The Norfolk Broads has so much to offer and our self-catering cottages are an ideal base to explore the Norfolk Broads, Norfolk and Suffolk. Holidaying with family or friends, we have places that are next door to each other to allow bigger groups to holiday together. A fantastic location on the water front and based in Wroxham / Hoveton, the heart of the Norfolk Broads. The Broads has so much to offer– rent a motor launch for a day, sailing, rowing using a dinghy we supply, fishing, great wildlife, many nature reserves for observing the unique wetland wildlife and exploring the many special places to see in East Anglia. Within walking distance you have great shops, a choice of pubs and restaurants. Travel a bit further and you have Castles, theme parks, Great Yarmouth with its many attractions. Waterside Retreat is a detached holiday home in a superb position, just off the main River Bure, in the heart of Wroxham, Broadlands' liveliest village. With 5 bedrooms, 3 bathroom, luxurious kitchen with eating area it will very comfortably sleeps up to 11 people. This is an ideal holiday retreat in the Norfolk Broads and an excellent location for sailing, fishing and bird watching. Modern and furnished to a high standard of comfort, this charming holiday home is a perfect retreat at any time of the year and guests benefit from the use of a rowing dinghy. Now with WiFi Broadband Internet access. Wroxham and Hoveton are divided by the River Bure, with the two villages generally referred to as Wroxham. It is one of the Norfolk Broads largest boat hire centres where you can enjoy river trips, hire a boat, enjoy some fishing, sailing, golf, cycling or walking with nature trails to follow. Sandy beaches can be found just twelve miles away and the City of Norwich with its beautiful cathedral, castle, museum, theatre and superb shopping is just eight miles. The village of Wroxham is home to Wroxham Barns, the Bure Valley Railway and Roys - the largest village store in the country. Here you will find riverside pubs, restaurants and shops that are just a short stroll from Waterside Retreat. The area of Wroxham is actually made up of two villages - Wroxham and Hoveton, split by a low bridge that spans the River Bure. Wroxham is often referred to as the 'Capital of the Norfolk Broads' and is an ideal location to stay at for a variety of reasons: There are plentiful places to eat and drink locally! Wroxham boasts Roys store which claims to the “largest village store in the Country”. Here you will find all your grocery needs with many products being sourced locally as well as a large department store – plenty of retail opportunities to indulge in and only a 5 minute walk. Within a 15 minute drive you could be at one of the glorious sandy Norfolk beaches or if city life is more your thing, then you could be in historic Norwich with a wealth of shopping opportunities and tourist attractions. The Broads is well known for its’ fishing activity – you should expect to find perch, pike, bream, rudd, eel and tench in the waters here. Fishing (subject to season and licence) can be enjoyed from the decking at all our properties. We would obviously be remiss if we didn’t mention the joy of just being out on the water. Within a couple of minutes walk from each property, it is easy to hire a boat by the hour, half day, day or longer. If you fancy a boat trip but without you being the Captain, there are a number of organised boat trips which leave from the centre of Wroxham or from nearby Horning.
Pet fee £25 per pet payable to owner (Maximum 2)
Our normal changeover days are Fridays and Mondays. Please contact us for availability of other days.
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Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
NO Hen/Stag Parties. Only Mature Groups & Families
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Pets
Pets allowed: dogs less than 25 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
£25 per dog payable
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Property # 8158709
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 11
Note from host: NO Hen/Stag Parties. Only Mature Groups & Families
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
About the area
Norwich
Located in Norwich, this cottage is in a rural area and on the waterfront. How Hill Trust and Toad Hole Cottage Museum are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Norfolk Snowsports Club and High Ash Farm. BeWILDerwood and Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with sailing and fishing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and horse riding.
