Norfolk Wildlife Trust Cley Marshes Visitor Centre in North Norfolk - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Lovely building and views and food looked good, however staff were grumpy and could have been more welcoming, detracted from whole experience.

Friendly helpful enthusiastic staff help you get underway for a half day or day on the reserve. Easy to access hides and decent paths. Take appropriate clothes for the weather the resetve is obviously exposed with limited shelter. Good cafe and toilets and an exhibition of art work worth checking out

Initial feeling was "we're being ripped off for car parking - again". But it's only £3 for 3 hours and you get a voucher for £3.50 against a hot drink so really it's a free car park provided, like us, you intend getting something to eat or drink. The coffee was good and the flapjack I had was too. Not dry, not too gooey, Just right.

Visited the marshes on a very windy gale - and enjoyed a good "blow". We had hoped to be able to take a boat trip nearby to see seals, but the weather was so stormy that the boats were not sailing.

Had lunch in the cafe today. Staff could not have been more helpful and offered extra jug of hot water with the pot of tea. Had the 'special' jacket potatoes and salad, all fresh and tasty, with lemon cake afterwards. Would definitely re visit. Thanks!

A decent cafe and shop with ample parking and searing options facing the marshes so you can snack and birdwatch at the same time. Quick service and nice food options

Is it the views or the food that is the attraction? The answer probably both. What could be better than sitting in this café/tea room with more than an ample slice of home made cake looking out over Cley Marshes? For me one huge plus here is that although the picture windows and the little shop are aimed at wildlife enthusiast any body can bathe in some of the best scenery anywhere. This place can be enjoyed year round and no trip to this part of Norfolk would be complete without a visit

Lunch after a walk in the marshes was delicious. The views across to the sea tempted many visitors to keep binoculars and scopes to hand. We enjoyed browsing the gifts and looking at the small exhibition.

Visited one cold February Saturday. Called in for coffee whilst walking from Blakeney. The young lady serving us was really having a bad day and was obviously not enjoying her job. Made us feel like an inconvenience. We had coffee and cake which was fine. Whilst we understand perfectly that dogs are not welcome in the cafe. So we sat out on the balcony which has no cover. Lovely in the summer I’m sure but not with the East wind blowing. We didn’t stay long…..

Not allowed in as had dogs with us. Odd really as have been in some much more upmarket places in north Norfolk than this. Luckily we didn’t pay the exorbitant parking charge. Could have sat outside in the rain, hmmm I don’t think so.

Excellent curried cauliflower soup and outstanding Chelsea Bun. Lots of other tasty treats as well. We’ll be back soon!

Always like to factor a visit in to Cley on our trips to Norfolk. Whilst we are not ‘proper’ twitchers we do and enjoy the peace and solitude of the walk around although on this occasion (mid heat wave) we were pleased to complete and get back to the cafe for a cool drink and slice of cake! The visitor centre is first class and there always seems a local artist on site displaying their works plus dads will enjoy the Cley spy shop and demo’ing the scopes with knowledgeable staff. All round, a great place to add to your ‘to do’ list

Very impressive place with an excellent cafe. Good shop. The terrace had good views over the marshes

Polar opposites to our visit to the pretentious Ali’s Cafe in Weybourne this visitor centre has it all, friendly, helpful staff, quality coffee and delicious cakes all served quickly to your table overlooking the stunning Cley Marshes. Fantastic venue will definitely return and recommend to others without hesitation. Well done to everyone working there for delivering A1 customer service.

Very busy on Easter week and staff seemed to be struggling to cope. Junior staff wore masks and gloves. Dominant staff wore no gloves and no masks and shouted at the food. Our order wasn’t quite as asked for and quality of the food was mediocre (though probably a joyful home for many COVId viruses). Upside: the view from the terrace over the marshes is super. Great shop with lots of wildlife themed cards and gifts.

This is a visitor centre with a lovely cafe and a massive window looking out over the marsh towards the sea. We watched a pair of Marsh Harriers for hours while eating delicious Norfolk scones and drinking tea. Lovely afternoon. Definitely recommend this place.

Lovely marshland with good access to birds. Good viewing area and good quality food in a pleasant cafe. Seating outside for those of us who prefer to wait with a dog.

