Named as one of the best places to live in the UK, the thriving Norfolk coastal town of Sheringham has a flourishing, year-round community, says Liz Hollis…
It is considered the sweet spot of the 90-mile-long Norfolk coast – more affordable than the gentrified second-home ghettos to the west and way smarter than the neon arcade tourist resorts to the east.
Instead, Sheringham takes the best from both. In peak season it is a nostalgic beach resort bustling with families enjoying the endless low-tide sand, Blue Flag swimming and beach hut lined promenade.
Off-season, it avoids the ghost-town fate of many of its posh neighbours in the coastal belt nicknamed Chelsea-on-Sea. In the likes of Blakeney, Holkham or Brancaster second homes almost outnumber local houses and property prices often exceed a million pounds for a cottage with a sea view. Sheringham is far more affordable.
With a resident population of around 7,000, the former fishing village is a great place to live – even in winter. It has a flourishing year-round community, actively engaged with its cultural and sporting scene and frequenting its busy high street full of independent cafes and shops.
This exceptional mix of stylish shops and eateries, affordable property and genuine community means that Sheringham is an increasingly popular choice for relocators seeking a permanent coastal home.
It is no surprise to residents that it regularly tops the prestigious Sunday Times list of best places to live in the UK. The prosperous high street, coastal walks, independent pubs and cafes and traditional promenade combine to bring a friendly, relaxed feel to the town.
Sheringham is just five miles from the grand Victorian seaside resort of Cromer, but it has a totally different feel. With its affordable flats and growing housing stock, Cromer has a younger hipper crowd.
The more sedate Sheringham has an older, more settled population committed to making this a year-round community. It feels comfortable – homely even.
Geographically constrained by its links golf course and protected land, including National Trust Sheringham Park, estate agents will tell you that an added attraction is that it can’t grow bigger physically. So, there won’t be hundreds of new homes popping up in the landscape any time soon.
Sheringham was originally a small fishing village at its peak in the early 20th century when the arrival of the railway transported the local catch to market easily. A handful of boats still fish out of the town and you can still buy locally caught crab and lobster.
Today, life in the town centres around a traditional high street with a high proportion of independent retailers, such as the gift shops Red Lobster Gallery and Creativity as well as clothes shops including Pure Class Vintage and Jacqueline’s Footwear. There’s even a new gallery, Sanders and Christie.
Locals consider it a magical place to live and are welcoming and friendly to newcomers. Most invest time and energy in the town – whether that means a volunteer shift at the local museum or heritage railway or attending an acting workshop at the prestigious Sheringham Little Theatre.
The fabulous 1940s festival is also an opportunity for celebrity-spotting. It attracts 40,000 visitors from across the country who dress in period costume and take part in a procession, swing dancing, vintage shopping and steam train rides. (September 19-21, 2025, experiencesheringham.com)
There’s so much to do in the town, you hardly need to leave. However, it is also the perfect base for exploring the wider Norfolk coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Whether that means bird watching on one of the RSPB reserves, taking a boat trip to see the seals, visiting the nearby historic market town of Holt or walking the coastal paths.
WHERE TO BUY
One of the distinctive features of Sheringham is its flint architecture and many cottages and walls in the town are decorated with smooth local flint pebbles. The most desirable and expensive area is Links Road. It’s next to the golf course and many of the houses have a view across the golfing greens. There are just a handful of million-pound properties in Sheringham – and most of them are found here.
The older parts of town, such as The Driftway and Victoria Street, are also property hotspots with some of the oldest houses and highest prices. These narrow historic streets lead down to the shore and are lined with old brick and flintstone fishermen’s cottages – the most coveted have a sea view. Just beware that there’s not much parking here. Uplands Park is also a leafy, sought-after area with its spacious bungalows and detached houses which all have ample parking and big gardens.
HOW MUCH?
Sheringham property isn’t cheap but it’s more affordable than the swanky coastal resorts of nearby Blakeney or Brancaster where you can pay more than a million for a typical detached house. The average price of a home in Sheringham is £401,323, according to Rightmove.
Most houses sold in the town last year were detached with an average price of £497,251. Flats sold for an average of £263,386, with semi-detached properties fetching £345,247. The coveted Links Road is the most expensive street in Sheringham, with an average value of £749,000.
