Wroxham

WROXHAM & HOVETON

Known as the ‘Capital of the Broads’, Wroxham and Hoveton emerged as the first centre for Broads boating holidays when railways arrived in the late 19th century and the area still remains the biggest and most popular location to start a boating holiday. Despite both villages often being referred to simply as ‘Wroxham’ the majority of the facilities are actually located in Hoveton including, rather ironically, Roys of Wroxham department store - the largest village store in the world – Wroxham railway station and the Hotel Wroxham! There is also a plethora of cafes, pubs and takeaways plus many other shops and attractions to enjoy.

Starting your holiday with Norfolk Broads Direct means that you don’t have to go far for history, as our marina is one of the oldest tourist boatyards on the Broads. It was established in 1878 by Broads tourism pioneer John Loynes, who still lends his name to our Faircraft Loynes fleet today. The marina is also a very popular centre to take guided river trips, evening music cruises or hire day boats from our sister company Broads Tours, which was established in 1935 (see Things to do.) It’s well worth crossing the river to reach Hoveton’s range of facilities via the historic Wroxham Bridge. Built in 1619, it’s the second lowest bridge on the Broads and holiday cruisers are only allowed to pass under it with a bridge pilot safely at the wheel. If you have the time, pop into the lovely Granary Staithe on the Hoveton side of the bridge – a great place for a picnic, to feed the ducks or watch the boats squeeze under the bridge.

MOORINGS DOWNSTREAM OF WROXHAM BRIDGE

Norfolk Broads Direct Stern and a few side on moorings in our Norfolk Broads Direct basin. Water, electric hook up and waste disposal facilities available.

Wroxham Broad Island Side on moorings, 20 minutes away from Norfolk Broads Direct boatyard. Secluded island between river and Wroxham Broad, space for 6 boats.

Hoveton is dominated by the famous Roys of Wroxham department store which was founded in 1895 when brothers Alfred and Arnold Roy opened their general store in the village of Coltishall before moving to Hoveton in 1899. Today Roys has an excellent food court with local produce plus fashion, home, electrical, health and beauty, toy, gardening and DIY departments.

There are plenty of other shops in Hoveton, from chandleries to a large fishing store, plus takeaways, pubs and restaurants. Additionally, there is a Post Office with cashpoint, mainline train station and Bure Valley Railway station.

You can find the Broads Authority Tourist Information Centre on Station Road, where there is a butchers and pet store. Behind Station Road there is a lovely riverside park, which is a wonderful place to walk the dog, let the kids play and feed the ducks.

Head out on the river to admire Wroxham and Hoveton’s beautiful waterside houses. Look out for Barton House, which has a miniature railway in its garden and is home to the Wherry Yacht Charter. This operates five of the last eight remaining Wherries on the Broads, which are the region’s most iconic historic boats and can be identified by their huge single sail. A little further downstream is the former holiday home of 1930s entertainer George Formby, which is named Heronby today but was once called Beryldene after George’s wife. Downstream of the village is the stunning Wroxham Broad, which is home to the Norfolk Broads Yacht Club. Although the broad is privately owned you can navigate across it (no stopping) and can often see traditional sailing boats racing, particularly during the major Wroxham Week Regatta that is held in the last week of July.

Broads Tours Learn more about the history and wildlife of the Broads on a guided river trip with our sister Company Broads Tours. Four double decker trip boats, which have a bar and toilets, operate on a regular timetable from our marina. Better still, dance the night away on Broads Tours popular music cruises in July and August. Live jazz evenings are held on Tuesdays and Boogie Disco nights are held on Wednesdays and selected Thursdays and Fridays. You can also hire a dayboat, which is a good option to explore upstream of Wroxham Bridge. Book early for the music cruises – they sell out fast! 01603 782207 www.broadstours.co.uk Bure Valley Railway Experience a nostalgic trip by steam along Norfolk’s longest narrow gauge railway, which travels between Hoveton and the historic town of Aylsham. You can hop off and explore on foot at Brampton, Buxton and Coltishall. 01263 733858 www.bvrw.co.uk Wroxham Miniature Worlds Visit the largest indoor model attraction in the UK with over 10,000 square feet of model railways, slot cars, a LEGO city, model boats and more. Located on Station Business Park. 01603 781728 www.wroxhamminiatureworlds.co.uk Things to do WROXHAM & HOVETON

Wroxham Barns

Enjoy this award winning visitor attraction with craft shops, a café and restaurant plus a junior farm, indoor play area and fun park. Can be reached by walking 1.5 miles along Norfolk’s only privately owned footpath from Wroxham Bridge or taking a taxi. 01603 783762 www.wroxhambarns.co.uk

Hoveton Hall Gardens

Visit the beautiful gardens and enjoy a woodland walk. Located at Hoveton Hall Estate, about 1.5 miles north of Hoveton. Open Sunday – Friday from 30 March to 30 September. 01603 784297 www.hovetonhall.co.uk

MOORINGS UPSTREAM OF WROXHAM BRIDGE

Hoveton St John Stern on moorings through Wroxham Bridge in Hoveton Riverside Park. Water available. Hoveton Viaduct Side on, semi-rural moorings through Wroxham Bridge, room for approximately 64 boats. Double moorings permitted. Short walk along footpath brings you to amenities in Hoveton.

Eating Out

The Kings Head Hotel Family friendly riverside pub with a large beer garden. Serves carveries and traditional pub fayre. 01603 782429

The Wroxham Formally know as the Hotel Wroxham. A large river side restaurant, bar and coffee lounge, where you can relax and enjoy locally sourced produce. 01603 782061 www.hotelwroxham.co.uk

Liberty Restaurant, bar and lounge by Wroxham Bridge. 01603 782337 www.libertywroxham.co.uk

The Wherryman’s Riverside cafe behind the Norfolk Broads Direct’s office. 01603 784041 www.wherrymans.co.uk

The Station Smokehouse Wood fired grill restaurant by Wroxham railway station. 01603 920123 www.thestationsmokehouse.com

Thai Ubon Thai restaurant in Hoveton Riverside Centre. Closed Mondays, 01603 781133 www.thaiubon.co.uk

The Bridge Wroxham Norfolk NR12 8RX

The Broads National Park, Britain’s magical waterland

Broads Tours and Faircraft Loynes are part of the Norfolk Broads Direct family