Lovely location overlooking Cley Norfolk Wildlife Trust marshland. Staff were all masked, tables were seperated into booths and cleaned between guests; staff were also very upbeat & friendly. Excellent coffee & tea and good selection of cakes and savoury snacks/hot food. There's an art exhibition...

A friendly welcome on arrival at the visitor centre, panoramic views of the reserve from the centre, both outside and inside, and lovely freshly prepared food served by the kind, helpful bubbly Marie! And of course excellent boardwalk trails through the reserve to the various...

Parking is pay-and-display, £3 for 3 hours. The centre is clean with excellent views of the marsh across the main road both inside and out. The outside balcony has a few picnic tables with additional bench seating (slightly restricted by COVID-19). Toilets very clean and...

Enjoyed the walk over to the beach and made some good sightings from the hides. Restaurant staff decidedly grumpy though when we went into the cafe for coffee and scones, as if we were a nuisance and they really didn’t want to be there. Left...

The marshes were amazing we saw a crane fly in as well as Marsh harriers and different waders. The cafe served a great crab salad and extraordinary Belgian buns!

Food undercooked, sausage rolls particularly. People (staff) rude. Food when served presented poorly.

We've been popping in here since it opened for a coffee and a scone. Fabulous modern building with great views over the marshes. The floor-to-ceiling glass window makes it very light and great for viewing. However, they've now started charging for parking. That's a new...

The centre is designed for bird watchers to observe the Cley Marshes. We stopped for a coffee, car park busy and they are going to start charging for it, making a quick coffee very expensive.

Had a lovely walk round the Marsh and after that headed to the visitor centre for drink, with all restrictions in place there is only so many that can sit inside otherwise there is a tale away section. However once inside there wasn't much clear...

A great visit, very helpful and informative NWT staff/volunteers who are clearly passionate about what they do. Good shop and cafe. Great views across the marshes.

had a wander down to one of the hides - fascinating - then walked back up to the Visitor Centre just after it opened - it is a lovely facility with friendly helpful staff. Had waitress service in the cafe - we sat on one...

The visitor centre is pleasant, with a nice well stocked shop, the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. The views over the marshes are beautiful and there are two nice viewing areas where you can sit and watch from the centre itself. In the centre you...

Food much of a muteness however shop great staff great facilities great with toilets that are hands free. Free Car Park and staff so helpful. Location is great and not much more you can say worth a visit

Great place for a wander and watch the fantastic wildlife, after few hours of hide hopping when to the Cafe for a bacon bap and coffee - excellent fuel.

Cold and draughty! Miserable lot! Couldn’t even plate a sausage roll for us as lunch had finished. I closed a wedged open door because I was cold, only first to be wedged open again.... bah humbug,

Weather not very inviting so popped into the wildlife centre for a coffee. Modern design light and airy, friendly staff, a shop with many items you don’t find in many other outlets.

Went for great views over the marshes while indoors with free binocs and great food. Good gift shop too. And recommend free short taster walk with Warden. Parking free too. SMall charge to walk on marsh to hides.

Years ago this was a small thatched hut by the side of the road. If you are taking the coastal road, it's a super place to stop. Big car park. Lovely glassed in space with cafe and shop. Very friendly staff. Clean toilets, information centre and super gallery. The guys in the gallery were also very nice pointing out the birds and you can also watch on screen. This is a full day out if you have the time and the weather is good.

Years ago, Cley bird reserve, you had to park on the A149 road. But since 2015, this superb visitor centre has made what was already a wonderful experience, truly world class. Friendly and helpful staff. Lovely cafe with an excellent choice of hot and cold snacks, from piping hot soup to toasties - excellent for frozen winter days.There is also an art gallery here, and a loo block which is new and spotlessly clean.It makes a truly excellent day out.Car park large enough for loads of cars and even coaches.Reasonably priced at £9 per car.They provided maps, and even directions to the Snow Buntings and Isabelline Wheatear. This is probably the nicest bird reserve in the UK. Truly stunning. Well impressed.Highly recommend.

We have been to Cley marshes lots of times.it is great for birdwatching, with use of their bird watching equipment to look over the marshes.There is a lovely cafe and a shop, on a warmer day there is good observation area's.there is also several walks to various hides.

Dropped in to see what's on offer. Good facilities, clean and well looked after. Very popular, car park was almost full. Lots for twitchers to see and do. The cafe serves everything from tea and cake to simple meals. Good quality, reasonably priced.

