Wroxham & Hoveton

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Wroxham and Hoveton St. John are two connected villages, split by the River Bure. Most of the village facilities are actually in Hoveton, but are generally known as Wroxham - the capital of the Norfolk Broads. Boats of all kinds are for hire and there are is also an abundance of hotels, pubs, restaurants and shops. Most of the shopping is dominated by the Roys brand, with their department store earning the title of the world’s largest village shop.

Wroxham is the start of many boating holidays and all kinds of boats can be hired

A typical Wroxham scene - feeding the ducks and watching boats trying to moor

Wroxham contains numerous riverside properties, many are holiday homes

Day boats for hire at Wroxham

Organised Boat Trips down the River Bure from Wroxham

Roys of Wroxham, which claims to be the world's largest village store

A small shopping precinct in Hoveton

Riverside café, Bar and Fish & Chips

Ice cream for sale on a warm day in Wroxham

A good place to start your tour of Wroxham is the bridge over the River Bure, separating Hoveton in the North, from Wroxham in the South. The two parts however, although collectively known as Wroxham, do have their own village signs. The bridge itself is a semicircular road bridge and has average high water headroom of only 7 ft 3 in; making it one of the most difficult bridges to navigate on the Broads and a bridge pilot is available for nervous skippers!

Wroxham Bridge

The lovely church of St Peter at Hoveton is about a mile North of Wroxham Bridge. This tiny, very pretty little church dating from 1624, is built of red brick, with stepped gables and a roof of Norfolk Reed. Inside the church has a fine array of hatchments hung from the walls from the 18th and early 19th Centuries.

The pretty Hoveton Church of St Peter

Wroxham contains many visitor attractions. Norfolk's longest fifteen inch gauge line runs between the ancient market town of Aylsham and Wroxham. Opened in 1990, the Bure Valley Railway offers an 18 mile round trip through picturesque countryside which is as varied, interesting and beautiful as any to be found on a railway journey in England. The line runs regular narrow gauge steam and diesel train services, with many special events during the year. A path follows the railway line, and you can either walk or cycle part of your journey.

A steam train on the Bure Valley Railway

Hoveton Hall Gardens is a delightful 15 acre garden mixing both formal and informal planting across the seasons. Beginning with the burst of early spring bulbs, the spectacular Rhododendrons and Azaleas in May and June through to the mid-summer delights of the 'Spider Garden', full summer colours of Hydrangeas followed by autumn berried shrubs and leaf tints complete what is truly a garden for all seasons. The parkland surrounding the Hall was ploughed in the 1940's to provide food during the war years. Most trees were removed, and only the grass on the North side of the Lake was left untouched.

Hoveton Hall Gardens

Not far from the little church of St Peter is Wroxham Barns. Here you will find a working craft centre, where craftsmen demonstrate their skills in individual studios and you can chat to them as they work. Studios include stained glass, pottery, colourful children's clothes and real Norfolk cider! You can purchase a range of unique products exclusive to Wroxham Barns and many of the crafts people undertake private commissions. Wroxham Barns also contains a Junior Farm, a Children's Funfair as well as a country food shop and a lovely restaurant and tea-room.

One of the crafts at Wroxham Barns

Hoveton Tourist Information Centre, Station Road, Hoveton, NR12 8UR. Tel: 01603 782281

Car-parking can be found at Roys Department Store (free), with a further car-park adjacent to the Riverside Park (free).

Wroxham and Hoveton has a railway station on the Bittern Line, between Norwich and Sheringham. For train times and fares call the Network Rail National Helpline: 08457 11 41 41

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