Le Strange Arms Hotel

The UK’s coastal hotels are experiencing something of a comeback these days – and not just because of the clamour for ‘holidays at home’ created by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Located in picturesque Old Hunstanton, the Le Strange Arms is among those that today combine traditional charm with all the modern must-haves, offering stylish and comfortable accommodation at a range of affordable prices. 

Just a stone’s throw from the sea and with lawns leading to a private sandy beach, the hotel – a feature on this stretch of Norfolk coast for centuries – is bursting with character and a destination in its own right. For those who which to wander a little further, though, it’s just a short distance from attractions such as Sandringham House, Norfolk Lavender and the historic market town of Kings Lynn.

Originally built in the 1600s, the Le Strange Arms started life as a traditional Norfolk farmhouse. The main body of the hotel was completed in the 1800s thanks to a grandly-named architect, Henry L’Estrange Styleman Le Strange who – realising that people enjoyed travelling from the cities to enjoy the sea air and a stroll along the sandy beach – set about putting nearby Hunstanton firmly on the map for holidaying aristocrats. The advent of the railway helped… before too long whole families, and their servants, would visit for the summer.

That family-friendly approach continues today as, while the hotel continues to offer a range of en-suite hotel rooms – many with sea views – a number of apartments and a lodge within the hotel grounds combine the practicality and comfort of self-catering accommodation with the option of hotel dining.

Whichever accommodation they choose, guests can dine in either the hotel’s traditional Le Strange Brasserie, which serves great British classics, or in the adjoining pub, The Mariner, which offers both traditional meals and daily specials and is popular with both visitors and locals.