About Great Yarmouth
Welcome to Great Yarmouth, where 15 miles of golden sandy beaches stretch out along the coastline, from seaside amusements to rugged cliffs faces, from the wind farm and seal colony, to the fast paced action of Marine Parade.
For all the shoppers, Great Yarmouth's town centre is full of a variety of shops and stores, from our very own independent department store to the bustling market place, Market Gates shopping mall and the Victoria Arcade.
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, 20 miles (32 km) east of Norwich.
Great Yarmouth has been a seaside resort since the mid 1700's, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea. For hundreds of years it was a major fishing port. The discovery of oil in the North Sea in the 1960s led to a flourishing oil rig supply industry and thriving seaside town.
The Tollhouse, with dungeons, dates from the late 13th century and is said to be the oldest civic building in Britain. It backs on to the central library.
The Market place is one of the largest in England, and has been operating since the 13th century. It is also home to the town's shopping sector and the famous Yarmouth chip stalls. The smaller area south of the market is used as a performance area for community events and for access to the town's shopping centre, Market Gates. In November 2008, a new section of Market Gates opened, including high street retailers such as Debenhams, New Look and Starbucks.
Great Yarmouth has two piers, Britannia Pier and Wellington Pier. The theatre building on the latter of the two was demolished in 2005 and is currently being rebuilt as a family entertainment centre. Britannia Pier is home to the Britannia Theatre which during the summer months features well known acts. The theatre is one of a few end of the pier theatres left in England.
The Grade II listed Winter Gardens building sits next to the Wellington Pier. The cast iron framed glass structure was shipped by barge from Torquay in 1903. It is said this was done without the loss of a single pane of glass. Over the years, it has been used as ballroom, roller skating rink and beer garden.
Great Yarmouth's seafront, known as "The Golden Mile" attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to its sandy beaches, Pleasure Beach, indoor attractions and amusement arcades. Great Yarmouth's Marine Parade has 12 Amusement Arcades located within 2 square miles.