Asked for two toasted tea cakes and two drinks at 1.00 pm on a busy Sunday only to be told that I couldn’t have tea cakes at lunch time. Really ? Seems it’s ok to just have a drink but some things you can only have at certain times.Opted for 2 bacon baps. Underdone bacon in a soggy bap. Not impressed.The servers were polite and friendly. I was just frustrated by their inflexibility.

Staying at the Blakeney Hotel, this was one of our excursions, parking here and then walking by way of the hides to the beach, with wonderful sightings of birds - including cormorants - across the marshes. The Centre is informative, welcoming and has good food

Not really a birder myself but the lad takes an interest so we stopped off here for a poke about. The car park is busy, could probably be bigger, something to think about. The lady on the desk was super helpful and really couldn't have been nicer. The gift shop had a lot of tasteful stuff at premium prices. Think John Lewis meets the National Trust. The cafe we didn't eat in, the food looked lush, but as I say we didn't eat. There are hides out on the marshes, about a fiver a head. Not really necessary unless you're a super keen birder. The paths across the marshes are easy to follow and there is a decent circular walk or two depending on how much you wish to stretch your legs. There were birds everywhere. Brown, white, black, all the birds. Really nice place for a good stroll and to be with nature.

A place to relax and enjoy the wildlife. The centre is managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust so if you are not a member there is a charge. We paid £4.50 each as concessions.

An excellent place to visit where down one side of the building there is a panoramic window through which you can over look the car park to the reserve spread out before you. Also inside there is an information dest manned by a Trust member to help you and nearby a small sales area. If you do not mind self service the food and drinks served in their cafe is very, very good and at a reasonable price; also at a bonus they do have well kept clean toilets. There is a lift for disabled people and stairs for the fit, plus plenty of parking space for an influx of extra visitors.

We visited during a walk from Blakeney with our 6 month old. It is a great stop off, beautifully situated with a huge viewing window out to sea for bird watching....binos provided!! Enjoyed a hot drink and a toasted tea cake. Also couldnt fault the toilets and baby changing facilities.

Originally one building of timber structure with a thatched roof on an elevated site giving wonderful panoramic distant views of the surrounding marshes. The site has been further developed with well designed buildings adding exhibition spaces, café, lavatories, shop and large car parking areas nestled into the landscape. Telescopes and binoculars have been provided for public use in front of the expansive windows for one to enjoy watching the variety of bird life and there are guides to assist identification.

This small cafe caters for lots of people throughout the day. Many just have coffee and some of the delicious looking cakes and scones on offer. We had just done a circular walk to the beach and back and were ready for something healthy and more substantial. We opted for the Baked Potato filled with Tuna Mayo. It came with a small side salad. We were impressed with the speed of service however I had ordered it on the stroke of 12:00 when they start their lunch service and I think ours was the first one. The potato was very large with a generous filling. They do quite a range of salads and sandwiches too.

We stopped by twice during our stay. It’s a great place to view birds from the terrace or the window seats inside the cafe. The staff are very friendly and helpful , we only had tea but the food looked and smelled very nice. The facilities are clean and the exhibition out at the back worth a visit, too.

We visited the visitor centre after a few hours on the shingle beaches nearby. The big picture windows gave tremendous views across the marshes where we could see a variety of birds feasting the pools and grasses. But then we found an upper room, again with huge windows with telescopes and binoculars for public use. There was also a video camera set up sweeping the area slowly to draw attention to the changing habitats. All it needed was an expert to explain what we were seeing, and there he was! just in his office. He spent an hour with us picking out the various species and explaining all about their feeding and origins. Wonderful

Good viewing area and cafe/toilets. The reserve itself is fabulous, and teeming with super birds. We saw spoonbills amongst many others...

Impressive building, but canteen level cafe. Parking cramped even out of season. It;s trying to do too many things and doesn't do any of them well.

Spent the morning recently visiting the hides at the NWT reserve. The 3 hides I visited were all supported by volunteers. They were excellent. Allowing the use of their telescopes pre focused on such one offs as the green winged teal from N.America. Saw a bittern fly past the hide; Little egrets and young feeding on the marsh. The avocets were gorgeous. Quite unusual in Northumberland. My wife was quite pleased to see a lapwing. A great morning.

Even on a rainy day, it's amazing! The staff are friendly and the food is good value, great place for a coffee stop.

