Discover the best farm and dog-friendly campsites near Sandringham, Norfolk

Best known for Sandringham House, a holiday home for British monarchs since the 1860s, this small village is set on Norfolk’s northern coast. And, if the royals love North Norfolk, that's a pretty solid nod that you're on the right track for planning your own holiday. After checking out the grand manor, gardens, and museum, campers can enjoy the surrounding countryside. A few campsites and caravan parks can be found around the sleepy village, some with cabins that are ideal when the weather is cooler. These spots are prime bases for campers looking to explore other parts of Norfolk, including the beach resort towns on its southeastern coast, its reserves, and the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs).

Top things to do in Sandringham

The obvious attraction in Sandringham is the royal estate that dominates the place. The house and gardens are open to the public from April to October when the royals aren’t in residence, but the estate’s 240-hectare country park is always open. A mixture of woodland and heathland with a cafe and visitor centre, it’s a pleasant place for a walk.

Fans of the royal family might also want to take a quick look at Wolferton Royal Station, once used by visiting royals for Sandringham. Now on a disused line, it is a private home but the platform is open most days between midday and 6pm. A mile or so up the road is Dersingham village, where local pubs can be found along with Dersingham Bog National Nature Reserve. The grand Houghton Hall, Bircham Windmill, and the historic town of King’s Lynn are other nearby attractions. For good old-fashioned seaside fun with amusements and fun fair rides, head for Hunstanton. For a pretty harbour town, try Wells-next-the Sea.

Meanwhile, Sandringham is found on the shores of The Wash, the enormous bay and estuary at the very top of East Anglia. With salt lagoons and mud flats, it attracts huge numbers of wading birds from late summer onwards. They are best seen from the hides at RSPB Snettisham, just a couple of miles from Sandringham.

Where to go

Norfolk Coast AONB

The Norfolk Coast AONB is a stretch of protected coastline that stretches from Snettisham in the west to Mundesley in the east and includes the popular seaside towns of Cromer and Sheringham. It’s a great spot for walking and cycling, and also offers very dark skies for stargazing enthusiasts. Towns within the AONB area offer a variety of camping options, or campers can visit on day trips from the Sandringham area. Perhaps the most impressive sight is the colonies of seals at Blakeney Point, best reached by boat or via Horsey Beach (where you can walk).

Norfolk Broads

Campers who like the idea of sleeping on a boat should check out the Norfolk Broads, which are part of the larger Broads National Park that spans Norfolk and Suffolk. The network of largely navigable rivers and lakes were formed by the flooding of peatlands and are an attractive area of calm water, windmills, wildlife, and birds. Make a day trip from the Sandringham area of stay on a houseboat, in a waterside cottage, at a simple tent site, or in a well-equipped caravan park.

Snettisham

Snettisham Nature Reserve is administered by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), so is a must-visit spot for bird enthusiasts. From late summer, tens of thousands of wading birds take flight from the mudflats, saline lagoons, and salt marshes. Wildlife observation hides provide visitors with great views of the spectacle. It’s just north of Sandringham so campers staying in Sandringham can easily visit, but there are other campsites around nearby Dersingham and Snettisham village.

When to go

Summer is the best time to visit Sandringham as this is when the weather will be best for camping and other outdoor activities, including touring the gardens at Sandringham House. Tent camping will be most comfortable between June and September, but cabins, cottages, and even houseboats (in the Norfolk Broads) mean you can comfortably visit the Sandringham and Norfolk area year-round if you select your accommodation wisely.