Wells-next-the-Sea - known locally as simply 'Wells' - is a small town on the North Norfolk coast with a population of under 2500, at least it did according to the 2001 census; the town falls within the Norfolk Coast Area of Beauty (AONB) and is one of several North Norfolk coastal towns that are popular with tourists. Wells is situated 20 miles west of the larger resort Cromer and approximately 15 miles east of Hunstanton. Other nearby towns include Burnham Thorpe (the birthplace of Horatio Nelson!), Walsingham (a medieval pilgrimage site) and Holkham (location of the famous stately home Holkham Hall). A Norfolk coast liner train can take you from the town to the towns of Hunstanton and Sheringham. Wells is famous for a number of things including its excellent fish and chips which feed the hoards of sun and sand seeking day trippers in the summer months. Local fishermen are still active and fresh fish is available from the towns well known harbour or from the local wet fish shop. Wells is most famous however for its excellent beach which features long areas of flat sandy terrain, sand dunes, a naturist area further away from the town and a land locked pool which is today used for pleasure boating and canoeing. Wells beach is very tidal and it is possible to walk a long distance from the quay when the tide is out, however the tide is also extremely fast rising and it is possible to be stuck a fair way out!

If you like historic properties then The Black Lion in Walsingham is your place, it dates way back to 1310. The property also has Royal connections as the Northern end of the building was built especially for King Edward III on his pilgrimages to Walsingham; it is also believed to have gained its name as a result of King Edward's wife, Queen Phillppa of Hainault, having a black lion on her coat of arms. In later years The Black Lion became a coaching Inn with regular services to London. In recent years the public rooms of the hotel have been reinstated to their original natural state and feature a dining area, a courtyard garden to the rear, and a bar and lounge which features an open fireplace and has cask ales available. The hotel has just seven letting bedrooms and they have many of their original features, making this unique hotel the perfect retreat if you are seeking history and exclusivity. According to the hotels website, prices start at just £45 per person per night for a three night stay in the off-peak season and from £53 per person per night in peak season. To find out more visit their website www.blacklionwalsingham.com

The Crown Hotel is situated in the heart of Wells, overlooking a harmonious tree lined green area known as The Buttlands. Like The Black Lion the hotel has a lot of history and was once also a coaching Inn, although recent modernisation has seen it lose many of its original features - at least internally - it is still a place full of character. The Crown has a little more choice in terms of accommodation, including two family rooms, and offers a full dining experience or simple bar meals. The Crown Hotel offers possibly the best dining experience in Wells, with a very impressive and varied menu and a highly respected chef. The hotel offers a total of 12 en-suite rooms with mod cons including flat screen TV's, as well as the two family suites which offer separate children's bedrooms, DVDs players and baby monitors. A 3 night stay, per room and not per person, starts from £90. To find out more visit their website at www.thecrownhotelwells.co.uk

The Globe Inn is located in Wells and overlooks a beautiful tree-lined Georgian square. Like all of the hotels on this list, the Globe Inn is a fantastic base for a break on the North Norfolk coast; or indeed just for a quick pint or some home made grub! The hotel features a nice courtyard in which you can enjoy a drink (hopefully in the sun!) and is just a short walk away from The Quay where you can see the fishermen setting out on a good tide seeking passing sea trout and bass as well as inshore crab and other shell fish. The bar is open until 11pm Monday - Saturday and until 10.30pm on a Sunday and serves some fantastic French and Spanish organic wines as well as some local ales. The Globe serves some great traditional local food including game from Holkham Hall and seafoods caught by Well's own fishermen. Like all of the hotels in this article The Globe is a small and exclusive hotel with just 7 rooms, five of which are double en-suite and the remaining two of which are twin en-suite rooms. The rooms are modern with all of the standard necessary stuff such as televisions and phones, Internet access (via cable), and tea and coffee making equipment; they have also been recently sound proofed to ensure that the bar doesn't keep you from getting a nice early night! A room starts from £80 per night in the low season and £120 a night in the high season, to find out more or to enquire about availability just visit http://www.holkham.co.uk/globe/

The Stiffkey opened its doors as a hotel in just May 2008 but has already built a reputation as a very good hotel. Again, The Stiffkey Red Lion is a small and exclusive hotel with just ten rooms; these are six doubles, three twins and a family double room with sofa bed. All bedrooms are ultra modern and the five ground floor rooms have a terrace and garden area whilst the first floor rooms each have a spacious balcony with great countryside views (these are the type of balcony's that you can actually sit and have a drink on!). Although its refurbishment brings you comfortable modern leaving, the building itself has retained all of its rustic old charm - as it used to be an old English Inn. The Stiffkey offers some fantastic local beers as well as some of the finest local food including fresh Cromer crabs. If you are a keen tree hugger, oh.... err... I mean environmentalist of course, then The Stiffkey is the place for you as it features a high tech Sedum roof which keeps the building naturally cool in the summer and retains heat in the summer, it also collects rainwater which it uses to flush the toilet! Room tariffs start from just £90 per night depending on the time of year and the type of room, and all room rates include a delicious full English breakfast. To find out more just visit www.stiffkey.com/

The Victoria at Holkham is situated at the gates of the famous Holkham Hall and within walking distance to the long golden sands of Holkham beach. The hotel is sublimely decorated and decked out with Indian furnishings following a refurbishment in 2001, a process which was overseen by designer Miv Watts. The hotel, like the others on this list, is small and exclusive with just 10 rooms; a further 3 ancient follies were renovated in 2004 by designer Monica Vinader as a result of a significant demand for the accommodation. The hotel offers a sublime dining experience, with two rosette's and a former Michelin starred head chef. The dining experience is kept local with ingredients such as fresh fish from the North Norfolk coast and local ales on tap; as well as a large wine list with a price range which starts in the 'reasonable' bracket. A double occupancy room at The Victoria starts at £120 in the low season and rises to £170 in the high season; a reduction in price is offered for single occupancy. The Victoria certainly offers the level of class that you would expect from a hotel owned by a Viscount! To find out more visit their website at www.holkham.co.uk/victoria/