Discover Stalham

Stalham combines historic buildings, lively waterways and varied walking routes to create a destination that brings culture and activities together. Anyone looking for a holiday cottage in Stalham can plan their trip around whether museums, walks, the history of the town or experiences on the River Ant should be the main focus.

Cultural history in several forms

A prominent cultural landmark is the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Stalham. The parish church is Grade II* listed and protected as a heritage building. Stalham Old Hall, a substantial Jacobean hall dating from around 1670, is also part of the town's history.

The Stalham Firehouse Museum introduces visitors to another chapter of the local past. The building was erected in 1833 on the grounds of St Mary's Parish Church. Today, the restored museum is a Grade 2 listed heritage building. Its exhibits include a horse-drawn hand-operated fire engine from 1881, as well as other artefacts. Visitors can have their photo taken wearing a firefighter's helmet, ring the fire bells and take part in an on-site quiz.

Museum, water and walking routes

The Museum of the Broads has visitor moorings; at Stalham Staithe there are moorings for overnight stays. On the section of the River Ant near Stalham, day boats, canoes and kayaks can be seen. In spring, the calls of cranes and bitterns can also be heard there. This means that different interests can be combined when planning a trip: you can explore the history of the waterways, watch activities on the river or take in the distinctive atmosphere of nature in spring.

The Museum of the Broads offers activities for all age groups. These include detective games, knot tying, dressing up and a play boat. These specific offerings complement the museum visit with various ways of exploring.

The Weavers Way for planning your own day

There is an excellent network of footpaths in and around Stalham. This includes a section of the Weavers Way that follows the route of the former railway line. The Weavers Way includes a 14-mile section from Aylsham to Stalham and an 18-mile section from Stalham to Acle. Take these different route lengths into account when planning and choose the paths that suit your own interests and the day of your trip.

When choosing accommodation, you can therefore consider which focus should shape your trip: listed buildings and museums, activities on the water, observations along the River Ant or longer sections of the Weavers Way. Stalham provides a clear thematic foundation for this without requiring you to commit to just one type of holiday.

Further places for planning your trip

If you would like to expand your research to include further destinations, you can find Hockering, Coltishall, Salthouse, Horning, Great Plumstead, Freethorpe, Brundall and Narborough here.

For the overarching travel overview: Norfolk.