The Norfolk Broads might look like natural lakes and rivers, but their story is a little more surprising. Over 900 years ago, during medieval times, locals dug large pits to cut peat — an important fuel for heating and cooking. When peat cutting stopped and sea levels slowly rose, these pits flooded and gradually became the shallow lakes, or broads, we know today. Over time, nature took over, shaping them into the peaceful waterways and wetlands that make the area so special.

By the late 1800s, the Broads had become a place of leisure as well as work, with sailing boats, fishing wherries, and holidaymakers discovering the joy of life on the water. Today, the Norfolk Broads are a protected National Park, treasured for their wildlife, wide skies, and unhurried pace. Cruising here is still about slowing down, enjoying simple pleasures, and experiencing a landscape shaped by both people and nature — just as it has been for centuries.

Many people hold the Norfolk Broads close to their heart. Whether it’s your first visit or your thirty-first, it always leaves a lasting impression. If you love nature, walking, boating, cycling, birdwatching, spending quality time with loved ones, or getting out on the water paddle-boarding, kayaking or rowing, the Broads has a way of slowing life down and drawing you in.

Luckily if it is your first time, or 31st, we have spent a lot of time compiling all our knowledge and favourite places so you can make the most of your time on the Norfolk Broads.

From nature walks, to pubs, moorings to cycle routes, you can find loads of helpful information in our ‘Itinerary‘ section.

We also have a great section on our website which give you all our favourite pubs and shops along the Broads, have a check here.