The Lifeboat Inn

Hotels
8.5 (630 reviews)
Ship Lane , Hunstanton , GB

listing image 1
Show all photos
Free
Children 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

Location

Guest Reviews

8.5
Based on 630 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
L
Louise • extended_group • gb
6
2026-09-18 • via Nuitee
M
melanie • couple • gb
9
Lovely stay
Pros:

Lovely place room comfortable staff friendly breakfast was great

Cons:

Bit pricey but treat

2026-09-11 • via Nuitee
S
Sue • couple • gb
8
Perfectly good for our needs
Pros:

Attractive. Location

Cons:

Very open noisy restaurant difficult for my husbands hearing and several dogs that didn’t get on the night we were there

2026-09-11 • via Nuitee
M
Morrison • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-09-09 • via Nuitee
C
Chris • solo_traveller • gb
7
Pros:

Great pub and room

Cons:

Long wait for breakfast order to arrive at the table 45 mins approx. Other guests experience the same. Eggs royal had over cooked poached eggs and over toasted muffin which ruined the dish and was clearly a result of the overload of orders which resulted in rushed preparation. Also £25 supplement for our dog was a bit steep. Nothing mentioned at check in but we are used to paying for our dog so was expecting one. Most places we stay charge around £10 to £15.

2026-09-08 • via Nuitee
A
Annabelle • solo_traveller • gb
7
It is a lovely location but restaurant service needs to step up a bit in the restaurant to make this place stand out.
Pros:

Lovely location and characterful inn with coast path nearby, an old harbour, lots of sea birds. Great breakfast which was included in room price. Manager was helpful even when he was under pressure and showed us to our table and then room.

Cons:

Car park was very busy as bank holiday. Long wait at reception as someone’s dinner booking hadn’t gone through so they were trying to find a table for them but it took ages. Long wait to get a drink and then get served in the restaurant - they were more interested in relating tables than serving - and female server not great especially as I had dietary requirement (which I advised them of in advance). Food fine but menu limited for dietary requirements. No sea view from bedroom window as advertised. Hot water in bathroom scalding hot and couldn’t have a shower, only a bath. It seems the hot water had previously been too cool so the temp had been adjusted but by far too much. Room very warm - two fans were provided. Not a place to stay in peak summer temperatures. Better for a spring or early autumn break. But it was full for Aug bank holiday.

2026-09-08 • via Nuitee
A
Andy • couple • gb
10
Great for a short getaway
Pros:

Quiet location, lovely bar with proper beer.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-09-04 • via Nuitee
G
Gillian • solo_traveller • ie
8
Dog friendly holiday
Pros:

Location is the best by far, and the fact it's so dog friendly.

Cons:

The room was incredibly tiny. I would recommend asking for a bigger room when booking. We stayed previously and the room was much bigger.

2026-09-04 • via Nuitee
M
Margaret • solo_traveller • us
6
Cost was too high to warrant quality that was just okay. I expected more compared to other places we stayed.
Pros:

Nice bathroom. Happy to see a hairdryer. Breakfast was adequate.

Cons:

Dinner was poor. Dinner service was poor. Took forever.

2026-08-29 • via Nuitee
B
Burns • solo_traveller • gb
10
Great for dogs
Pros:

This is the fourth time we stayed. Very relaxing, good location. Breakfast brilliant.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-08-25 • via Nuitee
D
Dieter • couple • gb
5
Disappointing
Pros:

very expensive for the price

Cons:

The price

2026-08-20 • via Nuitee
P
Paul • couple • gb
10
2026-08-20 • via Nuitee
S
Sarah • couple • gb
10
Pros:

Lovely and lovely staff

2026-08-18 • via Nuitee
M
Michael • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-08-14 • via Nuitee
J
John • solo_traveller • gb
8
Restful Thornham break
Pros:

Location parking breakfasts air conditioning in small room

Cons:

Very small room but air conditioning good

2026-08-13 • via Nuitee
C
christopher • couple • gb
8
Overhaul, enjoyed my stay.
Pros:

Nice room, & good facilities

Cons:

Scampi I had in the restaurant was over cooked & very dry.

Can hear quite a bit of noise from neighbouring rooms.

2026-08-13 • via Nuitee
E
Ellis • solo_traveller • gb
5
Feedback
Pros:

Food was good but not enough choice.

Cons:

Room smelt of dog and our bathroom had some issues in terms of cleanliness.

Also had to ask for towels to be changed.

2026-08-12 • via Nuitee
I
Ian • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

Location was impressive, staff very good
The room described as small was perfectly acceptable.It had the added bonus of air conditioning.The food was very good also.

Cons:

Breakfast service was slow on the first day.
Prices charged by booking.com were higher than going direct ,which was disappointing

2026-08-12 • via Nuitee
R
Robinson • couple • gb
10
2026-08-11 • via Nuitee
C
Cathy • extended_group • gb
9
2026-08-11 • via Nuitee