Nowadays Cromer is a fashionable seaside town, home to a bustling pier, sandy beach, and a fantastic food scene, but it wasn’t always this way. On this walking tour, I’ll reveal the gritty history beneath the town’s picture-perfect surface and tell you about the struggles and passionate people who’ve shaped this town. The tour starts on Cromer Pier, beloved by photographers for its unique vantage point of both spectacular sunrises and sunsets across the sea. From there, you’ll stroll along Cromer Esplanade and into town past the historical Red Lion Hotel. At Cromer Parish Church (St Peter and St Paul), you’ll see the tallest church tower in Norfolk and find out why locals were once afraid to pass here after dark. The tour continues past the North Norfolk Visitor Center, towards rival fish and chip shops, No.1 Cromer and Mary Jane’s Fish Bar. You’ll stroll along the seafront and hear stories about Cromer’s 200 years of inspiring cutting-edge artist communities and the giant elephant that once roamed this beach, before you end up back at Cromer Pier, ready to catch some Cromer crabs. Along the way, you’ll have a chance to: • Find out how many times Cromer resident Emily Davison was arrested during her fight for women’s suffrage • Learn about the most decorated lifeboatman in Britain and his daring rescues at the RNLI Henry Blogg Museum • Hear how an entire town disappeared into the sea at Cromer Pier, while Cromer prospered • Find out how abolitionist Priscilla Buxton fought to abolish slavery, despite being forbidden from participating in public meetings • Understand why Cromer commemorates the D-Day exploits of a Scottish soldier each year • Stroll along Cromer Beach and learn about North Norfolk’s ancient and sometimes mysterious fossils, including the fossilized ink sack that can still be used for writing • Discover the secret behind what makes Cromer’s crabs taste better By the end of the tour, you’ll have gotten to know the most interesting and notable people in North Norfolk’s past and explored layers of ancient history that are buried here. There are also plenty of cafes, restaurants, and bars along the route for refreshments. Please note that attraction entry fees aren’t included in the price of this tour.