Exploring the Broads and Beyond: Your Aylsham Itinerary

The historic market town of Aylsham, in the heart of Norfolk, serves as the ideal base for exploring the county’s most treasured landscapes, from the broads to the coastline.

This comprehensive two-day itinerary outlines a curated experience for guests coming to stay at the Ironmongers, focusing on the very best of Aylsham and its magnificent surrounding areas.

Day 1: Heritage, Steam Trains, and Local Commerce in Aylsham

Morning: Breakfast and Architectural Appreciation

Commence your day with refinement. Aylsham offers several excellent choices. Highly recommended options include:

Madeleines of Aylsham A highly-rated independent café offering a contemporary brunch menu, known for its creative dishes, excellent coffee, and traditional cooked breakfasts.

Bread Source An artisan bakery famed across Norfolk for its exceptional sourdough, delicious pastries, and high-quality speciality coffee, perfect for a continental start.

Flour and Bean A local family-run bakery and coffee house offering a range of freshly baked bread, savouries, and traditional hot breakfast items.

Biddy's Tearoom and Kitchen A charming, classic English tearoom setting that provides traditional breakfast and brunch choices in a cosy atmosphere.

Following your meal, step directly into Aylsham’s distinguished Market Place. This square has functioned as the central hub of local life for centuries, ever since the town was granted its market charter by King Henry VIII. 

Proceed to navigate the network of historic "lokes" (lanes) and make your way toward the magnificent 13th-century St Michael and All Angels Church . Here, you can fully appreciate the scale of the structure, which received significant patronage from John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, in the 14th century.

For a more detailed understanding of the town's background, a visit to the Aylsham Heritage Centre (check opening times before visiting: https://www.aylshamheritage.com/) is recommended to explore its rich history as a major centre for the medieval cloth trade.

Lunch: Immersion in Local Commerce and Independent Shopping

If your visit coincides with a Monday or Friday, participate in the traditional Aylsham Market, securing lunch from the various stalls offering high-quality local produce. On the first Saturday of the month, the town hosts a dedicated Food and Craft Market, perfect for sampling artisan goods.

Beyond the Market Place, explore Aylsham's thriving independent shops. Red Lion Street is particularly noted for its unique finds, including The Book Hive Aylsham for literary treasures, and various delicatessens and traditional butchers that epitomise the town's "Cittaslow" philosophy (a commitment to quality of life and local tradition).

Afternoon: A Nostalgic Rail Journey

The afternoon programme is dedicated to a major regional attraction, the Bure Valley Railway. A short walk from the square  brings you to the Aylsham station where you will board Norfolk’s longest narrow-gauge railway. This scenic steam train journey traverses approximately nine miles of beautiful countryside, tracing the course of the River Bure to Wroxham, the ‘Capital of the Broads’. This journey provides a delightful and unique perspective on the landscape. You can find timetables and ticket information here: https://www.bvrw.co.uk/.

Evening: Elevated Dining and Repose

Upon returning to Aylsham, you are perfectly positioned to enjoy dinner at one of the town’s established public houses or eateries before retiring to your luxury room at the Ironmongers boutique hotel. Here are some options:

The Black Boys Hotel Situated directly in the Market Place, this historic pub and restaurant offers a diverse menu featuring both traditional British pub classics and more imaginative, contemporary

dishes, often using locally sourced Norfolk produce.

The Blind Pig A highly-regarded local restaurant located just off the Market Place on Red Lion Street, known for its focus on modern British cuisine and reputation for quality dining in a relaxed, intimate setting. Booking ahead is strongly advised.

M’s of Aylsham This unique venue is a cocktail and tapas bar, serving a delicious range of small plates (tapas) inspired by Mediterranean flavours. It's an ideal choice for a sociable evening of sharing and enjoying expertly mixed drinks.

The Unicorn Public House A traditional local pub offering satisfying emails such as hearty favourites and classic snacks.

Stamp Pizza Located in the former Post Office overlooking the Market Place, this stylish pizza and bar establishment serves delicious wood-fired pizza with a 48-hour fermented dough, alongside small plates and cocktails.

The Proper Pizza Co. Offering authentic, high-quality wood-fired pizza for takeaway, this specialist is known for using fresh ingredients, often sourced locally, and traditional methods, making it a superb option for an informal evening meal.

Lawless Pizza A highly-rated mobile wood-fired pizza vendor often found firing up their oven in the Aylsham Market Place on Friday evenings, serving authentic, hand-stretched pizzas with high-quality local and Italian ingredients for takeaway.

Day 2: The Norfolk Broads and Countryside Grandeur

Morning: Stately Home Exploration

A short and pleasant drive from Aylsham will bring you to the impressive Blickling Estate, a jewel in the National Trust’s portfolio and the reputed birthplace of Anne Boleyn. Dedicate the morning to exploring the spectacular Jacobean mansion. Guests should allow ample time to wander through the stunning formal gardens and explore the vast ancient parkland, which is ideal for an invigorating morning walk. Visit the National Trust website for details: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/norfolk/blickling-estate.

Lunch: Waterside Refreshments

From the estate, proceed eastward toward the Norfolk Broads, or alternatively, secure a light lunch to enjoy near the water’s edge in a Broads village such as Wroxham or Coltishall. This keeps you perfectly situated for your afternoon activity.

Afternoon: Experience the Waterways

Having observed the Broads from the vantage point of the steam train, the afternoon is dedicated to direct engagement with the water. Head to a nearby Broads village and secure the hire of a day boat. Cruising along the tranquil River Bure offers the most intimate perspective of the Norfolk Broads National Park. Guests are invited to observe the native wildlife, or simply relax as you navigate these peaceful waterways.

Late Afternoon: Coastal Interlude

Should time allow, conclude your exploration by driving north from Aylsham for a brief visit to the North Norfolk coast. Cromer, renowned for its pier and local crab industry, or Mundesley, with its sandy beach, are both within a 30-minute drive. This offers an opportunity for a final invigorating breath of fresh sea air before your departure from the area.

End Your Adventure in Historic Luxury

Aylsham, with the comfort and sophisticated style of the Ironmongers as your home base, facilitates the perfect synthesis of local heritage and convenient access to Norfolk’s finest natural and historical attractions. If you are seeking a room in this highly rated boutique hotel, you will be staying within a preserved Grade II listed building that was once the town's ironmongers shop for over two centuries. Secure your unforgettable stay and enjoy the heart of North Norfolk from this historic, yet luxurious, haven.