Only had a coffee and cake after visiting their hides on Cley marshes but what an excellent facility they have created for not just dedicated bird/wildlife watchers but the general public as well.

This is a great stopping point while driving along the Norfolk coast road. There's plenty of free parking and the toilets are spacious and clean.

Good way to spend from a crew hours to an entire day. There's lots to do, coffee, cakes etc whilst looking over the Marshes, often exhibitions on, talks & then there's access to the Marshes & bird hides too. We'll worth visit

Came here yesterday while I was in Norfolk. We went on the coastal road towards Wells and Hunstanton and saw it. The building is very cool shaped and it has toilets and a cafe inside . I had a cherry bake well and a orange juice. The cherry bakewell was huge and very tasty. I recommend this place to anyone travelling the coastal road between Cromer and Hunstanton.

The newish visitor centre has great views over the reserve with binoculars available.Inside and outside seating, well-stocked cafe and shop and a good selection of gluten freeto fuel up before walking the reserve.

A pleasant enough cafe with good views over the reserve. Nothing particularly special on the menu but what we had was just fine, decent cup of tea. Patently handy if you are visiting the reserve, no problems.

The Wildlife centre provides both a wide range of food and excellent information on the reserve. I thought the coffee was good and the cakes and sandwiches on offer were a good quality .

Visited here with friends to warm up after a very bracing walk around Cley. The earl grey tea and cherry bakewells were very well received!

interesting place to gather information, have a coffee and get great views over the marshes. full of information and also has a well stocked gift shop

All about nature and wild life yet no dogs allowed what a disappointment! So a quick visit, what I saw looked ok but then I wasn't allowed to see much.

My Dad took myself and my family here last Tuesday. Lovely food in the cafe. We ate baked potatoes and bacon baps. Fast and efficient service from the friendly staff. Fantastic views across Cley marshes towards the sea. Saw a marsh harrier and various other birds. Good gift shop too. I would definitely visit again next time we're in Norfolk.

Popped in for a quick coffee after lovely walk around the reserve - with eyes closed it would have been difficult to know what I was drinking - tasteless and milky. Sadly will not be buying from here again.

Very nice cafe with great views over the marshes. Take your camera and visit the gallery behind the cafe.

Visited the cafe, Shop & Equipment shop late Feb 2019 Good food, Great views over the marshes (not enough time to visit this time) Staff very knowledgable, helpful & friendly. Would recommend

Unexpectedly busy, hardly any room . Awful smell of fried bacon. Luckily, there was a lift for our elderly mother.

A very educational trip to learn about hedgehogs. I had the opportunity to hold and stroke a hedgehog. Then we went for a marsh walk which was very windy and saw some incredible views. The staff were very welcoming.

Great early evening walk across marshes with an experienced guide - we know nothing! Really enjoyable and we will repeat as we had to come home to see barn owls but did see 15 marsh harriers coming in to roost.

The café offers a great view across Cley Marsh and is large & spacious. Two of us popped in for a rare coffee whilst birding along the N Norfolk coast recently.

Very clean, extremely helpful (with DF/GF dietary needs) and rapid service. All amenities clean, bookshop interesting ... very good for presents... and of course views across the marshes ... which are a must to visit!

We went and had a light lunch at the centre it was quite busy at the time but they look after us very well. We had jacket potatoes and cheese it came with plenty of cheese and very fresh side salad. Very nice and coffee was good to. Will definitely go back many thanks

Really nice place very popular staff very friendly and the food was lovely cakes really nice and well priced.lovely clear view over the marshes for bird watching

My wife and I visit the centre two or three times a year. There are toilets. Decent ones. There are views across the marshes. Café food and drinks are excellent. A super collection of books, but also ‘to do’ kits for children - an ideal place for Christmas shopping if your grandchildren like activity sets. This place is brilliant.

Lunchtime approached - we had walked 7ish miles, were in need of a short rest and some sustenance. We certainly found a welcoming respite at this visitor centre! Cafe had wonderful panoramic views over the marshes, was warm and inviting. An outdoor seating area would be great in the warmer months. The choice of food offered was good - jacket potatoes, toasties, sandwiches, home made soup and some more substantial main course options too. Not forgetting the selection of lovely cakes! Staff were efficient and effective at a very busy time. Well worth a stop if you’re in the area. Will definitely use again.

