these matters to you, book as early as you can and don't leave it to chance. School holidays and theme park season are likely to be busiest for family-friendly hotels like Marine Lodge, so plan ahead for those dates.

Before you confirm any booking, run through these checks:

• Ask whether the facility you care about, such as a sea view, applies to your particular room.
• Confirm parking and WiFi if you need them.
• Check the cancellation terms.
• Check exactly where the hotel is in relation to the station or the attractions you plan to visit.