Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk was recently voted as the best beach for a day out in the UK, so I decided to see what I could get up to with only £20 in my pocket
Recently, Cambridgeshire Live. conducted a poll asking readers to vote for their favourite beach for a day trip. The results were clear – Wells-next-the-Sea on the North Norfolk coast was the top choice.
This coastal town is less than two hours away from Cambridge and offers all the classic seaside attractions, including boat trips, fish and chips, arcades and more. But can you have a satisfying day out with just £20 in your pocket?
Intrigued by this challenge, reporter Matthew Senior set off to Wells with only £20 to see how far it would take him. and this is what he found…
I arrived in Wells around 10.15am on a glorious day, with the sun shining brightly, cloudless skies and temperatures well into the 20Cs. Given the early hour, many of the fish and chip shops and ice cream parlours were still closed, so my first stop was the beach.
Keeping a budget-friendly day out as my main objective, I decided to walk the 30-minute distance from the harbour to the beach. If walking isn’t your thing, there’s a bus service that covers the mile-long stretch to the beach, reports Cambridgeshire Live.
An adult single fare costs £2, while a child’s ticket is £1, and it operates on a card-only basis. There’s also a car park at the end of the road, but I must say, the walk was enjoyable and absolutely worth it once I reached the beach.
The beach was a sight to behold, with its vast expanse of golden sand stretching as far as the eye could see and the water shimmering under the sun’s rays. It was no surprise that it was teeming with families making the most of the glorious weather.
After a leisurely stroll along the beach, admiring the vibrant beach huts dotting the sands, I retraced my steps back to the harbour. The walk was delightful and the fact that it was free made it even more enjoyable.
However, the lengthy walk had stirred up quite an appetite, so I decided it was time to splurge on some fish and chips.
I chose French’s for two reasons: firstly, the queue was shorter than at other places, and secondly, it was one of Norfolk’s most acclaimed chippies, having recently been recognised at the National Fish and Chip Awards. I opted for a small portion of cod and chips, accompanied by a can of Dr. Pepper, which totalled £9.80.
Fish and chips may not be the budget-friendly seaside treat they once were, but from the moment I took my first bite, I knew they were worth every penny. The fish was succulent and flaky, while the chips had just the right amount of crunch.
Despite being a small portion, it was still substantial, and I savoured every morsel.
After savouring one of the British seaside’s most iconic treats, I still had a craving for another classic – ice cream. So, my next stop was an ice cream parlour for some…well…ice cream.
John’s Rock Shop lured me in with its vibrant walls and its motto of ‘One Quality Only – The Best!
‘ I opted for a regular Mr. Whippy ice cream cone with a flake, which set me back £4. Despite battling the heat to devour it before it melted, each mouthful was more delicious than the last.
With £6.20 remaining in my pocket to make the most of Wells-next-the-Sea, I thought it would be lovely to pick up a memento of my trip to the coastal town. As I strolled through the town centre, I stumbled upon a shop named ‘Mr. C’s’, brimming with shovels, spades, postcards, footballs and all sorts of other items, so I ventured inside to see what else it had in store.
As my budget dwindled, I became increasingly conscious of my spending. Most, if not all, of the souvenirs on offer were priced around £5 or more, which would have left me penniless.
However, I did discover a Wells-next-the-Sea fishing boat souvenir, which cost me roughly £4.99.
With a mere £1.21 left in my pocket, I strolled around the town centre and harbour, scouting for items that could fit into my dwindling budget. As expected, there wasn’t much I could afford, but I spotted several arcades and decided to try my luck.
I ventured into ‘Pop Inn Amusements’, a place teeming with machines, games and all sorts of entertainment. Luckily, many of the games were within my budget, so I thought, why not give it a shot?
I tried my hand at two claw machines – one filled with golden eggs (£1) and another stocked with Mario plushes (30p). Regrettably, luck was not on my side, and I walked away empty-handed.
The total expenditure for the day was £20.10, slightly over my budget, but nonetheless, it was a fantastic day out. It just goes to show that you don’t need to splash out to have a fulfilling day.
This outing could be made even more affordable if you packed your own picnic and brought along your own beach essentials like buckets and spades. It’s worth noting that our £20 budget did not include parking.
Wells-next-the-Sea offers several car parks with varying prices and locations. You can choose one next to the beach or opt for those in the town. Alternatively, The Coastliner bus (number 36) could be your mode of transport.
Here is a breakdown of all the expenses incurred during my day trip to Wells-next-the-Sea:
- Small cod and chips + Can of Dr. Pepper (£9.80)
- Regular Mr. Whippy Ice cream cone with flake (£4.00)
- Wells-next-the-Sea fishing boat souvenir (£4.99)
- Games at the amusement arcade (£1.30)
Total spent: £20.10
