Iona Goodall

Wells-next-the-Sea and Great Yarmouth have been ranked among the UK's best seaside towns by travel specialists Ski Vertigo. Wells placed 10th for its quieter atmosphere, natural beauty, beaches and harbour, while Great Yarmouth ranked 16th for its classic resort attractions, including the Golden Mile, Britannia Pier and Pleasure Beach. The ranking considered travel time from Norwich, beaches, accommodation and other national evaluations.

Rainfall has arrived in Norfolk after weeks of exceptionally dry and hot weather, but Anglian Water says the hosepipe ban introduced on July 11 will remain in place until water resources recover. The restrictions cover watering gardens, cleaning vehicles and filling paddling pools. The company says several wet days will not reverse the effects of prolonged drought, which has affected farming and the environment, and warns that serious or repeat breaches could result in fines of up to £1,000. No fines have yet been issued.

A Ford Kuga was completely destroyed by a fire on Woodrising Road in Hingham at about 3:30 p.m. on Friday. The blaze produced smoke visible for miles, and crews from Attleborough and Hingham extinguished it by 3:56 p.m. The owner believes the fire was electrical, though this was not confirmed.

Henri's hardware store in Harleston is moving from Bullock Fair Close to a site on The Throughfare that is two and a half times larger. Owner Henri Johnson said unexpectedly rapid growth and local demand prompted the move, which will allow the business to expand its product range. The new store is expected to open within a few weeks after signage and flooring work, followed by a launch event.

A car caught fire on Woodrising Road in Hingham at around 3:30 p.m. on Friday, producing smoke visible for miles and completely blocking the road. Fire appliances from Attleborough and Hingham extinguished the blaze using hose-reel jets, with the stop message issued at 3:56 p.m.

Norwich driver Gareth Hughes and Great Yarmouth driver Craig Sharp are among 10 First Bus drivers from the East of England and the Midlands to reach the finals of the Bus Driver of the Year 2026. Selection considered live-service performance, technical skills, customer interaction, driving and braking scores, and customer feedback. The final will take place in Blackpool on September 6, alongside 106 finalists from across the country.

Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service expects more fires as drought conditions and extreme heat continue. Since Monday, crews have tackled six uncontrolled bonfires, two bin fires, 11 field fires and two woodland fires across the county. The service attributed several incidents to deliberate actions with unintended consequences, including a bungalow fire in Scratby caused by a neighbouring garden bonfire spreading to trees. Fire crews were mobilised substantially more often this July than during the same month last year, prompting renewed warnings to protect Norfolk’s countryside.

Welney Wetland Centre will close three hours early on Thursday because of an amber Met Office warning and forecast temperatures of up to 35°C near Downham Market. It will open from 9:30am to 2pm, with last admission at 1pm and the café closing at 1:30pm. Visitors with Thursday tickets may use them on another date, while a heat-health alert remains in place across eastern England until Friday evening.

A rare deep partial solar eclipse is expected to be visible across Norfolk, with around 90% of the Sun obscured. In Norwich, the eclipse is scheduled to run from 6:15pm to 8:04pm, reaching its peak at 7:11pm. Viewers are warned never to look directly at the Sun without certified eclipse glasses or suitable solar filters, and are advised to use astronomical-society events or a pinhole projector. Elevated locations with clear western views, including Kelling Heath, Hunstanton seafront, Kett's Hill, Mousehold Heath and Beeston Bump, are recommended viewing spots.

Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk has been named the UK's best destination for crabbing, or “gillying,” the practice of catching crabs from a pier, quay or harbour wall. The Telegraph highlighted the town's harbour as an ideal setting and described crabbing as a key part of a classic British seaside holiday. Local attractions include The Little Blue Hut's reusable crabbing kits and Wells Crab House's crab platters, while Great Yarmouth was also praised for its traditional seaside atmosphere and nostalgic attractions.

Headlines, an Attleborough hair salon co-owned by Sienna Wetteland and Keith Drewry, has moved from Queen's Square to the Old Golf House on Connaught Plain after more than 20 years at its former premises. The £105,000 refurbishment took three months and transformed the former veterinary practice into a salon combining Georgian elegance with Dubai-inspired glamour, including eight styling stations around a custom-supported marble or quartz island. The salon opened on July 2, while the former site is planned to become a nail bar.

An overhead cable fault disrupted electricity for approximately 2,920 properties in Beccles, Worlingham, Wrentham and Benacre. UK Power Networks investigated the fault and worked to divert power safely; service was restored to hundreds of homes, while around 300 remained without electricity.

Two people were taken to hospital as a precaution after a two-vehicle collision on the westbound A47 near Postwick at 1:54pm on Saturday. The crash blocked the road for several hours, causing extensive delays, and the A47 reopened at around 5pm after Norfolk Constabulary confirmed the disruption.

Norfolk residents have been urged not to light bonfires ahead of forecast temperatures reaching 34°C, after bonfires contributed to several wildfires across the county. Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service warned that such incidents can destroy land and property, endanger people and animals, and put extra pressure on emergency responders. The service mobilised 768 more fire engines in July than during the same month the previous year. Residents were advised to use recycling centres or council garden-waste services instead, while the county faces flash drought conditions and a heat health alert from Tuesday to Friday.

Family-run Saffire Chocolates has opened a hands-on Belgian chocolate-making workshop at its facility on Hall Farm Drive in Hingham, allowing visitors to learn traditional techniques and take home handmade chocolates. Owner Kathrin Funnell, who took over in 2023, is expanding the business through new products, wholesale partnerships and award opportunities. The workshop is intended to attract visitors to Hingham and support Norfolk’s independent food-and-drink businesses. Saffire Chocolates was founded by Funnell’s grandmother, Angela Ruthven, and Funnell has also been selected to exhibit at Spring Fair 2027 through Theo Paphitis’ Small Business Sunday competition.

The historic Earle Arms pub in Heydon has reopened after an extensive refurbishment undertaken following its transfer from longtime operator Andrew Harrison to the Heydon Estate. The estate is working with Tom Ginn’s Norwich-based BREAD Hospitality, which introduced a new menu and hosted an opening event with live music and food and drink samples. Renovation work took longer than expected, while the team aimed to preserve the pub’s distinctive historic features, including handmade terracotta floor tiles recognized by CAMRA.

Shouldham Woods near RAF Marham remains closed a week after a wildfire burned at least 10,000 square metres of woodland and grassland. Eight fire crews tackled the blaze, and teams continued monitoring the charred site because hot, dry conditions could trigger flare-ups. The public has been asked to avoid visiting until the area is deemed safe.