Do you run any guided heritage walks or talks?
Walks
Our team of dedicated heritage guides run a large number of walks usually from Easter to October.
Delve into the history that surrounds Great Yarmouth on one of our fantastic guided heritage walks. Explore the rich history of this ancient seaside resort, fishing port and market town with our official team of Guides.
The borough of Great Yarmouth has some fantastic history and architecture to admire, and some colourful stories of past local residents and visitors to go with it. An exciting range of walks, written and designed by some of our heritage guides will take you off the beaten track and out into the local area to discover more about what went before in Great Yarmouth.
Usually starting from April until the end of October, Guided Heritage Walks, led by an official Great Yarmouth heritage guide, are one of the most interesting ways of discovering more about the area.
Walk Prices (excluding Yucky Yarns)
Adults £5.50
Children (7 - 17 years) £3
Under 7's FREE (No unaccompanied children on any walk)
Yucky Yarns Children's Walk
Children must be accompanied by an adult (Recommended age 6-11)
Adults and children £4 per person
Yucky Tea (on selected dates) £12 per person
Starting point: Front Gates of Great Yarmouth Minster (NR30 1NE)
Approximately. 60 minutes
Join Jemima or Jeremy Black, the custodian of the big book of Yarmouth Yucky Yarns on a guided walk to learn about horrendous history in Great Yarmouth.
We'll talk about gory stories and ghastly goings on with pirates, graveyard tricks and secret chests!
Activity book included, bring a pen/pencil.
- Wednesday 21 February, 11am
- Wednesday 10 April, 11am
- Wednesday 29 May, 11am
The below dates include a yucky themed afternoon tea at Kirsty's Cakery after the walk.
- Sunday 28 July, 2pm
- Thursday 31 October, 2pm
Seaside Adventure into the Past Family Walk
Children must be accompanied by an adult (Recommended age 8+)
Adults and children £4 per person
Starting point: Front of Carlton Hotel, Marine Parade (NR30 3JE)
Approximately. 60 minutes
To join us on our new family friendly walk, you'll need to download an app called 'Actionbound'. Listen to the Guide and using the app, have fun whilst learning about some of Great Yarmouth's fascinating past. A fun and family friendly wander around points of interest on Great Yarmouth seafront. Listen to voices from the past and watch short videos to help you answer questions as we go. At the end of the walk, see how you scored and complete the walk with a visit to Merrivale's Old Penny Arcade.
- Wednesday 24 July, 10am
- Sunday 18 August, 10am
Quayside and Seaside at Gorleston-on-Sea
Starting point: Welcome to Gorleston sign on Gorleston Promenade near The Pier Hotel (NR31 6PL)
Approximately. 90 minutes / 2 hours including Theatre visit
Gorleston-on-Sea has a fascinating heritage, often overlooked by its sister town, Great Yarmouth. Located south of Great Yarmouth, at the mouth of the River Yare, this walk takes in the beautiful promenade, the pier and the river. Walkers can also take a look inside the fabulous Edwardian Pavilion Theatre after the walk.
- Wednesday 3 April, 11am
- Wednesday 22 May, 11am
- Wednesday 19 June, 11am
- Wednesday 10 July, 11am
- Wednesday 14 August, 11am
- Wednesday 25 September, 11am
- Wednesday 16 October, 11am
Medieval Town Wall
Starting point: Front Gates of Great Yarmouth Minster (NR30 1NE)
Approximately. 90 minutes
Great Yarmouth has the second most complete town wall in the UK! Isolated on the east coast, fear of pirates and invasion gave the people of Great Yarmouth a distinct last frontier mentality. Once King John granted the town its Charter, a wall was the answer.
Come along to discover why and how it was built, how it was reinforced in times of rebellion and civil war, and whilst never coming under serious attack, how it defined the development of the town.
- Wednesday 17 April, 2pm
- Thursday 13 June, 2pm
- Sunday 25 August, 11am
- Saturday 21 September, 11am
- Wednesday 23 October, 11am
Gravestones and Tombstones of Great Yarmouth Minster
Starting point: Front Gates of Great Yarmouth Minster (NR30 1NE)
Approximately. 90 minutes
Join us at Great Yarmouth Minster, England's largest parish church for some fascinating stories about the characters laid to rest next to the Medieval Town Wall.