TRAVEL LINKS
It takes around an hour to drive to Norwich via the A140. The Bittern Line connects the town to Norwich with a scenic journey through The Broads that also takes around an hour. It’s then two hours by train from Norwich to Liverpool Street, London. There are bus links to Holt and Cromer and Coasthopper buses take you along the coastline between North Walsham and Wells.
SCHOOLS
Sheringham Woodfields is a purpose-built special needs school with an art therapy centre for pupils age three to 19 and is ranked outstanding. Sheringham Community Primary School and Sheringham High School are ranked good and the latter has a sixth form. Independent schools Beeston Hall and Gresham’s are close by and take day pupils as well as boarders.
FACILITIES
The arty-minded are well served by the respected Sheringham Little Theatre. Bafta-winning actor Suranne Jones (of Doctor Foster fame) has recently brought some star-quality to the town by becoming the theatre’s hands-on president. She’s a big fan of Sheringham, and is a frequent visitor to both the town and the theatre.
She told the BBC: “For a little theatre, I just think the quality is sky high.”
Sports facilities are top notch with a local Parkrun, a links golf club, hockey and bowls clubs and a golfing pitch and put. The recently-opened £12.7m Reef Leisure Centre has a gym, fitness studio and six-lane, 25m pool. There’s also a museum, library and annual events including the Crab and Lobster festival and a carnival.
REALITY CHECK
It can feel cold and bleak in winter when the winds blow in from the North Sea and the sky is grey – but you can usually find a cheery cafe to warm up in. Sheringham is friendly and there’s a community feel, but this isn’t a hip and happening place.
The locals tend to be older or even retired unlike nearby Cromer which has a younger vibe. It’s also an hour by train or car from Norwich – and it’s quite a tricky journey, so it’s not ideal if you’re planning on commuting.
TIME OUT
Walk along the promenade stopping off for one of the celebrated waffles or fresh crepes from East Beach Coffee or tea and cake in Whelk Coppers, originally a fisherman’s cottage that serves local and homemade food.
Don’t miss the independent small batch roaster Grey Seal Coffee on the High Street and fish and chips from The Sheringham Trawler. You’ll find super fresh seafood at Fishmongers’ Tavern, run by Sheringham fishmongers CA Seafoods.
Sheringham also has more than its fair share of heritage. There’s the Sheringham Museum at the Mo – don’t miss its tower with views out to sea and over the town. The volunteer-staffed North Norfolk Railway, known as The Poppy Line, runs from Sheringham to the Georgian town of Holt, taking you through stunning coastal scenery. nnrailway.co.uk
South of the town is Sheringham Park, one of the area’s main attractions. It’s a National Trust woodland garden designed by Humphry Repton in the early 19th century and is famous for its vast collection of rhododendrons and azaleas. Climb the viewing towers to look across the gardens to the sea.
Walk the five-mile coastal trail from Sheringham to Cromer. The path climbs over Beeston Bump, the highest point in the county with stunning views out to the North Sea.
Sheringham is part of the 22-mile Deep History Coast Trail where archaeologist have discovered evidence for the earliest human occupation. Head further afield and explore the North Norfolk coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, visit one of the RSPB bird watching hotspots or take a boat trip to see the famous seal colony at Blakeney Point.
PAY A VISIT
The secluded hotel Dales Country House borders the National Trust Sheringham Park. From £150 per room for a double. dalescountryhouse.co.uk
Close to the sea, Lobster Sheringham is dog-friendly, has a busy with great Sunday roasts and accommodation above. From £145 per room for a double. pubanddining.co.uk
WHAT YOU CAN GET FOR YOUR MONEY
Here are some of our favourite Sheringham properties for sale:
UPMARKET APPARTMENT (GUIDE PRICE £330,000)
A first-floor apartment in one of Sheringham’s most desirable streets near the golf course. watsons.property.co.uk
TRADITIONAL FLINT COTTAGE (GUIDE PRICE £330,000)
Brick and flint cottage in The Driftway, one of the historic Sheringham lanes that leads to the beach. williamhbrown.co.uk
FIVE-BEDROOM TOWN HOUSE (GUIDE PRICE £750,000)
A huge 1930s family home just a short walk from the beach and town centre. Recently refurbished with beautiful garden. thenorfolkagents.co.uk
SEAFRONT HOUSE (GUIDE PRICE £850,000)
Humble looking from the outside, inside this three-floor seafront property is huge and impressive with spectacular views of the sea from many of the rooms. watsons.property.co.uk