University of East Anglia - 31 min drive - 35.2 km
Getting around
Hoveton and Wroxham Station - 10 min walk
Norwich (NWI-Norwich Intl.) - 16 min drive
Restaurants
The Sole and Heel Public House - 8 min drive
The Recruiting Sergeant - 7 min drive
The Swan Inn - 4 min drive
Royal Blossom - 6 min drive
Number 14 - 6 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Self Catering 5 Bedroom Waterside Retreat Cottage Wroxham, Norfolk Broads, Eng pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 25 kg per pet. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.
How much does it cost to stay at Self Catering 5 Bedroom Waterside Retreat Cottage Wroxham, Norfolk Broads, Eng?
As of 13 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Self Catering 5 Bedroom Waterside Retreat Cottage Wroxham, Norfolk Broads, Eng on 29 May 2026 start from AU$719, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Self Catering 5 Bedroom Waterside Retreat Cottage Wroxham, Norfolk Broads, Eng?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Self Catering 5 Bedroom Waterside Retreat Cottage Wroxham, Norfolk Broads, Eng?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Self Catering 5 Bedroom Waterside Retreat Cottage Wroxham, Norfolk Broads, Eng?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Self Catering 5 Bedroom Waterside Retreat Cottage Wroxham, Norfolk Broads, Eng located?
Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is within a 15-minute walk of Norfolk Broads and Wroxham Miniature Worlds. BeWILDerwood and Wroxham Barns are also within 3 miles (5 km). Hoveton and Wroxham Station is 10 minutes by foot.
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
There was no pool beautifull position right on the waterfront rooms were clean self check in I wouldn’t say it was pet friendly beacauce it is right on the water we had a lovely time and weather was good
Christine E.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Apr 2026
Great to hear you enjoyed your stay at Waterside Retreat and had good weather. The property doesn't have a pool, and the listing reflects this.
As dog owners, we understand dogs have unique temperaments. Most love exploring the decking and looking into the water.
We hope you'll stay with us again.
Thoroughly recommend this property, lots of room, well laid out. Fantastic location for time on the river or just walking into Wroxham. Everything you needed and very comfortable. Ample parking lovely surroundings
fallisja1 F.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 19 May 2025
Thank you for your kind review. We hope that you will come again.
Very spacious, well laid out property. Double beds very comfortable. Plenty of bathrooms and parking for a larger group. Beautiful location on the Broads with great access to shops, pubs and things to do.
Sue J.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Oct 2023
Thank you for your kind review. We are glad that you enjoyed your stay and hope to be able to welcome you back on another ocassion.
Ideally situated riverside setting only a few minutes walk from boatyards, shops and a good variety of eateries. The grandchildren loved Bewilderwood which is only 2 miles away.
An ideal setting for a lovely relaxing break.
Judith A.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 2 May 2023
We are so glad that you enjoyed yourselves. We hope that you will have an opportunity to visit again.
Everything, from the communication with the owners to the property, was perfect! The house was very spacious for all 11 of us and it is exactly as described. A great location too. I would highly recommend this house, you won’t be disappointed!
Carol H.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Feb 2023
Thank you for your kind review. We are so glad that you enjoyed your stay.
Had a fabulous weekend to celebrate my 60th and my friends 50th birthdays. House was amazing excellent location. There were 8 of us and we all had an excellent time. It was so lovely to be all able to be together.
Tracy M.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Feb 2023
Thank you so much for your kind review. We are glad that you enjoyed your stay and hope to welcome you again.
Lovely big property with plenty of room for a large get together. Everything you would need in the kitchen. The property was very clean and would definitely return
Mary F.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Dec 2022
Thank you for your kind review. We do hope that you will return. Have a good Christmas.
Lovely spacious property for a large family stay. Ideally situated with easy access to nearby facilities. There were some issues with the cleanliness. However the owners were very responsive to feedback
Denise H.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 3 June 2024
Thank you for your feedback and bringing to our attention the cleaning. We take pride to ensure that our properties are turned out in a first class manor and will rectify matters brought to our attention. We hope that you will consider returning and are happy to off a repeat customer discount.
We had a few family members over for a get-together. The check-in process was very simple and the home was exactly as described. It was clean overall but some of the rooms were dusty. We also found the lack of towels a little inconvenient. Overall, if you’re thinking of staying here then would recommend!