Discover the bricked up gate through which some of Nelson's sailors set sail for the final time and visit the town cemetery where sailors, merchants and circus owners lie side by side.
- Sunday 21 April, 2pm
- Wednesday 8 May, 11am *
- Sunday 19 May, 2pm
- Wednesday 5 June, 11am
- Thursday 20 June, 2pm
- Thursday 18 July, 11am *
- Wednesday 21 August, 11am
- Sunday 1 September, 2pm
- Wednesday 9 October, 11am
* On selected dates, the walk will also include tea/coffee and cake at Kirsty's Cakery afterwards. Adults £10.50, Children (7-17 years) £6.50, Under 7's £5.50
Rows, Fishwives and Red Herrings
Starting point: Fishermen's Hospital (NR30 1PB)
Approximately. 90 minutes / 2 hours including Lydia Eva visit
Great Yarmouth Rows are quite unique and are full of strange and sometimes macabre tales. Hear about the wealthy merchants that lived at one end and of the bars and brothels that had their place at the other!
Taking in the historic South Quay, learn about how the herring industry was important for the town. See where the fisher girls sang, knitted and worked their passage home.
Some narrow areas included on this walks.
Take a tour of the Lydia Eva after the walk - the last steam drifter. Lydia Eva can also be spotted in the 2023 hit move, Wonka.
- Wednesday 24 April, 2pm
- Sunday 5 May, 11am
- Wednesday 15 May, 11am
- Sunday 16 June, 11am
- Thursday 4 July, 11am
- Wednesday 7 August, 2pm
- Wednesday 4 September, 2pm
- Sunday 13 October, 11am
Forgotten Inns and Taverns of Great Yarmouth
Starting point: Stone Sofa Statue, Row 111 (Middlegate Car Park, NR30 2RG)
Approximately. 90 minutes
In 1908 there were 295 licensed properties in Great Yarmouth, now there are less than 45! Discover the story of a landlady who was hanged because she would not reveal a true murderer, the tavern run by a Pilgrim Father, the inn where Dutch officers were kept as prisoners-of-war, or where you would stay on holiday if you were teetotal.
Every adult attending this walk will receive a voucher to be used online for Lacons Brewery.
- Sunday 28 April, 2pm
- Sunday 26 May, 11am
- Wednesday 12 June, 11am
- Sunday 23 June, 11am
- Wednesday 3 July, 11am
- Sunday 14 July, 2pm
- Thursday 15 August, 2pm
- Sunday 29 September, 2pm
- Sunday 6 October, 11am
Tales of the Old Cemetery
Starting point: Front Gates of Gorleston Cemetery (NR31 7BN)
Approximately. 90 minutes
Gorleston has had many interesting residents over the centuries. Learn about heroes, clowns and a pioneering woman all within the surroundings of a quaint Victorian cemetery.
- Wednesday 1 May, 2pm
- Sunday 9 June, 11am
- Wednesday 17 July, 11am
- Sunday 4 August, 11am
- Wednesday 2 October, 11am
Sun, Sea, Stars and Circus
Starting point: Front of Britannia Pier (NR30 2EH)
Approximately. 90 minutes
Great Yarmouth has played host to many famous faces over the years. Take a trip down memory lane and learn how the holiday and entertainment industry has played its part in how the seafront looks today.
- Sunday 12 May, 2pm
- Thursday 6 June, 2pm
- Wednesday 26 June, 2pm
- Sunday 7 July, 2pm
- Sunday 21 July, 2pm
- Wednesday 31 July, 11am
- Wednesday 11 August, 2pm
- Wednesday 28 August, 11am
2,000 Years of Caister-on-Sea
Starting point: Caister Roman Fort (NR30 5RN)
Approximately. 90 minutes
Discover how Caister-on-Sea became a heroic lifeboat community from Roman beginnings and how the phrase, 'Caister men never turn back' came to be.