It was a rather miserable day when we visited so we decided to head for the cafe. To my delight, not only did it have a panorama window looking into the reserve but it also had soya milk and a vegan cake choice! I’m not actually vegan but cannot eat eggs and anything with cow’s milk in so vegan cakes are always a great choice but not very easy to find. I thoroughly enjoyed my tea and cake whilst watching marsh harriers wheeling over the reserve. The photographic exhibition was also well worth a visit.

We stopped here to visit the visitor centre, had a walk around the marshes and then some tea and snacks afterward.

Always stop here when we walk along the marshes. Great coffee and cake and helpful friendly staff and fantastic views over the marshes.

The star attraction is the elevated panoramic view.

I have to admit that visiting a "visitor centre" when you have the great open countryside all around you in not my "cup of tea" but I am really glad that we did choose to stop off here after a long walk along the coast. The staff were walk and friendly, there was a truly great view across the marshes, the tea and scones were just delicious and the remote camera hidden right next to one of the feeding pools was a lovely touch. If you were of limited mobility this place could really get you to see some great wildlife in the natural habitat.

A lovely airy cafe with an amazing view of the marshes. The food is always good and the staff friendly. Often exhibitions to look at, a small shop and lots of information from the NWT staff and volunteers

The design of the building is very sympathetic to the landscape. The refreshments available are to a good standard and there are some very interesting photography displays and books for sale.

Incredible place developed over the years to now provide fantastic facilities-information, restaurant, shop, art displays etc etc.

A beautiful spot to stop for lunch or just tea and cake. Friendly staff, good quality food, and stuff to do for kids. Lots of books on nature. An amazing photo exhibition of birds was on display too.

This is a simply fantastic facility that offers superb views over the marshes, a lovely cafe and shop plus information about the birds of the area. Cannot fail to be impressed by this. Well done NMT

The cafe has panoramic views over Cley Marshes so that you can bird watch while enjoying lunch. The bacon baps are good value for money: they are large and filled with

Easy free parking. Wonderful view towards the sea. Free binoculars at some tables in the cafe. Super delicious gluten free Victoria sponge ! Pleasant atmosphere. Would return.

Excellent family trip to the nature reserve and access to the bird hides supported by Bernard who gave a great insight into the history of not only the marshes and the work done and ongoing but also about the history of the area.

After being highly disappointed with the 'Normal for Norfolk' cafe which apparently was full (even though there were at least 50 empty seats outside), we were lucky enough to see Cley Marshes visitor centre on the coast road.

Only one person actually preparing meals so a half hour wait. Not acceptable when there are three others making coffee etc

The last time I visited Cley marshes 30 years ago there was a small muddy car park and duck board paths. Not a sign of coffee, cake or a toilet. The new Centre is a massive improvement - the scones were very fresh and the cakes looked delicious. Ingredients local and fair trade where possible. Great value. Lots of variety in the shop, fair prices. Fantastic views of the marshes from the cafe window and viewing deck.

Myself & The Other Half visited here on May 15th.What a lovely place,we had a pot of tea and sat on high stools looking out onto the Marshes.Binoculars were provided as were books on the Birds that you might be able to see.Very reasonably priced and free parking.Walked out a little way on The Marshes,saw,a Reed Bunting,Lapwings,Shelducks,Grey heron and Pink Footed geese with their youngsters.A lovely few hours.

Lovely centre with good prices on all food and drinks Plenty of area to sit and lots of interesting gifts in the shop

We enjoyed this visit very much. Using Zeiss binoculars we first walked out to the hide on Cley marshes and saw the bird life there and of course the evocative landscape..

Brilliant place for a variety of birdlife including some rarietys Hours can be spent walking throught the marshes Take binoculars with you

I was looking forward to visiting this place as I had been before but was unable to as it is not at all dog friendly. Not wanting to leave our dog in the car we went elsewhere.

This is a fabulous spot for looking over the reserve, and I would recommend sitting outside rather than inside.

We stopped off here on our way through to sheringham it's a lovely area good facilities with a nice cafe for food, cake and drinks. There is a lift and a nice seating area outside that over look the marshes a nice pit stop on the way through.

Great place to have a coffee and a cake before or after venturing out to the hides. Excellent facilities.

Great service, with polite friendly staff. Sensibly prices food with good inside and outside seating, ample parking. A great place for lunch.