Wells-next-the-Sea is one of North Norfolk’s classic crabbing spots, and a proper good one — but go in with your eyes open about the crowds, because this place gets seriously busy in the summer holidays.
Shore crabs, around the harbour walls
Park outside town and walk in (see tip)
~1.5 hrs before high tide
2 Magpies Bakery
Crabbing on the Harbour Walls
Crabbing happens all around the harbour walls, most of which is metal-railinged, so it’s a fairly safe, easy spot to line fish from. For the best results, look for the deeper gaps in between the boats rather than the shallow edges. It gets very busy in summer, so aim to get there around an hour and a half before high tide to grab a decent spot before the crowds fill in.
Gear & Bait
There are loads of tourist shops around the harbour selling crabbing gear, so you don’t need to bring anything with you — just turn up.
Food & Drink
Wells has some genuinely good options if you want to eat properly. For a full sit-down meal, Wells Crab House and Seafood Restaurant is the obvious choice given the local catch. For pizza, try Flour. But the standout, and a personal favourite spot in the whole of Norfolk, is 2 Magpies Bakery — go for the almond croissant bread, the brownies are worth it on their own, and grab a sourdough loaf to take home.
Nearby — Worth Building Your Day Around
Holkham Hall is just along the coast and makes a great full day out, with parklands, gardens, events all summer, and a high ropes course. If the food and drink festival is on while you’re visiting, it’s well worth going. Holkham Beach itself is one of the best beaches in North Norfolk and easily combines with a Wells crabbing trip.
I’ve been to Wells a few times now, and the traffic into the harbour front in peak summer is the one thing that catches people out — plan to walk in and you’ll have a much easier day.
Final Thoughts
Wells-next-the-Sea is a brilliant spot for crabbing, but it rewards a bit of planning — get there early relative to high tide, park outside town, and pair it with Holkham Hall or the beach to make a full day of it. And whatever else you do, don’t leave without a 2 Magpies pastry.