Ladin I.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 20 Jan 2025
Great to hear that you enjoyed your stay at Waterside Retreat.
I am surprised and sorry to hear there was dust in some of the rooms. I will mention that to the team and get it sorted.
Towels – we do offer them at additional cost. We wrote to you about this in the welcome pack you get 10 days before arriving. Unfortunately, since the energy prices increased a few years ago the cost of getting towels laundered is very high due to the long time to dry them. Therefore, most guest prefer to bring their own rather than pay for towels.
We hope to see you again.
The property was extreemly spacious and comfortable and just as described on line.
Christine M.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Aug 2022
Hi Christine.
Thank you for your review.
Good to hear that you had a good birthday.
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Julie C.
19 Nov 2018
The house is perfect for a large group together - clean, spacious & homely.
The house is perfectly geared up for large groups. There were 8 of us but could easily sleep 10 or 11. There’s two large tables to seat everyone & lots of storage space. It was very clean and well equipped. The location is perfect to explore the area & the view over the river is beautiful. Would highly recommend.
Julie C.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Mar 2020
Thank you for you kind review which is much appreciated. We would be delighted to welcome you back on another ocassion.
Great house in a lovely location on the water. Very clean. Walking distance into town. We hired a day boat locally. The men enjoyed the fishing off the decking, even managing to catch the resident pike. Look forward to returning in the future.
Michelle S.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 27 July 2021
Hi Michelle. Thanks you for your kind review.
They must have been skilled to catch the pike, they are hard to catch.
We hope to see you again.
Regards, River Cottages
Everything lovely except the front door you could get out but you couldn't get in it kept getting stuck and wouldn't budge.
But the cottage was very well equipped and really lovely, perfect position a lovely stay
Patricia J.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Apr 2023
We are pleased that you enjoyed your stay. We will arrange to have the door looked at. Thank you for pointing this out.
Archival
8/10 Good
tracey w.
25 Nov 2016
Lovely and roomy.
Stayed at the proerty same time last year and liked it so much we returned. Didn't find the property as clean as last year . But it was ok
tracey w.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2016
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Mar 2020
Thank you for your feedback and for returning to Waterside Retreat again.
We are sorry that the property was not as clean as previously. The cleaning team do take a real pride in their work always strive to leave our properties clean and tidy for all our guesses. We will pass your comments on to them.
Waterside Retreat is always popular for large groups, with many returning year after year.
We all really enjoyed our stay at this property.
The living/dining room & outside space was lovely.
The kitchen was well equipped but not as well organised as it could be making finding some utensils difficult. Also the crockery & cutlery was not as clean as I would have liked, however this didn’t spoil our stay.
Overall I would recommend this property & would definitely stay here again.
Allison J.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 20 May 2024
Thank you for your feedback.
We are glad that you enjoyed your stay.
We will take this up with our cleaning team as this should not have happened.
We stayed the last weekend in January for my mum’s 80th birthday celebrations. We were lucky with the weather so used the rowing boat which was great fun. The place was perfect with enough rooms and bathrooms for everyone and everything you could need, including a large fridge and plenty of crockery. Dining room with ten chairs and four large sofas so everyone could be together. Would definitely recommend and will be returning. We also hired a 12 seater boat for half a day from Wroxham Lauch Hire. 5 mins walk and man was so helpful. A great way to really experience the Broads. Can’t rate highly enough :-)
lynn h.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Feb 2025
Lynn.
really good to hear that you had a great weekend. Sounds like you had a busy time.
Thank you for your kind review
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Christine L.
19 Mar 2018
Beautiful house
There were 10 adults, 1 child and a baby for our weekend at the house. We went for a special birthday weekend away for family and close friends. What amazing place. Even though there were 12 of us nobody felt we got in each other’s way. The weather was awful (snow) but this did not stop us from enjoying the weekend. The house was very warm and inviting and the amenities close by were all that was needed. We would like to experience the house again in warmer weather. Fantastic house, fantastic location.
