This summer's intense heat has seen plenty of us navigate away from Skyscanner and look closer to home for a well-deserved break – and recently, I uncovered a gem that's both affordable and has fancy royal connections aplenty (Catherine, Princess of Wales has previously been spotted in this quaint village with her three children, as have Mike and Zara Tindall). Step forward: Burnham Market in Norfolk, a charming spot that's just a stone's throw away from multiple beach options, a Bridgerton-rivalling stately home and has hearty grub galore.
Truly, with everything you could possibly want from a staycation, this 17th century Georgian village – nicknamed 'Chelsea-on-Sea', thanks to its chilled luxury vibes – is well worth adding to your list.
Here's where to stay (from £120 a night, with breakfast included!), what to eat and the must-visit sites on the doorstep.
Where to stay in Burnham Market
The Hoste Arms
When you think of staying in a pub, you may imagine a ye olde place with just a couple of rooms tucked away upstairs for weary travellers – The Hoste Arms on the other hand, while very much boasting a fascinating seventeenth century history, feels like a modern, treat-yourself place to stay. With 47 bedrooms on site (ranging from dog-friendly small doubles to a four-bedroom family apartment), the decor has a luxe country feel that can take on leftover sand from a beach trip or sticky hands. Basically, it's really bloody nice but you don't have to stress about keeping everything *pristine*.
The fact you've a traditional British boozer with an extensive wine list mere metres away from your bedroom certainly adds to the appeal too, but the friendly staff, cosy beds and in-room Nespresso coffee machines also go a very long way.
Crucially! Between now and 30 September, The Hoste Arms, along with others in the Young's Pubs family, is offering a Long Days and Leisurely Stays package deal, meaning you can get an overnight stay with breakfast, plus a £30pp dinner spend and two complimentary drinks, starting from £120 (based on availability and if booked directly).
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Find out more about The Hoste Arms and its special offers here. Rooms start from £120 per night.
Where to eat in Burnham Market
Tuscan Farm Shop
The filled focaccia sandwiches in this wine shop and deli regularly sell out as they're so popular, so be quick! But if you do miss out on this lunchtime treat, you could always comfort yourself with a tasty cannoli or some of its famed chocolate and olive oil cake.
More about Tuscan Farm Shop here
Scandi Coffee Co.
Pop in for a caffeine pitstop (salted caramel iced matcha anyone?), Swedish pastries, cakes or a cheese and kimchi toasted sandwich – plus quick, friendly service. (Heads up, there's not a huge amount of indoor seating, so this may be somewhere to grab-and-go from).
More about Scandi Coffee Co. here
Flour
A mere 10-minute drive away from Burnham Market is the nearby Wells-next-the-Sea, a fishing village, and Flour's pizza place is a huge hit with the locals and tourists alike. Despite the busyness, we were seated promptly by cheery staff and chowed down on a Wild Fire pizza (think: chillies, nduja, lemon ricotta and jalapeños) and a 10 out of 10 margherita (and... sipped a 10 out of 10 passionfruit margarita while we were at it). Don't skip the cheese melts made with Carron Lodge Monterrey Jack. Yum!
See the menu for Flour here
The Hoste Arms
Erm, yep! We don't want to sound biased but this seasonal British fare menu really was delicious and incredibly good value – being a vegetarian, I very much appreciate a pub that doesn't just wheel out a mushroom risotto and call it a day (seriously, why is it always a mushroom risotto?). The beetroot and brie quiche (£16) with potato salad and spring leaves was lush, and the chocolate burnt Basque cheesecake and cherry syrup (£10) will now be living rent-free in my mind until the end of time. The meaty options are also highly rated.
More about The Hoste Arms' food offering here
What to do in Burnham Market
Explore the village's shopping scene
There's a plethora of brilliant independent shops all within walking distance, including Mable's (a sweet shop, where the Princess of Wales previously took Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to try out some pot-painting and crafting) and Aurina, just one of several lovely lifestyle boutiques.
Holkham Hall Walled Garden
If you loved Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte, then you'll want to spend a day wandering the Holkham Hall estate and pay particular attention to its luscious six-acre enclosed garden, featuring a myriad of exotic plants, sprouting veggies and beautiful flowers. Elsewhere on the vast grounds, you can hire a bike and spend an afternoon playing 'spot the deer'.
More about Holkham Hall and grounds here
Enjoy a beach day
Burnham Market village is ideally situated for beach days at ample nearby spots dotted along the Norfolk coastline, including Wells-next-the-Sea, Brancaster and Sheringham. If you're lucky, you might be able to see some seals while you're at it!
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Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
