A delightful unspoilt historic town on the North Norfolk Coast with a jumble of old buildings and lanes still existing from its heritage as a port and former maltings industry. The picturesque quay and waterfront is still very much a working port with fishing boats still berthed in this small harbour and stalls selling locally caught shrimps, crabs and whelks. A popular place with sailors with many sailing and leisure craft here and local sailing tuition available. Children enjoy the facilities round the quay and the challenge of crabbing (gillying) from the steep harbour wall.

The main shopping area of Wells is Staithe Street, a narrow, mostly pedestrianised lane with surviving Victorian and Edwardian shop fronts, that runs from the water’s edge right up to the top part of town. In the centre of the town is The Buttlands which is a large rectangular green lined with Georgian and late Victorian houses, which used to be used for archery practise in medieval days. Now it is home to the excellent Crown hotel and restaurant which is run by Kiwi celebrity chef Chris Coubrough, as well as The Globe Inn owned by the Holkham estate.

The sandy beach flanked by pine forest is about a mile from the quay and can be reached by road, on foot along the causeway or via the miniature railway.

Holkham Hall with its impressive 18th century Palladian architecture and 3,000 acre deer park is only a couple of miles away along the coast road.