Christine L.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Mar 2020
Thank you for your kind review. We are glad that you enjoyed staying at Waterside Retreat. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again maybe when the weather is better..
We were a family party of 10. The property is in an excellent location right in the heart of the Norfolk Broads. From our arrival everything was made easy with the security lock check in. First impressions, the house is huge! So much space for everyone to chill. The family loved it. The kitchen is massive and, well equipped with everything you need. The outside decking gave us plenty of space to dine and enjoy the sunny evenings. We made use of the BBQ as we celebrated the Queen's Jubilee.
We hired a day boat a few times from Richardsons. With the moring right outside, it made it so easy to drop everyone off. We had a fabulous holiday. Made so much better with excellent living facilities. The customer service from Paul was fantastic. My granddaughter left her mobile phone behind. Paul had it posted back to her the very next day One very happy girl ! I would highly recommend booking the Waterside Retreat. Absolutely everything you need all in one place!
Chris D.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 6 June 2022
Thank you so much for your kind review. We are glad that you enjoyed your stay and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back again.
Archival
10/10 Excellent
janet t.
4 Aug 2016
Wonderful week in a hidden gem
This property is wonderful. We arrived after a 5 hour journey and we were all thrilled to arrive. The photographs do not do it justices. Our elderly parents and elderly aunt were over the moon to be in such a wonderful, peaceful place. They made use of the conservatory all day every day. The weather was kind to us most of the time which gave us chance to sit out on the deck area. We were visited every day by a friendly Heron and a family of geese and swans. ( the Geece did not like the swans) we resisted feeding them but I am sure the reason they were so tame was that they had been fed the past.
The shops in Wrexham were a 2 minute walk away with plenty of shops, cafes and places to eat. We hire a day boat and had a lovely meal at a riverside pub.
I would not hesitate to return and to recommend this little gem to family and friends. We could not fault anything, although as we had 2 over 80 and 1 over 90 who used the downstairs bedrooms I would suggest that the step from the hallway into the bedrooms be made more oap friendly. It was a bit of a trip hazard.
On the whole we all cannot wait to return thank you Paul for allowing us to share your wonderful holiday home.
The Twell family
Mr & Mrs Fox
Mrs Gibbs
July 2016
janet t.
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Mar 2020
Thank you for your review we are glad that you enjoyed your stay. Please do not hesitate to contact us again for another visit.
About the host
Hosted by Paul Davis
We are a family run business who enjoyed holidays on the Norfolk Broads so much during our childhood that now we have children we have introduced our children and their friends to the fun of the Norfolk Broads and exploring the many special places to see in East Anglia.
We have decided to make our homes available for self catering holidays so that we can share our love of the Norfolk Broads with you. This has proved so popular that we now have a number of properties which we have tried to make a “home from home” and we offer a variety of short and full week breaks.
We hope you enjoy our places as much as we do and we look forward to welcoming you to one of them soon. Look at the comments from others who have stayed. Each place has its own comments page.
Why they chose this property
Wroxham is home to the Bure Valley Railway, Wroxham Barns and Roys, "the biggest village store in the world". Day boat hire and sailing tuition as well as a quality golf course are all also close by. It is also just seven miles from Norwich, with the sandy beaches of the East coast within a twenty minute drive where seals can be spotted close to the shore. Within easy walking distance, visitors will find riverside pubs and restaurants, shops and day boat hire whilst sandy beaches, nature trails, golf courses, craft barns and National Trust properties are all under 15 miles. Norwich, a charming cathedral and university city, boasts galleries, museums, excellent shopping, cinemas, theatres and a castle (12 miles).
What makes this property unique
Wroxham is considered to be, and has been called, the capital of the Norfolk Broads, and is where boating holidays started in the late 1800's. It has become quite commercialised over the years with hotels, tea rooms and gift shops springing up near the river to attract holidaymakers to the village.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests