The Lifeboat Inn

Hotels
8.5 (601 reviews)
Ship Lane , Hunstanton , gb

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Free
Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Room service
Heating
Terrace
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Great location
Good food
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Small rooms
High prices

Categories

Cleanliness
7.64
Several reviews noted issues with cleanliness, including mould in the bathroom and unclean dog beds.
Service
9.11
Staff were described as super friendly and attentive, contributing to a positive experience.
Location
9.15
The hotel is well-located for sightseeing and beautiful views, with many positive mentions.
Room Quality
8.1
Rooms are generally described as lovely and comfortable, but one reviewer mentioned a small room.
Amenities
8.63
Good range of amenities available, including parking and complimentary toiletries.
Value for Money
8.09
Value for money received positive notes but some reviews mentioned high prices for low-value items.
Food and Beverage
8.64
Food quality received positive remarks, although there were some issues noted with meal choices.
Overall Experience
8.61
Many guests expressed a desire to return, indicating overall satisfaction despite minor issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-20 08:25

Property Description

Charming 16th Century Inn in Picturesque Thornham

Historic Charm: The Lifeboat Inn, a 16th-century property, seamlessly blends historic charm with modern comforts. Each en suite bedroom is equipped with free toiletries, a hairdryer, TV, and radio.

Ideal Location: Situated in the quaint village of Thornham, just a short walk from the Norfolk Coast Path, guests can easily explore the marshes and sand dunes. With attractions like Holkham Hall and Sandringham House nearby, there's plenty to discover.

Explore Norfolk: Offering a perfect base to explore Norfolk, from historic sites to scenic landscapes, Lifeboat Inn is the ideal choice for a memorable getaway.

Book now to experience the perfect blend of history and comfort at The Lifeboat Inn.

Important information:

Please note: not all rooms can accommodate extra beds and cribs, so please make your request at time of booking.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: NWI

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free public parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed. Charges may be applicable.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 3 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 3 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    Children from 4 years old to 17 years old stay for £25 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    Children from 4 years old to 17 years old stay for £25 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.5
Based on 601 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.64
Service: 9.11
Location: 9.15
Room Quality: 8.1
Amenities: 8.63
Value for Money: 8.09
Food and Beverage: 8.64
Overall Experience: 8.61
M
Matt • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-07-04 • via Nuitee
H
helen • couple • gb
7
2026-07-01 • via Nuitee
M
Maureen • solo_traveller • gb
8
2026-06-30 • via Nuitee
T
Tim • solo_traveller • gb
10
Very accommodating and made our stay really enjoyable.
Pros:

Really lovely staff and a great place too.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-06-29 • via Nuitee
R
Richard • solo_traveller • ch
6
Interesting, but no further visits for me.
Pros:

Comfort fine, food and drinks good. Ample parking. pleasant staff.

Cons:

Judging by the web site write up, I had expected the Lifeboat Inn to be next to the sea, but it is way away. And very expensive for what you receive. Wow. Not going back there again.

2026-06-29 • via Nuitee
M
maureen • couple • gb
8
An enjoyable stay..would recommend
Pros:

Good bfast in nice dining room.Table service good,friendly Staff.Nice snug lounge.Great location,Attractive dining areas.Old historical atmosphere.

Cons:

Room smaller than expected by price,rather awkward.Window wouldn't open enough.No info explanation re service charges.

2026-06-27 • via Nuitee
T
Terry • couple • gb
9
Had a lovely overnight stay there room was lovely staff for a fantastic and the restaurant was excellent
Pros:

Very well appointed rooms with a large ensuite

Cons:

Couldn't find fault with it

2026-06-22 • via Nuitee
N
neil • solo_traveller • gb
7
2026-06-22 • via Nuitee
A
Anthony • couple • gb
10
2026-06-17 • via Nuitee
D
Dan • couple • au
5
2026-06-15 • via Nuitee
J
Joan • couple • gb
10
A wonderful experience.
Pros:

Everthing about our stay was fantastic, lovely food and plenty of it. The room was clean, well appointed and very comfortable. All the staff were really amazing, helpful, and kind, - the receptionists, bar staff, serving staff and cleaners.
We will certainly be visiting The Lifeboat Inn again.

Cons:

No complaints at all!

2026-06-10 • via Nuitee
P
Phoebe • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-06-03 • via Nuitee
C
Carole • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

Staff are all very helpful, good location very peaceful.

Cons:

We had no issues with the lifeboat inn at all.

2026-05-29 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • solo_traveller • gb
7
Great location, loved the character of the property, the food was good and well presented and lovely and hot.
Pros:

Bedroom was nice and large as was the bathroom, both were roomy comfortable and clean. A couple of repairs required for the bathroom.

Cons:

Some of the downstairs furniture could do with replacing but keeping within character of the building. Unfortunately the bar toilets were in use for our duration.
Most of the staff were great but a couple were lacking customer service skills, i.e. left us hovering not knowing where to sit for our meal.

2026-05-27 • via Nuitee
D
David • couple • gb
8
Really nice hotel in super location. The bar staff and restaurant staff were really welcoming.
Pros:

I liked the Location and the rooms and all the staff were lovely.

Cons:

The cooked breakfast was totally over cooked and felt like it was just heated up. The poached eggs were solid as were the sausages. Maybe unlucky but my wife’s breakfast was the same and another couple felt the same.

2026-05-25 • via Nuitee
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Lorraine • couple • gb
7
Lovely room and food but needs to be managed better.
Pros:

The breakfast was excellent. The room was comfortable. Bathroom a bit dated.

Cons:

We were disappointed at the lack of choice on the evening menu. Staffing levels seemed a problem. People on the next table had to wipe their table down themselves with a cloth provided by bar staff. I’d be embarrassed if I worked there and actually handed a customer a cloth rather than immediately cleaned the table myself. For the price you pay, there has to be a certain standard.
Also absolutely no WiFi connection for either of us despite it saying it was trying to connect for 24 hours! A nearby pub had very good WiFi so it is achievable in that area.

2026-05-25 • via Nuitee
S
Sarah • couple • gb
6
Lovely location, but lacking attention to detail and comfort which you would expect for the price
Pros:

The location is outstanding

Cons:

The bed was very uncomfortable, the mattress was terrible.

We thought we were booking a sea view room but were told listings on booking.com were often inaccurate. We were over the kitchen and had a view of a roof

2026-05-24 • via Nuitee
S
Suzie • couple • gb
8
Overall we enjoyed our holiday, food was lovely, staff ok. The missing WiFi really spoilt it for us. I am now without mo
Pros:

Lovely old character property. In a beautiful village with plenty of parking. Room was nice but needed armchairs as sitting on bed was uncomfortable.

Cons:

The main issue was the guest WiFi didn’t work at all for our 4 night stay and as a result I used all my mobile data, which I’ve never done. This left me without being able to stay in contact with clients and family members. We did ask several times but kept being told “oh it’s playing up today” but it clearly hasn’t been working for a while. Travelling home without mobile data was stressful.

2026-05-20 • via Nuitee
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Nancy • couple • it
8
Migliorabile!
Pros:

La tranquillità e la pulizia

Cons:

Le scale e i continui scalini, la camera piccola, i prezzii assolutamente eccessivi

2026-05-20 • via Nuitee
D
DAVID • couple • gb
9
Pros:

Eveything

2026-05-19 • via Nuitee