- Thursday 30 May, 2pm
- Wednesday 18 September, 2pm
Gory Stories on a Wicked Walk
Starting point: Front Gates of Great Yarmouth Minster (NR30 1NE)
Approximately. 90 minutes
Suitable for children aged 12 and over
From the strange and curious to the dark and murderous, Great Yarmouth is home to many gruesome and macabre tales. Learn about murders committed in the Rows and see where trials were held by the Witchfinder General. Hear how the market place was used for grim entertainments, whippings and savage punishments. A wealth of terrible tales will make this a walk to remember.
- Thursday 27 June, 6pm
- Thursday 11 July, 6pm
- Thursday 25 July, 6pm
- Thursday 1 August, 6pm
- Thursday 8 August, 6pm
- Thursday 22 August, 6pm
- Sunday 20 October, 6pm
- Sunday 27 October, 5pm (Fully booked) *
* Season Finale includes a Gory Reception at Kirsty's Cakery before the walk. Adults £12, Children (12-17 years) £9.
Heritage Open Days
Each year, we are delighted to take part in the national festival for Heritage Open Days. Heritage Open Day events are free to take part in but booking is essential. Bookings open on Monday 19 August at 10am.
The Finest Quay in Europe Walk
Starting point: Stone Sofa Statue, Row 111 (Middlegate Car Park, NR30 2RG)
Approximately. 90 minutes
Learn about Great Yarmouth's Historic South Quay, described several times by Daniel Defoe as 'The Finest Quay in England if not in Europe'.
- Sunday 8 September, 2pm
FULLY BOOKED
Picture of Yarmouth Talk and Walk
In January 1820, John Preston published, "The Picture of Yarmouth", an illustrated account of the public establishments in the town. This talk looks at some of those buildings and the publication of a book, published in 2021 with lottery funding, to commemorate the original's bi-centenary.
Talk
Location: Great Yarmouth Minster (NR30 1NE)
Approximately 60 minutes
- Saturday 14 September, 11am
Walk
Starting point: Front Gates of Great Yarmouth Minster (NR30 1NE)
Approximately. 90 minutes
- Saturday 14 September, 1pm
Booking is essential to join us on a guided heritage walk. Please register online for your chosen walk. Note - you'll need to register your interest in a walk before a payment link is sent to you. Your place on the walk is confirmed once payment is received.
Talks
Our Guides are offering some fascinating talks at the Town Hall (see address at the bottom of the page) on the second Tuesday in January, February and March and then in October, November and December. Lasting for approximately one hour, the talks will include a cup of tea or coffee plus the chance to ask questions at the end.
Great Yarmouth Through the Pages on Tuesday 12 November, 1pm.
If Walls Could Talk - Elizabethan House Through the Centuries on Tuesday 10 December, 1pm.
2025
Great Yarmouth Witch Trials on Tuesday 14 January, 1pm.
Tuesday 11 February, 1pm (TBC).
Great Women from Great Yarmouth on Tuesday 11 March, 1pm.
Pablo Fanque and the Victorian Circus on Tuesday 14 October, 1pm.
Behind the Screens - Amphibious Tanks of Fritton Lake and D-Day on Tuesday 11 November, 1pm.
Ghost Stories of Great Yarmouth on Tuesday 9 December, 1pm.
Talk Prices
Adults £5.50
Booking is essential to join us on a heritage talk. Please register online (opens new window) for your chosen talk. Note - you'll need to register your interest in a talk before a payment link is sent to you. Your place on the walk or at the talk is confirmed once payment is received.
Groups, Clubs and Educational Groups
Private Walks and Talks
Private walks for groups, clubs or coach tours can be booked for a minimum of 8 people on any day of the week at any time of the year and are eligible for a special group rate.
We are also happy to hear from schools and educational groups where we are always willing to assist in matching our walks to your requirements. We can also offer a great new educational rate where teachers and accompanying adults go free! We have a child friendly walk called Yucky Yarns, aimed at primary aged school children which also comes with an activity booklet.
If your group or school would prefer our Guides to come to you, we are also able to offer talks where you can learn about the history of Great Yarmouth from the comfort of your own setting.
For more details:
- email us on marketing@great-yarmouth.gov.uk (opens new window)
- phone us on 01493 846107 (opens new window)
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